NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 65, 6 March 1908, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOR BOARD.

lILETIM.S OK I.ATKPAYUJS. We are indebted to the llawera Star for the following reports:— AT UIAKEHO. I here wer- ,-ixteen uiupaver, at liie Otakeho Hall mi Tucsdav alternoou to hear Mc»rs. Mcl.au and Hughes with reference to the prup,>-cd loan id ■.■W.UtM. .Mr. W. tllair was voted to lite chair. -Mr. (i. M.U-an .aid he was elected a* their representative on the Harbor Hoard aliout fourteen years ago. and had lieen returned unopposed ever since. A. he was about to i.,Ke a trip Home he thought the faire-t way lor him would lie to re-ign and lay the maltT Wlorc tin- ratepayers as he saw it himself, so tluit they could instruct their new lepreseulative iu the matter of 'supporting or opposing the Hill. Alter reading llie preamble of the Hill. Mr. McU-an submitted facts and figure, as follow-:--

"The present |Ki-ition under existing legi-lation as to liability, in principal amount, in rates. annual charges, and rate- collected shows that the loan of IXMW is secured by a level rale oi t ( d over the whole of the harlwr rating district:—

Intere-t at li pel cent, per annum lii.ooo Cost of collecting rale, ex change, etc ,"ij7 Total annual charge,.. 12,557 Thi. is provided for a, follow-: Laud Fund ,'!.!124 Rates collected .. .. -.1.1-28 ti:i,os2 "The whole of the annua! charges entile loan have hitherto been borne by land fund and by a level rate over the whole of the harbor rating area, and taking last year'- figures (above) the annual charges had lieen met in round numbers roughly in proportions of landrevenue one-third, rates two-thirds. Consequently, taking the loan in like proportion, the ratepayer- are saddled with a. principal of. in round figures, £I3i,OUU, and a rate liability of %d, and an actual annual payment of nearly £9,000. The following would be the position if no new legislation were passed and the Hoard reborrowed the net amount of the present loan in 1901), at, say, -1 per cent.

Existing loan :!UO.otH> l«ss sinking fund 04,000 l:l(i.<HKI Plus coat of raising loan, exchange, etc. .. ~.. 14,000 I.10.00(1 The annual charges would lie— Interest at 4 per cent (J.ikh) Cost of rate collection .. .-..-,7 8.5.-.7 I he-* charges roiil.l |„, provided for a follows: - Land. Fund i ItHKt- j/j.v) l-*-vel rate throughout. |.nno

"There Ixdng mi p:.„i-ion for a sj„k. in-: fund the loan indelitednps. and the •rid level rate liability would lie everlasting. Taking a- e-timated for next year the annual charge in round figures would lie liorne a. follow-: -Uml fund, over nine .thirteenth?: rate, nearlv four thirteenth-; and'the principal indclifd-ne-s in like proportion-, or. roii"h!\-. loan fund tllo.mitl. ratciiayer- .tlo.lUKl! ■ The following would 1m- the po-ition it the propoW Kill »erc ~,,s.e d and the eon-ent of the ratepavers obtained: l>«n. i-Swumo. Secured l.y (li land fund, lit endowment revenue. (31 a fir-i charge on Hoard's ordinary revenue to a minimum amount of C4JOO |>er .m- ---. num. (4| %.l rate New Plymouth and near, 'id rate down to Bird Road on ea-t and I'unilio road on west. '/, d rate <•" all the rest of the harlwur rating area. The annual charges would lie: - . « Interest at. say. Ip r wn[ ]->.ihmi Co-t of collection .3.-,1 l

j Total annual charge, .. ]->.r,l*\ j This i, to Ik- met a- follow-: ( '?'"- --'nnd 4.,;.-,o ] Kndowmcnis 2.01K1 : ll.irl.or Board [ 7.->im . Kite- idiir-rciuial! .. ~ I.pm ; li-Vm

"It will lie -,eii that the annual charges would lie met. iu round ligures. in proportion- as follow-:-Umd fund and Board ±.-i>th-. ratepavers ;ti,}t||.. And the loan liahilitv would fall in lik|>roj«mion c,|uai to: Land fund and Board iiiiij.imii. ratepaver- t'.WOtm - total CH-V-m.

I "Mmiihl tli, 1i.,.,rd a»iee at „,... | in..iin»-an,l it i. ...rtain to do to tli, I in-rtion »i a clatt-e |.rovi.liii« 1...1 an, >urp!n- ari-in« from land fund, endoiv-nii-uts au ,| contribution, arising in.m the ISu.ir.l'. ordinary revenue. beine; ~.. aside tor a -inking fund, then in-teac of tile loall indebt.'dlle-. ;,„,! :< v | ~.„,, lul.ii.ly everla-tiuj:. a- »- uu ld \ K tli- ca-c i; the CI.VI.INIII wa- re lion-ow-ed un.hr evUtiii;.. j„,,|, ~,,,. and loan lial.ilitj U .,„J,| j„ cuur .,.' ,j, time ee..~ th- torui.r in a lew va>, the latter in ,ay 411 ur ,-, ( , veals*. M the revenue troin land fund and endowmem- IUIW intr,..,,,. ,i e ,.,lilv it w„ u !,|. uitli the CJS.N) |> t |„. Ihmii <l)m eK-.-e.ItU- ttlf.Kl Hinder the Hill (.and .|„. ral( .. inttnjtp,),,,.,, JB j any case, would .•.■a-e-th,. t .v,li „ v ,. r . th.- ClJ.imii Uiu., m,„,| v ~„.,, ,„- ~,.,. j lection ..! rate, would he'-aved As th, j total amount to l.e colleete,]. if collec|.-d j at all. vv..,il.| „ n |_ v tH> UJoti- |.->4th ~f j-l-iiDyinthe t if a level rate-„e;„;v j t>»>.,f *,]„,-!, i-„,.,-,„, ,„■„ <.0u,.l h„,!! y l](i „. ,|, u un . ]io)rl *"" U - " th *>" "•»''> li-If it. -I»-nd c:.i»i -. a, to ».., t -.»», .v.,,, .„ ~„ , I «Kl"i % - " 11 '"' '" """• j I-r0ve,,,.,,, ,|,e annual ''hlrVw!.! 7..T""' ""'" ""'" not U; j !»■ no need t.. levy ~m ~,!,. ;,„' , r)l||i , I'e.ir-. by «!,i.l, time the land fund and [ endowm. Nt revenue mjv |,. tV e j„,.,-,..,„ ,| I -iilli.i.-nilv t... nit!, ,|„.' t ,.-,,„ ,-,.„„' M . ( . ! IS-Mr.l. „»..-, ,!| ,„ irj ,,.. |!lu jr ~,„ ; r..t.- 1- eolleied j, „j|| .„. „,, i ri ,irtit.-_, i "iai th.t ... 1.,. ... ,|„. ~.„,.,,.„,.,. ~„. |...n ( vn,.,| ti,. ii.iv |.,.,u ~,,,,1.1 ~'.-i 11,..,„ ""thin-, li.i. «„„|.| |„. ~,..,.,,| „, "> '■■: a- rl„ ~,,,.,. ~].,,] , j,; . ' '■•ifi -•"■•ii.i.-ar.',;.„.e,„..,i. „i,..,,, tl ;.. ;"■'"■''/ate 1..,,, [ „„„ M ,„. |ir ,.|,,i,,, !•-- ll.in I :;ntli ~f „„, JM ,|„. ,'. At IT lit tie- 1!,,,,,1 i. -i,,,,,,!;,,., ,„,",' "f a viier.il revem f „.-.,,1v t'l.l.inii at toe ,-.,te „f ~k . .r t . UH „, j„ | 1; „.|„„ H . ••\t.-„-|.„l. ul,„|, ev ( ,e,„|it„re will no '"""' "it if : iv loan i- not ..,,. tained and not one |.e,i n> i- ~,iit,i|,iite,| l.v th,. le.ard toward- inter-;: l,„t -h'uiM the ne« |o,,n I litnincd. a'l ""]' '•' e.vten-i..n ni[| mine out ..f |..m. ...id t0n.,,,,, ,„,;,!. .„,-,,,„. „,- L . n0ll)) ' , '.',".. '"•""'•"•■ nee "ill 1., v ■ ;.'i'--.ri:v :iv.-r;.-d t•'.-..11.1- |..c. in.-m i.t ar..| -till le.uiti'/ the Hoar,] t'2/iiKi to -i..r.--.i. or.'-nt i.ite -alKive ,o4- ~f - tl:..t tile I „| ~.,t.|,| ■ --'ly it -Hiortly |.nt. the ,-,-iti,.,, ~f t|„.,..,.,.. ; !;".'•'• u "" 1,1 '"' v -r.» greatly improve 1. I ''"■'' l""|"'rii»ir of ]„.,„ liahiliiv ~„„ ! -i-Viahl... 1,-, their rat.- lial.ili,' ,„;,.' :■-- rledr a.ti,.,l rate- h-. if.,„ v ,-„..

at all. awl in all probability a sinking fund «uulil In' provided fur.'

"The I'Mra .12150,000 must necessarily greatly improve the liarliour as a I'orl fur coa-tal beats anyway, and, it is held l>y many, will provide accoinniudiitiou for ocean-going steamers. He that as it may, any improvement to the port must lie of benefit to all concerned, and it will sot only not cost the ratepayers anything. hut 'will by the provisions of the Hill place them'in a nmeli liettcr position. It is certainly in their interest io siipjinrt the propel- mI Hill whieli. though nominally increasing the debt, actually greatly iV-cii. their liurden and practically extinguish"- ihe rate un.ler which ihey so louo -nil, red. It mav lie eonleiideil thai il I lie Labile' of Hie present loan were re-Lm rowed ihe Hoard could easily coiilrii.uie sulliciont to oliviate the n lof Icwiim a rate; I hat is so. and if they could i... compelled so to contribute liic position of the ratepayers would (cx.cpi so far a- their land's Wing saddled lor ever with the :>;d late liabilily and the Capital amount I lie equally good as un der Ihe Hill. Hilt the' Hoard ha- -o far never conlriLuted one farthing lowiiriinterest, although repeated attempts have Leon made by the country Lers to have the endowment revenue set a-ide for I hat purpo-e. ami unfcininately there is no eninpiil.il dcr existing legislation, whilst under "n----propo-ed Hill the Hoard would lie c pcllod to contriliute to the extent before stated, namely, endowment revenue fi.iNHl. oilier c'l..")il". Therefore the Hill i- unquestionably the best for I !:•■ ratepayers.''

Continuing. Mr. McLean said he was strongly in favour of thi- Hill. He had always been oppo-ed to any borrowing', bill they (the ratepayers he had hem representing) were now oli'crod cxc.d lent terms, better even than had been hoped for. consequently he though! il would lie advantageous |o support the Hill. They could rest assured that il New Plymouth did not get this Hill the matter would not be allowed to drop, and a Hill might be passed in the (itiirc that would not be nearly so favourable as the present one to the interests ol the ratepayer, in this di-lrict. Mr. Maxwell an.l himself had been accused of "trimming" owing to their attitude in regard to this Hill, but there were several clauses which had been inserted specially to meet their view.. Whether N'evv Plymouth would ever be a deep-sea port he was not sufficient engineer •.. say. but New Plymouth people .aid i: would. He was assured that whalevei tbivernmeiif was in power their -vm pathies would be with Ihe New Plyiiiouth harbour, fur it was the onlv poit of refuge on the west coitsi between the North Cape and Wellington. He was thoroughly satisfied that this Hill was the lx'st thing for the ratepayers in this district.

Sir. Hughe* followed Air. AlrLoan. and explained In the meeting tliat !„■ was Ihc Covi-ninient nominee >mi the Board, lint that did not menu tltsi 1. :c was tied to any |i:irtk-ular police, lie considered his duty \v:h tn look after tin' interests dt' the ratepayer-. ||j s opinion was that tin' ratepavers in this district should never have lucn paving that harlxmr rate. He ,|i,| not likc'this new loan proposal; it diil not provide for a sinking fund. 'lhc moncv wanted to jiii.v oil thf old loan -hoitl'd lie r<liorrowod 0! , ~ dilicrential rating lia-is. Mr. McU'an sugnc-tcd that .Mr. Hugh.- should produce sonic scheuic !,v which this could lie done.

-Mr. Hughe- was ipijto -me it cou'd Ik- done.

Air. Alcljau pointed out that it wo-ild not lie po-ilile to get a Bill through the Hou-e in the limiteil time at their dis-po-al liefore the loan lu-caim- due. !f they could l.orrow as .Mr. Hughe- suggested lie would sav do -o at once, hilt lie was sati-lied that could not lie done. The ratepayers could instruct their repri'sentalives to try and get -uiplnrevenues and endowments devoted to a sinking fund. Mr. Hughe- read a telegram received from Air. Alarx (a candidate for the vacancy on the Harbour Hoard can--d liy Mr. Afclyean resigning), which was as follows: --Cannot -ee why maximum amount of loan should not lie reduced to two hundred thousand, giving .-ixty-ftve thousand to work on with pre-ent conditions re Bill: otherwise lu-tter pay off pre-ent loan with Wai--1 .-ti.i assistance."

, Mr. Owen thought they should stand j to a man and oppose any further l>..r 1 lowing unless thev were excluded from ' the borrowing area. They were told ■•,- j lore that thev would not have to p.iy inlerest on the old loan, hut they we.e I soon called on and had to pay up every | time.

Many i|Wsiion» were a.ked Mr. M'-1.-an and answered with reference to tli- proposals of th<> Dill outlined iti'lii* a.idn ■--. Personally lie thoii<rlit tlic Inrliniir would satisfy requirements |..i many year-. 11l reply tn a yuestioii I". 1

said the breakwater wa- on a -and fiMiieiatioti. but the engineer -aid they eonlil nut have a lietter.

, j Mr. I'oole -tated that an engineer ~i . j -niiip experience had all'irnied that the . ! N.-.v l'lymoiitli harhour eould never he j made a deep-se.l port. I'liere vviniid jalway- l„- Ihe <lriftin« saml to conte'el I I against. . ! \fr. I.l.iir said he had been ill favour . ' of tlii- -ihenie ever siuee the pi'opo-i!- . i had been outlined, and after hearing ■ Mr. MeU-an explain tliiiifr- so tlionueoi. ly he wa- more than ever in favour of it. There was now the prosjK'tt of liavine a very small rate to pay. and his adviee was to «o for the new scliptne. II" (Mr. Blair)' moved: "Tlint this meeting approves of the proposed ]!i!| a- read l.y ilr. McLean.' This was seconded by Mr. la' I'letning. but on beinfr put to the meeting the motion was defeated by 8 votes to li. | Several subsequent speakers suggested i a motion approving of the Hill, provided I a -inking! fund was included. Mr. Mef.ean njraiit outlined the pr.i- ---| po-al-. -bowing that it was a iptestion j a- 1,, whether they were «oin« to pav I a ',,| rate on tlidll or a -,d rate on l tl'.HNi. Mr. Maxwell and himself bill j foiinht for years in the interest- of the j ratepayers at this end. and lie was .satisi lied that this Kill wa- the b,-t tiling that had yet been ollercl to them, lie would be apreeable to lie burnt in eliiL-y on his return from his trip if the ratepayers had to pav more than be had stated. I Mr. fTiiphes contended that it wa- n,,i. i bu-inc-s-like In make no ),r,,vi-i,,n f,,r ! a -inking fund. i Mr. I'oole a-ked if the -ti.it propo-ed J for harbour improvement- would l.e j et]..ii»li to complete the Whole work. j Mr. .McU.tn replied that a ne.v 1 ilredu,.. wharf, crane., etc.. were in , eluded.

Mr. !„■ lTemino a-ke,l if the tliili.iiihi were i-e-liorrowed would Waitara be -till liable for the rate on lb,- „i.| 1„.,n.

Mr. McU'an answered in the affirmative. Mr. Unfile- tlioueht (he fact of Waitara ;:ettin;.' out of any payment. .-,- wa- included ill till' proposals, was »ood rea-011 why the ratepayer- at thi- end -1 Id be out too.

opinion that even will, .1 r;it.■ ! they would 1»' i-onlrilmliii" .1- much a- [ the ratepayers almut New Plymouth. [ a- tin- land here was worth much more ; ih.in in Hie N'ew I'lyinoutli di-tricl. j Mr. Dunn wniild like In see -onie finality ahoiil the rates: an indefinite ; rale na- a«niii-t tlieni when they wanted t<. -ell out: strangers looked askance \\ hen they wnv informed of the po-i----tion. to ipieslion,. Mr. Mclean -aid if they didn't accept tin's Tlill in hi- o|iinion they would have to pav more later on. There \n« no provision for a linking fund, hut that was a matler lh.it eouhl lie <li-cu<sed at I lie next piiectin-r of the Hoard. A -inkiiiL' fund could !»• .-l.iWMi.-d liy Miipln>e~ from r-veiiue. endowments, or land fun.k Mr. 111.1 ir thought it had been elearlv -luirtii Ipy Mr. McLean that tho.v were "oin« to lienolit a deal. a< the\orv uiiw-t tliav would have to pav was the ',-1 rite. A nirllier re-olniion. moved l.v Mr. 11. A. I'oole wa-: -That thi- meeting I appr-vc- of the Dill a- read liv Mr. I M.1,, an. provi.liii" that a clause' -hall j ho in-erteil in the Mill lo he Milimiltcd I ■•> the llou-e. that in the event of Mi-| i 1 hein- a;.o-ecd to the Hoard pledge it-.-lf to en-ate a sinkin? fund. (

■Mr. 1!. Dunn seconded. The motion iva., carried on the voic-.•-. On the motion of Mr. Hlair a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to .Mr. McLean for having so long and ably represented Ihe district, and for the able manner in which In- had addressed ihe meeting. Mr. McLean suitably responded. Mr. Hughes eulogised Mr. Mcl-can's services in connection with Ihe Hoard. A vole oi thank, \va- accorded the chairman.

AT MANAIA There were about 20 ratepayers preIciil at the Town Hall, Manaia, on Tuesday evening. Mr. Mclvan and Mr. Hughes repeal.'.! their remarks made at Otakeho. .Mr. Mclean said Mr. Maxwell and himself considered I hi- was the Ik'sl bargain they had ever made. He fell proud to have something to do with such a Bill. Several concessions had been made lo ' iiii-j-t I heir wishe.-, including a threeI lilth-s majority vote and a clause giving additional votes to large property own-

Mr. Hughes said he clillered from Mr. McLean because there was no finality in regard lo this loan- it never ended, lie thought it was a crying shame thai lliis district should be contributing toward. New i'lyniouth harbour, lie considered the .cili-LOOO a bribe to the New I'lyniouth people, raised on a differential basis. In some respects he approved of the Hill. 11.- had no hesitation in saying it would be a good thing for everybody if a sinking lund were e-tablished and finality in view.

Mr. McLean said he had no objection to a sinking fund, lie thought that if land endowments and revenues increased these could be applied as a sinking lund.

Mr. Campbell did not think'there was any need of a sinking fund. Replying to Mr. Campbell, air. McIjean said even if y,d rate did,not meet requirements the ratepayers" were not liable for any more.

Mr. Cooper asked if the New Plymouth people approved of the Hill, also if there was any chance of getting the present Hill with a sinking fund. If the Hill was being jeopardised by pressing for a sinking fund he thought they should let it drop. Mr. McLean replied that New Plymouth people were in favour of the Bill. Mr. Hughes thought thry should stick out for a sinking fund.

Air. T. Uridyl- tln-n niovod: "Thai this meeting '>' ratepayers approves (it (lie proposed Bill, but is of opinion that a sinking fund should be established, if possible, without endangering the proposed Bill.' .Seconded by Mr. Giiiulin and carried on the voices. \'otes of thanks were accorded Messrs.' McLean. Hughes, and the Cliairnian.

AT OPUNAKE. Mr. MeJJavitt was r ,tcd to the chair. Mr. Maxwell explained that since hj" Hits first elected to the Hoard he had been a constant opponent of any poli"\ which had for its effect the continuance or the increasing of the present imposition on the district. In thai re- < sped he, as one of the "country parly." had lieen succe-siul in defeating an objectionable Bill six or seven years ago. Again last year a section of the Hoard promoted a' Hill which would have met similar opposition. Now lie was charged Willi changing hi- attitude because he wa- prepare! to -upport a nsiire which would provide iublition.il money for I'lir harbour, lie desired to point mil lli.it be hail nol changed one io..i. Ills opinions on loan proposal, ii few years ago and now were identical. Shortly, be had been against any proposal which would continue or increase the burden of principal liability or ra'.e liability of the ratepayer's, hut if a scheme were propounded whereby those (liabilities wYrc lessened it would have hi- support, even if additional loan iiioiioy were by that means provided. List year's liill had been accompanied by a memorandum containing 1 proinis"s. which, however, were not acceptable unless embodied in the measure. The country party was willing to fall in title if certain alterations were agreed io, namely, better provision for a poll of the ratepayers, differential rating, and | contributions from the general revenue, toward- a portion of the intei"-t charge-. After the liill had been withdrawn hi-! year, negotiation- had been

entered into, and the draft he had now to explain included all provisions thet could pos-ibly he made to safeguard tic intcre-ts of the ratepayers in this district. | Mr. Maxwell here submitted a

statement of the position, a copv of which hail Wen supplied t0 Mr. McLean, and which was read al the Otakelm meeting and is reported under that head.i Mr. Maxwell, continuing, said if the Itill were made law Opiinake would have a fur greater chance of «ot 1 in'j; its district, for it would not have the vei\ cniisiileralile opposition from New l'lyniontli. and. moreover, it would he in a

'.cry ninth lictlir position, lor. instead of burdened will] a l hi' ruli' would In' only '/, din tin.' C. lie would now leave the region of actual fact- and j-ive tl.l'lll what wahi- own opinion. ll.' did not believe lint tin' lilt,- would I H . -truck, certainly not tor th<' lir-t oi<rht years The fuil iiiiioiini that would 'lie asked for could not lie spent ou the liarliiitir in one year; it would take at lea-t three year-. It naturally followed that the interi-t charge for tile lirst or setolid year would not lie He put it down at. -ay. .fS.UOO for the first ' year., .CI..JUO for the second and .112.01)0 I for the third. Now. il liad been shown that til,loll was contributed liy en- | downients, land fund, and Hoard's contrilnitioii; consequently no rate would lie required for the lirst two years. Moreover, during those two years'thosc sources of revenue would liave. provided a -nrplus over interest required of Io.UOO, which would Ik- sullii-ient to pav the rate contribution for a further period of the years. By that time he believed that the endowments and the land fund would have increased to su-ii an extent lhnt no rate would be collected at all. Coiicliuliin:. Mr. Maxwell poimeil out that he had been liftcn year.- on tin- n„ard. and he had edven Ihe l.e-l of hi- ability to the care of the ratepayer-- interests, while at the same time, of eoiir-e. he had studied Hi • welfare of ihe port. j|e ,va- verv iniicli in favour of the Hill: all the vital points -lilted them and thev had jjol all tli-v- I wauled. If the Dill became law and the | loan were rai-ed il would be tl„. »| Vl j. (-1 boon they had ever received, ile wa, so convinced of t|,i- , | uU he |,,,| ii" he-itiiti.,ii in -ayinc, that it would be Hie .ureal.-I -ei-vice he had done or could ,lo lor t he ratepayer,. (Applause.) Mr. A. 11. Moor,, asked if Mr. Maxwell had not always objected to extension- out of loan, and whether !„■ had not been Hie one who was instrumental in bavin" that work done out of revenue M

M.l\W<.|l lV|,ii,-,l (I,.!! l,c llil.l .il- "».''' I "''' 11 ■"< "!'l'"Mi'iii tu miv Imvi-o'.v-iii» wliicli wniilil iV nu iiu-rciiM'il lmrden (Ml the nit< T .iv.T.. T|,i. „ ;ls Ilnt _ ]K . ll.nl lint U„|]< licillp <lGl)l! OUt ill revenue.

Mr. Aloore— Haven't you ahvavs lrld out that in Willi |]„- ratepayers would l)i' able to get rclii I' Iron) I his loan altogether? Mr. Maxwell said lie had , been in favour of sitting tight, became then tin' posit ion won hi W inncli improved in I!>!>•», as the rati- would be practically inlinitcsimal; lint under the present Bill their position would l,e still better! Mr. Moore-There has apparently been a consultation between Mr. King and yourself. Have you obtained the opinion of the rafepavers on the Bill? Mi. Maxwell— Yes. Many of them have -een the letter, that' began the negotiation. It was mil reasonable that he -Ikpiil.l have -ecu everybody: tint was what li<- w.i-j i ting them for now. Mr. Mo„n—-Win- is <ip, m akc town excluded fr (he area? Mr. Maxwell -aid he did not know. lb- cool,l only form bis own idea It was not, hi, work. Have you obie.-ic,| :-><,.

Mr. Moore-Why have you ~„t olijee eil Without consideration?

Mr. Maxwell replied Unit the .|iieslinner was a-suiiiing a great deal (o

say thai lie had not given the matter every consideration.

Mr. .Moore expressed the opinion that (his point should have had Mr. .Maxwell's opposition, as it meant dividing the town from the country. Why had the Waitara district been excluded? .Mr. -Maxwell said that was due to th? fact that the Waitara people had got their Harbour Bill through last session of Parliament, and in that Act. although the district was liable for the present rate it could not lx> included in the district for a new rate. Consequently the New Plymouth Board was u'.i against a brick wall—either it must stick to the old loan or leave Waitara district out of the new one. If Opunake had got its Bill ihrougli it would have been in the same happy position as Waitara.

Mr. Moore -Are you in favour of pr> tected works at Opunake?

Mr. Maxwell said it was a very broad question, but decidedly hj« was ill favour of anything which was for the progress of the town and district. Mr. Moore—Hid you consider tint when discussing the proposed Hill': Mr. Maxwell-Certainly. and nothing Iha I had been done for Opunake was so likely lo benefit it as the substitution of '/id for a %<l guarantee. That had lieen one of his chief consideration-, when the Waitara district was excluded that the Opunake harbour district should also lie excluded?

Mr. Maxwell replied that his present scheme was to put the New Plymouth Hill lx'fore the ratepayers, and not lo consider prospective works at Opunake. Mr. Moore—How much is the passenger lax? Mr. Maxwell— C 4,0011.

Mr. Moore—l supjiose that is in your surplus? Mr. Maxwell—No. Mr. Moore—lt will be reduced by onehalf when the Main Trunk goes through. Mr. .Maxwell—That is so.

ill', f!. (luy asked if Mr. Maxwell hail objected to the £10.0)1(1 loan being handed over to Opunake to lie spent on the port as had been suggested? Mr. Maxwell said he hail objected lo the proposal to hand over £IO,OOO. though he had not actually voted against it. It had been suggested to him, but he at once replied that he would hear of no such thing. If li« had adopted such a suggestion he would have, lwen open to the criticism that he had been liought. While there was no actual reason why they should not have the money, it was held out tea much in the shape of a so]). If it had not been dropped he would have had nothing to do with the Bill. In the lower part of the district it would have killed the Bill, If Opunake had a rig.it to £IO,OOO, how much had Waimate a right to? That it was dropped was a pity for Opunake, but for his own part he was glad. Mr. Mildenhal! asked how long the loan, if curried, would take to mature? Mr. Maxwell said it had not been definitely arranged, but, lie thought for It)) years, and it would then be renewable. If the sinking fund were very good the loa.ii might be extinguished in that time, hut that all depended on how soon the (Jovernmont dealt with various lots of land which the Hoard had an interest in. Mr. Moore moved: "That this meeting does not approve of the propose:! New I'lyniontli Harbour Bill Amendment, that even if the ratepayers wore favourable they object to the separation of the Opunake town and country interests suggested by the exclusion of the Opunake Town District. That Opunake, having its pint, claims total exemption from payment of Xew Plymouth har-

hour rate after the" expiry of the present

loan, in the -iinie manner as hinds within the Waitara harbour district are proposed to be exempted. That such exempted district comprise lands of the

capital value of .12,000,(1110. That the district is interested in the development of its own port, which development has been delayed for 20 years on account of the disproportionate amount it lias contributed towards interest payments. That the remainder of the New I'ly-

mouth harbour district, particularly that served by the railway, is well able to pay the small amount of interest contemplated by the Bill. That this meeting considers the placing of any lands in the harbour district on or near the railway under the third schedule js unjust, 'and urges upon the Opuiiiike Harbour Bill Committee to at once convene a public meeting to discuss the matter of promoting an Opunake llar-

hour Board liill during the coming se: sion. and further pledges to suppo: funds to oppose the New Plymouth 11 ai hour Bill,"

Speaking t» the resolution, the mover criticised Mr. Maxwell's ]mi|iosals it length. He said it was all a Iwgoy iu W tolliiifi iitinut a %<' l'iit-o, when they all knew well that it would never he raised. It was simply a lot of terrorizing! Three-farthing rate! Tommy rot! II was nonsense to say that the

oiler of CID.OIKI was a sop, and ev. il was. wasn't the differential rate ;

as well'; Tim real reason why Mr. Maxwell objected to the .C 10,000. continued Mr. Moore, was because lie objected in

tin 1 Opunako lliirbour Board altogether. The i|mMii>n was a vital oni', and if I hoy «iit no harlKinr llioy might just as well pack up their traps and go. The loan was forced on tlie district in 1ST!), when there was not an acre settled, and lie asked if it was fair and just that after 30 years of rate they

should lie asked to liurden themselves again. Ho thought Mr. Maxwell's prognostication with regard to no rate being collected was utterly wrong. The harbour had received £225,000 in endowments and ,C 154,000 in rates, and the

greater part of this ami the land fund as well had come from the land between .Stony River and the YVaingongoro. .The district had paid too much, and he wai strongly of opinion that it should bo relieved, and the Xew Plymouth end should carry the liurden itself, which it should be well able to do without dragging in a district wliieli bad been kept back all these years. .Mr. J. C. Jlickey seconded. Mr. 0. P. Armstrong moved as an amendment: "That this meeting is in favour of the .New Plymouth Harbour Bill as explained by Mr. Maxwell, seeing that the ratepayers arc safeguarded by a throe-fifths majority poll." The amendment was lost by a large, majority and the motion carried. The meeting I hen terminated with votes of thanks to Mr. Maxwell ami the Chairman.