TE KUITI TOWNSHIP.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 184, 23 August 1909, Page 2

TE KUITI TOWNSHIP.

Proposed Borough Council. Census to he Taken. At a meeting of tr.o Te Kuiti Chamber of Commerce held or Friday evening last, the oucsbcrt of the Status of Te Kuiti ami the- necessity <of taking steps the authority c; the highest legal cy:::ion. In Septerrher las: year, when the townships deputation v. - as in Weliington, it was found that the townships had, by Gazette notice, heen brought undar the operation of the Native Townships Act. This constitute:: the township a body corporate.ant: the Act provided that a Native Town Court:'. should be set up. The initial step; hah to be taken by the President of the Maori Land Boar:':. About si:: or seven months v.go it would be remembered that Judge Browne informed them of his intention to prepare a roil set up. At that time the town ioan County Council, and acting en toe representations of the resident?, the Native Minister had deferred taking the necessary action until the loan had been expended. When Judge So;one was last at Te Kuiti he had again t.iscussed the position and was anuious to proceed with the setting up of a council. The necessary steps to that end would doubtless be taken in the neatfuture. There were a number of res- __ idents of the opinion that Te Kuiti had sufficient population to form a borough and for various reasons it v.-as highly desirable that a borough count 11 should be sec up if possible. 'With regard to the important question of nuance the ; President of the Maori Laud Foard was of opinion that a Native Tovn Council possessed the same bet-revv-ing powers as a Borough, but he. the chairman, differed from Judge Br:■v-.-.e on this point. The- Nativ. ; Minister had stated that the borrowing rovers of a Native Town Council were the same as those of a Town. District Board. The matter was discussed at length by the members, the unanimous feeling being that a Borough should be constituted providing the population was found to be sufficient. Mr Matthew proposed, and Mr Otway seconded, that a committee be set up to define boundaries within which to take a census An amendment proposed by Mr Lever, seconded by Mr Stee! that the meeting agree as to approximate boundaries, and take steps to have a census taken immediately, was carried. Approximate boundaries were then > agreed upon as follows: —Northwards: as far as Mr Sims' and Mr Tamadge's property, including portion of Mr Somerville's farm; Eastward: including portion of Mr Ellison's property, portion of Mr MeKenzie's, Mr Doddle's, Pohi Tawhana's and Hiri Wetere's; Southwards: including .Mr Cotter's crossing the railway and including Mr Lever's, Mr H. Hetet's and the Hopgardens; Westwards: including Mr J. T. Hetet's property to the- township boundary. It was decided to appoint Messrs Tammadge and Fortescue to take the census and report to a meeting of the Chamber to be held at the "Chronicle'* office on Wednesday evening next. Doctor Zobel consented to collect donations from the townspeople for the purpose of defraying the cost of—taking the census. It is understood the taking of the census will be undertaken en Tuesday —tomorrow —and residents are requested to assist the gentlemen engaged on the work, by furnishing them with the necessary information promptly, as it is important to have the lists completed in the one day.