Public Meeting at Hawera.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 536, 22 June 1880, Page 2

Public Meeting at Hawera.

(Telegram from our Correspondent.) Hawera, Monday. A public meeting was held in the Hawera Town Hall on Saturday evening, in compliance with a requisition signed by 65 residents, for the discussion of two subjects of great local interest, namely the unjust levy of 25 per cent, on all land sales in this distiict as a revenue for the Harbor Board at New Ptymouth, and the importance of an early settlement of the Confiscated Land. The attendance was large, and some sympathisers from a distance were prevented by the weather from attending. Mr Moore Hunter presided, as convener of the meeting. The sudden alteration in the departure of tlie coach this (Monday) morning prevents me from forwarding a full report of the speeches. The following telegraphed summary may suffice to get over the unforeseen difficulty. The resolutions obtained the unanimous assent of the meeting. Some remarks made about Taranaki produce as compared with that of Hawera were objected to by Mr Bayly as injudicious and uncalled for. With this exception, the proceeding passed off with the utmost cordiality. LAND TAX ECU TARANAKI HARBOR. Mr James Livingston proposed the first resolution ; " That tins meeting is unanimously of opinion that the Government should refuse to accept the amended plans of Sir John Coode, for Harbor Works at New Plymouth, as an additional expenditure of £BO,OOO will thereby have to be incurred, should Government consent to the proposed alterations. “ That in view of the present financial depression existing in this colony, and the heavy taxation under which the inhabitants labor, a tax of one shilling in the £ on lands lying between (he Taungatara and Waingongora rivers, and 25 per cent, of the land revenue of the whole portion of the Paiea county within the provincial district of Taranaki, for harbor works at New Plymouth, is a groat injustice, not alone to the present and future residents of this district, but to the colony at large; and that such a course of proceeding is also impolitic, as it will militate against future sales of laud in the large area of unoccupied territory within the boundaries of the Patca county. “ That a committee bo appointed by this meeting to draw up a petition for presentation to the Government (and also to members of both Houses of the Legislature) asking that the whole scheme of harbor works at New Plymouth should be ro-consulcrcd ; and that lire co-operation of the various local bodies in the Patca county bo requested, in furtherance of the petition to bo drawn up.” Mr F. H. Brett seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. SETTLING THE PLAINS. Mr G. McLean proposed the second resolution : "That iu the opinion of this meeting the most effectual means for lessening taxation, ending the native difficulty, and finding cmployent for the working classes, will bo to open up and populate the large area of Government waste lauds, now lying in an unproductive slate ; and that that portion of the Wahnatc plains which has been already surveyed, should be thrown open for settlement without delay. The eager desire manifested to obtain land in the Ngaire district, and the number of applications in excess of land offered, clearly demonstrate the necessity of more activity in the survey and administration of the waste lands.

“That, with a view to this, the meeting would respectfully urge on the Government the necessity of increasing the present survey stall, and the prosecution of the survej's of the waste lands in this county with more energy and despatch than has been hitherto practised. “ That this meeting is of opinion that every encouragement should be offered to the public to take up and occupy the large area of forest lands in the Patea County ; and this can be best effected by classifying, putting a moderately fixed price upon the lands, and disposing of them on a liberal deferred payment system.” Mr C. E. Gibson seconded the motion, which was adopted unanimously. SEPARATE LAND BOARD. Captain Wilson proposed the third resolution : “That the Patea county labors under great disadvantages, through having the lands of this county administered by land boards, the members of which, with one exception, are residents of other counties ; and that consequently the Boards arc composed of persons who have, generally speaking 1 , no interest in, or knowledge of, the requirements of this county. “That this meeting strongly protests against the injustice of having the land within Patea county administered by the Taranaki and Wellington Land Boards; and this meeting would'therefore respectfully point out to the Government, and tho members of both Houses of the Legislature, that the injustice complained of could be remedied by placing the lands within this county under the control of the Patea County Council, or some other local body, or that a separate land board should be constituted to look after and administer the large area of land within this county.” Mr Inkster seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. PETITIONS. Mr Gibson proposed and Mr J. Stevenson seconded, “ That the chairman of this meeting attach his signature to the foregoing resolution, and send the same to the Government, and that printed copies be forwarded to tire members of both Houses of Parliament. That the following committee he appointed, to draw up petitions in accordance with the foregoing resolutions, and to obtain the signature of residents throughout the county ; and that the same be forwarded to the Hon. Major Atkinson for presentation to the House of Representatives.” The motion was agreed to, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.