PUBLIC MEETING.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 127, 25 July 1868, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING.

A Meeting, called by the Breach Committee to submit their report, was held on Monday last, in the building of the Literary Institute ; Mr. George Henderson in the -chair. A tolerable number attended on the occasion. The report of the Committee was then read, which was as follows : “ Blenheim, July 20th, 1868. “ To the Chairman of the Public Meeting to be held this day. “Sir, —I have the honor to report that the Committee appointed at a public meeting, held in this room on Wednesday last, met on Friday, the 17th instant. Present —Messrs. Litchfield, Eobinson, Wall, Collie, Phillips,, Hathaway, J. Redwood, Busch, G. Dodson, Dobson, Bom ford, Turton, and H. Dodson ; and the Committee, after maturely considering the matter referred to them, resolved as follows : “1. That it is desirable to bring the Taylor and Omaka Rivers under the operation of the proposed Act, and that the boundaries should be as set forth in the annexed schedule. “2. That the boundary of the Town of Blenheim for the purpose of such Act, should be as set forth in the schedule annexed. “ 3 That an acreage rate should be levied on the lands included in the said Act, except in 'he. Town of Blenheim, as hereinafter contained, not to exceed in any one year the sums of one shilling per acre. “ 4. That the rate levied on land in the Town of Blenheim under such Act should be on the value to sell, exclusive of all improvements and buildings, and shall not exceed in any one year the sum of one shilling on every five pounds worth of property . , “5. That the same amount of rate levied on each acre of country land, shall in every case be the same as that levied on each five pounds worth of land in the Town of Blenheim. “6. The Committee recommend that the memorial should be reconsidered, with the view of making the necessary alterations, embodying in it the above resolution.

“H. Dodson, Chairman of Committee. Mr. James Gorrie proposed— * “ That the report of the Committee be adopted.”

Mr. N. T. Pritchard seconded. Carried unanimously. Mr. Henry Dodson then read the memorial as proposed. 4. , Mr. Lucas said be hoped { Something would be done, and jocosely remarked that they came up to meeting after meeting; and when they went back the wife says, “ What have you done V’ (Laughter.) Mr. Gorrie suggested that the words “ prevent the growing of crops,” should be “prevent to a great extent the growing crops.”—Agreed to.

Mr, John T. Robinson said he still adhered to his previous opinion, that an acreage rate was bad. He. still held it should be on the value of the land. He did not think an Act would be passed embodying two principles. The town rats at present was £39,000, but in the course of ten years it ’nnglrPbe £60,000, whilst the country lands would be fixed no higher than at present. But he was not prepared to offer obstruction to the present movement.

Mr. Geoege Dodson thought the last speaker had agreed to everything in committee. Town lands were very differently situated from country ones. Those occupying the principal sites ought to pay much more for the maintenance of roads, or diversion of rivers, than quarter acres behind. He believed the House would not mind principles to stop the passing of an Act. Another matter was, if they asked to have some power to deal with tidal ■streams, these powers would no doubt be given. Mr. A. Dobson proposed an amendment in the boundaries specified for the country, by the words, “ to the high-water tidal margin of Morgan’s creek, and the highwater tidal margin of the Opawa,” This would exclude a portion as saltings not benefited directly or indirectly by improvements. These lands really came within

the administration of the admiralty. Mr. H. Dodson seconded. Mr. Collie said it was of paramount importance to include low lands as well as highlands, otherwise they would be crippled in cutting their channels and clearing the rivers. It was absolutely necessary that they should have power over all the lands within the district, or they might find out when it was too late that they could not do what was required. Mr. E.ae said there appeared to be a misunderstanding ; the object was to withdraw the powers of the Commissioners regarding levying a rate on certain lands below high-water mark, Mr. Collie said they would have to work below high-water mark, and they ought to be careful not to exclude lands from operations it might be advisable to undertake. Mr. George Dodson said the whole of the Committee had agreed to these boundaries, and there was nothing he had heard from Mr. Goulter and others to warrant alteration. If they excluded any lands, he would move that 5,000 acres in Spring Creek not affected by flood be excluded.

Mr. Chas. Eyles said the low land extended pretty well all the way below the Big Bush ; 35 or 40 sections were not reclaimable as arable land. Trefoil and clover flourished splendidly at Dillon’s point, while it was on land higher up that the yellow weed grew on. He was not for any part of the boundary being altered. The original boundary was agreed to. Mr. H. Dodson proposed, and Mr. B. Bomford seconded the motion, — “ That the memorial and schedule be adopted.” Carried unanimously.

Mr. H. Dodson said there were several questions the Committee had to consider, besides those the public meeting had deputed to them. They thought a Board of nine persons would be suitable. Mr. Dodson then put,—

“That in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the proposed Act, to elect a Board to consist of nine persons, three of whom shall be elected by the town, and six by the country.” —Carried.

Mr. H. Dodson proposed, and Mr. John T. Robinson seconded, —

“ That every elector who shall hereafter be a ratepayer, should be the person to vote at the lirst election of such Board, and that every such person shall be eligible for election of such Board, and that every such person shall be eligible for election in either town or country districts.” — Carried.

Mr. H. Dodson then proposed, and Mr. John T. Robinson seconded, — “ That Mr. Eyes be requested to have an Act drafted in accordance with the suggestions embodied in the memorial and resolutions annexed thereto adopted by the meeting, and to take such steps as may seem to him desirable to have the same passed bythe Houseof Representatives.” Carried unanimously. Mr. H. Dodson explained that a plan had been drawn by Mr. Dobson, to assist the Assembly in understanding the Act, and the drafting of the Act in Wellington would also have to be done at their own expense. The General Government might have undertaken that, but how long would they be about it 1 Mr. H. Dodson submitted to the meeting a subscription paper for the purposes of the preliminary expenses, to which a number of those interested affixed their names, each individual subscriber not being liable for more than two pounds. Mr. Collie considered that all the expenses prior to collecting the rate would be refunded in the same way that the expenses connected with Marlborough separation were refunded from the provincial chest, Mr. John T. Robinson proposed, and Mxv E. Adams seconded, — “ That Messrs. C. Eyles, A. M'Callurn, Geo. Dodson, H. Dodson, and the mover, be a committee appointed to confer or correspond with Mr. Eyes m matters connected with the passing of the Act.”—Carried. Mx\ John T. Robinson proposed, and Mr. C. Eyles seconded, — “ That his Honor W. H. Eyes, Esq., M.H.R., be requested to endeavour to get a clause inserted in the Bill, apportioning part of the Provincial Revenue for appropriation by the Board of Commissioners, as the proposed works will prevent great damage to the roads.”—Carried.