PUBLIC MEETING AT TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 63, 16 August 1884, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT TE AROHA.

/The meeting held in the Public Hall •Tast Saturday evening for the purpose of adopting measures to hasten the com- \ pletion of the railway from Morrinsville j to Aroha, and for the discussion of other matters affecting the welfare of the district, was largely attended. Most of fchu townspeople were present, together with many residents from the Waiorongomai township and a nu'iiber of settler^ from Waihou, Waitoa, and other parts whose interest in the questions to be considered was evinced by the long distance which some of them travelled to take part in the proceedings.") Mr F. PaviCf, as convener of the meeting, occupied the chair, and briefly explained the circumstances which had led to their being assembled together. Work on the railway and at the bridge was languishing, and it was necessary that the inhabitants of the entire district should bestir themselves and use every endeavour to get them finished without further delay. lie referred to the great advantages the completion of these works would confer upon the community. ISer.tlers would be benefitted by having easy and rapid access to the centres of population, arid the townspeople would be large gainers by the reductions that would be effected iv the prices of many articles of consumption. He had no doubt that the meeting would recognise the necessity of pressing upon the Government the urgent requirements of the district in this matter, * and that the resolutions which were to be brought forward would meet with the approval of those present. These resolutions would now be submitted to them. Mr Culf proposed, and Mr Reuben Parr seconded. tk That it is of the utmost importance to the welfare of the district that the extension of the railway from Morrinsville to Te Aroha be completed without unnocesvsary delay. ' Mr W. A. Murray, of Piako, speaking in support of the , resolution, said that it was of vital importance to the settlors iv this portion of the Thames Valley that the work in question should be at once proceeded with, and that it was discreditable to the Government that an undertaking which would be p oduolivo of so great* an amount of good which would add so largely to the population of the district, and which there was every reason to believe would give an excellent return, should be allowed to remain unfinished. Ho read a letter he

aad received 'from the Public Works-De-partment at Wellington, in whioh it was •<tate«l that the sum allocated out of the three million loan for the Waikato and Th nines Valley railway had been expended in completing the line to Morrinsville, and that nothing remained to carry ou the extension to Te Aroha. But; this he thought was not a sound reason for delaying the work, and he advised the residents to be firm and persistent, an-l that no Government could long refuse to accede fo their reasonable and just demands. He would al&o like to see the district opened up by other lines of communication. The bridle trn^k ncvofw the range to Taurangn should be widened sufficiently to admit of coach traffic, an! facilities given in every direction for bringing visitors to rhe district. The fame of our mines and of our lan le would thus get spread abroad, and he felt sure that it only required our resources in these an-l in other respects to become more generally known to make this one of the most prosperous portions of the colony. The second resolution was proposed by Mr J. B. Smith, and seconded by Mr Wainwright, " That the Government bridge now in course of erection across the Waihou river, when completed, will greatly further the progress or" the whole district irrespective of the railway." Mr ftmi'h briefly referred to the slow proi^ress that was being made in carrying out this most necessary work, and to the urgent need that existed for its early completi »n. Mr Dobson proposed, and Mr Heathcote seconded the third resolution, "That a committee be formed for the purpose of properly laying the urgent requirements of tlie district before Mr J. B. Whyte, our member, requesting' him to use all constitutional means to press the Government to complete the railway and bridge, the committee to consist of Messrs Pavitt, Cuff, Murray, Smith, Stafford, Gibbons, Baskett, Wells, and the mover." The fourth resolution, which was proposed by Mr Stafford, and seconded by Mr Clarke, was as follows. " That the prosperity of the district is very seriously retarded by the land being locked up in native and other reserves." In submitting it to the meeting Mr Stafford spoke at length on the great importance of this matter, and said that the future prosperity of the district did not depend upon the goldfield alone but to a large extent upon its lands. Gold was certainly the principal factor in its present advancement, but looking to the future the land was almost of equal importance. Although he had large personal interests involved he disclaimed any selfish motive in the part he had taken in bringing this question before the meeting. He pointed out very clearly that if he was a gainer the district would profit still more largely if restrictions were removed, and facilities given for the permanent settlement of a European population upon tbe large native and other reserves now lying to a large extent waste and unproductive. From Wairakau to the Rotokuhu Gorge there were many thousands of acres of excellent land which would be rapidly taken up and settled upon, if it were cut up into moderate sized blocks and the freehold obtainable. But until such a title conld be procured this land would be useless and unprofitable alike to Maoris and Europeans, for no person would care to expend large sums in improving property held on such a tenure as that which alone the law at present permits of. What he would suggest was tnat the Government should be asked to facilitate bona fide settlement upon these reserves, after setting apart such portions as were absolutely required for the use of the native owners. Provision should also be made to enable persons who had leased sections, as in the case of the Thames High School Endowment, to acquire the freehold of their properties, ft was only by making an effort to have these measures brought into effect that we could hope to see the lands in the neighbourhood occupied by a prosperous and contented population, and be thought that if the -matter were earnestly taken in hand the Government could not reasonably refuse to concede to them the object of their wishes. Mr Murray, in speaking upon the resolution, said the thanks of the communily were due to Mr Stafford for bringing this matter before them. It was one of vital interest to the inhabitants of this district, and every effort should be made to bring about the desired result. He would suggest the followiug addition to the motion, " That the committee be instructed to prepare a petition to Parliament to give effect to this resolution." The resolution, as amended, was put to the meeting and carried unanimously as were all the others that had been submitted. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. The following is a copy of tho letter sent to Mr J^B. Whyte, M.H.IV, along vvitb the resolutions passed at the pul'dic meeting held in the Hall last Saturday evening :—: — " Ie Aroha, 12th Aug., 1884. "JB Whytk, Esq., M.H.tt. " Sir, — We enclose copies of resoln- ' tions passed at a public meeting held at Te Aroha, and in support of those resolutions we desire to draw your attention to the following facts : — No 1 resolution is intended to refer principally to the advantages the whole district would derive from the railway if completed, and if the district is benefitted of course the Government i;evenuu would be increased. No. 2 resolution refers to the completion of the bridge, and if this work were done, whether the railway is completed or not, would be of great advantage to the whole district by giving

ensy raVmis of comunnication het.\veen those portion^ lying west or east of the River Waihou. No. 3 resolution, as I you will observe, is intended to give efI feet to the two foregoing', by nsking yoa to take such steps as you think desirable and proper, but No. 4 resolution means that a petition should be prepare I and signed, and when the signatures are procured, will be forwarded to you with a request tliatyou will do all yon can to give effect to the same. We, ihe C.im'tnittee, would also- as>k~ your kind attention- to, the matters of fixing up the lime-table of the railway and mails, so that, we of j T? Aroha shall have an early daily mail, nn-1 we fopi so assured oF your wish an I desire to further the interests of t lis portion of yonr constituency, that we i have all confidence in leaving in your han-is the best means of 'having our desires carried out. i " We arc, dear sir, " Your? faithfully, '• Fuancis Pavitt, " For tin* CommittKß."