KARORI AND MAKARA HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3118, 8 February 1871, Page 2

KARORI AND MAKARA HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

* The adjourned annual meeting of the ratepayers of the above district wns held in tho Karori Hall, at noon, on the 6th inst., Mr T. 3). McManaway in 'the chair. The chairman opened the business of the meeting by reading the advertisement for its convention. He addressed the ratepayers at some length upon the urgent necessity they were under of voting a rate for the repairs and maintenance of the roads in the district while the fine weather continued, if they did not like to have another winter's plodding in' mud as they had last year. He said that the first business before the meeting was to adopt the accountp for 1870. Tho accouuts were read and put to the»meeting. After some discussion, Mr 8, Lancaster proposed, and Mr Cook, sen., seconded, that the accounts be passed by the meeting. Mr Toomath protested against their being passed, on the grounds that he consider ed that there had been £10 illegal expenditure. This was money which the Board of Wurdena had paid to a gentleman for making a valuation of the rental value of the properties in the district, according to the Road Act passed by the General Assembly last session. Here a warm discussion ensued, in which a great deal of legal knowledge and stump oratory was displayed ; but the m-ijority of the ratepayers ruled that although the act. did not make any special provision for having a valuation made, still the rateß were to be levied by valuation ; and how could thut be done without some one hud beei appointed to do it? It was then agreed tpat the board did right in appointing a valuatpi, and that he must be paid. The accounts were passed, Mr Toomath only protesting. The next business was to elect five wardens to fill up vacancies that occurred by five that resigned. The following gentlemen were elected, viz. : —Messrs J. B. Reading, S. Lancaster, J*. Campbell, H. Cook, and. R. Donald. The meeting wns adjourned at this stage for ten minutes. When it resumed business again, Mr M'Leavey proposed, and Mr Longhurst seconded, that a sum of £500 be levied in a lump sum on properties within the district, for the repair and maintenance of the roads therein for tho present. Mr P. Monaghan moved, as an amendment, that an acreage rate of 9d per acre on all lands fronting tho road, 6d on lands joined on to the front lands, and 3d on sections abutting on Lo that again, be levied, &o. This vras carried after a protracted debate. On the motion of the same mover, a constructing rate of 2d an acre was levied on all the lands in the district. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. ' s - ' ■ ' <