Te Aroha Town Board.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2096, 21 April 1898, Page 2

Te Aroha Town Board.

The usual meeting of the Board was held last night, when there were present : Coins Gavin (in the ehair), Ivnook, Bygrave, Gallagher, " and Maokie.

Morgantown Rents.—The Allocator of Revenue advised that he had placed £27 le 61 to Board’s credit;- being revenue from this source for month ending February 26th * * , Complaint.—Messrs E. Y. Cox, W. Carmichael, C. E. Lamb, and S. Griffith requested that the water which runs through their sections be cut off which they thought could be done by deepening the-l'existing drains. j> was decided to leave the matter in the hands of tlie Works Committee. - Wilson-Btreet.—Com Mackie drew attention to the state of this street, which was almost impassible for wheel traffic. The Board decided to get the surfaceman to remove, the largest stones, level the surface as :far as practicable, and deepen the watertables in order to run off the storm water. -'

Metal.—lt was decided to write Mr Adams for permission to take some metal from the bed of the creek on his property at tStoney Creek. Rawi-street Bridge.—On the motion of Com Gallagher it was resolved that the approaches to this bridge be formed the work/o be done by contract, and the be got from Whitakerstreet, between the Bank and rise at Wilson-street junction... The Native Title.—ln accordance with notice of motion given at last meeting, Com Mackie moved ‘That the' Government be requested to extinguish the Native title to Morgantown. 1 In speaking to the motion Mr Mackie complained' of the present unsatisfactory condition of affairs, when all holders of sections were at the mercy of the ipse, dixit .of Government (officials. He thought' if the Board wrote to the Government it might hasten their efforts to. secure a free-, hold.

The Chairman pointed out the diffi - culties, in the way of getting a freehold He was not against Mr Mackie’s motion, but it ought to be remembered that the natives were not at all disposed to part with their interest, especially if the Government showed any anxiety to buy them out. Cbm. Gallagher seconded the motion He thought if the Government were very anxious, they could have bought another share, and he knew this for a_ fact. He could have bought one himself if he had the power. At present the natives held 2£ shares and the Government 6|- shares, and he thought a petition ought to be sent to the Minister of Lands urging the purchase of the remaining shares. In Morgantown they had to pay £5 per annum for section, for which, if they were inLipseytown, would only cost £3. He did not see why the many should be strangled for the- few, and if the natives were not disposed to sell, the Government should: compel them, and take over the natives!' interest at a valuation. The Beard decided- to get Mr Gilchrist to prepare a petition,, and Com Mackie undertook to canvass- those interested for signatures. Gas. —Com Knock intimated that when in town he had been approached with a view to the introduction o-f gas light in Te Aroha. The paity was interf ste l in the Comp tny at present putting gis into Paeroa, and he thought if all the hotels, boarding; homes, shops and the domain, would undertake to become consumers, they would make a start. He thought the gas could be supplied at 10s per 1000 feet, but could not say definitely, as much would depend on the number of consumers. All the members of the Board favored the idea, and it was decided to invite a delegate from the promoters to eorae up to Te Aroha, with a view to ascertaining what support the public wers likely to give to the scheme. Finances,— The Clerk submitted the following statement of tho Board’s finances :—Credit halartce at Bank, £231 18s 61; cash on band, £9 10s; total, £241 8s 6d ; less accounts owing £l7l 7s 91; leaving a credit balance at date of £7O 0s 9d. The following accounts were passed for payment : P. Baine, L 43 103 6d ; R Michael, L 9 19s 6d; J. Jackson, L 57 6s 6d; L. Wright, Ll 18s 6d ; Bnewin and Co., L 7 13s 3d; J Me Gee, Ll 8s; Ohinemuri County Council, L 49 Us 6d. 1 ‘