PUBLIC MEETING AT WAIKARI.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2167, 4 February 1881, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT WAIKARI.

A Humorously attended meeting of thoua in favour of the extension of the railway to the Hurunui was held Feb. 2nd, at the Bead Board Waikari. A memorial to fchev Government was laid upon the table for perusal before the: meeting commenced, end was considered to fulfil the wishes of the meeting. Mr J. D. Lance ■ was voted to the* chair. The Chairman stated that it was hardly hi* ; duty to oay anything except that he had not ' called this meeting. At the annual meeting . of the Road Board it was thought that iha two meetings should have been held but he himself did not know of it. There was a petition laid on the table wMoh he would read and see whether' they agreed with it. [Bead.] In the South they had 300 miles oE railway, in the North 30. The present railway had been started in March, 1879, therefore it was now "nearly two years since it was com* menced. The men who had been employed were not the class of men now required. The Commissioners, when up North, were shown that the district to be opened up was aa large as Taranaki. In fact, the Oommiosioners stated that it was desirable. : Mr H. T. Bolleston asked the chairman to tate who was the member for the district. The Chairman replied that Mr Sanders wss the first member who had stated that the district was to be sub-divided, and he did no* think he cared one straw for the district- He should send the petition to Mr W. S. Moor. house. Mr Fox asked if there was not any member in the Upper House The Chairman said that there was, not,_&6 the Hon. W.' Bobinson was oat of the dietriot. MrH. V. Bollcafcon said that he understood that the sleepers required in the winter could not be obtained. The Chairman stated that the line could fa® entirely completed in six months., There were 50 000 acres of land, which would he opened up at once, bat they had the Commissioner's report, and he thought that was* sufficient. The meeting thought it would be best to telegraph to Mr H. P. Lance in Wellington, and state the feeling of the residents,«and ask him to see the Hon. J. Hull before leaving. After further discussion the petition J wo® adopted, and the signatures of those prenofe wore attached to it.