PUBLIC MEETING AT TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 162, 24 July 1886, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT TE AROHA.

On * "Wednesday evening last a public meeting-was held in the Te Aroha Public Hall. Mr Jas. Mills, as chairman of the Te Aroha Improvement Committee and convener of the meeting, occupied the chair. The meeting was well attended ; amongst those present being a number of Waiorongornai residents. In opening the proceedings the Chairman said that as set forth in the advertisement convening the meeting, which appeared in the Aroha & Ohinemuri News, it was a meeting of the residents of To Aroha for the purpose of discussing matters of local interest, and as there were several important resolutions to be moved, it would bo well to first deal with these ; after which the meeting would be open to discuss any other matters 'that migfbt be brought forward. Resolution 1 : Moved by Mr Dobson, v That the following petition be forwarded to the Hon. Minister for Public Works : 1. We, the inhabitants of Te Aroha and neighbourhood, in public meeting assembled, respectfully request that you will be pleased to take into consideration the necessity for commencing the construction of a section of the Te Aroha and Thame9 railway nt the Te Aroha end of that line, in order that work may be found for a large number of persons who are at present unemployed. 2. We would also respectfully urge upon you the desirability of opening I up without further delay direct communication for wheel traffic between Te Aroha and Tauranga." The mover said the matters referred to in the resolution were of very great importance to the. whole district, not only Avith respect to the immediate good that would result, but as regards future benefit. Those at this end of the proposed railway should have a share in the expenditure, and with respect to the proposed coach road to connect Te Aroha with Tauranga, it was a matter of great moment to both districts, and it was desirable that they should strenghten the hands of the Tauranga people who were moving in the matter. . The motion was seconded by Mr Comes, and carried nem con. Resolution 2 : Proposed by Mr J. Comes, " That the people of Te Aroha in public meeting assembled, hereby request the Piako County Council not to levy another rate on the Aroha Riding as proposed, on the grounds that they were about to adopt local selt-go-vernment." The Chairman said j It was pretty well known that there was a large amount of rates on the Aroha Riding still uncollected, and when this was got in, he thought it would be sufficient to tide them over the short period they would remain attached to the county, and until fine weather cvune round. The motion was seconded by Mr Hirst. Mr O'Keeffe (Waiorongomai), moved as an amendment, •' That this meetIng take no action in the matter referred to." In moving this resolution, Mr O'Keeffe referred to the condition of the road to Shaftesbury, and said it was outside the townships the expenditure was urgently required. He said some time ago the Te Aroha Improvement Cornmitte resolved to ask the Piako County Council to levy a separate rate, and now opposed it, and he thought their conduct in this matter most inconsistent. The Chairman in reply to Mr O'Keeffe's remarks said it was true the Improvement Committee had several months ago decided it would have been well to ask that a separate rate be levied, bnt on a public meeting being called the voice of the people was against it. Mr J. Comes also replying to Mr O'Keeffe, said : If Mr O'Keeffe were a true man he should have honestly stated all that passed at the meeting of the Improvement Committee he referred to, and not merely a portion of it ; as it was distinctly stated by the committee at the time, that although they were in favour of a separate rate they would leave it to the residents to decide the matter at a public meeting, and which was convened for that purpose. The amendment was seconded by Mr Munro (WaiorongOiiiai), and on being put 8 voted in favour of it, all (or nearly all) being; Waiorongomai residents. For the resolution 19 votes were recorded, and it was declared carried accordingly. Resolution : 3. Moved by Mr R. ! Mackie : "That the Chairman be authorised to sign the petition, re railway and road, and forward same to Mr J. B. Whyte for presentation." Seconded by Mr Frazer, and carried nem con. ' These being all the resolutions apparently Forth coming, the chairman declared the meeting open for the discussion of any further matters. Mr Muuro said : I and a number qE others came from Waiorongomai tonight, expecting to hear a discussion on the matter of local self-government. At Waiorongomai two or three meetings on the subject had lately been held, without any decision having been come to. He would rather Te Aroha opened the ball. „ . The Chairman : This is one of the matters it was intended to discuss tonight, and I have been waiting for' some ' one to propose a resolution. ,1 desire to -state that it is the undivided opinion of our "Improvement Committee that a Borough is the best form of local go vernment to go in for, and further, that the inhabitants of Te Aroha are all of

one mind that if Waiorongomai will go in with us, in the formation of aßo rough it wauld be for the v good of all concerned, . as they would be able to go to the Government on the question of loans, or endowments, etc., with much more weight. They would much prefer, if it could be satisfactorily arranged, that the residents of Waiorongomai and the hill, should go in with them j but . if they preferred to remain as they were then, the people of Te Aroha would make application to Government for the formation of a Borough on their own behalf. Resolution 4 ; Movetf by Mr Whitehouse, " That the Te Aroha Improvement Committee take immediate" steps to get the township incorporated tinder the new Municipal Corporations Act, either with or without Waiorongomai. Seconded by Mr Frazer. Mr Munro thought both -Fe Aroha and Waiorongomai were moving too fast in this matter. They should first know what the amount of their liability to Piako County Council would amount to ; or else they might sink the boat. Mr Frajser said ; He, together with Messrs Ilott and Dobson had the previous day waited upon Mr Warden Kenrick, and discussed this matter, and Mr Kenrick had given it as his opinion that the amount of money sunk in the the construction or maintenance of the tramway in the past, would in no way affect the question of liabilities as botween a Borough and the County Council, and that all that could be charged against the proposed Borough would be its proportion of existing County liabilities at the time of separation. The tramway had been worked at a loss instead of a profit. Mr Hirst ; I think Mr WhitehOuSe'a proposition- is rather premature. Im'provemenfc Committees exist both at Waiorongomai and Te Aroha, and I think it is a matter for regret that they have not been brought together oftener. As chairman of the Waiorongomai Committee I have unfortunately been away for some weeks, and do not know all that has passed. When the committee was appointed at Waiorongomai it was unanimously decided that meetings be arranged to confer with the Te Aroha Committee, and have the question, of local self-government discussed, and if possible some satisfactory understanding come to. Mr Ferguson, their secretary, had been instructed to arrange for such meetings, and he would now ask him why he had not done as requested. Mr Ferguson i One reason why I did not arrange any meetings, as decided on. was, that Mr Hirst, our chairman, was away in Auckland j another reason was that some persons thought it best to wait till after a putlic meeting had been held, and this public meeting had been adjourned three times. The Chairman : The Te Aroha Improvement Committee have been waiting for the past month expecting to hear; from the Waiorongomai Improvement Commitfeo»j as when the latter committee was appointed it was generally understo >d their secretary Mr Ferguson, was to arrange for meetings between the two Committees, but no communication had been received from them. The people of Te Aroha had on several occasions during the past three or- four years visited Waiorongomai for the purpose of trying to get its inhabitants to join in the formation of a Borough ; but instead of doing so they had proposed a Town District, then to remain in the county, and changed about from one thing to another. I desire to state to those present, Te Aroha will be well pleased if Waiorongomai will join them, and assure them 'that Te Aroha has no desire whatever" to take any advantage, but only Wants what is fair and right as between man and man. Mr Ferguson : If you form a Borough now, it will be the worst thing ever you did. You should first ascertain what; sum would have to be paid the Piako County Council. I believe they are instead of £3000 far more heavily in debt. The Chairman.: About two years ago Mr Ferguson was in favour of a Borough, now when some thousands of pounds of liability have been cleared off by the Piako County Council, he sajrs " Don'fc form 1 a Borough because you'll be worse off than before ;" if that is not inconsistency I don't know what is. I don't know what has induced Mr Ferguson to again alter his mind ; first he was for a Town Board, then for a Borongh, and now he has changed again. Mr Ferguson : The debt of the County two years ago was £9000 or £10,000. The Chairman : Do you expect the Government will try and make us pay for what is a source of loss in working? (i c., the tramway .^ Mr Hirst : I believe the people of Waiorongomai are, as a whole, in favour of a Borough. Mr Montaguo : As a member of the Waiorongomai Improvement Committee I must say Mr Ferguson received distinct instructions to arrange for meetings between the two committees, which ha has failed to dd. ■Mr Dobson ; I think Mr. Hirsfc -mis* understands the meaning of the resoln> ' tion. It is -simply- for the purpose of taking the voice of the residents of Te Aroha, now in: public meeting assembled, as to whether thoy desire that' a Borough be formed' or not. Mr, Munro : I object to the words in. tho resolution " wirh or without Waiorongomai ;"' remove these and I am sure all will go, smooth. .. The Chairman : There is nothing to object to in these words, no slight whatever is intendod thereby, nothing bui

kindiiness and good feeling is intended!, and they are only inserted for the purpose of giving the Improvement Committee power to act witholt the necessity of continually calling public meetings, as they proceeJ with their work, and thus save trouble,. (The Chairman, before patting the | resolution, reminded Waiorongoaiai ; friends present that this meeting was for the purpose of taking the voice of Te Aroha residents on this matter, and, having arranged for a meeting of their t)wn the following night at Waiorongoraai, would not be expected to vote.) The resolution was then put and unanimousl}\ The Chairman : We are very glad our Waiorougomai friends have come in tonight and joined in this discussion, it iias made the meeting all the more pleasant and satisfactory, and I hope they will now go back and at their meeting to-morrow evening pass a unanimous resolution to join us. Mr Frazer : Does that resolution bind the residents of Te Aroha to abide by the decision of the Improvement Committee as to boundaries, etc-, of the proposed Borough. The Chairman : I should certainly say it does. ■ Mr Frazer ; I think that is an open •question. The meeting then adjourned. •