PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 57, 31 May 1873, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETINGS.

MEETING OF RATE PAYERS. The meeting of the Rate-payers in the District took place, pursuant to advertisement, in the Music Hall at Gisborne, on Wednesday last. About forty persons were present. Dr. Nesbitt was unanimously voted“to the chair. Mr. Hall, at the request of the Chairman, addressed the meeting shortly to the following effect: —He had been called on by several of the rate-payers urging the necessity of enlarging the boundaries of the Road Board District, so as to admit within the sphere of assessment, many settlers who at present escape the rates, while they enjoy the benefits of money expenditure in their localities. He was not prepared with any lengthy arguments in fivor of the boundaries he was about to propose, and did not suppose that a distr et larger than the present one would remain intact ; but with a view to obtaining small Road Board, districts, he thought the best plan would be to enlarge the present one first, and divide it afterwards ; he would therefore move “ That the boundaries of the present Road Board district be taken to include all the country lying between the Southern boundary of the Province, and a line to Ngatapa; thence by a line to Motu bush; thence to the East Cape.” Seconded by Mr. Cowan. Mr. J. W. Johnson was sorry to see so small an attendance, in answer to an invitation to consider a question of so much importance. He would rather have seen Mr. Hall prepared to support an equitable division of the district; the present one was too large for any one Board to manage. There are several interests involved, and which, in the very nature of things, are antagonistic. The town has an-interest distinct from the country, and it would be unwise to perpetuate measures likely to continue that antagonism. He hail a memorial to present from the settlers on the South side of the Waipaoa river, asking for separation from the present Board district, with a view to them having management of their own affairs, which he looked upon as an evidence of a desire to have two or three small districts instead of one large one. He would move as an amendment, “ That the country be divided into three districts to be designated as follows: —1. To include the Town and Suburbs of Gisborne; 2. To include Makaraka, Matawhero, and Ormond ; 3. To include all the land lying to the South of the Big River, to the Southern boundary of the province.” Mr. Parsons, in seconding the amendment, took occasion to say that the experience of the past had shown to them that the district was too large already; and he failed to see the object to be gained by adding to the difficulties they were not prepared to encounter. He was in favor of a division of the district. Mr. Greene thought one Road Board was quite sufficient, and that the cutting up of the district into, three wpuld triplicate both the labor and the expense of working the three boards. He did not think the work was so very onerous, but that persons could be found to undertake it.

Mr. J. W. Johnson differed from the last speaker, and would like, to know if Mr. Greene would wish to become a member “of the Bqard if the district was enlarged ? (Mr. Greene was not understood as giving a definite reply). ' In answer to Mr. Hamon’s question as to whether the Engineer had complained of the inadequacy of his salary, he would remind the meeting that he was not there in his capacity as a member of the Road Board, but had no objection to state emphatically that .both the Engineer and. Secretary Jiad too much work to do already for the pay they received. Mr. Webb moved “That the meeting be adjourned for a fortnight to Ear to allow time for a further consideration of the matter/’ Mr. Sheet seconded the motion.' He attended • * rate payer, and took occasion to condemn the system at present in vogue a« to the imposition , of rates. The principle of the Act itself was wrong, as it enforced assessments unequitably. Mr. Cowen said the question before the meeting was the enlargement of the district, ana none other, and moved. “Tbit the;present meeting do proceed to. settle the question at ouce.” The amendment was seconded, and on being, pat to the meeting, the Chairman declared it to be carried. 13 for, and 6 against. The- Chairman then pat Mr. Johnson’s amendment "for the creation of three districts,

which was lost, 3 only voting for it and 4 against it. Mr. Hall’s original motion was then put and carried by a majority of 9. For 13 against, 6. The meeting then terminated. MEETING OF PETROLEUM COMPANY. The meeting of shareholders which had been adjourned from the 20th inst., re-assembled in the Music Hall on Wednesday evening at 7 o’clock for the purpose of further discussing the question of terms on which the promoters of the Petroleum Company would hand over their lease, aud also to elect a Provisional Directory. There was very large attendance, nearly all the country settlers. remaining in town to take an active part in the proceedings, and a general enthusiasm was evinced by all at a subsequent period of the proceedings, when the matter was more perfectly understood. Dr. Nesbitt occupied the chair, as on the previous occcasion. He called the attention of the meeting to the purpose for which they had met, which was to decide on the plan of future operations, and to elect a Provisional Board of Directors. Ho called on Mr. Cooper to address the meeting. Mr. Cooper said he and his partner, Mr. Ross, had, since their last meeting, considered what seemed to be a general desire of the settlers, who wished to become shareholders, that they should hand over the whole block of 5354 acres —in other words, the lease itself —to the company. He was now prepared to accede to that desire, on the condition tliat their shares were increased to 1,500, instead of 1000, and a royalty of 15 per cent. He then proceeded to read the following estimate of the cost of working the company . —

The cost of refining and casing the oil and delivering at the ship’s side, ready for shipment, will be 9£d per gallon.. The price that could be got for the oil in the New Zealand market would be 2s Id ]>er gallon, this would leave a profit to the Company of Is 6|d per gallon. Mr. J. W. Johnson asked if the promoters would re-consider their proposal; there was no doubt they entitled to benefits, but he thought the terms, in their present shape were too high ; 1,000 shares, he thought, would be a handsome remuneration, exclusive of the royalty. Mr. Cooper said their terms were not unusually high; as much as 50 per cent, was paid in some cases, besides a large money bonus. He begged now to introduce Mr. Stuart to the meeting who had taken some considerable trouble in obtaining and rectifying some of the oil, and would give them the result of his labor.

At Mr. Cooper’s request, Mr. Stuart, who has lately visited the oil springs, informed the meeting that the indications of oil at the surface of the various springs which he had examined afforded every promise of large natural deposits being discovered in the immediate neighborhood, while the geological formation of the country appeared favorable on the whole for boring operations. He then proceeded to exhibit a sample of the crude nil as skimmed from the surface of the springs, and also a portion of the same refined by himself, which, although obtained under the disadvantage of imperfect appliances, yielded % highly satisfactory specimen of limpid oil, with an unusually strong odour of kerosine. This was experimented upon in an open vessel witha naked light, without ignition, which demonstrated its freedom from naptha and consequent safety for ordinaiy domestic use. Another portion cf the prepared oil was then put into an ordinaiy kerosine lamp, and a light being aj plied, a bright, dear, and steady flame was emitted equal to that of any of those by which the Hall was illuminated, which seemed -to afford great satisfaction to the meeting. Mr.

Stuart concluded his remarks by stating that these and other experiments he had made, left no doubt in his own mind as to the quality of the oil being remuneralSve, and that should it be had seen excepting the question of terms, and

urged their reduction upon the promoters. He wu sure a good number of shares would be taken up at once, if they were inclined to meet the shareholders in this way. In answer to a question from Mr. Stuart, Mr. Cuff produced to read the deed of lease held by the promoters from the Natives. Mr. Graham thought that it would be more satisfactory if the lease were made over to the Company altogether. Mr. Cooper said he was quite willing to do this. Mr. Hall thought 1500 shares and 15 per cent., rovalty too much; if the promoters would reduce it to 1000 shares with the royalty, he thought the meeting would accept the offer.

After some consultation, Mr. Cuff said that the promoters had given way in the matter, as they did not wish to drive too hard a bargain, still they considered their offer a fair one. They would hand over the lease to the Company for 1000 shares and 15 per cent, royalty, and undertake to pay the rent, which the Company would be authorized to stop out of the royalty. The announcement was received with cheers.

Mr. Cuff in answer to anothcr"q nest ion said that the lease had not yet been signed by all the claimants, but he apprehended no difficulty in that direction. The land had already been before the Commissioners, who sat at Gisborne under the Deed of Cession, and had been properly granted. A motion was then moved and assented to, that the offer made by Mr. Cuff on behalf ot the promoters be accepted by the shareholders. The following gentlemen were elected as Provisional Directors namely Captain Read, Mr. Graham, Mr. Stubbs, Mr. Stuart, Mr. McDonald, Mr. J. W. Johnson, and Mr. Greene. The meeting separated after n vote of thanks to the chair, About -150 shares were taken up at the meeting, making a total of near 800 subscribed for in all.

ESTIMATE OP COST OF WORKING. Cost of eight horse-power Boiler £ 8. d. and Engine, and Boring machinery delivered at works 1,150 0 0 Cost of erecting Derricks and Sheds 200 0 0 10 bullocks and dray tools, &c. 200 0 0 Cost of registering Company, advertising, stationery, Brokers’and Lawyer's fees ... 350 0 0 £1,900 0 0 COST OF CARRYING ON WORKS AT FEB MONTH. £ ft. d. General Manager at £6 per week ... ... Mining Manager at £5 per 24 0 0 week 20 0 0 Engineer at £4 10s 18 0 0 5 men to work boring machine at £3 each 60 0 0 Fuel for boiler and engine ... 20 0 0 £142 AFTER OIL IS GOT. 0 0 £ 8. d. Cost of constructing tramway from Gisborne to Oil Springs — 25 miles—at £600 per mile 15,000 0 0 Rolling stock 1,500 0 0 Bridges 3,000 0 0 Laying down pipes four miles to fetch oil from top of hill 1,550 0 0 Erecting Refining houses and all necessary plant 5,000 0 0 Receiving Depot at Gisborne offices 1,320 0 0 £27,370 0 0