Important Meeting at Birmingham.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 266, 17 March 1894, Page 2

Important Meeting at Birmingham.

I .. _ ; —ay A meeting of settlers interested in the matter of 'putting Kimbolton road, beyond Birmingham, in repair before Hall to endeavor to induce the Government to give a grant in aid of the work. The attendance was very large, and amongst those present were Mess.s Pirani and Stevens, M's.H.R. (by invitation) and Mr P. Thomson. * Mr P. Homer, warden for the Apiti ward of the Kiwitea Road District, was voted to. the chair, on the motion of Mr A. Ferguson. Aiterexpressingbispleasureat seeing Messrs Stevens and Pirani MHR'swere present, Mr Homer reviewed the objects for which the meeting was called, and considered the settlers in the Birmingham district had a special claim on the Government for such a grant as the one they were endeavouring to obtain. Unless something was done before the coming winter set in, the Kimbolton road beyond Birmingham would be impassable and would cut off communication with the blocks recently sold. At least £1000 was necessary to do the work, and the Kiwitea County Council were notable to make this expenditure as they had an overdraft of £1,450 at the bank, and money could not be borrowed to repair a road. He thought it only just and right that the Government should find this amount, seeing that Mr Bal lance had made a verbal promise that as 2s 6d above the original price of the land had been paid the Government would complete a good metal road through the Birmingham Block. Grants as £ for £ subsidies had certainly been made by the Government, but they had not kept to their promise to complete the road. There were persons who interviewed Mr Ballance and who were prepared to swear that a verbal promise had been made. In reply to a communication the Under-Secretary had informed the Kiwitea Road Board there | was no record of such a promise. , Mr Richarc'son : If the reeds of the Waste Lands Office of October, for November, 1885, were searched a record of a promise for a good metal road through the block would be found. Mr Lundon, as one of the deputation which waited on Mr Ballance, said there was a record of Messrs McCardle and Bunny going up and, after inspecting the Block, putting an extra 2s 6d on it. As this was objected to by some of the settlers a promise was given that a good metal road would be put through the district. Mr Homer, continuing, said that he had interviewed Mr Ballance and pointed out to him the advantages this road would be to Crown lands. It was on account of this half-crown extra that something was done to the road lead— ng to the Oroua river. When Mr Homer took up his section he had the choice of a number of others which had been in the market for twelve months, and it took another twelve months to sell the remainder. A loan of £5,150 had been raised to open up roads, and after this was done the Otamakapua-Pakihiktrra, aud other blocks, were disposed of immediately after it was offered for sale, thus showing what benefit the Government had derived from the expenditure. The settlers who took up these new blocks used the Kimbolton road, but did not contribute to the construction or maintenance. The Government selected a site for a State farm and shoved people on it without paying anytrdng towards the cost of the road leading to it. The stun of _500 was certainly- paid fox work on the road beyond Peep-o'.Day, but that was a mere trifle compared to the benefit derived. At least five shillings an acre was put on 40,000 acres of Government land when the land was opened up and the settlers were now justified in asking for assistance. The road was out of repair on account of the heavy daily traffic, which was tremendous, and more than half that was by people who did not contribute to the maintenance. The Government boasted of a big surplus and the best thing they could do was to give some of this for the road in question. They were that day taking a poll for a loan of .£6OOO and that was sufficient proof the settlers were anxious to support themselves. These loans will also benefit other blocks sold since the settlement of this block, Mr J. McGregor proposed, and Mr Pemberton seconded, That the Government be asked to undertake the repair of Kimbolton road between Birmingham and Rangiwahia, as the road leads into a large area of Crown lands, and the settlers have no present means to prose* cute the work. — Carried. Mr Stent proposed, That the Govern* ment be requested to undertake the metalling of the Kimbolton road between Rangiwahia and the western boundary of tho Marton Small Farm Block. Mr J, Gould seconded this motion. Mr Stent it was a matter that affected all, and there were settlers who had to pay rates for the loan raised and derived no benefit. People could not live in the country and starve; they might grow potatoes, but could not grow flour. Mr Homer agreed with Mr Stent that it was very necessary this work should be done. Mr A. Fergusson wished to thank Messrs Stevens and Pirani, M.H.R.'s, for their attendance, the latter being a pressman was a champion of those in want of assistance, and they (the settlers present) bad a right to assistance. He thought the best thing they could do was to leave the half-crown business alone, as he had gone to a great deal of trouble and was satisfied an equal amount had been spent in the district although not ou Kimbolton road, where the Government promised to metal. When the Birmingham Block was taken up, an extra 2/6 an acre was charged on the land after it had been inspected by Messrs McCardle and Bunny, but this was objected to by the settlers, and a promise was then made that the Govern. ment would put a good metal road through the block. This had not been done, but there was a sum of money voted for the Oroua Valley road, and they had altogether received back a sum equal to the 2/6 ; but this had nothing to do with Kimbolton road, which opened up Crown lauds. £1060 Government grant was spent in the Block, and and another _500 was spent on Him* boltou road beyond Peep-o'-Day. The work through the Block was done after a fashiou by the Road Board, who were short of funds. The Ward was -1000 nj debt, and the income was _35Q0 a year, Kimbolton road was in a deplorable ntate last winter, andJihe settlers put their hands in their pocke_r~and raised „35, which was subsidised by the Board,. aud Had to bo returned. If the roads only had tho traffic of settlers in the B!ock they would have been iv good order. There were 24 miles beyond feeding Kimbolton road, and it waa not fair that settlers this end should bo expected to keep it in repair. Mr Fergusson pointed out ou the map tlie large area which was cut off by a bad link of road. Tho road was very daugerous and last winter was stopped for traffic. The Government did not care much about it. All members of Parliament, it di- not

matter of which party, shed tears and agreed that something should be done for the settlers, but they were very slow in doing anything. There were 40,000 acres of laud yet to be sold which would benefit by the main roads. There was at present a great difficulty in getting children to school with the roads in the present condition and it was within the province of Government to assist them, He read a telegram which stated that the Minister of Lands had, a few days ago, promised to place _600 on the estimates for a road on the West Coast of the South Island and thought the settlers in this district were iv the same position. He would propose, That the Government be requested to place a sufficient sum on the estimates for the repair of the Kimbolton road through the Birmingham Block. Mr Alfred Dick seconded the motion which was carried. While Mr Fergusson was reading various communications showing that Mr Ballance had made some promise, the Hon Mr Reeves, Miuister of Labor, came into the room and was greeted with applause. A desultory discussion took place as to the agreements or promises re the 2s 6d an acre extra which was paid for the Birmingham Block. Mr Morton said there was still a letter in Mr Bruce's possession which would prove the Government promised to make Oroua Valley road. Mr Boggis remarked there was a great outcry about bad roads but some settlers only had very bad bridle tracks leading to their sections. Mr J. Stevens, M.H.R., said that while in Wellington he had interviewed Mr Smith, Survey-General, who said there were twenty-five other localities in tho same position as this. He (Mr Smith) would, however, do his best to assist this district aud- thought the best thing they could do was to anticipate a vote. He (Mr Smith) also suggested that a deputation should be sent down to interview the Minister of Lands. Mr Stevens had some experience of the Kimbolton road last winter and had Mr Reeve's travelled up in the middle of winter in place of summer he would not have been so punctual. Mr Stevens was willing to give what assistance he could to the settlers. Mr Pirani, M.H.R., knew that there was a distinct understanding that a completed road should havo been made through the Block aud he hoped the settlers would get the justice they deserved. He would do what he could to assist them. Mr E. Sandeman proposed and Mr Hodge seconded, That copies of these resolutions be handed to Messrs Stevens j and Pirani, M.H.R.'s., with the request that they present them to the Hon. Minister of Lauds and urge him to grant them as a necessity. - Carried. Mr Stevens introduced the Hon. Mr Reeves, who expressed his pleasure at being able to attend the meeting, aud after seeing the roads and tracks he was convinced settlers did not travel 10 or 15 miles over tbem for amusememW He bad come^here Jbo^seeJili«^neecls of the setand would make a note of what he had seen and not forget it. Mr Reeves said he did not expect to find such a magnificent district as this, which offered greater facilities for settlement than any other in the colony, and was probably the most go-ahead in the colony. In the interests of the colony some assistance should be given to it. He was not the Minister of Lands, and could not promise anything for that gentleman, but would use what influence he could in their behalf. Mr McDermott proposed, and Mr Morton seconded, That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Hon. Mr Reeves and Messrs Stevens and Pirani for their attendance. — Carried. The usual vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.