PUBLIC MEETING.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 111, 18 July 1885, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

The public meeting of inhabitants of the Te Aroha Riding, held on this night week in the Te Aroha Public Hall, was well attended. On the motion of Mr Mills, the convener, Mr J. A. Dobson wa3 voted to the chair, and opened the meeting by reading from the Aftotf A Nrcws the advertisement convening the meeting, and then briefly referred to the first matter to b6 discussed, viz., the Thames Harbour Board Bill, and the attempt being made through it to rate the Te Aroha Riding ; and remarked that if such a measure were carried the efforts would not only be almost immediately felt by residents in the riding, but also for many many years to come, and in fact prov,? a veiy heavy burden ; further, they would probably have some form of local self government ere long, and if tins extra burden of taxation, sought to be imposed upon them fo>* the benefit of the Thames, Were permitted, it would be a most serious matter. The Chairman called upon Mr Jas. Mills to m»ve the first resolution, which was as follows : u That we, the res-idents of the Te Aroha Riding of the Piako County Council, in public meeting assembled, strongly object to our district being rate 1 for the purpose of enabling the Thames Harbour Board to raise £200,000 for harbour works at Rocky Point." In moving this resolution, Mr Mills remarked : It seemed to him » great injustice that such a measure as that relerred to should be brought forward by any man, or body of men, without consulting us in the .matter, or even letting us know about it. If this £200,000 were obtained, just consider | what the interest would amount to, together with the sum that would have to be set aside towards the sinking fund, and why we in Te Aroha, and on this side the river, should be specially selected to be taxed in this matter, is rather remarkable. He was informed it was at Irst intended that Matamata should be rated as well as Te Aroha, but for fear of that great man who owns that large estate should bring adverse influence to bear, and thus injure the movement, it was charitably left out. I have often won lered what we as residents of this riding have done that we should be so harassed, etc , as we have been, ami that we should so suffer through monopoly ; ami n«>w it appears as a finishing t stroke the Thames Harl>our Board seek ! to add to our burden by imposing a rate on us. The resolution was seconded by Mr Montague, and carried unanimously, i The Chairman remarked it w>uld be necessary to take immediate action in this matter, and also stated thai Mr J. B. Wliyte had wired requesting to be informed of the decision of the local residents in the matter. Resolution No. 2. Moved by Mr Prazer, was as follows : " That the Chairman of this meeting be requested to forward the foregoing resolution to our member, Mr J. B. Whyte, as speedily as possible." {Seconded by Mr Gibbons, and carried nem con. The Chairman next referred to the matter of the obtaining of the freeholds of thpir property by the residents in the township and remarked the question was one of very gre;it importance, and sr,ated thnt a petition had been prepared for signature to be forwarded to the Governor, and further that the owners anil trustee? also purposed sending forward a petition themselves, praying that the existing restrictions be removed, and that they may be permitted to dispose of the freeholds of their lands, and he thought it would be well if the two petitions were forwarded simultaneously. The Chairman then read the petition j (as published in the last issue of the News), and remarked that it vrotlld be ! ready for signature at the close of the meeting. Mr R. Mackie moved, and Mr H. ! Hornibrook seconded, " That the petiI tion be approved of, signed, and forwarded Ito the Governor." Carried nem con, \ Mr Frazer moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, and for all the trouble he had gone to in drawing i up the petition, etc., and in order to save trouble suggested that parties intending to sign should call at Mr Dobsons for that purpose. Seconded by Mr Mills and carried. ! The meeting now being declared open for any further business, Mr Mills said : "He would again suggest that some half dozen residents should be appointed to look after the interests of the place, not to take any very important stops on their own responsibility, bat to look after the requirements of the place generally. He further said no one could dispute the great advantages which had resulted from the few public meetings that had been held j and instanced the alteration of the railway time-table, and approach to the bridge j and remarked it did not take long for Mr P. Ferguson to get the required assistance for constructing his battery connection when he. obtained the authority of the ratepayers of the dfe trict to seek for it. He had once before proposfd that a committee be appointed to look after matters of public interest to the place, and thought such would prove a great benefit." The Chairman remarked he thought the suggestion was a very wise one, and

considered it a pity some sucli slep had not. been taken lonir since, Mr Mills next moved " That a committ/e of s«'ven inhabitants of Te be f owned, to watch the interests of the district." j Seconded by Mr Comes, and carried, unanimously. * ** With regard to the proposal that- the mem tars of committee be all residents of Te Aroha, the Chairman remarked ib was thought best it should be so, in consequence of the inconvenience and deUy that. Would be occasioned if they always had to communicate with, and bring toI gether at short notice, some from tlid other end j but considered it would Jbe highly advisable for those residing at the other end to take a similar step, and for both committees to act in unison when advisable. Mi* Mills' motion on being put to the meeting, was carried without dissent, and the following members viz. : Messrs JDolison, Mills, Ilobson, Frazier, Co'rnes, Mackie, and A'u'or, proposed and seconded by several of those present, were eWtu.l, and the committee styled the To Aroha Improvement Committee* Mr 13. Montague nertfc brought forward the subject oi the construction of the County tramway, and remarked tlmfe at a meeting held some time «?ince a c<'>nri-< mittee of twelve were appointed to make inquiries with respect to the stated misappropriation of monrfy ii connection with that work. Inquiries had been made and evidence obtained, bat had not b^en forwarded to Government. He further stated that those who came forward and gave evidence, considered they were Very hardly dealt with in being asked ;to do so, and having complied for no further steps to be 1 taken in the matter He contended it was a matter which ought not to be shelved, and he came there on purpose that night to say I so, and to move that the evidence be forwarded and an investigation demanded. Considerable discussion took place on this subject, and it was stated th»t there were several persons who were prepared to give public evidence in the event of »n investigation being held, and that evidence of a very serious nature would be brought forward. Mr Montague moved the following resolution : " That this meeting desires Mr J. B. Whyte to ask for an enquiry into the cost of the construction of the County tramway.*' Seconded by Mr Mills, and carried.