PUBLIC MEETING IN CARLYLE.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 528, 3 June 1880, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING IN CARLYLE.

COUNTY REPRESENTATION—RAILWA Y WORKS SETTLEMENT OF PLAINS—PORT OF ENTRY—PETITIONS TO PARLIAMENT. A public meeting was bold on Tuesday evening, in the Carlyle Town Hall, to discuss County politics. The meeting had been promoted by requisition to the Chairman of the County Council, for the consideration of four questions of urgent importance to the County of Patca ; and the promoters desired to give this public movement the character of a unanimous expression of opinion as to what are the most urgent wants and wishes of settlers in Patca County, in order that Parliament maybe informed of them by publiepetitionThe Town Hall was well filled, and several prominent settlers from the district were present. This was probably the largest and most representative meeting ever held in the County. Mr W. Dale, who occupied the chair, opened the proceedings by reading the public requisition and the notice convening the meeting. He said : Whatever divert sity of opinion there may be as to one of the four subjects mentioned in the requisition, there can be none as to tiic desirability of a seperatc parliamentary representation being given to this County ; and there will doubtlcs be the same unanimity as to the importance of pushing on the railway works throughout this district. 1 will now call on the mover of the first resolution.

COUNTY REPRESENTATIONMr Joseph Ivess moved “ That this meeting urges upon the Government the necessity for a separate representation of the County of Patea in Parliament.” He said : In moving tins resolution, I wish to disclaim at the outset any personal motive for desiring to sec a separate representative given to this County. Having been myself a candidate for your suffrages on one occasion, it may be supposed that I have now some intention of coming before you in a similar capacity. That is not so. I have been asked to move this resolution as one having a stake in the district, and I have pleasure in doing so for the simple reason that I have been compelled to realise, after some absence from Patea, how little benefit has resulted to this district from the present mode of representation in Parliament, and how much injurious neglect the district has suffered in consequence. I do not think it necessary to expatiate on the great want that has been experienced through the inadequate representation of this part of the Egmont district. In saying this I must disclaim any intention to disparage the present representative in Parliament. He seems to command the confidence of the majority in the district, as shown by repeated renewals of your trust; but I think the time has come when Patea as a County should assert its claims to a separate representation, particularly at this season when a Redistribution of Seats Bill has been promised by the Government. If this district were to remain silent now, when the question is about to come before Parliament, its claims would be likely to remain unknown, or very little known, to the majority of members who will have to vote in Parliament on the redistribution of electoral representation. If you make your voice heard now, through a petition to Parliament, I think it likely that, before the present session terminates, the claims of this County will bo fairly considered. The progress of the district has been greatly hindered, owing to the absence of what I may fairly term a local representative in Parliament. The gcograpical position of the district, 1 am quite confident, is not known to the majority of the representatives, nor oven to all the members of the Government. I was much struck with an instance of this only the other day. Four members of the Railway Commission were passing through, and when they reached Carlyle they had so far lost their latitude that they did not know where Carlyle was situate, nor that there was such a place at all. They said this was Patea, and they expected to find Patea a place for changing horses, and nothing more. They were rather surprised to find a good-sized town situated on a blank place in their travelling map ; and yet these persons had been sent this way specially to report upon the railway requirements of this part. If such ignorance of the geographical position of tin’s district prevails among these persons, some of them members of the House, it will be evident that your claims to a separate representation are not likely to be taken for granted, unless you make an effort to bring them under notice in the right quarter. I glean from the Premier’s speech at Leeston that the Redistribution of {Seats Bill will be based partly on population, the minimum being about five thousand ; and that in allotting the new representation the Government will be guided by considerations of revenue, by the character of a district as to its being a permanent or a shifting population, and by other conditions. This district may figure owing to the last census of population having been taken so far back as 78, and so it becomes desirable to point that out in your petition to Parliament, in order that injustice may not be done to an important and thriving district which has had its main increase since that census was taken. There is no doubt that a large increase has taken place in the last two years both in the towns and out-districts, and in any fair apportionment of representation that increase ought to be taken into account. Many other parts of the colony have claims, no doubt, and notably Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago, which have grown largely since the present representation was apportioned. If a readjustment of boundaries were made, I dare say your wants would be fairly satisfied. New Plymouth and Wanganui are not likely to have each an additional member given to them ; but if the district as a whole is entitled to an increased representation, this middle portion of the coast should have it, as having been practically unrepresented in the past. The wants and interests of this district cannot have proper attention from the Egmont member so long as ho is separated by so many miles from the Patea end of his electoral district. We know from experience what the practical effect of this representation is ; and because you know it you will be anxious for a readjustment of boundaries, so as to create a constituency embracing the County. The present member represents too large, an area of country. To a certain extent' he is not well acquainted with our wants, and his sympathies are not as keenly enlisted in the promotion of our interests as they would be if the member were closely associated with us and had a stake in the place.

Until you do get local representation, I think it is hopeless for you to participate in the Parliamentary advantages derivable from local representation. Every district that has had local representation in the past can show that it now enjoys advantages which we have not. Such a district makes its voice heard in the House, its member has a vote, and he is able to secure a fair share of whatever good things are going. I hope the day is not distant when Patea County will be constituted a separate electoral district; and when that day arrives, 1 have no doubt this district will take its rank among the foremost districts in the Colony. (Hear hear.) I remember that some four or five years ago meetings were held in this district clamoring for railways. After that long interval you arc meeting again to demand the same thing, or to urge the speedy fulfilment of tardy promises. I say that is duo to inadequate repreientation ; and if you bad had proper representation you would not have met to-night for these purposes. It your member could stand in the House and make the claims of your district known, you would not have to complain of this grievous indifference to local interests. I think there is not likely to be division of opinion in the County on this question of a local representative, which I consider of paramount importance to all of us; because without a local voice in the House, your wants and claims can hardly secure proper attention. By seem - ing a local representative in the House, all these wants will be attended to as sure as after dark shall come the light. (Applause).. Mr H. F, Christie said ; I have much pleasure in seconding the resolution.

The Chairman then put the motion to the vote, and it was carried unanimously, with acclamation.

RAILWAY WORKS. Mr 11. C. TexXENT moved, “ That this meeting would respectfully urge upon the House the necessity of accelerating the completion of the main line of railway through this district, by commencing the work from Carlyle as a centre, and from thence extending the line in both a northerly and southex’ly direction.” Having also read to the meeting a statement made by the Minister of Public Works in December last, showing what he then promised to do for this district, Mr Tcnncnt said : I may mention further that the votes placed on the estimates for this line amounted to £223,000, and the money was voted in this way ; a certain sum for the completion of the. line from Eoxton to Carlyle, and a further sum of £120,000 for the completion of the line from Carlyle to Waitara. I wish to point out that this sum of money certainly has not been spent during the past j’ear. I am not qualified to say the exact sum of money that has been spent, but we know the line has been proceeded with in what may be called a v ery leisurely manner, both north and south. The people of Normanby, for example, were promised long ago that the line should reach them in June, whereas wo know that a portion of that length is being tendered for only now, so that the promise cannot possibly be fulfilled. They have not yet got the lino to Waverley, and the line is not even open to Waitotara. I think we arc perfectly justified, therefore, in pressing upon the House a speedy fulfilment of promises made by the Government during the last session. In pressing this matter on the House, I would like to urge these various reasons.' The first reason is the great saving that could bo made by utilising the port of Carlyle for bringing in railway material. It must be evident that the line can be constructed very much more cheaply by commencing the work from this end. Thanks to the exertions of our member, and also thanks to the exertions of a gentleman well known to us and residing in this place, we have our harbor greatly improved, so that it is much better than any harbor along this coast. If the Government arc going to bring rails and material, they cannot get them from Wellington to Wavcrley, for constructing there, because they have not got the line through yet; so that in sending railway material for the completion of this line they would either have to ship the material to Wanganui and convey it by rail and road to Wavcrley, or else ship it to Patoa. That would be obviously the cheapest process. The freight from Wellington to Carlyle need be no more than from Wellington to Wanganui, having regard to the present state of the two harbors. By commencing the line from Carlyle, it will mean an immediate and very large saving, by using the port as it is intended by nature that it should be used. Another point touched on by our member in bringing this matter before the House was the strategical importance of this lino. We all know that last year there was a likelihood of a Maori war in this neighborhood, so that it appeared to the Government very important to have this line carried through, to enable them to place many men on the spot in a few hours. The knowledge that this could bo done would give a sense of greater safety to the settlors, and a rising under these circumstances would bo impossible. At the present time that is not so. It might take several days for men to bo sent here from Wellington or Auckland, or any large centre of population. Another point we might strongly urge on the Government is the claims of this district to have this railway. It is well known that a large railway reserve was sot apart here, and the Government sold that reserve some time ago, but they have not made the line. We certainly have a groat claim on the Government in consequence, for having this line pushed through. The Government have received the money for that reserve, and have possibly spent it io other ways. It now only remains for them to return us the money in the shape of public works. There appears only one farthei thing that peed be pressed on the attention of the' House : that is, that this line is likely to prove one-of the best paying lines in the colony. The whole way, almost, from Wanganui to Waitara, the railway would lead through a district capable of settlement, and of very large settlement. If any of you have travelled from Christchurch down to Dunedin, which is now avowedly one of the best paying lines in the colony, you will know that that district is not to be compared with this. On each side of that southern railway you see thousands on thousands of acres used merely as sheepruns, and many miles of country visible from the line are hardly fenced in. But what have we in this district ? Along the whole extent of the lino, even taking the Mountain road and the back of the Mountain, there does exist a country capable of sustaining a very large population ; and it only needs that the line shall be opened to prove one of the best paying lines in the colony. This is a subject that would weigh very much with the House, because they cannot be expected, in the present state of the finances, to go in for railway works that would not pay. If it can be shown that this 'district.,is capable of carrying three or fourfold the population

now in it, that would carry weight with the Government. The have treated the line to Carlyle as a portion of the main line. 1 We know that for this district the question of the main line being connected with Carlyle as the port of the district is of > very great importance. I may tell you that before coming to this meeting, the following telegram was put into my hands : Minister Public Works hopes plans an specifications for Carlyle branch railway, including wharf, will be ready and tenders invited by 12th instant. Specifications of wharf will certainly be ready by then, if others arc not, and tenders invited separately for that work if the rest are not ready.

H, A. Atkinson. (Hear, hear.) I hope you will agree that in this we see a promise of the work that we have so long been waiting for being now pushed on~ and I only have to say that if the work be pushed on immediately wo shall not see a town of this size very much longer, but in the course of two or three years I hope to see this town treble its size. We have all complained in the past that this district has not had its share of public money spent hero, and now that we are about to have some of it spent here, it will have an effect that we can hardly foresee at present. , The change will be so groat that you may consider it almost beyond the bounds of possibility, if this work be pushed on, and this town is made the centre of a large and populous district, as it should be. (Applause.)

Mr R. Horner said : I have been called upon to socond this resolution. It needs no words to impress upon you all the necessity of these railway works being pushed on. There is one tiling I may touch upon, and that is to remind you that the principle of union is strength. I am happy to find the requisition calling this a County meeting, and I think the wbo'e County, from beginning to end, is especially interested in this railway question. On a previous occasion this ques tion was taken up in sections, as the Government take up railways ; it was taken up at Waverley, it was taken up at Hawera, and I think we at Carlyle stood neutral. All these things ought to ho made County questions. We want to he connected with other comities, of course, as a link, but we should pull together as a County in matters affecting the district. I cordially endorse what has been said upon this railway question, aud I am happy to see that the promises (laughter), though they are like pic-crusts, made to be broken, arc yet in a fair way to he performed. I suppose that people have to make these promises, whether they can perform them or not. I hope this promise in the Minister’s telegram may be performed. I have no doubt the district will vciy soon test whether this is not one of the most productive railways in the country. (Applause.) The motion was then put to the vote, and carried unanimously, with applause.

SETTLING THE PLAINS. Mu G. F. SmnrwooD proposed “ That a speedy settlement of the Waimatc Plains is essential to the progress of the Patea County; and that this meeting urges upon the attention of Parliament the desirability of a thorough appreciation of the claims of the native race, and the claims of the colony as a whole, to have the confiscated lands in this district settled and apportioned on a fair and equitable basis, and without delay.” He said : I cannot help indulging in the stereotyped remark that I regret this resolution has not been placed in the hands of someone abler to do justice to such a great question. I do feel very forcibly the vast importance to this district of a speedy settlement of the Plains. I believe this is the particular resolution alluded to by the Chairman as one on which there is some difference of opinion outside as to the advisability of discussing this question at a public meeting. I cannot understand in what way those who differ from mo in this have been actuated ; and I can only trace in it precisely the same power in the background that has always used its inilucncc to endeavor to slide public discussion on any matter affecting natives in the Patea district. It is considered a prerogative of Native Commissioners and of Boyal Commissioners that, no matter to what extent the interests of the public are involved in the question, there must not bo any inquiry, and the public must not remark in any way on the conduct of the Government or the Commissioners in the settlement of native lands. I believe wo have lost a great deal through not raising our voice on this all-important question. I have frequently heard it remarked in Wellington ; “ Wc hear nothing from yon at Patea —why don’t you lot the House know these things ?” On one occasion, wc had an Education Board here that was doing its work very well, but with a stroke of the pen at Wellington that Board was abolished, and I hoard it remarked, “ You allowed it to be done : we heard nothing from yon.” And I believe also in this question of the Plains, that if we do not give an expression of opinion, the same result will follow, and we shall have only ourselves to blame for not letting the opinion of the district be known in the House. If the usual course had been adopted towards this constituency, our member would have been here, and we should have told him what we thought and what wc wanted. He could have taken those views to Wellington, and laid them before tbe House in duo course. If he won’t come here, wc must adopt some other means of communicating those views to Parliament. I for one shall invariably claim my right, within fair limits, to criticise the actions of the Government, of our Member, of Boyal Commissioners, and of Civil Commissioners. I will now endeavour to go back to the root of the native difficulty, because I want to understand what are tbe real claims of natives as a whole, and what our position is here now. The Maoris settled along this coast, and were known by various tribal names. The Waikatos were the first natives to got guns, and they came to this coast and killed and ate nearly all the natives along the coast. They cleared the whole coast. Not a Maori was left in it. Some fugitives had escaped across the strait, and others had gone into the bush. When the first Europeans came here they began to settle at New Plymouth, and as the Waikatos heard there were white settlers here they came down and claimed payment for the land. They got money for it. The money was paid by the Government of New Zealand. If that payment was right, the Waikatos may make a large claim again as the real owners of this coast by right of conquest. The other natives had been driven away or eaten off, and their claim was effectually extinguished at the time. How has that claim of the scattered and vanquished tribes been set up again ? You all know the history of the recent outbreaks, the one in ’63, and the one in ’6B-9. At the end of that period the whole of this district was clear of natives, and it was pretty clear of Europeans, for they had been first driven out by the natives. There was not a single Maori along the coast, and there was nothing to. prevent tbe Government taking

possession of the land by putting Europeans upon it. Sir Donald M’Lcan visited the district to settle certain matters. He had a meeting of the natives, and told them he had appointed a Commissioner to enquire into their claims and make certain awards. He also told the natives, in answer to a question, “No, you must not talk to me of Waimatc at all. That is gone from you for ever. You will have your fishing villages and your burial places, and the immediate settlements in which you may bo living, secured to you ; but nothing more.” After that, through the influence of Mr Parris, the natives were offered 2s 6d an acre, which was increased to 3s Gd, or it may bo even to 7s Gd an acre. Now these were the whole of the promises ever made to the natives ; and what were you told in this room on a recent occasion ? That the whole of these promises to the natives were recorded in the blue books. Then, in the name of conscience, why appoint a Royal Commission to enquire into promises which were blue-book records ? The gentleman who had made these promises was dead, and this Commission was appointed to take evidence from persons who were making claims. If a Royal Commission were appointed to come into Patea district and take evidence from white settlers of promises alleged to have been made by a Minister now dead that he would give certain persons ten thousand pounds each, would there not be a tendency for the number of claimants to increase very largely? Would not some of you begin to fancy you had got a promise of ten thousand pounds ? (Hear hear, and laughter.) This is one of the points alleged why this particular question should not be gone into by a public meeting. It is said that until the final report of the Commissioners is laid before Parliament, it would be injudicious to interfere in any way. I can quite understand that such an opinion as that would bo entertained by many who had not taken the trouble to read the interim report ; but if there ever was a report intended to be final in its effects, I say it is the so-called interim report of the Commissioners. It is not a report made to the House, but is made to the Governor direct. Line after line of it implores the Governor to immediately comply with the recommendations they have to make. Not to wait till the House is consulted, but so much is to be done in respect of these awards in order to put the matter in this position, that when the question does come before the House, there shall be no alternative but to confirm what has been done —why ? To prevent another native war ! They want the Plouse to take that view of it, and so confirm what the Commissioners have done. This interim report contains the gist of what the ultimate report will contain ; and it is in effect saying to the House, “ The Commissioners have gone so far that unless you confirm this report you will have another war.” I want to point out what the effect of this will be. The Commissioners say ; “ We ask your Excellency’s permission to address the present statement in anticipation of our general report, because there are two questions” —two questions, mark yon!—“which must be determined at once.” The) 7 then state that the Waimato. Plains comprise 120.000 acres, 30,000 of which arc open plain. The next point, the ignominious end of the survey, was the result, they say, of there having been no reserves made nor any promises of reserves to the natives. Tills is a statement wo know is not true. The nativesliave repeatedly said,“ Wc want no reserves ; the land is ours ; wc claim it all, and will have no reserves.” Then comes the remarkable part of the report, which says that “ for ten years the Crown had virtually ceased to exercise any right of ownership,” &c., and “ had tacitly sanctioned the return of the natives to the land.” Now what arc the facts ? One of these Commissioners, if not two, must have known that instead of a tacit consent, they actually seat a messenger to Titokowaro inviting him to come back. Yet these Commissioners say wc had virtually abandoned the confiscation of 200,000 acres of land ! I believe the Government erected bridges ; they made a road ; and they had sold land up to Opunake ; and according to Maori custom we had absolute possession of that land. Yet this report says wc had virtually abandoned the land ton years ago ! They farther say that in consequence of these reserves not having been made, wc arc face to face with a trouble that will soon have cost us a quarter of a million of money. Now what, will that have been paid away 7 for? They are candid enough to say: “The problem is still unsolved, and wo are nowin exactly the same position that wo were before it commenced.” Then they say: “The Plains will never bo occupied in peace until proper reserves arc made and marked out on tlic ground.” These reserves have been made, and are marked out, and wo have peace. That I am prepared to admit. They also say that if the influence of To Whiti, “ which has always been exercised against war,” proves equal to the strain of road-making - , these reserves will be accepted by the resident natives. But any action taken bn this report will bo the Governor’s action sanctioned by Ministers, and not the action of Parliament at all. The country on the Taranaki coast is, by this report, given back to the Natives. That is to say, out of 220,000 acres there will be only a strip of coast left, and it will be entirely isolated, being between two large blocks of native reserve. That means that the whole of the land from Oeo to Stoney River is returned to the natives. That is where the armed constabulary are making a road, at an estimated cost of iMOO a day. Coming back to the-Waimato proper, the estimated area is 120,000 acres ; and out of that it is proposed to return 25,000 acres as a reserve for the natives, to share and share alike—those who fought for us and those who fought against ns. There will remain 85.000 acres to bo dealt with, 15,000 being open land. The balance of the land is gone, and gone for ever. If settlers are not soon placed on the small portion left, we shall find that will vanish also. If these Commissioners are to he logically just, they will have to recognise the claims of the natives to the whole of the settled part of Patea district, because if the native claim be good at all, they have as much right to this part of the district as to that. The natives are quite ignoring these recommendations, and are now erecting wharcs on land not proposed to be given to them at a ! l. This matter ought to be put clearly before the House. I believe there arc about 85,000 acres which the Government might open for settlement at any time ; and while they have a large and expensive force there they ought to settle that land, and it is our bounden duty to urge that on the Government. These Commissioners have given an area of land more than double that occupied by the European settlers within the Patea County. I cannot help saying that such conduct as that is simply monstrous. It is opposing a most effectual bar to progress. We are here for the purpose of living on land. If we cannot get land to live on, there is nothing for it bat to move away 7 , because the burdens of taxation will be so great in a short time that there will be no living in the country at all. The principal want of this district

has been local agitation ; and if every man will look into these subjects for himself, and not leave the prosperity of such a beautiful country as this in the hands of such gentlemen as Mr Parris and his beautiful confreres, wc shall get on much better, (Applause.) Ma E. Tkegear, in seconding the motion, said ; As to the Plains having been previously abandoned, is it not a fact that the telegraph service was carried through that country from Hawcra to Opunake, and from there by mounted messengers across native lands to Stoney River, where the wires connected with New Plymouth ? A still stronger proof of our possession was that on this portion of the Plains our telegraph was actually standing at the time; and it was only over the wild part between Opunake and Stone) 7 River that telegrams had to be carried. The idea that the land had been really given back is perfectly absurd. Whether we are agreed or not as to the value of government by Royal Commission, I would say that the most important part which the Government had to decide was the selection as to who should be the Commissioners. If that land had been for sale, to be cut up in small farms, or to be settled in any manner by Europeans, the most desirable thing would be that there should be a number of farmers there, that this disputed piece of land should bo held large population. But if, in choosing Commissioners, that Commission would have the selection of reserves, and would say how much should be given back to the Maoris, then I say if tho Government appointed men of known proclivites, who are in favor of runholders, the chance of a large population getting on the Plains would be a small one indeed. (Hear, hear). I will ask whether, from the knowledge you have of the character of these gentlemen on the Commission, they would be more likely to he favorable for the acquisition of the land by 7 large squatters or by small farmers ? The thing is apparent in itself. (Hear, hear.) If wc are really to bo governed by Royal Commissioners, I don’t see why two or three men with large salaries should be appointed to investigate the claims. The Government might appoint some of us. (Laughter.) We 'can all go np and investigate these claims. (Laughter and applause.) MrTennent: Therecnnbonopossiblc objection to the way in which this resolution is worded. The only question is whether it would be desirable to discuss this matter. I understood it was a question whether Mr Sherwood would bring forward some programme for settling the Plains. At a public meeting you are always liable to hear only one side of the question. Unless there is someone on the other side who had equal opportunities of testing the subject, and reading all about it, you don’t get both sides. If the valuable remarks from Mr Sherwood were put before the House, they would no doubt receive the consideration due to them. No exception can be taken to the wording of the resolution now before the meeting. (Hear, hear.)

Mr Horn eh : I would like to ask one thing. Mr Sherwood seemed to impress on tho meeting that the Governor’s action on this interim report would be a final decision. 1 understand that a Governor acts on the advice of his Ministers.

Mr Sherwood : A close perusal of tho whole report shows that it was intended to be final, although called an interim report. The Governor’s action on it would be final, and the Commissioners urge immediate action.

Mr Horner : Is it understood that this would be the Governor’s personal decision ?

Mr Sherwood : The whole tone of this shows that it is intended to be final. When this question comes before the House they will be able to say that the Commissioners have gone so far that it is too late to ivt’re, and that to do so would involve tho colony in war. I wish every word of this report could be inscribed in letters of fire. (Applause.) My own impression, and that of others who have read tho report—• for I have got at least a dozen letters from persons at a distance—is that the effect of this report will be that what has been recommended by the Commissioners will be done ; that the reserves to bo given are given. As to what Mr Tennent says, that there should be a policy stated in the resolution

Mu Tennent: I said I quite agreed with the resolution for the -very reason that it did not indicate a policy. Mr Sherwood: I misundetstood that. The Chairman; 1 would not like it to go forth unchallenged that Sir William Fox is in favor of large runholders, as stated by Mr Trog’car. I believe that in this district he assisted greatly to settle people on the land between Wanganui and the Waingongora. I don’t think he has been in favor of very large blocks of land. I do nst say anything about the other Commissioner.

Mu Sherwood : Well, it is a pity Sir William Fox has not done it. The motion was then dut to the meeting and carried unanimously.

PORT OF ENTRY. Mu S. Tai’i.in moved “ That the trading interests of Patea County 7 require increased facilitiesforthedirectimportationofdutiablc goods; and that importers should be able to hold dutiable goods in bond, either by the establishment at the port of Patea of bonded warehouses in connection with the nearest Custom-house, or by Patea river to be a port of entry for able goods, and appointing officers at Carlyle.” He said : You all agree that wc have one of the most important Counties in the whole colony. This place is the capital of the County 7 ; and wc have a finer County than cither Wanganui or New Plymouth. Tho trade has so far developed in this district that we can now justly ask to have this river made a port of entry, and so be in a position to import our goods and have them held under bond, as importers arc able to do at Wanganui and New Plymouth. (Hear, hear.) A port of entry is expensive, no doubt, but that could bo got over by giving us bonded warehouses here, and attaching the management to the Custom-house at Wanganui or at New Plymouth. A branch warehouse could be erected at very little expense ; and what we want is some contrivance by 7 which high-duty goods can be imported and held under bond. This would be a saving to traders, and therefore to the population generally, why would benefit by the decreased expense. When I asked this question three y 7 ears ago, the member for this district told me that declaring this place a port of entry would he simply to add to the pockets of a few traders. I say that is wrong entirely ; because if wc have some facility by which we can import goods direct, instead of paying £1 8s per case for brandy cash before we get it into the place, we could import and hold it under bond till we wanted it. Traders could then sell these goods 10 per cent, cheaper, and the whole county would save by it. Waitara, a email place, has a bonded warehouse, attached to, the Customs at New Plymouth, and at little expense. Foxton has got this concession,

and I think wc have a hotter claim to it. 1 In Blenheim the pilot has charge of the I local bonded warehouse, and I think the j pilot at Patca could manage a warehouse j here at small expense, if this close eco- j nomy is really necessary to the concession. Foxton asked, and Mr Ballance made their river a port of entry with a stroke of the pen, and our member could have given us the same convenience with a stroke of the pen if he had been disposed. I trust you will give mo as unanimous a vote on this as you have on the other questions. (Applause). Mu J. Gibson, in seconding the motion, said : If we are entitled to anything, we arc entitled to a port of entry or nothing. Mr Sherwood supported the motion. It was unanimously carried.

COMMITTEE OF PETITIONS. Mr Mibrov proposed “That the Chairman of the meeting, .Messrs Ivess, Sherwood, Taplin, Aitchison, Tregear, and the mover, be a committee to carry out in detail the resolutions of this meeting; also to confer with and solicit the co-operation of the various centres of population throughout the County ; with power to add to their number; four to be a quorum.” Mr Sherwood seconded the motion. It was understood that the committee wjtuld draw up one or more petitions for bringing the above resolutions under the of Parliament. The motion was adopted unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated t lie proceedings.