[NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE]

place to be appointed and publicly notified by the district Trustees in such manner as they shall think fit seven days’ notice at least of which must be given and at such meeting ten electors at least being present in person or by proxy as aforesaid Trustees for the ensuing year shall be elected in the same manner as the first Trustees were elected and the Trustees so elected shall hold office from the date of their election until the election of their successors and a rate for the current year shall be fixed in like manner as the first annual rate.

Adjournment of annual and other meetings.

13. If at any such first or annual meeting a sufficient number of electors shall not be present within one hour after the time appointed the electors present at the expiration of such hour may adjourn the meeting from time to time for any period not exceeding seven days and the chairman of such meeting shall forthwith on any election of Trustees report in writing the names and designations of the persons so elected to the Superintendent who shall forthwith cause the same to be published in the Provincial Government Gazette.

Provision for non-election of Trustees.

14. If at the first or any other annual meeting or adjournment thereof as aforesaid the electors shall fail to elect Trustees for the ensuing year and the chairman of such meeting shall not communicate to the Superintendent a reason for such omission which the Superintendent shall consider sufficient it shall be lawful for the Superintendent to appoint Trustees who shall have the status and all the powers and liabilities of Trustees elected as aforesaid.

Causes which will vacate Trusteeship.

15. If any Trustees shall refuse to act or be absent from the province four months at any one time or become bankrupt or an insolvent debtor within the meaning of any laws relating to insolvent debtors or a public defaulter or be convicted of felony or any infamous crime he shall cease to be a Trustee.

Provision for supplying vacancies.

16. If any vacancy shall at any time occur through the death or resignation of any Trustee or through any other cause the remaining Trustee or Trustees shall as soon as conveniently may be after such vacancy occurring call a public meeting of electors to elect a Trustee or Trustees to fill such vacancy who shall hold office during the same period as the vacating person or persons would have done had not such vacancy occurred.

Penalty for not serving, &c.

17. Provided always that any person who may have been chosen by the said or any subsequent meeting as hereinafter provided a member of the Highway District Board and shall refuse to serve shall be liable to pay the sum of £5 and any person chosen who has not refused to accept office and who at any time refuses or neglects to perform its duties shall be liable to pay a sum not exceeding £5 to be sued for and recovered before a Justice of the Peace by the Chairman of the Highway District Board all monies so recovered to be applied by the Highway District Board for the purposes of this Act in the several Highway Districts created under this Act: Provided always that it shall be competent for the Board to excuse any person so refusing to serve or neglecting to perform his duties upon good cause shown for such neglect or refusal and the decision of the Board on that point shall be final: Provided that no person who shall have served for two years consecutively as Trustee shall be liable to be fined for refusing to serve until after the expiration of two years from the expiration of the two years first mentioned: Provided also that no person whose rate shall not exceed 10s shall be liable to be fined for refusing to serve.

Chairman to be appointed.

18. The Trustees shall at their first meeting in each and every year elect one of their number to preside as Chairman at their meetings and the Trustee so elected shall have an original as well as a casting vote and on any vacancy occasioned by death resignation or otherwise a new election shall take place in the absence of the Chairman at any meeting of Trustees those present may elect a person to preside at such meeting and he shall have an original as well as a casting vote.

Meetings of Trustees.

19. The Trustees of each district may make such regulations as to holding of meetings as they shall think fit but the Chairman or any two Trustees may at any time convene a meeting of the Trustees by written notice signed by the Chairman two Trustees or Secretary of the Trustees which notice shall specify the time and place of meeting and the business intended to be transacted thereat which notice shall be delivered to or at the usual abode of each Trustee at least three days before the day of meeting.

Minute and account books to be kept.

20. The Trustees of each district shall cause a minute book to be kept in which shall be entered minutes of all their orders and proceedings which minutes shall be signed by the Chairman as also account books in which shall be entered true and regular accounts of all monies received and expended in pursuance of this Act which minute and