PETITION RE LEASING OF TRAMWAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 70, 4 October 1884, Page 2

PETITION RE LEASING OF TRAMWAY.

Thr petition (which was largely and influentially signe I) ag;iinst the leasing of the tramway ns proposed and advertised by the Piako County Council, wns presented by Mr E. K. Cooper to Warden Kenrick at the Court-house on Wednesday last. A number of townsmen, in terested in the matter, accompanied Mr Cooper, and took part in the proceedings. The contents of the petition we gave in full last ksue. Mr Cooper, in presenting the petition, stated that it was the general desire that the tramway should not be let by contract, just at this time when likely to fetch but its minimum value, and also the said letting would do away with all prospect of reduced crushing charges for the term mentioned, as any lessee would naturally charge the highest rate permissable. Mr Cooper stated that at the last County Council meeting Messrs Chepmll, Gould, and Maclean strongly opposed further proceedings in the matter at present, seeing that Te Aroiia, the district most concerned, was unrepresented at the meeting. Mr Kenrick talked the matter over with the deputation, and said if clearly shown that the leasing, as proposed, would be detrimental to the goldfield, he would feel justified in interfering, as the tramway was partly constructed with public money. He whs certainly surprise'l at thf sudden change in the time proposed for leasing from five to toil year*. The matter ended by Mr Kenrick promising, if in addition to sail I petition and deputation, a written re quest were sent him by the councillors ipposod, asking him to stay proceedings lor the present, hu would ask the County

Ch.iirmnn to <lo so. We nivlerstiind this written request, from three or four of the councillors will be at once forwarder to the Warden. Mr Cooper asked the Warden if lie would recognise his aignutnre as that of one of the councillors if attached to a!>ove request, to which the Warden replied, he certainly should, as much as any other councillors who had been elected by the same returning officor, aiid further stated the Oo'untv Clerk was in error in stating that he had declared Mr Cooper's election invalid, as he did not go into the matter of the petition at all, but simply declared that no election had taken place, because of no properly appointed returning officer.