PUBLIC MEETING.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 430, 12 July 1877, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

GOVERNMENT WATERWOBKS BEGTJIAtiosts.

A public meeting was held in the Town Hall on Saturday evening last. There were from 150 to 200 persons present. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and briefly explained the objectto consider what action should be taken to effect amendment of the regulations of the Government Waterworks, just gazetted. He would call on Mr. Shannon. Mr. Shannon, after referring to the causes which had led to his taking so active a part in the proceedings that evening, explained that the reason the meeting was called at so short a notice was on account-of the Warden having to leave during tbc middle of the week to attend the out-district Courts, and there would be no other opportunity of interviewing him prior to Mr. de Lautour's departure for Wellington, which would take place on Thursday. As it was considered desirable that Mr. do Lautour should thoroughly understand what alterations were required when he went to Wellington, this meeting had been called. There could bo no doubt the regulations as they were wero thoroughly impracticable. His idea was to appoint a Committee to interview the Warden on Monday.

Mr. W. Shiels then moved the following resolution. —

That this ineeting considers tho rules and regulations issued for the working of the Mount Ida Head Race and Channel are thoroughly impracticable, and that a Committco be appointed (consisting of the following persons:—Messrs. de Lautour, Guffie, Urookcs, Green, and Shannon) for tho purpose of waiting upon tho Warden to suggest such alterations as they dcoui necessary. Mr. John Stewart seconded.

Mr. (tiJffie asked if it was thought that there was time enough to consider tho regulations between then and Monday. Ho thought it would not be well to do anything in haste. Mr. Shannon said he, had previously stated why it was so littlo time was allowed. Every member of the Committco proposed wero thoroughly conversant with tho regulations, and had thought already of what should be suggested. For himself he thought more power should be given to the Manager, and that certain inducements should be held out to prospectors in tho shape of water. Mr. Indee said ho thought that they should pause before vesting the whole of their interests in a Committee. The Committee was no doubt composed of men able enough, but it was quite possible that they might propose regulations as ridiculous as those at present existing. He thought that at so well attended a, meeting as the present an expression of opinion should bo taken as to the provision made. He quite agreed with Mr. Guffie that no hasty action should be taken. He did not agree with Mr. Shannon that prospectors should be allowed water free.

Mr. Shannon explained that he did not mean that prospectors should have water free but that they should have water cheaper. He would a:sk Mr. Inder if ho had read the regulations. He did not think with Mr. Inder that the clauses should be gone through by the meeting. He thought the putting' of Mr. Shiels' resolution would take the feeling of the meeting ; and as their member wa3 going up to Wellington immediately he should know what alterations wero required before he lefo Nasehy. Mr. Indee hoped that anything he had said would not be considered as. directed personally against Mr. Shannon. He thought the time allowed the Committee was too short. JNot that he didn't think the regulations required amendment—he did. If their member —who was not everybody—was going up, he could have the amended rules sent to him, and he would bo able to act upon them as well as if he took them in bin pocket. Mr. Brookes said, he thought the rules required amendment. First, tho water was too dear; and then, again, running with the water ticket reminded him of his boyish days, when one had to run with his ticket for soap. The largest amount that could bo charged ho thought would be £2 a Government head, or even 255. or 305., and if it could be worked cheaper afterwards the price could bo reduced accordingly. At tho rate proposed the Government water would bo dearer than that supplied by private Companies at present. If four heads ■wero paid for from a privato Company six would be received, and he thought that really the Government water would be 55.. n head dearer. Then, again, Is. Gd. for running into the Channel was too much. Tho tail racea running in would bo of no length, and one-third of tho gold would go into the Channel, which would bo quite payment enough. Mr. W. L. Bailey nex>: rose, but the andienco could not allow that gentleman j to speak without showing their approbation. His Worship's knuckles must have suffered severely by tho time order was restored. Mr. Bailey spoke for some moments, saying that ho had taken considerable trouble to calculate what the revenue of the Government would be at £2 per Government head, and came to the conclusion that supposing the Head Ilace brought in forty heads the wholo cost of its construction would be recouped in ten years, but allowing ten per cent, for working expenses, irrespective of the Manager's salary, the whole cost would be repaid in fifteen years. Mr. Bbookeb said ho quite agreed with Mr. Shannon as to prospectors getting cheaper water. Mr. B. Gordon thought that one thing had escaped the attention of the meeting, and that waa tho payment in advance system. Ho thought the regulations, instead of simplifying matters, complicated them.

Mr. Shiels proposition was then put and carried unanimously. His Worship then said that he would take a proposition from Mr. Gordon, if he wished to make one.

Mr. Gordon thereupon commenced writing out a proposition, but while he was doing so those present rose en masse and left the room.

CENT HAL INrEKIOIi RAILWAY. PUBLIC MEETING; A meeting was held at St. Bathans on Saturday evening last, at the Schoolhouse, which was well attended, about sixty persons being present. Mr. Cr. Purton was called to fill the chair. In opening the proceedings, the Chairman said : It seems that now, very much to the surprise .of every 0ne,... that. the railways are nearly completed along the coast that it is a necessity, to have, railways to the interior. The people of Oainaru have drawn attention to the matter. They have, railway communication with Lyttelton, and feel the advantages. They can also see what an advantage it would be. to them if Oamaru were to become the outlet for the Interior Plains. Seeing that, they have made a very strong push. The first steps were the appointment of Committees at Oamaru and iNaseby. The Mayors of the two towns acted together, and the Mayor of Naseby has written to the Chairman of our Progress Committee inviting the cooperation of the people of St. Bathans, so as to bring all possible pressure to bear to make communication with the seaboard as early as possible. It is so long since any sign of vitality was manifested by our Progress Committee that most people have forgotten its existence. Mr. Prescott the Chairman and Mr. Mulvey the Secretary not being displaced, thought it desirable to call a meeting. I will now read the letter received from the Mayor of Naseby : Naseby, Juno 15th. To the Chairman of the St. Bathans Progress Committee.'' Dear Sir,—The Nasoby-Oamr.ru Railway Committee are most anxious to obtain yonr cordial support and co-operation in the promotion of railway communication into the Interior. My Committee gladly recognises that the position with the OamaruPass line actually under survey, and with the grand alternative of the Strathtaieri and Palmerston line in contemplation, is a matter for sincere congratulation. A public meeting at Naseby has spoken strongly in favor of a cordial support being extended to Oamaru, which district, as you are aware, has taken such steps as must, with the support of the Interior, lead to success. In supporting Oamaru we huve not in any way decided against the Strathtaieri line, but we consider that route is quite able to protect itself. I should be glad to be able to lay the views of the St. Bathans district before my Committee, ascertained in such way as you may think best. Our interests are identical, and what is good or best for St. Bathans must ho equally advantageous for Naseby.—l have, &c,

L. W. Boscu, Chairman Railway Committee. Mr. Ewixa: Mr. Chairman —I shall have to move the first resolution, which I may at once say, in 'common "with othor resolutions which will be brought forward, has been prepared beforehand, so that our proceedings to-night, if these resolutions are mainly adhered to, will not merely take 3hape in accordance with the opinions expressed by Mr. de -Lauiour, who we gladly see amongst us, but be our own genuine ideas. It appears a matter of surprise that when Julius Vogel brought forward; his scheme of Public Works no one thought of asking that a railway should be made into the Interior, where was extensive traffic, and where extensive plains were waiting for settlement. The reason for this was that the great men who were pulling the wires were also interested in shutting up the Interior, knowing that the opening up of the country would be the signal for the opening up of the lauds. The resolution, in saying " that the time has now arrived," docs not say that the time had not then arrived. Every movement of great benefit takes its form from some humble individual. 1" could not say who first mooted the idea of \a central railway. It was only when the idea of a Pass railway was brought forward that Dunedin began to move. It is not the things we wait and hope for that we get. but .the unexpected. Six months ago we should have been very much surprised at the idea that now we should be assembled to agitate foi' a railway from the Waitaki. Now Taieri, Dunedin, and even Palmerston, who threw away her chance —each is agitating its fancy route, not for our benefit, but to frustrate Oaniaru. It is a question whether there h not sufficient traffic to make a line pay well. Ministers have been staling that they would net construct any more lines unless they would pay interest and working expenses. It is quite certain that settlement would increase to such an extent as to make it a payable line ; industries upon the goldfields would receive a great impetus, and general prosperity cannot be assured until we have cheap means of transit. I therefore move —

That the time has arrived when the interior of Otago should be connected with the.seaboard..by. Railway ; that the land which would then be opened up and rendered available, for settlement would cause anjimmodiato influx of population, and that general prosperity cannot bo assured until (.he present expensive and tardy means of transit are replaced by railway communication. .

Mr. Ren-wick seconded the proposition, which was carried. Mr. 1\ Mtjlvet : I propose—

That the meeting )3 of opinion that the Counties of Vincent and ilaniototo should act together in supporting any of the proposed routes, their interests being identical.

Seeing that union is strength, the sense of the resolution will be apparent. Seconded by Mr. M'Kat and carried. Mr. J. Eagle : I have a resolution, put into my hand when I came to this meeting, but if I did not cordially endorse it I would not propose it. The Maerewhenua line is the one we ought to support. If we can get that line to tap the plains, we can get the other. If the line is started from the Pass I understand we might have it completed in three or four years. The Strathtaieri one we would not get for ten or fifteen years, and when it is constructed to Blairtaiori there it will remain, and all our people who are not well settled will go down to the Strathtaieri plaiu. I therefore propose— ■

Tliat. thismeetingis of opinion that considering the great advnntagea of direct communication with the North, and the shortness of lino to be constructed to tnp the upper plaiua, it is to the interest cf this district to give a cordial support to tho Jlacrewhenua l'ass route.

Seconded by Mr. James Htlet and carried.

Mr. S. Tukneb : I am placed in the same position a3 the last spenker with regard to the resolution I have to pro- j pose. It, however, gives me great pleasure to move it, a3 we have one of the members here, and we ought to impress , upon him the necessity of the spirit of the resolutions being carried out. I therefore propose — That this meeting bogs most respectfully to invite tho attention of the Chairmen and members of the County Councils of Vincent and Maniototo to tho rcsolutiobs passed thereat. ' Mr. O'Hegan: I think that as the Oaniaru people have made the start, we ought to support them. Not that it makes much difference to us as to which route succeeds. If we get Oamaru we may get both, and one at any rate. I second the resolution. Mr. Pbescott : No one h°re is more in favor of a railway than I am, but we don't want a white elepeant. The Tuapeka

carriers are able to compete with tbe railway. What we want is cheap carriage. Wc can't pay for railways and highways too. Mr. Prescott also alluded to the supposed defects of Oamaru as a shipping port, and the extra est which he fancied would be put on- goods we imported from 1 here. ~_.. ; Mr. be Lautoctb: There is one "thing I have heard: no mention of to-night, and one which I expected to.hear most about. That is, St, Bathans'. position in the. matter. : The Lauder' appears" to "be your nearest'railway station on the proposed lines. "• It might flatter you to suggest that the line might come nearer, but there is little chance. Any line will go down Ida Ya'.ley, and through the Lauder Gorge. Now, I think it'.'would - be quite right to insist that a- branch to tap the largo area of agricultural land at the head of the plain should form a part of the scheme which yeu support. This modesty on the part of St. Bathans must be put away. Ic ought to be a sine qua non of your support. The Chairman alluded humorously to fhe action of St. Bathans when the telegraph was mooted, and the refusal of the then Progress Committee to join with the Committee of Blacks on the ground that they did not feel justified iu co-operating expecting no benefit. He continued. According to that, it is quite possible to have a railway station at St. Bathans. I don't see why we should not have the direct benefit. Between here and the Lauder there is land that would grow sixty bushels of wheat to the acre. ' The oats now being grown shew what can be done.

The following resolution, drafted by Mr. de Lautotte and seconded by Mr. Gannon, was then proposed and carried amid enthusiasm—

That in any railway proposal which taps the Manuherikia at the Lauder Gorge, a branch line should be provided in the lines proclaimed to open up this agricultural .and mining basins of Gamb ian and St. Bathans.

He (Mr. de Lautour), .in fathering the resolution, would endeavor to bring it on its way rejoicing. Vote 3 of thanks to Mr. de'Lautour for his attendance, and to the Chairman for his skill in presiding, terminated a very enthusiastic meeting. As Mr. Bastings told the Dunedin people with excellent truth, the up-coun-try meetings have a life in them which makes a muster of 300 and a few cut and dried speeches in Dunedin appear a very tame affair in our eyes.