W H A T A W H A T A.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1324, 23 December 1880, Page 2

W H A T A W H A T A.

Tiikre was a meeting of ratepayers held in the .School, Whatawhata, on Saturday 20th inst, to consider what steps could be taken to prevent the culvert crossing at Whatawhata from becoming impassible. It is in a very bad state now, and a little more rain will make it useless for wheeled traffic. After the Chairman had be'en appointed, the meeting was given to understand that Mr Day, chairman of the Road Board would see to the crossing, if he had got his cari'ot seed in the ground. One of the ratepayers wanted to know who would be responsible should anyone get hurt in the meantime. Mr Maunders, one of the contractors who have been so long kept out of their money, was at the meeting, and said he expected to hay seen Mr Day, chairman of the Board, at the meeting, at the same time he handed in hib bill £204 11s, for the work which he said he had done for the ratepayers under contract from their late Board. He pointed out how very much he had been inconvenienced from being kept so long' out of his money. After Mr Maunders sat down, some acrimonious remarks were indulged in by many of the ratepayers, and it was evident that there was a very strong suspicion resting on the minds of most ratepayers that the members for the district had much control over the matter. The local which appeared in the "Waikato Times was also alluded to, and Mr Corboy was asked to inform the meeting of his interview with Mr Whi taker, and Mr Carpenter in reference to the delay in paying the contractors. Mr Corboy explained to the meeting, producing written correspondence, showing 1 -\\ hat » part ho had taken in the matter. He said he would be no party to any arrangement that would deal with one of the contractors differently to the others. The ratepayers were unanimous in approving of Mr Corboy's action in the matter. The following resolution proposed by Mr Crawford, seconded by Mr Iwerson, was then put to the meeting, " That this meeting respectfully request the Newcastle District Board to wait on Mr Whitaker with as little delay as possible, and urgeon him the injustice of keeping Mr Maunders any longer out ol his mewey.

That, as he has completed his work by th,e direction of the Board on the main road from Whatawhata to Newcastle, according to Engineers plau and specifications, he ought not to be dealt with differently to other contractors." The Chairman put this proposition to the meeting, which was carried unanimously. The meeting, after requeuing the Chairman to forward the result of the meeting to Mr Day, chairman of the Road Board, voted thanks to the chair, and separated apparently in good humor.— (Correspondent.)