RAETIHI NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9413, 6 April 1909, Page 3

RAETIHI NOTES.

Owu Correspondent;. A meeting of the Kaetilii Progressive Association was held in the County Oh&mbers on Thursday evening. Mr Jonn Punch in the chair. Correspondence was read— Prom the Department of Justice, in answer to the Association’s petition, that monthly sittings of the Magistrate’s Court be held in Raetihi stating that arrangements for monthly sittings are now being made. > From Department of Lands and Survey, in answer to request for stock reserves in Waimarino South Block, stating that ranger had been instructed to report on the matter. From the Hon. A. W. Hogg, re ■ bridge over the Manganoi-a-te an river, stating that the Chief Engineer would report on the matter. Mr P. Willoocks also wrote re matters of town improvement. The question of the Native Land Court came in for a good deal of discussion. The Chairman (Mr John Punch) mentioned that it was many years ago the late Premier bad promised the ’ Natives that a sitting should be held at Raetihi, as being the most convenient centre for a large number of navies. Letters sent to the Native Minister about the matter had been ignored. Mr Punch proposed that the member be communicated with on the matter, especially as the President of the Court had mentioned Raetihi as a suitable centre. It was understood that a deputation had been sent to Wellington from Wanganui with the view of trying to pervent the sittings from being transferred from that place. Mr Chase, in reply to a communication from Mr'lngram, said that a petition was being signed by/ the Waimarino Natives then in Wanganui, asking that Court sittings be held at Raetihi, as going to Wanganui entailed a great deal of expense on the Natives of the district. It was decided, on the motion of Messrs Davis and Gibson, to write to the Government re the want of a Court House and ask that a suitable building be erected. The Secretary (Mr A. J. Parkes) reported that the petition for a telephone , bureau had been largely signed by the local business men. It was proposed by Mr Oarruthers and seconded by Mr Dauphin, that the Chief Postmaster at Wanganui be written to in the matter, and urged that a bureau be immediately .opened at Raetihi. It was suggested by Mr Davies that in the event of the Government not taking action in regard to the proposed branch line to Raetihi, the County Council should take in hand the erection of a light line. Messrs Punch and Gibson thought that the matter should be|left over till.nearer to the next session, and the matter he then brought strongly before authorities. . It was proposed, (Messrs Davis— Dauphin) That in the event of an unfavourable reply from the Government the member be asked to petition the Government to authorise the construction of a line by the Council or by a private company. This was accordingly carried. * The matter of night-soil arrangements was again brought up. Mr Dauphin said the delay bringing into force , the uew by-laws with regard to nightsoil was due to the difficulty of Council obtaining a suitable depot, the one selected on the Para Para road having been condemned by the Health Officer, It was agreed'that the Council be again urged to attend to the matter. It was decided that meetings be held monthly on the Thursday evening before full moon. The local Salvation Army are holding a concert on the 17th Inst. A splendid programme has been prepared which should attract a full house. There are several very attractive children’s items.