PUBLIC MEETING AT AKAROA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2012, 5 August 1880, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT AKAROA.

A largely attended meeting of the residents of Akaroa was held in tb« Town Hall there on Tuesday evening for the purpose of considering tho question of the mail services via Pigeon Bay and Little Eiver. The Mayor (Mr Penlington) occupied the chair, and Mr H. H. Eenton explained the reason for calling the meeting, viz , that it had been rumoured that the Government intended withdrawing the mail subsidy for one of the routes. If such was the case, he thought it desirable that the meeting should state what route was the preferable one for the Peninsula. Ho was strongly of opinion that the route by Pigeon Bay was the more suitable of the two. It was also important that this should be increased to a daily service. A public meeting had been held in Pigeon Bay, having those objects in view, and a deputation had been appointed to interview the Chief Postmaster on the subject, and ho thought it would strengthen the hands of all parties if a delegate were sent from Akaroa with the same object. M r W' E. Tosswill was ot opinion that they were proceeding too quickly in taking it for granted that one of the services was to be stopped. He moT«)i a resolution to tho effect that the Postmaster-General be communicated with on the mattor. Mr McGregor moved an amendment, that the whole question bo delayed until the estimates for mail services were before Parliament, as he was of opinion that the whole proceedings were premature. The amendment was ultimately withdrawn, and the motion put and carried. Mr Garwood moved that the member for the district be informed of the result of the meeting, which was agreed to. After some discussion, it was arranged that the Mayor should proceed at onoe to Ohristchurch and urge the views of the meeting on the Chief Postmaster there.