TOWN BOARD OR BOROUGH?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 6

TOWN BOARD OR BOROUGH?

MEETING AT THE UPPER HUTT.

A public meeting of I'pper Hutt ratepayers and householders (to■receive the report of a committee elected at a former meeting to attend to the necessary 'details in connection with the proposed formation of a town district) was held in the local Town Hall on Saturday evening last, obout a hundred persons responding to the invitation to be present.' In tho unavoidable absonco of the previous chairman (Mr. Geo. Shirtcliffe), Mr. H. C. Gibbons, another of tho conveners or • the former meeting to discuss the advisability or otherwise of forming a town district, was appointed to the chair. • ' ! : Mr: M'Gurdy presented a numerouslysigned petition in fnyour,,of- a town district, which, in the opinion of' the petitioners, was all they were required to do in faco of the resolution passed at the previous meeting favouring tho formation of a town district only. The sanction of the meeting was asked for the canvass for signatures before presentation io the authorities. Tho Chairman explained that the onffciial intention of the conveners had been overridden, inasmuch as the cpmmitteo had confiiied itsolf entirely to ascertaining public opinion in the matter of a town district only, after a distinct- understanding that at the same time it might after all bo possiblo to obtain a borough. Mr. M'Curdy said that it had originally )een his desire to obtain signatures to both a town district and a borough proposal, the former to be adopted only if the latter could not be carried on the required .number of signatures, but the wording of the resolution was held by the committee to civo no direct sanction in the matter, and lie had not asked for signatures for a borough. Mr." Bonzie moved, " That this meeting of householders and residents refers tho report of its Committeo back to them for further consideration, with tho addition of the, following gentlemen to the Committee: Messrs. G. Shirtcliffe, Hi C. Gibbons,, C. H. Williams, W. Barrett, C. Benzio, J. T. Wilkins, H. E. Carey, and G. Brown, with further recommendations favouring the formation of a Borough." * This resolution was not in order according to tho ruling of the Committee, and was, therefore, withdrawn till a more favourable period in the meeting, which never came, as most of tho time was occupied from this out in discussing the action of the committee in refusing to give heed to tho original intentions of the convenors to obtain the widest possiblo discussion of public affairs even by, those residents not yet brought within the prescribed area set down by tho committee. A deadlock was prevented by Mr. Hughes moving that' the committee's report be received, and that it lie on the table ifor further discussion. This was seconded by Mr. Harnian, and carried. The Chairman said he was unaccustomed to tho procedure of public meetings, and would accept Mr. Hughes's suggestion as the only solution of the matter in the circumstances, seeing those present agreed with tho conveners that. tho matter of proper future representation -had not been given heed to by the committee, which ovidently acted iippn its own, initiative, much to the perplexity of those desiring originally to give even those remotely associated with tho township every 'opportunity of expressing an opinion in the 'matter. Messrs. G. and J. Brown enumerated tho advantages to bo derived by adopting tho larger'scheme, that of a. Borough, in preferenco to a Town District, which was at first thought sufficient for the requirements of the Upper Hutt, and. Mr. Davis corrected an impression that he was opposed to a Borough but thought a Town District would, in the meantime, prove sufficient, with a Borough, ■say, in six months' time. 'Matters renched finality when Mr. Gco. Brown moved, and Mr. Fletcher seconded, "That the request of tho committee (to further canvass .or present tho petition already signed) he not acceded to." This was carried unanimously by the meeting, which then adjourned with the customary vote of thanks to the chair, and. a special voto of thanks to'the committee for the work done by them in obtaining the signatures mentioned.