MEETING AT TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 65, 30 August 1884, Page 2

MEETING AT TE AROHA.

On last Saturday evening Mr E. K. Cooper, one of the candidates for the vacant seat to represent Te Aroba Riding on the Piako County Council, addressed a large and representative gathering in the Public Hall. Proposed by Mr Lavery^ seconded by Mr Buttle, that Mr John Gibbons take the chair. After a few introductory remarks from the Chairman, Mr Cooper proceeded to address the meeting, and said : 1 had no intention of coming forward as a candidate for the vacant seat on the County Council, but was pressed to (|o so. In at last consenting, I did so on the distinct understanding that I would not solicit anybody's vote. Having corn.* forward at the eleventh hour I have not

iad time to prepare any plan or scheme for future action in the event • ofy'my >eing returned. I .will try^nd briery, towever, put bef(ire you .sovtie of ,/iiiy leas. I much regret to see t'le Piako 3onnty Council in snoh financial Uififijnltuis, its really a very serious matter. Some nuflus must be adopted w'lereby their revenue would be increased, doubled or treble! if possible, an 1 then it would come out all right. Ri-pecting t ;<• Mm way and its working, I would first >t"' all take those two engines an 1 every hing else that was not wanted and sell h.'in, and w tb the money purchase two .vi re- ropes one and a half inc'.i ini'ireum f'ereucc for both the Butler's and M.iv Queen Spurrf. Il'bi'i" 1 referred to h'w •wperienc 1 , i»nin» j d amum* tin 1 quarri- s md mines in Wales, and w.-nt on to say '!>■• tio present, ropes ar • fir to-> cum b i io, and occasion far too nn c wear i.i i, mi*. The windlass's to » <Mi_,nt i«» moved nearer to the top of t'.io spurs With tnose and ot ier necessary altera fcions they would be able to send down double the quantity of quartz, with even less wear an 1 tear than at present. The manager of the tramway should be a working manager. He would ask the manager appointe 1 to see if he conld not send ilown enough stuff in three dsiys> in the week. Would also go to cho mini* Hiana^ers and tell them we are trying al! we can to reduce th" cost of Iran-it over the tramway, and expect you will assist i and help us all you can, ami we want yon to employ the tramway men the three lays a week the tramway is not workingMr Cooper next referred at somo lengtn I to the upper horse track, and the manner in which it was cut up every winter, the difficulty of packing over it, etc., and i went on say he would offer every facility for the carriage of goods by the tramway. The frieghts so earned would be a certain gain to the County Council, whilst I at present they were considerably out of pocket through having to repair the horse track. The Battery Company would be asked to co-operate and help likewise, by reducing the present charges for crushing, and if they would do this the mines, now unable to work and pay expenses, would be in a position to work regularly and pay monthly dividends as well, and mines now dragging along with three or four men would be vigorously worked, and that at profit. He would advocate doing everything possible to help and encourage persons willing to invest in the field and erect more batteries instead of trying to thwart them, and keep them out of the field. Although the financial difficulty was a very serious one, 9till it could be got over. The men who got into it were the best to get out of it. Mr Firth had got the ear of all the financial institutions and ought be best able to propound a scheme, but he thought if the matter were placed before Government in the proper light, and they were led to see the large in teiest involved here, the number of men that could be employed on the bill, etc., etc., they would forward and help us The speaker said he thought for the present it would be well to allow Cookson, the present man in charge, to act as working manager, and that this course woul I be better than letting the tram by contract In fact with the present small amount of stuff passing over the tramway, he did not think anyone would bo found to take it on contract on the terms that would probably be required by the County Council, and to find the large security they would require. The meeting conciulel by Mr Whitehouse proposing a vote of confidence in Mr Cooper as a representative who un derstands fully the requirements ot the district be passed by this meeting. Tue resolution was seconded by Mr Heatncote, and cirried unanimously.