PUBLIC MEETING.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 224, 15 October 1887, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

! On Tuesday evening last a public meeting was held in tho Te Avoha Public Hall, re (.he extendod powers recently granted by Government to the Thames Harbour Board. There | was a good attendance on tho occasion. Mr. J. A. Dobson, Chairman pro tern, of Te Aroha Town Board, who, afe tho request of the residents had convened the mooting, was voted to the chair, and opened tho proceedings by reading tho advertisement in the Ahoha and OsiNßMtJni News convening same. The chairman, after a few remarks of a gonoral character with reference to tho purpose for which the meeting had been called, aaid he understood Mr Mills wished to move a resolu- j tiou, and lie would therefore now call upon I him to do so. Mr Mills then proposed tho following resolution, and also spoko in support of it :— " That this meeting respectfully requests the Te Aroha Town Board, and the Piako County Council, to take such steps as they may deem most advisable, in conjunction with tho Ohinemuri County Council, in order to secure the withdrawal of the recent Proclamation, giving the control of the Waihou, Waitoa, and Piako Eivers to the Thames ] Harbour Board ; and also take step 1 * to induce thu Government to constitute the said Counby Councils, conservators of the said rivers within their respective boundaries." Tho resolution was seconded bv Mr TPavrell, Mr John Wood said he had come prepared to propose a resolution bearing upon tho matter respecting which they wore inol, and would now move it as follows : " (1) That this meeting protest against the grent injustice inflicted upon tho pooplo of Te Aroha, and npon residents in the counties of Piako and Ohinemuri generally, by tho late Govornment, whereby, in direct opposition to tlmir expressed, wish, the nuvigable portions of all rivers w ithin those counties, emptying into Tlmno.s Harbour, huvo boon brought within the jurisdiction o! tho Thnnion Hiiibour Board, who are thereby ompoworod to levy Imrbour duos on theso up country districts. (2) And further. Unit tins mooting protects against tho secret mannor in which tho extended powers referred to wero granted, no intimation of Governments intention to grant ouch oxtondod powers having been m ido known, prior to the Proclamation gazetting the now boundaries ; mid therefore no opportunity was afforded tho residents in tho districts referred to to object. (3) And that this mooting request tint such Proclamation bo forthwith cancelled, and the jurisdiction of all rivers within tho counties of Piako and Qhinornuri bo vested in tho Piako and Ghinenmri County Councils respectively. " Tho eh linnan remarked that a portion of Mr Woods resolution was oovorod.by the'preoechng rosolution, and naked Mr Wood* if ho wishod to move tho resolution as an amendment. Mr Wooda replied ho Hid, but directly afterwards said, us a portion of his resolution was somewhat similar to th>it proposed by Mr Mills, he would withdraw his resolution altogot.li.or and accordingly did so. Mr Mills resolution was then put and carriod. Resolved on tho motion of Mr, Frazer, Tha tho chairman of this meeting communicate with the County Councils of Piako and Ohiuemuri respectively, oonvoying to thorn the rosult of the meeting. Tliis concluding tho business relative to tho Harbour Board, Mr. Dobson vacated the chair, requesting that another chairman be appointed if thoro wero any further business to be discussed. Mr. Frazer was then voted to tho chair. Mr Cocks moved the following resolution : " That thia mooting request Government io arrange for Mr. Montgomery, of. the Thames School of Mines, or some other competent assayer, to be located at Te Aroha for tho next month or two, with instructions to assay, freo of charge, parcels "of stuff from the Waitoa and surrounding districts. Mr. Cocks spoke forcibly in support | of his resolution, and uointed out the great advantage to the district, and generally, it would' be were a capable and reliable assayer stationed at Te Aroha just now whon so much was being done in the direction of prospecting, etc. Mr. Tonge and the chairman also warmly supported tho resolution, which was carried unanimously. On the motion of tho chairman, it was resolved, That a copy of the resolution be forwarded Government, and also to the. members for Waikato, Coroinandol, Thames, and Tauranga. The meeting closed, with a vote o£ thanka to fcho chair,