NEW PLYMOUTH.

Patea Mail, Volume 1, Issue 21, 23 June 1875, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESrONDENT.) I have no doubt that the readers of the Patea Mail will be anxious to hear of the doings of the Council. The Council met on the 14th. when there was a long address from his Honor the Superintendent. He read the members a very interesting letter, which he had written seventeen years ago to the Karl of Shaftesbury, advocating a harbour at New Plymouth. He also impressed upon memlxirs what ho foresaw then was about to be carried out now, which I think is very doubtful. His speech on the whole did not seem to impress the members very much ; and I am not surprised, considering there was nothing in it. Several member* thou notices of motion, notwithstanding the number already on the notice paper si me the January adjournment.

Mr Sherwood pre ented a pention from the licensed victuallers of the Patea District, praying that the bottle licenses should be abolished in that district. The same gentleman presented a petition from forty-six householders, praying that Hawcra be proclaimed a town, within the moaning of the Ordinance. On the 15th. Mr Peacock asked the Government what stops they had taken to increase the number of Commissioners in the Patea District. This gentleman urged at length his reasons for having the Board increased from three to seven, and showing most satisfactorily to the members the desirability of gctting't.hc number increased. The Provincial Beeretary. in reply, promised to fable a motion, whicli has since been done and carried in Council, so that the number will lie seven in all tii# wards in the Patea District. The Provincial Secretary then made a statement of what had been done since the, last sitting, which wont to show that all the public works and expenditure had taken place in the New Plymouth end of the Province. Mr McGuire a-kcdlhe Provincial Secretary why nothing had been done in the Patea end. All the work on the Mountain Road was at a stand-still, yet the work in the New Plymouth end was pushed on most vigorously. The Provincial Secretary replied that the General Government Engineer had determined to make a deviation in the Mountain Road, and until that was settled, it would be useless to push on the work. Mr McGuire said it was not fair to the Patea District that everything should be kept back for the report of the Engineer, as he had already taken five months, and by this time should be able to determine which was the best line. Mr McGuire hoped the Provincial Beeretary would not lose sight of the matter, so that the work could be pushed on as quickly as possible. The Provincial Secretary continued his statement by saying the land in the Patea District was most excellent, and pictured in glowing terms a great future for that portion of the Province.

Mr McGuire then moved the motion which had been standing in his name since the last sitting—“ That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will be pleased, in connection with the other representatives of the Province, to represent strongly to the General Government the great desirability of commencing a section of the Waitara and Witzisjanui Jiailwav in the Patea District.” He said that the Patea District was most important in many ways, that the trade of the district was a largo and increasing one, and that the Patea River was such that there would he no difficulty in landing the plant for such a -work, and that the settlers were unanimously of opinion that tins very important work should be commenced at once, and that such a work would prove reproductive must be apparent to any one acquainted with the resources of the district. Mr Sherwood, in seconding the motion, said that the work was of the very greatest importance. He had held meetings on the subject in differ, nt parts of the Patea District, and he found the people were very united on this quest'on. He condemned the commencement of the section of the railway from New Plymouth to the Waitara. Mr Byrne gave great credit to Mr McGuire for bringing this matter forward, and regretted. owing to the adjournment of the Council in January last, that the matter was not discussed. He could not agree with Mr Sherwood or Major Brown respecting the Waitara Railway. He concluded by cordially supporting the motion. Mr Upjohn said that the arguments advanced by Mr Sherwood, the seconder of the motion, went to ‘how that there was no neces.-iiy for a railway at present —at least until the mo-t difficult portions were made. However he would support the motion. Mr Andrew's spoke at great length in favor of the commencement of Hie work at once, and considered Mr Sherwood’s remarks on the Waitara and New Plymouth section entirely out of place. The Provincial Secretary promised to urge Hie matter on the General Government, and would do all in his power to bring about the early commencement of a section of the work.

Mr Callaghan would support the motion. Tie would like to sec the railway begun in

ten different p?aces. Population bad long 1 been or in tins V- oi'mc*, which had been rearing i-s ewa ;• onnktion, but; bad now got .o a quicker nrucet-s of increasing iv, which would ccon mara; die railways in llii ; IVovi::;e pay, passh-g as they would. tljroa;';h tin; largest quacii.y of av.iuab’o land tiiat was Lo be ih.uao i.» the Cu'ony. Mr Hughe* <poke in favourable terms of the motion but would like to sec .■■oiac slight alterai o • made.

Mr Eldott gave the motion his cordial support, and said that he would like to sec the work commenced at all points. The Secretary for “Waste Lands would support the motion as it stood, as he considered it more effective in its present shape. Mr Peacock was glad to see so many hon. gentlemen express themselves so favourable towards the motion. He could not agree with a portion of Mr Sherwood’s remarks, for he behoved the section of railway from Waitara to Now Plymouth was of the utmost importance, as ft would he the means of utilising the Waitara River. He thanked the Provincial Secretary for his promised support in the House of Representatives. Mr Conneit heartily supported the motion. Mr McGuire, in reply, thanked the members who had so kindly spoken in favour of his motion, and was not des. rous of further taking up the time of the Council, but could not refrain from saving that during the time he had the honour of a seat in that House, he found the members representing the New Plymouth end of the Province always favourably dispo'tvl to any matter that he brought forward hi the interest- of the Province generallv. The support accorded to his motion was all-important to the Patea (hstr'ct, and he felt certain that. His Honour the Knpcrir.tem ent, Mr Kelly, aul the Hon Major Atkioson would urge upon the Government the importance of commencing the work at once. Mr McGuire moved— 11 That a respectful add res; be presented to His Honour the Superintendent, requesting him to reserve sites for religions denominations in or convenient to the Hawcra township. He considered it the duty of the Government to set aside sites for churches of all denominations, as it was as necessary to have Church sites as Educational reserves. He contended that every person should hare some religion. The Provincial Socndary spoke against the mot ion generally on principle. The Secretary for Waste Lands said that the Provincial Government had made no provision for reserves, and it would, therefore, be inconsistent to recommend to the General Government what they would not do themselves.

The, mover, in reply, said that it was no new thing in the Province to reserve sites for such purposes, as Mr Fox, when at the head of the Government, granted sites to several religious denominations in Patea, and although the Province had neglected to make provision for such reserves, he could n all fairness ask the General Government to do that which they had done before.

The motion was put to the vote, when it was carried twelve against one. the Secretary for Waste Lands being the only member who recorded his vote against it.