BACKWATER ROAD BOARD.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 13, 24 September 1901, Page 4

BACKWATER ROAD BOARD.

[contributed..] Present, Messrs Etab (chairman), Roast, Semaj, Sandy and Grid. Minutes of lu.vfc meeting read and confirmed. The chairman moved, that this Board emphatically protests against being made to stand on its head by the Muchawake Council. He hoped this resolution would be carried unanimously, for it was likely that at an early date, an effort would be made to compel the members of this Board to stand on their heads. They all knew that their neighbors were much awake, in fact very wide awake, and their Council was composed of very active and, he might say, dangerous men. He was no phrenologist, but he had reason to believe the bump of acquisitiveness, and mischief was abnomally developed in the heads of at least 5 members of the neighboring c )i-| o-ation. Their Mayorwas a powerful and determined man, although he had as yet received no information whatever int'mating. that any order would be given members to stand on their heads, it was highly probable that that or snm> similar order would be made; in that case, the 1> >ard would, if unprepared to meet such an emergency, be compelled to give effect to the mandate of the c >rpuati v. and members would mo.-t likely have t > remain in an awkward and mid go tied att.tu le fir :; i kale!' n'ts pecud : at aiyia'e, as 1 nig as it pleased ti,at d nunee.-ing bjdy. It wa.s imperative thattioe assistance of Government be inv .ked to prevent any such order being given. He would ask that a copy of the resolution, which he felt confident avoulu be cairied, should be immediately wired to the Minister of Marine, asking-that the order, if given, should be ultra vires. The chairman concluded his speech amid solemn silence, being himself in a state of collapse and exhaustion from his great effort. Mr Roast said that he would second the motion. Standing on ones head was an uncomfortable tiring to do; besides as the senior member of the Board and having the complete confidei.ce. of his constituents as shown by the last ballot when he headed the poll, he had a strong objection to making himself and tho-e supporters appear ridiculous. As the chairman said, the people across the river weie a had lot and they were gradually but rapidly bee ming powerful. Mr Semaj said he concurred with the last speaker. One could net fail to not'ee the rapid advance of the people across the river. They had got Borough Government, a new Post Office, a new High Sdo< ol was g i rg up, their brain power would be augmented shortly by the addition of two" M.A.'s, they were going to spend .£SOO- on river protection works, they claimed the right to become' a Harbor Board and control their wharf and harbor, they had purchased stone-breaking machinery, imyimved their footpaths, were a mounted un i t.t'-y power, and were endeav >ring t> add to their already great strength by actively recru.ti.isg for a rifle club. He did not want to stand on his head ; he was a heavy man and it hurt one to remain in that position long. He would support the motion. Mr Grid said that although he had many good friends across the river he knew that their power was increasing rap-idly, and that the people of iWa.katu recognised them as a powerful factorin the province, and were now treating with them in settlement < f a -dispute concerning the wharf or harbor. Muchawake had grown very vigorous of late years, and was now, according to the humor of her people, either a powerful ally or a f a-midable foe. He preferred

to be on good terms with their neighbor, but it was well to be prepared, He, also, would support the proposal. Mr Sandy was of opinion that a more ridiculous proposal had neveremanated from the chairman than the one before the meeting that night. Had they been asked to do this thing, viz, stand on their heads ? No, yet they were asked to anticipate the order being made. Anyhow, with the last speaker, he had many friends on the other side. The-Mayor was a personal f rend < f his, bad one whom he esteemed; he had reason to bel.eve toe feelfng was reciprocal. Their chairman had made a speech (it was something to have lived for to hear hinl do that); it was evident that he was alarmed, or he wouldnt have done it: The Chairman's motto seemed to him to be that " silence is golden," and to judge from newspaper reports of the County Council and Land Board right well and consistently he stuck to his motto. He himself had no fear of any order being given him to stand on his head but as some of the other members appeared to be alarmed and the idea of emphatically protesting against performing gymnastic feats which at his age, ana he might say, also, the chairman's, was physically impossible, to please them he would not oppose. The Chairman then put the motion, whi h was carried, and the clerk ordered to record the same and wire to Hail Jones first thing in the morning.