PUBLIC MEETING AT FOXTON.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 76, 3 July 1878, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT FOXTON.

A public meeting, convened by ad-' yerfcisement, was held in the Town Hall, Foxton, on Monday evening, to consider the advisability of adopting resolutions to the following effect, namely — To carry out a comprehensive scheme Ol wharf extension at Foxton ; to obtain increased rolling-stock and attention on the railway between Feilding and Foxton ; and to support the reduction on the carriage of white pine timber. The meeting was largely and influentially attended, representatives from nearly every part of the County being present. On the platform we noticed Messrs E. S. Thyune, Chairman of the County Council; F. Loudon, M.C.C.; J. W. Cower, M.C.C.; Hector McDonald, M.C.C. ; C. M. Snelson, Mayor of Palmersfcon; H. McNeil, Chairman of Highway Board ; Flower, Hulke, Keeling, Eebbell, and others. On the motion of Mr Thynne, Mr Flower was voted to the chair. The Chaieman, having read the advertisement convening the meeting, observed that Mr Thynne had issued invitations to a great many of the principal settlers and business-men in the County, of whom he was glad to see so many present. Letters of apology had been received from several. Mr W". H. Lash, of Halcombe, regretted his inability to attend, but at the same time expressed a hope that they would get all that they desired, and that they would be in a position to offer better inducements than , Wanganui, to enable them to obtain for their port that whioh was its due, viz., the whole of the export trade from the County of Manawatu. Messrs Eichter, ', Nannestad, & Co. regretted their unavoidable absence from the meeting, as they fully recognised the objects to be discussed. In their letter of apology these gentlemen quoted a portion of a letter- which they had received from (they believed) the largest timber-consuming firm in the Colony, as directly bearing on the principal object of the meeting, and which ran thus : "We regret we cannot advise you of any success in chartering vessels for your port up to this dale (20th ultimo). Freights from your port are quoted 6d in advance of those from Peiorus Sound, sufficiently illustrating to what extent your timber trade is handicapped with the deficient harbor accommodation." A telegram had been received that afternoon from Mr H. Sanson, M.C.C, stating that he was unable to attend the meeting, though' highly approving of its object.' He (the Chairman) might remark that he had only taken the chair after other gentlemen had declined, because lie was so convinced of the importance of the objects of the meeting that he thought it was the duty of everyone to do what he could to forward those objects; : He hoped they would give each speaker a fair and impartial hearing ; .and with those few remarks, he would call upon Mr Thynno to move the first resolution. Mr Thynne, on rising to move the first resolution, said that it was with much diffidence that he had convened the meeting. He regretted that it should be thought that it was owing to his action that all the hubbub had been raised. Extracts from the Manawatu Times, and the fact of so many of the principal residents in the district having called upon him with reference to the action to be taken, showed that a general feeling existed that a public meeting should be called. To strengthen his argument he need only quote from a speech delivered by Mr Halcombe at the meeting at Feilding, in which he stated that "he was always ready to. assist to the utmost of his power any movement for the advancement of the disfrict, the progress of which was one of the chief objects of his life." From that extract one of two things was evident, — either that he had made a gross misstatement, or that he was not to be entrusted with the management of the advancement of the district — ' (Applause). Mr Macarthur stated, in his letter to the Manawatu Times, that the meeting had been called. by circular for a legitimate and specified object, and felt aggrieved at his (Mr Thynne's) thinking that a representative from "Wanganui, and none from Foxton, had been invited. How was it, then,; that Mr Cross should have been introduced and allowed to bring up the subject of the port? Mr Cross had written to him, saying that his statements were accepted by the silent concurrence of those present. He had written to Mr Cross rather warmly on the subject, and would read them the letter and Mr Cross's reply thereto : — To Mi* Oboss; Timber Merohant, Wanganui. Foxton, 24th June, 1878.' Sir, — As at a meeting at Feilding you permitted yourself to make some very unguarded statements about the Manawatu River, which were grossly inaccurate, I have the honor to inform you that the settlers will bold a meeting at the Public Hull, Foxfcon, on Monday night next, the lsfc July, at 7 p.m., to there publicly disprove the truth of your statements j and as convener of this meeting, I thought it only fair to invite you to attend, and trust you will attend, so that you may for the future really understand the truth about the Mahawatu, and when speaking again be thus posted up. I will assure you of a fair and impartial hearing.— »l am, &c, E. S. Tbynne. To E. S. Thynne, Esq., Foxton. Wanganui, Jnne 28th, 1878. Sir,— Yours of the 24th duly to hand, and in reply can state that the opinion I expressed at the moeting of Sawmillers at Feilding was, as far as I can glean, as correct as possible. In reference to the average d.epth of water on your bar, I stated that it was from 6 to 8 feet, and understand it to be so, and further am unaware of any vessels of greater draught frequenting your river. On referring to the " New Zealand Pilot," page 120, I find it stated by official evidence that the depth ranges from 6 to 9 feet, and that the river is long and circuitous. I had no desire to create any jealousy between Foxton and Wanganui, bub simply to point out the advantages (in my opinion, which were liable to correction by other speakers, who did not do so, but on the other hand concurred by their silence) of

Wanganui as a shipping port, if the reduction on white pine was made. The benefit that would accrue would be far greater to Manawatu than Wanganui, as you will receive the cost of your shipments, and Wanganui only the dues derivable from the vessels. I have been connected with shipping for a number of years, and have always understood that vessels of a heavier draught than 8 feet could not enter Foxton, but as vessels I up to 12 and 13 feet come to Wanganui, I think that an advantage, as it would of a necessity reduce the freights and make the competition with the Sound and other parts much easier. The question still -remains open to the Sawmillers at which, port they will ship their timber, but I premise if orders are sent from here and taken at a lower rate, they will not object to send via Wanganui. If the reduction as memorialised is made (and I hope it will, as it will open up the districts and increase the commercial prosperity of both plaoes) the Fatea merchants, so J am informed, will take their timber from you ; then comes the question, will it be shipped from Foxton or Wanganui ? This question can be better, answered by yourself, as I believe you a short time since shipped a small cargo via this port to Patea. I shall be unable to atteSd your'ineeting" on the l9b, as business of greater importance will prevent me. Wishing you every success in obtaining the reductions required, and assuring you that every energy on my part has been used on that behalf, I am, &c., ... •v •, .C.tL. Cboss... P.S.— Too can. use this letter at your meeting, provided the whole of, it is. read.^-' C. L. O. Coming to the point, he might say that what had stirred .up the whole of the settlers of the-'district had been the action of a certain enthusiast; for the advancement of any district but his own—by trying to make Foxton a byport, and Wanganui the port for the district. With the exception of three, all the mills on the line were several miles nearer to Foxton than to Wanganui, and yet Mr Halcombe would have the timber sent to Wanganui. Owing to the difference in thejnatare of the Unas from Haloomtie to' Wanganui and from Halcombe to .Foxton- the cost to the Governmerit'inust be much greater^ owing to weaj.and tear— to Wanganui-; than to Foxton. No one, he felt s«fere, wished to find fault with Mr Gross for trying to do what he pquld, for Wanga-. nui I honestly, but for having allowed himself to *make false statements respecting the Manawatu river. How, he would ask, could Mr Halcombe reconcile his attempt to get an extension of the Aromoho wharf for .Wanganui, and nothing for Foxton,! with his professed intention of doing all he could for the advancement of the district ? The first part of the resolution, which had been entrusted to him to propose, ran thus: That in the opinion of this meeting, it is a matter of the gravest importance for the prosperity of the County: as a whole, that immediate steps should be taken by theGrOr vernment to provide such a comprehensive schemeof wharf, extension at the Port of Foxton as will be adequate ;to meet the present and fast increasing ttacte — the present proposed addition beingltotally inadequnte. That the Minister of Public Works be urged to call for tenders for the execution of one of the general and eompreV | tensive schemes for the extension of the whai'f at Foxton, which they have had submitted .to them by their Engineer.. It was computed that a million 'feet of timber per month would shortly be produced by the mills in the district j and how could the present scheme accommodate such a rush of timber?: The second part of the resolution was as follows:-— That there are now ten mills within the County, either in full working order or just starting, and from an estimate admitted at a meeting of the Sawmillers at Feilding, they are calculated to turn out about one million feet a month. As eight out of the nine of these mills lie. nearer to the Port of Foxton tlian the Port o£ Wanganui, by an average distance of 24 miles, and the railway line to Foxtori is nearly a level, the port of shipment is.one 0f,.n0 doubt, unless the necessary accommodation ' at the wharf is unprovided. That every day's delay\,ih the carrying out of this important work, means a loss of '' revenue to thV Eaiiwa^a loss to the Sawmillers, and a loss to every resident in the County. : As they were all aware, there had been two comprehensive Government schemes proposed— one above and one below the present wharf. -The one below prbvideol for a line of ; railway rright along the wharf, so that trucks could be dis^ charged direct into the i vessel,- ;but the resolution *Lef t the decision as to which should be adopted in the hands of the Government. He was that he could not do that justice to the resolu-, turn; which its true importance deserved, owing to being nervous. He felt, sorry that after, as bethought, all the little, difficulties had been overcome, Mr Halcombe should have thought proper to have stirred up ill feeling .on. the subject. (Applause), He hopid they would excuse the lamQ attempt he had made to do. justice to the resolution, but he really felt unequal to the task. Mr. MoNeii. seconded the resolution, and in doing so explained his object in attending the meeting. That was, that he had observed^ that for a long time a spirit of rivalry had existedibetweeh Pali; merston and Foxton, which he thought advisable ; to put an end to. He had resided many years an.the district, having given them the first instalment of Public Works constructed ;itt'; Jit',!:XHe?knew the country well, and there could be no doubt ithat Faxton was the port for Manawatu. With regard to the : Wauganui bar, of which they had heard and read so much of late, he might say that within the last twelve months, a vessel drawing only twelve and 'a half feet of r : water could not .cross, the bar, but had to be lightered outside. If he remembered rightly, the vessel's narae was the Malay, Then, with regard to sending their timber to Wanganui, it would cost twice as much, in weariand tear, and therefore he considered it would pay the Government well to build proper wharf accoinmodation; Mr. Loudon, on rising to speak m support of the resolution, said hetwas glad to see several ladies present, •as it showed that the importance of the object of the meeting was fully recognised by all, and he only regretted that vsuou. meetings were not more frequent. They had heard' the remarks of previous speakers, and they would see .that wharf extension was a most important matter.. It had been his lot to see vessels hauled out to allow others to discharge. The question was, whether I

the trade of the port would be sufficient to justify the expense. When in Wellington, he had interviewed the Minister for Public Works on the subject* who informed him that his engineer had prepared three different plans for wharf extension at Foxton, the cost of which would be £4>ooo, £10,000, and £15,000 respectively. The Minister said that though he approved of thelarger plan, the question to be considered was, whether the traffic would. warrant the expenditure? That, hethought, might safely be inferred, from,' the fact that within the last six months one million feet of timber had been conveyed over the line, and it had been computed that the average produce of the mills would be a million feet si month. He had been long: in ttfe district; he had been there when there was only one house and one wharethere. Foxton had pushed ahead inspite of all obstacles, and she- only needed proper wharf accommodation; to> make that advancement still morerapid. (Applause). There had lately been a large public meeting there re» specting the Sandon and .Foxton rail* way—^ aline which would only strengthen the necessity for further wharf extension. Taking a County view: of the matter, he deprecated all rivalry and jealousy between- the- different portion* of the district. They, shoutel work; together for the common fjjoodv for that, which benefitted one- portion of the£dis» trict benefitted »11. There ha<J lately been- a kind of stagnation^in tbeir.ratoef progress, wiuch> lie- thought, was* attributable to the want of being welt represented. .... Either they were welt represented or they were not If they wer?, they had no right, but if they were not, they had a right to grumble * and he certamly thought they were aofc well represented*. ', - • ';'l> The Chaikmaut ftepreeated tho intro* : duction -.of such topics. . ! Mr Lpinx>N said he- wa* only going : to> make a few brief remarks* i TheClttißaiAKtWißU^jgoionL;:; ; [']; ■ ; Mr Loudon , said he- had nothing: to> say against Mr Johnston's ability^ but. he would ask, did he wield it for theiradvantage P' He-tho^ht not^Midwouldi refer to the- 25,000 acres of land choseik by Mr Ballarice in Manawatu where- ; with to enrich Wanganui. .' What they ' wanted was; a lever- to act tupoik that Government,, and he thought Mr Johnston was not such a lever as they wanted. In conclusion,, he would say I "If the Government, mil not. give u* the £15,000, for. proper wharf accommo* dation, )et them give us 25,000 acres of: land, and we- will be content.'" (A-p«---plause). ■■• ; Mr. Hulke spoke in sapftoft of theresolution. He said that he frequently had to complain of- the apathy and su~ S" neness of the Foxton people. On the>ast "Foxton" was onlyanothernamefor sleepiness and incapacity^ Whent in Wanganui a few days ago, he had been chaffed most unmercifully about the "public'* meeting to be held ia Foxton, and was told that .there would be only three or four present. When. they complained of the Government's; inaction in the matter, he thought they had only themselves ti> blame* Twentyyears ago Wanganui was part of theProvince of Wellington, and Tae&ofe each Council Session they used' to h^dpubUb meetings and insist on certain things being done,, and if they wanted their? wharf they must do the same. That meeting was the onlvsignot political feeling he had seen in Foxton. Only three; years ago what disgraceful scenes. 00~ curred at the wharf without a word from them. Vessels had to haul out fronv the wharf time after time, in ocder to allow others to discharge, untU captains positively refused to conae again until, better wharf accommodation was provided. The speaker then oontrastedi the bar at Wanganui with that aft Man*-watxi-^-most unfavourably to the formetw As. to Mr Cross's statement abemt rei» sels drawing 13, feet being able to doss the bar, all he could say was, that the vessel to which Mr. McNeil had referred, after she got into the river» had to wait week after week ii^ + ihfak spring tide and a fair wind to gj^Qiut, and when outside, she took good, caro not to go to Wanganui again^ As regarded the rivers _ themselves, the. Manawatu was much betit^r than the> Wanganui, which was so foil of mudbanks that vessels of light drafk werecontinually stioking on them, and tit» Stombird, drawing only 8 feet $ inches/ had often to be brought,by an ingenious expedient, to an even keel before she could 'scrape over them; while* aa regarded the Manawatu, he wpuldread them what Captain Eraser of the- Janft Douglas said of it. Report by Captain Fbasbb of 8.8. Jane ; Douglas. . ' v ' In crossing the baran hour, or, two. honra before .high water I have always found from; : 9 to 10 feet j and on se.veraV : ocoawbns X have crossed the bar at half-ebb, »nd came, right up to wharf. He di4 not make- these remarks to injure ■ Wanganui, deprecating as he did: such a course, but simply to rebut mi«« statements which had been made rjpspecting the Manawatu. Mr London had referred to Mr Halcombe*s action in inviting Mr Cross to the Feilding; meeting, but he (Mr Hulke) had feund qut, when in Wanganui,' that Mr Halcombe had not invited him, but that MrCross had gone as a party interested in the movement. But he might obserye that there was a mechanical law of "least resistance','* and in commercial, affairs, wherever that law ohtainedi there would the trade go. It wa»na use their acting in|a spasmodic manner. If that meeting produced no good results, they must have meeting; after meeting "until they attained their object* (Applause)* , . : , ■ • Mr Tjsynnb said that he would exercise the privilege of sneaking *gain» and as he had omitted to place before the meeting isome very important ihi formation, . regarding the depth qf water at the bar of the ManawatU,he> would, read a few letters which he, had?reoeived from gentleman mo.st coninetent to sit in judgment upon th^ inatter, . The first was from the pilot, who. said :— '< The narrowness of the, river/ had nothing to do with the collision between the steamships Napier andTaii A»toth» depth, oh the bar, there is an, average, of from eleven; to thirteen feet, at springs, except on exceptional occasions, to whbh all bars are s.ubjei-Jt, which have not protective works.. At presei.t there js thirteen feet on the bar, and

fifteen feet in the river at 'spring's." Captairi ; Wells, of the steamship Tui, writes.— " In answer to your inquiry as to how I have found the Manawatu Bar, and Eiver, whilst I have been trading' to your port, since February, I beg to mention that at times I - have been able to cross the bar at half tide, drawing seven feet of water, and have generally crossed the bar about two hours before high water, drawing the same depth. I have found as much as fourteen feet of water on the barordinary neap tides- showing from eight to nine feet; -Inside the river the depth wjll be at least nine feet at neap tides. There' is between the bar and the wharf sufficient room for vessels to pass one another easily." He (Mr Thynne) was sorry to hear the explanation given by Mr Hulke of Halcombe's conduct, as in his opinion it aggravated the censure incurred.. The fact of Mr Cross being present without invitation — or accidentally, as it were — getting the ear of the meeting to such an extent, and making such .extraordinary and unfounded statements, uncontradicted, by those present who knew better, could induce no other conclusion than that which had. been arrived at. The whole tone of the memorial which was the outcome of the meeting was * favorable . to facilities, beinglgiven. to 'Wanganui to the detriment of Foxton. /.The resolution was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. "Mr vLpimoir, on rising to propose .the second resolution, said that he did not h* the idea .of praying and begging thf Government for what they should obtain as' a right. The subject which he was about to lay before the meeting vaa not -a matter solely affecting Eoxton, but was as much ' a county matter as any that could be imagined. The resolution was worded as follows :• — ■ s^hat as repeated efforts have been made from time to time to have Foxton declared a port of entry, this, meeting is opinion that the matter 'bhoinld not be, delayed 'any, - longer, suoh 1 delay being prejudicial to the. mercantile and general' interests of the county. . '•■■'■ He need < scarcely point out the s advantages 1 of a v port of entry, 1 and why Foxton had not been declared one years ago/ jwas °a matter for astonishment. Wanganui .had been made a port of entry'when it '^as nothing Kke what Foxton was .at present,, and other places of not half its importance had also received, a like boijn. At present the large amount paid away in the shape of duty was; received at Wellington, and if goods were imported from Melbourne it became heccessary to pay an agent in Wellington to pass them through the customs, when they should be in a . positionto do that themselves, by having s Gustom-hou'se at Foxton. Another -advantage would be that storekeepers could keep smaller stocks. On tobacob there was 2s 6d duty, while the value in bond varied from Is 6d to Is 9d, and if merchants were enabled to import their owi goods, and bond in Foxtony they could then clear them as they needed. In like manner the duty on tea was 6d "per \h., and on spirits 12s per gallonV Qri previous occasions when^ application, had been made fora Cuftom-houae they had been met with the reply, that when English ships arrivedyqirect ;'at)tiie port, Customs' officers" would be resident in Foxton. He held; a< different opinion, and considered that it was not at all necessary to 'wait for that time. He thought the claim for! what was asked was sufficiently weighty to obviate all necessity for begging or praying. Mr Snelson was muph pleased to be present that night, and taking part in the .proceedings, which he held were conducive to the benefit and welfare of the wjhole county. He, however, did not believe in: either ,the efficacy • bif necessity . 6i badgering the Government, as he was quite certain that .they were only too willing to give assistance when it lay in their power; and could be consistently and fairly; claimed. 7 \Hs. agreed with the last Bpeakerth^it the time had now arrived, and Mariawatu ha3 •assumed 'sufficient . importance to ask that its .port should be declared one of entry. Some time since Mr. Seed, the Inspector and Secretary of .Custom^ had paid the district a visit with a view to ascertain the »■ amount of Customs likely tote paid, but I the estimate was i a very rough and super- "; ficial one, and consequently was adj^rse 1 to the' idea.' Even, however, , (^u'pposing-tha,t |Mr Seed's report had been a '-correct" .one, and that at that time it did not ' pay, it did not foUbw that that should be the only reason necessary for its rejection, as matters which we're found to be a loss at the outset, often .proved the reverse upon continuance. The Chairman having- asked discussion before putting the resolution, mnd .nbne/;beiDg forthcoming it was carried without a dissentient. Mr Snpi-sok said that he had been called upon to perforin a very unpleasant office, as the resolution placed in his hands had'for 5 its object the conveyance of censure nponthe railway management. It was well known to every person that the Foxton end of the line had. been systematically negleoted; and 4hat forthe want of trucks the trade of the district was being seriously in- • jured. It was quite true that an advertisement had been published calling for more rolling stock, but what he de. demanded should be done was, that until there was an .increase in the number of trucks' they should be fairly distributed over the whole of the line; Unless the rolling stock in use was fairly divided, it would, be impossible for Foxton ttf compete with Wanganui as a place of export. The Manawatu Eiver did not belong solely to Foxton, itwasthe property of the whole county, and it behoved each, and every one who wished the district to -prosper to contribute their quota in its straggle for justice. He believed in meetings of the people, they oontribiited to an interchange of ideas, arid made persons in the district acquainted with the wants and grievances of particular portions, beside adding to the advancement of the whole. They encouraged a spirit of honost rivalry, and caused a healthy emulation, and although Palmerston might be sometimes pitted against Feilding or Foxton, upon minor matters, it by no means followed that their interests were antagonistic. Foxton might be so netimes twitted »bi<ut its sandhills 4a i sandbags; Palmers ton quizzed con-

cerning tlio floating of its municipal loan ; and Feilding upon the size of its corporation, but for all that, in matters of importance the interests of all three were identical. He would read the resolution, which was to the following .effect*— s That the Commissioner of Railways be requested to meet a. committee appointed by this 'meeting, at a convenient, date, in the district, to take steps to secure inore attention to the consignees on the line than they at the present receive. That the arrangements, under which the Station-master at the Foxton' Termjnus is taken from his dnties three days a week, to act as a travelling clerk, Jb a matter of grave inconvenience to those forwarding goods, and hns led to many errors and delays which would otherwise have been avoided. And that the committee consist of Messrs London, McNeil) Thynne, and the mover. Mr Keslinq Kad much pleasure in not only seconding the resolution just read, but in endorsing the remarks of the last speaker. He thought that the committee should not only lose no time in seeing that the rolling-stock was equally divided all over the line, but that they should lie left untrammelled in their actions, and beside interviewing the Commissioner, be free to take what further action be \ deemed- necessary.: He had seen, by the Manawatu Times, a case whioh would fairly instance the manner in which the interests a, nd trade of the district. had been sacrificed by the gross neglect of the management. A Wellington contractor—:MrMcGoll—had purchased a large quantity of timber "for export to the capital, only, to discover that he had become possessed of a white elephant, inasmuch as no trucks being available, the ; timber was useless. In this strait he advertised for tenders for cartage to Foxton, and taking the alarm, the department was able next morning to place more waggons at his disposal than he could use or required. \ Mr Simpson having been invited by the Chairman to speak to the resolu- ■ tion, staledthat he was a living embodiment of the mismanagement of the line ; but, with the able assistance of the .Maitawatu'Times, he had, so far, received a amount of concession. Still he was bound to say that even for thai; he had to pay double. He was now. certainly getting a little better accommodation than he had hithertb been receiving, but it was a price at which he would have been better without it. ' Mr THfNNE had heard a great many complaints made, and he Was glad to see that they were well grounded. As the convener of the meeting, he had given the General Manager an invitation to be present that night. In concluding his reply thereto, Mr Eotheram had coolly asserted that he was quite ignorant of there being anything wrong in : the working of the line, or of a prevailing dissatisfaction. Well, all ne (Mr Thynne) could say in reference to such a statement was that the man who made i it was past redemption, seeing that he ! had not only written to but interviewed Mr Eotheram in the interests of the firm. On one occasion he had lodged a i complaint against what he considered ! an excessive charge, and upon the matter being referred to the Manager, he had it rectified by the addition of another shilling. It had been the policy of some who had the welfare of the district at heart to get the port of Foxton to be the feeding point of as large an area as possible, and for this purpose a trial cargo was sent there for transit to Marton. The goods arrived at eleven in the forenoon, but on account of the migmanagement of the department through the Station-master not being available, they were not despatched until the following day, and by being thus handicapped by delay, the preference was afterwards given to Wanganui, where every facility was at hand j on the line. I carried unanimously. ! Mr Goweb said that, no doubt in punishment for the long speech he had inflicted upon them at the last meeting, he had been put low down on the list, where there would be nothing to say, and no time to say it in. He, therefore, would take the hint and reduce his remarks to a very small compass. One of the previous speakers had said that Foxton had been asleep ; but from the tone of the meeting it would be evident that it had now wakened up with a vengeance. After severely criticising the conduct .of certain residents of the county, and contradicting the statements of Mr. Cross, the speaker compared Wanganui to the strong bird in the cukoo's nest, whioh grabbed all, and left its fellows to starve. He would now read the resolution submitted to the meeting:— That the Government be requested to accede to the memorial of the Sawmillers of the County to obtain a reduction of the railway freight on wKito pine timber to oner half of the present charge, and that the -charge for unloading at wharves be not im- ; posed when the work of unloading is done direct from tracks into vessels, and that the charge on the, carriage oh timber- shall be made on the aotunl mileage from the mills, and not as at present from the station next furthest on the line. ... i: 'Mr Thtnkk in seconding the.resolutipn, would merely confine himself to reading some interesting statistics with regard to the nine mills in the district. The Oroa Bridge, Mill was 13 miles from Foxton; 73 from Wanganui ; distance in favor of Foxton, 60 miles ; to come to Foxton a saving in per ICQ feet of S.s 6d. Eichter and Nanstead's Mill was 24 from Foxton; 62 from Wanganui, distance in favor of Foxton, 38 miles; saving by Foxton, Is 7d. Trondheim Mill, 31£ from Foxton } 64$ from Wanganui; in favor of Foxton, 23|; saving by Foxton, Is. Bailey's, 33 from Foxton ; 64 from Wanganui, in favor of Foxton, 22 ; saving by Foxtori; lid, Bull's Mill, 32* from Eoxton: 62 Jfroin Wanganui j 2l£ nearer Foxton ; saying by Foxton, lid. Manson and Bartholomew's ; Mill, 34f from Foxton j; 51 J from Wanganui ; in favor of Foxton, 16* ; saving by Foxton Bd. Nicholas Tarrant and Cos Mill, 37 from Foxton ; 49 from Wanganui; in favor of Foxton, 12; saving by Foxton, 6. Lash's Mill, 43 from Foxton ; 43 from Wangauui. Kakakiki, 45f from Foxton ; 40 from Wanganui ; in favor of Wanganui, t\\ saving by Wanganui. 3d Basolution carried. Mr Kebbell said that the resolution wuL-h. hod been placed in bis hands

was of sufficient importance to speak for itself. It was : That in the opinion of this meeting, the Government should increase the number of the Surveyors now at work in the Horowlienua Riding, in order that the lands almost purchased from Natives may be surveyed for the purpose of passing the land through the Native Lands Court without delay, and thus enabling the purchases to he completed, and the land thrown open to the public. Mr McDonald, in seconding the resolution, gave some very valuable information as to the amount of land bought and paid for from the natives ; but we regret we are unable to publish it in detail. A motion that the convener forward the resolutions to the proper quarter, and a vote of thanks to the chair, brought the proceedings to a close, after which those taking part in the meeting were invited to capital supper at Whyte's Hotel.