MEETING AT WAIORONGOMAI.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 73, 25 October 1884, Page 2

MEETING AT WAIORONGOMAI.

A meeting convened by Mr P. Ferguson was held in the School house, W*imrons»omai T on last Saturday evening, for the purpose of discussing the advisability of having Waiorongotnui township, and part of the Thames H.S. EndQjvjoEnt, proclaimed a Town District. Ahoat 30 persons were present. On the motion of Mr Munro, seconded by Mr Smardon, Mr P. Fergusqn took the chair. ; The proceedings commenced by the Chairman reading the a Ivertisement in the Aroha News convening the meeting, after which he spoke at some length respecting the necessity of stops being taken to adopt self- government of some form, and stated that to his mi ml a Town District would best suit the place | and. its requirements. The Chsiirman accounted for the small nttendance by stating ti.at. he believed nearly one was unanimous as to the advisability of forming a Town District, and re.idy to sign the petition lor such. Tne Ciairman stated his greajb objection to a muui"ip ilifcy was the cost, of working same, and ihe liability tnat would Imvo to Ix* tauon oviT. Town D^siricts, he believed, Hail ei^ual yowc^ *vitu burou^lirt*

- - - - _ vjh far as % rating went. The Piako* Qobncil, he considered, hat] plenty to (fo%J ready, an' l were unable to devote tiie necessary attention to their requirements. At t he time the matter uas previously agitated (considerably more than a year ago) and the proposal nvide that both townships ho formed in;o a borough, they were all looking forward to a 1 »rge revenue being derivable from •the- gold field,* tramway, etc., but time h.id pioved to the contrary. He considered there was nothing ;o I c expected in the way of ;i profit from th< tramway, the revenue being hypotnecated for a number of years. There was a groat deal to be done, necessary work in the fowin'iip ; first i . importance being the necessity' for better rotds, the present approach lo the township being positively disgraceful. There were no means whatever for extinguishing a fire s-ionld such break out, tiie. laying of a ;")-inc i pipe ought not be a very expensive m.itter, and he nnder-Uoo I that no objection would be made to such beiny laid on to tiie existing water race. Tie Chairm m corelu led his opening remarks by -expressing a wis'i that the maiter be now discussed amongst those present. ur Munro said " ho could on'y compare the community at present to a lot of s ieep. An in?p"ctor was geniM'vlly appointed to see if siie.ep were affected with scab, and he considered they would be a very scabby lot if they could not form some sort < f self-government. It was hiirh lime something was done to shove the place ahead." In reply to Mr W. H. Hiwkins, tiie Chairman said it could haidly yet be stated what amount of revenue would be derivable within the proposed district trbm rates, bnt he believed they would obtain some help from the Thames High ►School. In reply to Mr Murphy, the C iairmaii said %{ lt was the general rule for county councils to hand over to town districts any money raised within said districts, for the local bodies to expend as they thought best." Mr Buttle : " We are not, I think, all unanimous as you have stated Mr Chairman that the time has arrived to form some sort of self-government. I think before this meeting goes any further it ought to be put to the meeting, in order to obtain orrectly the views of those pp'sent — Has the time yet arrived for forming some sort of self-government?" In compliance with this expressed opinion resolution No. i, " That this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived when some form of local selfgovernment should be established at Waior^ngomai," p.oposed by Mr Robeitson and seconded by Mr Munrc, was put to the meeting and carried. Mr Me Liver said he would like to know if there was any good reason why Te Arwha s iould not be included and a borough formed ? He believed it would be far the most preferable course to adopt, unity meant stien.gth. The Chairman next rea 1 the following resolution, same being pioposed bv Mr Smurdon, and secou led by Mr Hir-st (No. 2) u That with a view of obtaining greater powers of local self-govern menfc this meeting considers it desirable that a town district be, forme. l at Waiurongomai under the Town Districts Act, lrtt>L. The boundary?, oi" such Town District to be those snowu on tiie pl-m prepare. I by Mr T. Ivennan.'' Mr Denis Murphy : ''I beg to. pro nose as an amendment, Tnat it in more preferable, in coi nection with Te- Am la, to form a borough. By doing so tiiey would have some chance of obtaining endowments, and also be in a position toborrow money if necessary, whilst as a Town District they would not. The matter is of more than present importance, as I for one believe in a few years(his place will be many times its present size." Mr Col email thought it would be much better lo adjourn the meeting for a week, and in the meantime wait upon sonu* of •tlu residents of IV A rob a respecting the maiter. In the pre.-» nr. depressed state of things it would be iiiiicm better ; for botli towns. lips lo join together and I form a. borough. Mr Munro : "We are like the Siamese T\vin\ and if we take in Te Aroha we should tnen l>e hanging on to i deal carcase. Anothei tiing, in twelve months' time the Pinko County Council will probably !»e thing of the past ; that's how things are tending now." Amendment proposed by Mr D. Murphy *? follows : '* That a Committee be formed by this meeting to wait on the inhabitants of Te Aroha, with a view of forming a borough, "' was then put to the meeting and declared lost. The following second amendment, proposed by Mr Hawkins, ** Th.it this meeting stand adjourned till this night week," was then put aud carried by a largo majority. It was evident from the general tone of the meeting that feveral of those present were decidedly of opinion that to join with Te Aroha and form a borough would be far the most advantageous course to adopt for all parties. ■