DEPUTATIONS TO HIS HONOE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1856, 12 September 1874, Page 3

DEPUTATIONS TO HIS HONOE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

Yesteeday a number of persons saw his Honor the Superintendent and the Provincial Secretary, at the Government Buildings, on business. We give a report of what took place at the more important deputations

BLOCK iVo. sa. The following residents on Block No. 5a waited upon his Honor and the Provincial Secretary, with reference to a report made by the Provincial Council in t> OD w C tlleir ca3o Messrs. It. W. Mrbairn, Gardiner, Keid, McGregor, Garvey. Mr Brown, M.P.U., and v. f 1 M.P.0., were also present. Mr Brown said that his Honor would remember that a committee of the Provineial Council was appointed last session to investigate this matter. The deputation now wished to know if ho would take any immediate steps to carry into effect the recommendation of tho Committee that each should receive 50 acres of land! The whole of the Committee agreed that in equity these men had been unjustly dealt with, but that legally they had no claim. Mr Graham was threatening to eject those men now. His Honor said that he was quite willing to carry out the recommendation of the Committee. He believed they went into tho matter very carefully, and took all the evidence within (heir reach, and their recommendation seemed to be reasonable. The Committee recommended first that a rigid inquiry should be made into the circumstances of each petitioner. 'Jho Committee itself went into tho inquiry carefully, and how; to establish a new inquiry he was at a loss to know. Tho next recommendation was, that on any person proving his claim, it be settled by giving him u grant of country land not to exceed 50 acres. Would the residents be content with that I recommeadatioa if it were carried out P

All the members of tho deputation answered that they would.

His Honor said that tho now Waste Lands Act pointed out a number of ways through which they could act in disposing of the waste lands, and they could only dispose of these lands in such ways as tho Act sanctioned. There was no power within the Act to enable hira to carry out the desire of tho committee. However, when Dr, Pollen came up next week, he might bo enabled to make some arrangements with him by which land belonging to the Crown—perhaps in this districtmight be given. But when land became provincial property, and was handed over by the General Government, then they must deal nith it as pointed out by tho Waste Lands Act, and that gave no poorer in such a case.

Mr Sheehan remarked that the bill did contain such a power, but the clause was struck out in the Upper House, His Honor said that when Dr. Pollen came up next week ho would have same conversation with him, and see if they could not devise some means of carrying out the recommendation of the committee. Ho was quite' willing to be guided by the recommendation of the committee in so far as he was able. The Government was also recommended to ascertain whether the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Graham v. Thomas aud others affected the position of Mr Graham. Ho could obtain that advice in Auckland, and would see what could be done in the matter.

Mr Brown said he was requested to inform him his Honor that Mr Graham was threatening to eject these men, aud to ask if he could interfere to prevent it while the case wus being decided. His Honor said he could not interfere to prevent that.

Mr Sheehan said that, if his Honor wished, he could see Mr Graham aud arrange that he should take no proceedings.

Mr Bagnall said he did not see what the residents could gain by getting Mr Graham to postpone proceedings. They would ultimately have to make terms with Mr_ Graham; and that would not affect tbeirpositiouas regarded the 1 award. His Honor said if Mr Graham proceeded to eject those gentlemen, he might find it a more difficult matter than he thought. WHARF EXTSNSION. , The following gentlemen waited on his Honor on this subject:-Messrs Howe, Masters, Souter, Brodie, Kennan, Sims, and Errington.

Mr Howe said that his Honor would recollect that a deputation waited upon him in the early part of last week respecting the necessity of providing increased wharf accommodation. He might say that the want was being felt more and more every day. Two vessels were now on the beach which had come in on Sunday last; thoy had been made lighter every day, and still they were unable to get to the wharf. The committee had come to the conclusion that what would best provide for immediate necessities would be the extension of the Goods Wharf 500 or 600 feet.

His Honor said the question would be, would they obtain deeper water by extending the wharf. What length would it require to be extended to give the greater depth required? Mr McLaren said that an extension of 600 feet would give an additional three feet in depth.

His Honor: How much do the coal vessels generally draw ?

Captain f outer said that about 7 feet 6 inches would bring in almost any vessel that was trading uow, and if they had the additional depth spoken of, larger vessels could come than wcro trading now. Mr Howe said he thought the proposed extension would provide for their wants for several years to come.

His Honor said that permauent works must be made, and his desire was, that whatever was done should be made a portion of the permanent works-that they should work up to that. At hi«h water, what vessels could be brought to the wharf now?

Captain Souter said these two vessels which had been before referred to, drew from 6 feet 6 inches to 7 feet, and they had not been able to get to the wharf, even at high water.

His Honor asked, if they had had 3 feet more depth, could they have come up ? Captain Souter said they could. He found that vessels would nut come here on account of the difficulty of landing their cargoes, and even although they were getting 4s more freight than by going to Auckland, they still refused to come. Mr Masters said that his vessel had thrown him up. 'l'he captain told him that he would not come at all again. His Honor said he had been consulting with Mr Lodder before ho left. Mr Lodder. was an engineer himself, knew a great deal about shipping, and had charge of the A licklaud Steam Packet Company. He had promised to come down by the ' Crown' to-day, and if they would allow the matter to stand over till to-morrow he would have an opportunity of consulting with him, together with Mr Aitken and Mr McLaren. He might say that the Provincial Government wished to render them every assistance, but they wished to do it safely, 'lhe expenditure of £2,000 was a matter of great concern to the Provincial Government in the state of their finauces.

Mr Sims said he call his Honor's attention to the fact that it was costing the mines £500 a month more at present than if there were proper accommodation. His Honor said he was quite sensible of the importance of the work. He wanted to find out how the thing could be practically carried out at the least possible expense. The Provincial Government had not millions at their disposal. Mr Lodder had told him that if that wharf was extended over so far they would got no more water, inasmuch as the harbour silted up so rapidly. However, that was a question for those professional gentlemen to settle. ROAD UP WAIOTAHI CREEK. Messrs Kowo, Brodie, and Porter waited on his Honor. Mr llowo said they had waited on his Honor with referenco to tho Waiotahi Highway District. As his Honor was aware, the Board had taken a contract for carrying out a portion of road in the Waiotahi Creek. That work had been partly completed, but it would bo of very little use if the Borough Council did not make the other portion. The Council, on being applied to, said that they had no funds, and tho deputation wished to know if there were any means of helping them.

His Honor asked if the Council recog' nise their right to do the work.

Mr Howe said they did. The estimate for tho work was about £1,200 for cutting and metalling. His Honor remarked that these municipalities—which wore to be tho great substitutes for provincial institutions--camo to the Provincial Government to liolp them. Ho thought they should have oounted tho cost of tlicic great in-

stitution before they started it. Tho Council had voted £1,500 to enable him to start tho municipality in its infancy. How many would bo accommodated by this road P

iVI r Eowo said tho road would accommodate a number of mines which had proved good on tho surface. Besidos, this was tho best creek to tako a road up through tho hills by.

His Honor said he would see some of the municipal authorities and ascertain how far they were able to assist, and if they could not, the Provincial Government might be able to obtain an advance to give to them.

Mr Kowe said that tho deputation also wished to know what they were likely to get iu the VVaiotahi district in the coming year. The Provincial Government had promised £700 towards that road in the Waioiahi Creek, and. tho contract amounted to £843. He did not know exactly what tho rates would amount to. In addition to that, they had to koep tho goldfields tracks in order, .on which nothing had been done for .years previously, and in order to malco them.at all passable they had to keep men on them. Pathways were also wanted to bo mado to tho different,, school-houses. They could not keep tho tracks in ordor with fewer than four men throughout tho year, without undertaking any new work whatever.

Mr Brodie said that it would take £1,500 to keep them going to the end of tho financial year. Against this they had the £700 promised by the Provincial Government, and the rates would amount to about £150. That would leave £650 as a balance against thetn. K would point out that all tho goldfields' work that was going on was within that district.

Mr Eowe said that in tho present uncertain and transition state of things in connection with all these bodies, he was determined not to go into dobt. His Honor: Why, what do you mean by a transition state of things? If we are wise in our generation, we should go into debt as hard as wo caii rattle.

Mr Sheehan: But highway boards cannot go into debt without the members becoming personally responsible. THE NEW RIFLE RANGE, Captain Murray, Captain Brassey, and Mr Carpenter waited on his Honor to ask a further expenditure of about £150 to complete the new rifle range. His Honor said that the Hon. the Native Minister had, in reply to a telegram from him, sanctioned the expenditure of £100 by the General Government in the completion of this range, and the Provincial Government would provide the remainder. His Honor further said that the Hon. the Native Minister had spokon in very flattering terms of the Thames Scottish Company and Naval Brigade, slating that he considered them two of the moat officient Volunteer Companics in the colony. The deputation thanked his Honor for his ready acqtjiescenso in their desires and withdrew.