PUBLIC MEETING IN TE AROHA PUBLIC HALL.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 91, 28 February 1885, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING IN TE AROHA PUBLIC HALL.

On Saturday flight last a public meeting" (adjourned from Waiorongomai since Jan. 81st), was hejil in the Te Aroha Public Hall, to consMer the answers received from the Piako County Council in reply to questions referred to them at previous meeting. The questions and replies referred io were fully rep arted in the Nmws of 14th inst. Mr John Gibbons waa moved to the chair, and opened the meeting by reading the advertisement in the News convening same, and briefly referred to the former meeting at Waiqrongomai. The Chairman next read the answers which had been received from the County Council. Resolution No. 1, proposed by Mr Peel, was as follows : " The answers to the questions referred by the public meeting held at Waiorongoma? to the Piako County Council beins* most unsatisfactory, it is the opinion of this meeting that a public enquiry I* absolutely necessary." In spenking to> this resolution, Mr Peel said he cotts&lereti the answers that had been received from the County Council as most nnssfcrsfat*tory. It was very evident a large amount of public money had been spent for the benefit of private property, and the sooner a public enquiry mto the whole of the tramway affair e>ttld be obtained the better. There was 1 ac doubt a lot of public money had. been expended, as it should not have been. 'He hoped ere long they would as a coinmtmJty be in a position to govern themselrea. The resolution having been, seconded by Mr Currie, was carried nem con. No. 2 resolution was moved by Mr J. Mnnro, '1 That our member, Mr J. B. Whyte, be requested to forthwith demand from the Government a commission of enquiry into the whole matter of the Waiorongomai tramway, the cttsfc of formation, expenditure of county funds, «iii(l #eiiora! nutters relating thereto/* Mr Munro «*nid he consi lereil there was good reason for asking for tins aiguiry. It appeared tiiat there was only o-ae m.m on the County Council th.it could answer the questions that had been put to the round!, and he seemed to be the only oracle. With respect to the gutvge, Mr J. C. Firtfh was reported to have* said that Mr Adams, the battery roa-nagiy, was acting in the intetests of both the County a nd also the Battery Company, if he were erecting a gnage for detecting any over-filled trucks before emptfel into the battery hoppers. He (Mr Munro) would like to know, was this Mr Adams the same gentleman who ordered the engine, now lying neglected and decaying outside the battery, for the tramway ? Also was this the same person who tendered for that ungine (which aaJ now cost the council some £800) the sum of £l t coupled with the unpaid £100 bonus voted him. by Mr J. C. Firth for his great knowledge of engineering ? Mr Adams' tender for the engine, he believed, was £101. Was it not a fact that out 50 of ordinary navvies that might be consulted 49 wonld condemn that monument of incupuuity, the tunnel on the 1 ill, constructed by this gentleman ? Mr Ifrazer said he thought ft was Mr J. C. Firth who ordered the engine, not Mr Adams. Mr Munro replied " there appeared to be such an affinity of soul betweun Messrs A lams and Firth, that yoa could scarcely tell which was which." The resolution having been, seconded by Mr O'Keeffe, was carried unanimously. No. 3 resolution, proposed by Mr Caff, " That a committee be formed to draw up full particulars of all questions and matters which they may deem necessary, to support Mr Whyle in urging upon the Government the necessity for the commission of enquiry mentioned in the previous resolution, such committee to consist of Messrs Gibbons, Mills, Fergus*, n, Munro, Cuff, Montague, Frazer, Peel, Gallagher, iShea, Kennan, and O'Keeffe." Mr Jnff stated that he thought some such resolution as this necessary, so that a committee mi^ht go fully into the matter and make all necessary enquiries, .and, have the necessary documents drawn up to forward' to Mr J. B. Whyte. Mr Lavery's name was mentioned as one of the committee, but taken off by request, as he declined to act in the matter. The resolution having been seconded by Mr Frazer, was.carried unanimously; No. 4 resolution, proposed by -Mr, ' Montague, and seconded by Mr Erasmus,,. " That » deputation corajH&ed of . essW P. Ferguson, 1 J; Bfcunro, '.aid jfcHe move'r^* be, appointed to wait on. the, Vv^ardetwitK : the view ,of opposing the- p r ro|§c|ion^ ; ''sought 1 by the directors of the^Ooi^iij^. "Gold Mining Coiwpa'ny.!* ir ;Mi\Mmip||'gi , s'aiijLile that; this.iiitu^t^r^ hy%hQ