PUBLIC MEETING AT PIGEON BAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 441, 12 October 1880, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT PIGEON BAY.

Iα compliance with a requisition presented to the Pigeon Bay Road Board a meeting of ratepayers was held in the schoolroom on Saturday the 9th instant, to express their opinion as to which of two roads through Holmes' Bay was the more preferable. The Clerk ot the Board, at the request of Mr Holmes, having read the requisition to call the meeting, invited someone to propose a ratepayer ■to take

the chair,

On the motion of Mr Knudsen, seconded byMrW. Paton Jnr, J. II Msnzies Esq, of Macintosh Bay took the chair. He said he would not occupy the time of the meeting with any remarks of his own but called upon Mr Fenton C.E., the Boards engineer to explain to tl'e ratepayers present, of whom there was a good muster, the plan of the Road the Board proposed to make. After Mr Holmes asked him a number of questions as to the comparative cost of this road and of that proposed by himself (Mr Holmes),

The chairman requested some member of the Board to state what had already

been done in the matter and how it now stood. In response the chairman gave a Biiccinct but full statement of what steps had been taken up to the present.

Mr Holmes then (at a revy considerable length) addressed the meeting on what he considered the probable cost—compensation and construction—of the road proposed by the Board and also the approximate cost of that proposed by himself, he making a free grant of the land required. As he waa about to sit down he suggested a motion that further prooeed-ing-a in regard to the road adopted by tjthe Board be stayed and his route adopted; he should like put it to the meeting, biit. none could bo found to propose it, and he could not do it himself as he was not ay*. ratepayer. ;

While Mr Dobson, a, well-known surveyor and engineer, "was: explaining his views (en the si 1 c of Mr Holmes), of the two roads in dispute, another effort was made to get a" ratepayer to propose Mr Holmes' motion, but thiealso failed.

Mr Hay of Annandale, and Mr R. Hay new put some pertinent questions to Mr Dobson, in answer to one of ; these he (Mr D.) acknowledged that the route selected by the Board was the best for making a road, and that the expense of censtauction, and regard to the wishes of the proprietrix were the only questions weighing against it. The chief expressed objections to the route suggested by Mr Holme's, were that it cut off from proper water rights, and that it would be very severe on bullocks, thare being an upward gradient of 1 in 10.

After some further discussion of the matter, it was proposed by Mr Innes seconded by Mr 11. Firmston, and carried with only three dissentients, —That this meeting fully endorse the action of the Road Board. In regard to the road as surveyed and exhibited on the plana, now before the meeting, and have full confidence in the Board.

A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.