PURIRI.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2148, 22 November 1875, Page 2

PURIRI.

(FEOM A CORRESPONDENT.)

\ Friday Evening. PUBLIC MEETING. A large and influential meeting took place this evening, of settlers and others interested in this district, at Mr Browning's, baker, in the Mission township. Mr Thomas Gillon was in the chair, and after making a few remarks respecting the object of the meeting arid the necessity of the settlers being united as one, especially as the election was near at hand, he called upon Mr Whitby to speak, as one who had an interest in Puriri and Tairua.

Mr Whitby, before putting the resolution in his hand, said that he had put himself to great inconvenience, and had to come a long distance to attend the meeting. He, as a rule, looked upon public meetings as useless, but they had the right man at the helm of affairs of the province, who was in every sense a representative of the people, so (hat there was some hope of getting grievances redressed. He therefore had much pleasure in proposing the first resolution, as follows:— " That this meeting wishes to draw His

Honor the Superintendent's attention to the absolute necessity of repairing the old road, it being the only practicable route for conveyance of machinery and for traffic*to the Tairua Goldfield."

Seconded by Mr Morrison and carried. 1 Mr."o. Rowley stated that he had come I there to try to live ; that he was.afraid hef had jumped out of the fryingpan into the; fire, lie wanted to make a home, but j found, like many more, he had to travel further for land to live on. He applied f to the provincial authorities for a few i feet, but was disappointed ; if he had got it, it was only sufficient for a decent burial. That was a fine state of affairs. The time had come that every one who considered himself a colonist should come forward and assist in the present struggle,, that was, for land for the people to live on, which was their birthright ; the Government were merely the custodians of their property, and it was their fault if they allowed themselves and families to be robbed. He - therefore had much pleasure in proposing the following resolution:—

" '1 hat the Superintendent's attention be drawn to the necessity of opening the lands of the Puriri District for agricultural purposes." Mr Eady came forward and stated that he had come from Otago, and wished to settle and get land for himself and family, therefore, he had much pleasure in seconding the rdsolutibn.-^Carricd;. ■/'■ ;; j ~t

Proposed by Mr McKenzie, -seconded by Mr David McLeary— | " That Messrs Gillon, Browning, and! Morrison be appointed as a deputation to wait upon the Superintendent to draw His Honor's attention to thje foregoing resolution." " r

This was carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to the chairman was carried, when the meeting terminated.