PUBLIC MEETING AT LITTLE RIVER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 179, 5 April 1878, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT LITTLE RIVER.

, A meeting was held at the Library, Little River,-on Thursday evening, 28th ult., to determine what steps should be taken in regard to the grants made by the General Government for purposes relating to Cemeteiies and Domains.

After some conversation concerning the probability of obtaining a grant, the possibility of finding land fit for a Domain, and the mode of proceedure now to be adopted, Mr G. R. Joblin was requested to take the chair, and to furnish such infor mation and suggestions as it was in his power to supply. ■; Mr Joblin said the matter was very Bimple. Some time ago the General Government had granted a considerable sum for the purpose of enabling the settlers to acquire or improve Cemeteries | and Domains. Of course, a certain portion of this aum was awarded to the settlers |in this County, and had been placed to the credit of the Akaroa County Council, |to be distributed by that body amongst them. The chairman had advertised in the Akaroa Mail for applications for sums for these purposes, to be made by those requiring them, on or before the Ist of April. These applications would be considered by the County Counoil, and i with them would rest the apportionment of the grant. He thought Little River ! was, in reference to improvement of every kind, in a very unfortunate position. It was a cardinal point in the Canterbury Land Laws, that of all the land purchased a considerable part of the purchase money should he expended in the district. It was on these grounds that tlie exceptionally hisrh price was demanded ior ihe waste lands of Canterbury, and if any one part of the county required the exercise of such a provision more than another it was Little River. But what is tho fact ? Why, that for upwards of twenty years the land of these fine valleys had annually been going by hundreds and thousands of acres, and that proportion of the purchase money which should have been spent here had not been spent, but had been taken away and expended elsewhere in improving the properties of set-ters. iv other places. The late Mr. Buchanan alone spent a fortune in the Eastern Valley and no part of that, money had at Christmas last been expended; in improvements in Little River but it had' gone elsewhere. The same might be said, of the central and Western Vallerys' with the exception that the central valley had the -main""road-running through it. But evenTfor .the:ccu_ist.ruction<.of this, ■ exoep-. • tional means-wc^;,provided..; Thus the settlors ,a,t Little, River were..in this .ppsitior-, they J.iad.paid a'price for the land "subject:, to the stipulation that of the purc-liase" money a hied sum should be returned.for improvements," but this fixed sum had never ; been so returned. This •pittance that the County Council, had to dole out, was a part of the fund derived by the Government from the. sale of the land, and they were acting, rightly in soliciting a portion .of it. With reference to the mode of procedure to be. adopted he would/ suggest,' first that some one should frame a resolution embodying their request, and that the same should be forwarded to 'Mr Latter ; second, that they should elect a committee in the regular way, and such committee could conduct any communications that might be necessary with the Count}' Council

Mr G. W. Joblin then proposed that application be made to the County Council for the sum of £109 for the purchase of a, piece of land to be converted into a domain or recreation ground, and for a further sum of £50 towards the expenditure necessary for the clearing and fencing of the cemetery ground. He thought it was a great pity that the settlors had not looked out before, as it would he more difficult to find a piece of land suitable for a domain now, than would have been the case a fewyears ago," and a higher price would Have to bo paid for it, but Mr Gebbie, their member, was acquainred with all this, and

would, no doubt, support the application.

Mr G. Sefton seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Some conversation then- took place in reference to the selection of those most suitable to form a Committee, and,'ultimately it was proposed by Mr G. W. Joblin —" That Messrs H. Reynolds, Geo. Sefton, Chas. Honrniblow, G. W. Joblin. and Geo. R. Joblin be elected a Committee to conduct any correspondence that;might be necessary With tlie County Council, in relation tb the grants applied for, and also to make arrangements for the acquisition of a domain or public recreation ground." This was seconded by Mr A. Uagg, and carried unanimously. Mr G. Sefton thought that as there waa very little time to spare before the next meeting of the Gouty Council, some means should l>e taken to forward their application without loss of time. With this object he would propose—" That a copy of the resolutions arrived at by this ineeting be transmitted without delay to Mr E. C. Latter, Chairman of the County Council, and to Mr J. Gebbie, member for the Little River Riding, by Mr G. R. Joblin, f Chairman of tins meeting." ;

This resolution was seconded by Mr Horniblow, and carried; and a vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr Degg. and seconded by Mr Radford, terminated the proceedings.