TELEGRAPH AT LITTLE RIVER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 190, 14 May 1878, Page 2

TELEGRAPH AT LITTLE RIVER.

A public meeting was.held in tbe school -, room, Little River, on Saturday evening,, the 4th inst, to consider the offer of the Government respecting the establishment of a Telegraph Station, at Little River. The attendance was small, there being; only nine persons present. Mr A. D. Allen said, as he had got several letters to read. • perhaps he had better take the chair. On this being assented to, the Chairman read the following communications :—- ---" Christchurch, 11th April, 1878. Sir, —I have the honor to forward herewith copy of a letter I wrote to the Post-master-Ganeral on the 25th alt., respecting the establishment of a telegraph station at Little River. Also copy of a letter dated ■* the sth instant, which I received to-day from Mr Lemon, the General Manager of Telegraghs irr New Zealand. " When writing to the Postmaster-Gen-eral on the subject of a station at Duvauchelle's Bay, I stated that two residents there would guarantee that the receipts from messages would amount to £70 per annum, or they would pay the difference.

" You will observe that the terms offered by the Government are on a different basis.

" I will gladly receive any communication from you on the subject. "I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant, " W. Montgomery. " A. D. Allen, Esq., Little River." " '[Copy.] '* Christchurch, 25th March, 1878. " Sir, —I have the honor to remind your of the interview Mr Allen and I had with you when you were in on thesubject of establishing a telegraph statiort at Little River. The papers I then handed to you contain information respecting the population and other circumstances which the residents in that district justly believe entitle them to your favourable consideration.

"Allow me to add that a telegraph station, if established there, would, in all piobability, be the means of saving lives by affording prompt communication with a doctor in case of severe accidents occuring at the saw-mills, and that, as the telegraph wire passes through the locality, there would be no expense beyond that necessary for the erecting of a small office and telegraphist's house. He would also be the postmaster.

," I earnestly trust you will grant the request of the inhabitants of the district.

". I have the honor to be, Sir, 41 Your obedient servant, ** "(Signed) W.-Montgomery. " The Honorable the Postmaster-Genera], Wellington." /' [Reply.]." « " New Zealand Telegraph, " Head Office "Wellington, sth April, 1878. " Sir,—l am directed by the Hon. the Telegraph Commissioner to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ult, ; respecting the establishment of telegraph stations at Duvauchelle's Bay and Little Ri versanti in reply to inform you that your request will be complied with upon ttie'fpllowing conditions:— '.;l*stV That, in each case, a guarantee , indemnifying the Government against loss. to any amount not exceeding (£6O) sixty m ~" pounds per annum be given by six reei- [" dents of each locality, such guarantee to- ' remain in force for three years. "2nd. That a site at each place of not less than one-quarter of an acre in extent 4* be conveyed to the Crown, free of cost to the Government, for the erection of offices. Upon learning from you that these terms are acceptable to the residents, and upon your informing me of the names and occupations of the gentlemen who will become in each case the'guarantors, and upon the conveyance of the sites being effected, the Commissioner will catiße the , usual bond to be prepared and forwarded V' for completion, and will also place a sum 9 ■ .* sufficient upon the estimates for the forthcoming year, to carry out the work. " I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant, »f . ; " (Signed) C. Lemon, " General Manager, " W. Montgomery, Esq., M.H.R., "Akaroa." The Chairman said he mnefc apologise * for not calling the meeting before, but he ! thought that Messrs White and' Co., being v « the premier saw mill owners of • the place, ''.$ ! ought to have a chance of hairing a Bay in the matter. He had Avritten to them on - J ' the subject, but had received no reply. With regard to the land required he Avas willing to give a quarter of an acre opposite the, 4 school, but he could not undertake to sf convey it to the Government free of he thought that the Government employ their surveyor to survey the and also their solicitor to convey it. -s^' Mr R. Joblin said he was of opinion that f£v to erect a Telegraph Office opposite the ' Ai school, would be placing it at one end of the village, the population were not likely to increase near Lake Forsyth. He thought that if Mr Allen, would give a piece of land near to Mr Coop's saAv mills it would , ~ be much more central. The Chairman said he had no particular i wish to give any lar,d, he had good reasons for not wishing to part with any of his land