PUBLIC MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1414, 12 May 1886, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A I'uiiLic mooting ot the ratepayers in tlie newly constituted town district of Hakatcre, for the purpose of considering the advisableness or otherwise of retaining that name, was hold in the Hampstead schoolroom last evening. About forty ratepayers were present. Waiting some little time after the hour fixed for the meeting, several of those present expressed pretty strong opinions regarding the absence of the conveners, and it was suggested that the meeting should adjourn shw dir, This proposal, however, was not adopted, and ultimately Mr C. Ward was voted to the chair.

The Chairman briefly stated the nature 0:

the business before the meeting. The name of llakatoro had been bestowed hpon the town district, and a number of the ratepayers viewed that name with disfavour. He would call upon some gentleman present to propose a resolution.

Mr F. T. Mayo moved to the effect that the name ot the new town district, Hakatere, was objectionable to a majority of the ratepayers. Mr Potter seconded the motion. He said the name of Hampstead was well known, and he saw no reason for its alteration.

Mr Mayo pointed out that he had suggested no other name. That would be a question which, if the present motion were carried, would come before tho meeting at a later stage. A gentleman present desired to move that the name bo Trevorton, as it was the oldest established part of the district. The Chairman said that before the question of name could be discussed, it would be necessary for the meeting to dispose of the present one. , .... Mr Piektord spoke strongly against the name of Hakatcre being given to tho district. Mr Q. W. Andrews supported Mr Mayo’s motion, .

The Chairman said that although, by ■ reason of the position he occupied, he could not take so prominent a part in the meeting ns ho might otherwise have done, ho would still like to r tato his reasons for object ing to the nan a of I'n'iatcrc. That name had been sprung upon them, as it were, unawares. They had been told by Mr White that the signification of the word, Hakatcro, was “poverty-stricken.”—(Cries of: Wo won’t have it then, and laughter) That would be a nice name to give a district. Then, on the other side of the railway line wos a part known as Hakatere, and to have two places similarly named would naturally lead to confusion. All the certificates of title for land throughout the district had been made out for Hampstead or Trevorton, and here again confusion would arise. .Mr J. A. Caygill regretted that the proposer of the motion in condemning the name of Hakatere had notjsuggested another in substitution. He would say that he thought

“Hakatere” preferable to “Hampstead.” It might moan “ poverty stricken ” in the Maori language, hut he thought provided they got a name which was a nice one, and at the same time stamped some individuality upon the district, they did not care what it meant.

It had been said the name was stolen from another part of the district, but he had never heard that anyone had a prior claim to it. All that he could say was that the original possessors must have hidden their light under a bushel (vociferous “no ”). He thought they could not improve on the Maori nomenclature. In America, Australia and elsewhere he knew there might bo a good objection to adopting the aboriginal names, for the language of the natives of those places was of the most uncouth and jawbreaking character imaginable, and any man who had any regard for his facial expression, or the rigidity of his teeth, would think twice before attempting

to pronounce any of the majority of their words. That objection did not apply to New Zealand, for the language of the natives was a very graceful one, and it, |as seemed probable, the Maoris were to be “ improved off the face of the earth,” he did not see why their

language should go too. Besides, what reason was there for duplicating Old World names. In America this sort of nomenclature was a serious evil. In that country there was about a dozen Londons, and a person might travel for months without finding the particular one he wanted. Mr W. W. White asked permission to make an explanation with regard to a remark previously made by Mr Andrews to the effect that the name ot Hakatere had not appeared in the petitions for the formation of the town district when they were being circulated. He stated at some length the circumstances, and said that in all three petitions the name had appeared. He had been led to choose that name because the proposed town district included three places known as Hampstead, Trevorton and Netherby respectively, arid he considered it would be out of place for him to fix upon anyone of these as the name for the new town district. He had, therefore, to go outside for a name, and looking at an old map he saw that the native name for the Ashburton river was Hakatere, and this he thought a vciy suitable one, and therefore selected it. The contention of the Chairman with regard to the certificates of title having to be altered was ridiculous. The Chairman : What is ridiculous ? Mr White repeated his remark. The Chairman said he had not stated the certificates ot title would have to be altered. Mr White, whose remarks were somewhat inaudible owing to a subdued conversation in one part of the room, went on to say that as regarded himself ho did not care much what name was given the district. lie had explained his reasons for the action he had taken. Mr Piokford, who had canvassed lor sig-

natures to one of the petitions, stated in reply to a question that he had not seen the name of JlakaterG in the document he had, or ho would not have taken it round, for he strongly objected to the name in question. Mr Andrews said that he was certain no name appeared in the petition he had signed, for he remembered that at that time there was some indecision with reference to naming the district, and he had stated his opinion to Mr Wnitc that Hampstead was the most suitable, being the most widely known. Mr White again asserted that the name had appeared in tho petition Mr Andrews had signed. Mr Andrews might have forgotten the circumstance, but at the time he signed, he (Mr White) knowing he had an objection to Hakatere, asked him to bear with that name for the reason he had before stated. If the name did not appear on the petitions when they were signed, it would not be necessary to go on with the meeting any further; they had only to prove it, and the whole thing became invalid. Ho would let anyone who wished to do so examine the petitions. He wished he had brought them with him that night. Any expert in handwriting would tell them that the name was written at the same time as the body of the petition, A considerable amount of discussion took place with regard to whether the meeting could be considered in the light of a representative one. The Chairman said that in transmitting any resolutions that might be carried to the proper authorities he would explain tho circumstances in connection with the meeting, and the proportion the ratepayers who attended bore to those in the district. Mr G. W. Andrews and Mr W. W, White were appointed scrutineers. The motion was put to the meeting, and carried by 17 to 8. The Chairman said the next question was to decide upon a name to replace that of Hakatere. Mr Pickford said that although he resided in Trevorton, he was not a selfish man, and ho would propose that the district be known as Hampstead. Mr Dailey seconded. Mr Caygill moved as an amendment—

“ That a committee be appointed to consider a suitable Maori name, to be submitted for approval to an adjourned meeting, to be held a week hence.” (A voice: “ I object to Maori names. We’re not Maoris; we’re white men.”—Laughter.) Mr Elliot seconded the amendment, which on being put to the meeting was lost, four voting for it and eighteen against. The motion that the district should be called Hampstead was then put to the meeting and lost, the voting being—l 3 for and 14 against. The declaration of the result was received with applause. Mr Porter then moved—" That the district be called Trevorton.” Mr Taylor; I’ll second that. (A voice: Of course, you will.) The motion was put to the meeting, and while the hands were being counted some disorder arose, and the Chairman had several times to interfere before order was restored. When the noise was at its height, a voice, addressing the scrutineers, said: I think you two want spectacles. The voting was equal—l 4 for and 14 against. The declaration was received with a considerable amount of applause. The Chairman said they were in the same

position as when they started. The meeting would not have Hakatefe, nor Hampstead, nor a committee to select a Maori name; and now with regard to Trevorton, even if he gave his casting vote in favor of that proposal, in a case of this sort it could not be taken as carried. Although as Chairman he was occupying a neutral position, he would, seeing the turn matters had taken, move—- “ That it bo a recommendation to the incoming Town Board to adopt a name in place of Hakatere for the district.” Mr Bickford seconded.

Some discussion arose, in the course of which the Chairman, in reply to an enquiry, said ho would make the question of name a platform one with the candidates for election to the Town Board.

Mr Caygill thought it would be a childish thing to make it a platform question, because they might reject a good man who did not agree with them as to name, and get in his place a man who, although he might support tho name they wished, would do a great deal of harm in really important matters. The Chairman said that of course he did not mean that a man should be supported or opposed solely on the question of name, but he would make it one of the planks in the candidates’ platforms. Further discussion ensued, daring which someone present advised the Trevorton people to keep their wits about them at the election, or Hampstead would steal a march upon them.

Mr Undrill moved as an amendment—

“ That this mooting stand adjourned for one week, and that a committee bo appointed to consider a suitable name in the meantime.” Mr Carter seconded the amendment which was carried by 13 to 7,

Mr Undrill then proceeded to name a committee, but it was impossible to obtain five gentlemen willing to act. The Chairman at this stage, with a view to expediting business, drew attention to the fact that t tie candles with which the room were lighted were burning oat, and that unless the meeting were speedily concluded, those present would be left in darkness. Mr Baker ultimately proposed that the matter of name be left to the Town Board to decide at its first meeting.

This was seconded by Mr T, Andrews, and carried by 12 to 3. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the proceedings.