PUBLIC MEETING AT WAIORONGOMAI.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 162, 24 July 1886, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT WAIORONGOMAI.

•A 'public meeting of TVaiorongomai •vesulents '*-<? adopting- some form of *local self-government, adjourned from the Ist, Bth, and 17th inst respective!}', ■•was held on last Thursday evening in *the Public Hall. 5t will be remembered that the meeting last Saturday evening 'was adjourned, on the motion of Mr H. •H. Adams, so that the result of the •■meeting of the Te Aroha residents on Wednesday evening migbt be first known. As on the previous occasions Mr Jas. -jtfunro occupied the chair, and there 'was a large attendance. The Chairman ma very few words declared the meet-ing-open; whereupon Mr B. Montague mdved-resoldtion d. '" That Waiorongo»rtiai find Quartzville join Te Arolia in the formation of a Borough-; and that 'the existing Waiorongomai Improve•ment Comm'ififcee be empowered to confer with the Te Aroha Improvement and arrange as to wards •etc. Seconded by Mr S. L. Hirst, who in doing so said-: I think ; this matter •ought to be settled to night, it has been tinder discussion quite long enough. I am satisfied the Te Aroha only want representation as tliey are fairly entitled to. He had heard a good •many ad verse criticisms respecting the ; action of 'the chairman at the meeting at Te Aroha last night in checking Waio--rongortmi residents who were present fend took part, by reminding them that St i?aß a meeting of Te Aroha people-; but when he referred to the adrertrse•ment in last weeks Aroha and muri News convening the meeting, and ■saw it distinctly stated the meeting was to be one "of Te Aroha residents," he failed to see that the chairman had done wrong. Until he referred to the advertisement, after the meeting was over, he Was himself of the opinion ifc was a general public meeting, and he was sure •others as well as himself weat to the meeting under that impression. Mr Beeson i Will the action of this Meeting be binding on the people of Waiorongemai, or will further public ineetings be convened. Mr G. Taylor : I consider from the wording of the resolution it will be binding on us. Chairman : Most decidedly it will be binding ; but the petition for a Borough •nust be signed by a majority of its inhabitants. Mr H. H. Adams : Are there any •direct representatives of Quartzville on the committee, if not, there ought to be. Mr Hirst : The interests of Waiorongomai and Quartzville are identical, one xiannot do without the other. Mr Sampson, (who appeared greatly exercised by the impression that there was to be only one ward) said : I don't see that we shall better our condition in any way by joining Te Aroha in a Borough, if they can outvote us; we'll remain as we are. The Chairman : I am sorry Mr Sampson should think Waiorongomai so deficient in intellect. Mr Sampson : I know we have some smart men if they get a chance, but I don't think they will. J Mr Jenreson, said he did not' think they could do better than stay as they were, and referred to all the County had done for them. Mr Montague j That is simply ridiculous ; we have simply been getting back our own, or a little less. Where have the council derived their revenue from, if not from the gold field. Mr Hirst ; 'If we are to have money spent on the hill it simply means that we must form a Borough, and have borrowing powers ; we 6hall then be in a position to go to Government to assist us. Mr Jamieson -i We have oil this field a number of claims locked up; will a Borough be able to have these thrown open to us ? Mr Adams : I move as an amendment, " That this meeting empower the Improvement Committee, with Mr McLiver added to their number to represent the gold field, to act on our behalf by conferring with the Te Aroha Committee, and draw up and submit ft report.

Mr jHirst : Mr Adams' amendment to me appears unnecessary. The committees simply confer with each other, and ' make the best arrangements they can, but their decision would not constitute a Borough. It still practically remains in the hands of the people, as ifc is they will have to sign the petition. j Mr McLiver : I think there should be not only one. but three representatives for the hill on the committee, and thatthe questian be settled now-, &s if we authorise a cuhimittee to-night to act for us, we should certainly abide by their decision. Mr Sampson : 1 would advise that Quartzville have direct representation itself. Mr Hirst : : I contend any committee of Waiorongomai men are just as much alive to the interests of the Hill as any man from Quartzville, and know what is needed. Their interests are identical. Mr Robertson : What are the interests of Waiorongomai but that of the Hill. , , Considerable discussion took place "on '■ this question of hare the Hill more directly representea on the committee. ; Mr Hirst, chairman of the Improve- [ ment Committee, said his committee desired to tender their resignation, in order that a new committee might' be elected [ at this meeting, and those present could I then put in more Hill representatives if? they chose. It looked to him as though some present had not full confidence in the existing committee to properly look after the Hill interests. ♦ Mr Jamieson : 1 move that the resignation of tho committee be accepted. Seconded by Mr A. Wallace, and carried ; several of those present remarking they had full confidence in the present committee, bu l > it would be as well to elect «v fresh one in older that the Hill might be more directly represented. Mr Montague moved, so as to meet the views of some present, " That the latter portion of hia resolution bo struck out,' and that the resolution read thus : " That Waiorongomai and Quartzville join Te Aroha in forming a Borough." The resolution, on being put, was carried by an overwhelming majority, only Messrs Jamieson, Sampson, and Hawkins voting against it. The Following, as a new Improvement Committee, were then proposed by Mr McLiver : Messrs Adams, Srnardon, Muuro, Hirst, Ferguson, Montague, and the mover, to confer with Te Aroha Committee re Borough question. Seconded by Mr Jamieson, and carried. Mr Hirst read the petition brought up at the meeting at Te Aroha on the previous evening, and to be forwarded to the Hon. Minister of Public Works through to Mr J. B. Whyte re roads and railway (as appears in the report of the public meeting held at Te Aroha), spoke strongly in support of it, and moved " That this meeting forward a similar one." Seconded by Mr McLiver, and carried nem cofi. Mr McLiver moved, " That the Improvement Committee confer with the Piako County Council with the object of getting them to take advantage of the Government subsidy for prospecting, in the interests of the goldtield." Seconded by Mr Jamieson, ami carried. Mr O'Keeffe moved •; " That this meeting approve of the action of the Piako County Council in striking a •special rate, for the purpose of doing works urgently necessary in this Riding, ami in forwarding this resolution to the Council, that the Chairman of the Improvement Committee be reqnested to send with it a schedule of the works which his committee will think most urgent." Seconded by Mr Montague. Considerable discussion took place with respect to this resolution. Mr Smardon mwved as an amendment, " That no action be taken in the matter" ; and iv doing so, said many of those at Waiorongomai, if a rate were struck, would only have to pay a mere trifle, a few shillings, but they should consider how hardly it .would bear on the farmers and settlers whose property was of more value, some no doubt being' rated at thousands. Mr Sampson seconded the amendment; a majority, however, voted against it, and the resolution was thereupon declared carried. Mr Hirst moved a vote of thanks to Mr Ilott for attending all their recent meetings,, and for getting out copies of the report of the previous evening's meeting at Te Aroha so quickly, for the information of those at Waiorongomai. Seconded and carried unanimously. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair. The new Improvement Committee met immediately afterwards and elected Mr Hirst as their Chairman, Mr Ferguson as secretary, and arranged to hold a first meeting at the Premier Hotel the following evening at 8 o'clock.