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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 32, 13 July 1872, Page 2

The constabulary lately stationed at Oho'e have completed tlie bridge over tile Ohote creek, which can now i>e crossed with safety, even during the heaviest floods. This partv, while sta ioned'in this portion of the district, have executed a considerable quantity of road work in a very creditable maimer. A class is about to be formed in N 0 r urua\vahia for the purpose of tecahing glee-siuging. The San Francisco mail will close on Saturday, Kith iusL Telegrams will be received up to 4.30 P - m - The annual meeting of the ratepayers of Hamilton East district will take place this day, at 2 p.m. In consequence of the non-receipt of Friday morning's papers from Auckland we are unable to give a/ report of tlie markets. tfcwiU be seen by a letter in another column that all sense of light lias not deserted our Maori fellow subjects, although neglected of late by their former teachers the Missionaries.

The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Town Board of Hamilton East took place on Thursday. E. A.. (Jox, Esij.,. -was.unanimously elected to the chair, but explained that he was of opinion that, not being a ratepayer, he was not entitled to do do. He eventually,, however, acceded to- the strongly-expressed desire of the meeting and assumed the chair. After some of the preliminary proceedings had been gone through, Mr. Cox's attention was ca'led to the Act, on reference to which he was of opinion that he occupying a doubtful position —and resigned the chair.. Mr. Jolly was then elected to the position, Messrs. Woolly and Dando were appointed scrutineers, and Mr. Clhrk, secretary. The chairman called upon Mr. Farrell to give a (-statement of tbe accounts of the Board for the past year. Mr. Farrell then read tlie following statement to the meeting : — Receipts. £ s. d. To Rates collected ... ... 48 15 7 To Poundage Fees ... ... 10 7 2 To Ferry Rent ... ... ... 49 3 2 To Fees for Cattle and Horses ... 13 15 9 Total Receipts from. District ... 122 I 8 To Government Grant ... ... 51 1 6 Total Receipts from all sources £173 3 2 Expenditure. £ s. d. On Roads ... ... 108 14 11 ~, Bridges and Culverts 10 14 2 „ Ferry and Wharf 13 19 3 ~ Commission for collecting Rates ... 3 G; 5 ~ Salary for Secretary 3 7 6 ~ Printing and Advertising 1 1 0 ~ Sundries 18 1 1 ... 159 4 4 Balance in hand on June 29th. ... 13. IS 10 Since received ... ... ... 500 Balance to hand over .. ... IS 18 10 Rates due but not collected ... £1S 17 10 A rate of Id in the pound in the value to sell was agreed to for the ensuing year. The nominations for the forthcoming year were then proceeded with, and ho less than fifteen were proposed. Captain Beere rose to address the meeting, but the Chairman ruled that he was out of order unless he moved a resolution. In order to be enabled to speak, he moved *' That this meeting has no confidence in the late- Board." He said that the Board had no doubt carried out some works very satisfactorily. He considered that the cutting of the new road to the wharf was a useless expenditure of money. It was cut for no other purpose than to gratify private spleen. Mr. Highley proposed as an amendment, a vote of confidence in the proceedings of the late Board. Mr. Farrell, as Chairman of the Board, thought he was entitled to a hearing in order to vindicate his and his colleagues' actions. With reference to the wharf, it was made to connect the two ends of the Great South Road, and in order that they might be enabled to draw the sum allotted to the district by the Provincial Government, the grant only being available for the consttrucion of trunk roads.

The amendment was then put, and, after the scrutineers and chairman had counted the hands held up some half-dozen times, they declared the number in favor of the amendment to be twentylive. The original motion was then put, and after

the same, if not more, trouble in counting the hands held up, it was decided that there were also 25 in favor o£ the original motion. The chairman having previously voted in favor of the original resolution, could not give his casting vote. After au almost indescribable scene of rowdyism, the chairman succeeded at last in restoring order, and the election of members for the ensuing year .v&9 proceeded with. The following were elected : — Messrs. Highley, Farreli, Taufield, Jones and Young. This terminated the proceedings at about half-past 10 o'clock. Local self-goveruuient is, no doubt, a very good thing for th« country, but if the same disgraceful scenes are enacted at every election of Boards, the sooner some other system is adopted the better. The meeting we have attempted to report above was simplv a disgrace to the electors of Hamilton West.