NORMANBY.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 321, 15 May 1878, Page 2

NORMANBY.

(from a correspondent.)

A rubric meeting was held at Bretts' Hotel, on the evening of Friday, 10th -May, for the purpose of considering the terms upon which Government had offered to establish a Telegraph Station at Normanby. Mr C. E.’Gibson was voted to the chair.

After reading copy of letter to the Telegraph Department, asking terms upon which the Government would establish an ollicc at Norraanby, and letter in reply from Telegraph Department, stating terms upon which, cilice would be established, the Chairman addressed the meeting, and ■said ; to put it as briefly and plainly as possible before you is this—we desire a telegraph station established here. Wc were under the impression that the Government would have treated us in the same manner, or nearly so, as other small townships, namely—that we would have to indemnify them against loss to a certain amount, and find ollicc accommodation. This, I presume, wc were ready to do, provided the guarantee was not too heavy. But, contrary to our expectations, the Government depart from their usual terms in such cases, and lay down as a condition, ‘‘ the free gift of an acre of land.” Now this on the face of it, is a most extortionate request, and instead of squeezing the Lemon as we thought to do, the Lorn on is trying the effect of a squeeze upon us. Whether, the fact of Mr Brett, and Messrs Thompson and McGuire having each offered sites for a railway station, had led the Government: to suppose that acres are cheap hero, and to be had for the asking, I cannot say ; hut certain it is that considerable difficulty would be experienced, and heavy sums would have to be paid in negotiating for an acre of land in anything like a good position. Besides (if I may be allowed to quote from the Patea Mail) “ it does seem outrageous that Govern - 1 meat should require, in addition to money guarantee, an area of land sufficiently large to accommodate all the public offices which arc likely to be required in the course of the next 20 years.” It is out of the question to accept the Government terms (unless somebody has brought that acre along with him) and yet we don't want to he choked off altogether. If the Government would be satislied with a quarter acre section I can see this advantage to be gamed in it, that the office would bo established permanently and there would be an end to all further bother with it. But will the people heie rise to the occasion of even giving a I quarter acre section, and would the Gov. fn ment accept if they did ? The question might almost be answered in the affirmative. I believe those who have the interest of the place most at heart would respond to the call on them, and I think the Government would accept the offer. What I would suggest is the forming of a committee to take the matter in hand, and peg away at the Government until more reasonable terms are ageed to, and then submit them for the approval of some future meeting. But never say die till you're dead. We fought for our road and we got it, we must do the same for our Telegraph station. After considerable discussion, it was finally proposed by Mr Thomas Robson, seconded by Mr C~ 11. Beresford, and carried, “ That this meeting having considered the terms upon winch the Government have offered to establish a Telegraph Station here, think them most unreasonable, and find it impossible to entertain them, and that a committee of seven beappointed, with power to add to their number, to take the whole matter in hand, and open up communication with tiie Telegraph Department, with a view to obtaining more reasonable terms. The committee to consist of the following gentlemen:—Messrs D. McGregor, F. Hunger, F. IL Brett, C. E. Gibson, C. H. Beresford, E. Wilson, and the mover,” The meeting (which was very wpll attended) then adjourned, after whicjrthe committee proceeded to business. A committee meeting was afterwards held at which there were present; Messrs Robson, Brett, McGregor, Beresford, Hunger, Wilson, and Gibson. Mr Gibson wars elected chairman of committee, and Mr White was added to the committee, and took his seat. Proposed by Mr White, seconded by Mr Hunger, and carried, “ That the chairman be authorised, to communicate with the Telegraph Department embodying the resolution carried by

the general meeting, and shewing the impossibility of entertaining the terms offered by Government ; .'also staling that people here are willing to do their best to secure (•J) quarter acre land if possible, and ashing'if Government' will.be content to accept quarter acre with guarantee.”— floating adjourned srrte die.