The Komata Difficulty.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3725, 2 December 1880, Page 2

The Komata Difficulty.

A public meeting was held last evening in the Academy of Music for the purpose of impressing on the Government the necessity of at once proceeding with the road through Komata.

Mr Wm. Wilkinson was voted to the chair on'the motion of Mr L. Bagnall. The Chairman said that he hoped the representatives of the County present would not consider themselves on their trial. He did not think any blame was to be attributed to them, but that the meeting should call the Government over the coals for their inaction in the matter. The sum of £3,000 was voted (from the sum of £50,C09 for roads and bridges in the North Island) for this special undertaking, and, for three years the County Council had been doing all they could to get the work done. They advertised for 150 men, armed if necessary, to proceed to the spot, and when about to begin had been stopped by a telegram from the Native Minister. The Minister had since promised that some of the Con* stabulary on the Plains should be despatched to make the road as soon as the Waimate difficulty was 'settled. That nearly over now, as was evident from the fact of the Government dismissing 200 Constabulary. What motive the Government had in still withholding their consent to the formation of the road, he, could not say, unless it was that some landsharks wished to get hold of it. He would call upon Councillor Carpenter to come'to the front.

Cr Carpenter said he did not come to propose a resolution, but merely as the representative of the County Council. The County Council had done everything they could to endeavor to induce the Government to open up the road in question. Ministers had been interviewed by Mr Brodie and other members of the County Council, and promises had been obtained from the Native Minister and Mr Whitaker that the work should be at once proceeded with when the Waimate Plains difficulty had been settled. From that time to the opening of the Te Aroha, letters and representations had been made. On the 17th ultimo a letter was sent to the Minister of Publip Works drawing attention in view of the opening of the gpldfield and the necessarily increased traffic over the Ohinemuri main road, to that portion between Hikutaia and P^eroa, which in deference to the opposition of Tukukino and the wishes of the Government had not been-constructed. It pointed out that the work was now of paramount importance, and that the .hiatus was an effectual barrier between the townships and the important auriferous and agricultural settlements of Ohinemuri, Kotokohu, and Aroha; and soliciting Government to take such measures as would enable the Council to proceed with 10

essentially necessary a work. To this letter, no answer was received. It was therefore followed on the 25th ultimo by a telegram that the road was regarded at of vital importance to the district, asking consent of Government; to construct a road at once, and stating that a smalt party could do this without danger. On the 27th ultimo, another telegram was despatched stating that a requisition to convene a public meeting had been received, asking Mr Oliver to wire intentions of Government, and stating imperative necessity for some immediate action. On the 29th, Mr Oliver replied " that he was consulting Native Minister on the subject." The speaker thought that the meeting should give a strong expression of disapproval of the inaction of the Government in the matter. '

Cr McGowan moved—"That the Government be requested to authorise the Thames County Council to proceed at once with the construction of that portion of the Thatnes-Te Aroha road between Hikutaia aud Ohinemuri." Mr R. JS. Smith seconded, but thought the resolution not sufficiently strong. It was unanimously carried. Cr L. Bagnall said his idea of the matter was that the road should be proceeded with at once. Tukukino will never give his consent to the. road; such old fogies never did, but he believed he would only raise a feeble opposition to the work, which' would last at the most a week. Rewi was just the same, but after seeing the determination of the County to carry the road through from Tauranga to Xatikati he had given in, and asked to be boss over his own men. (Laughter.) This he was made, and received his pay every week as such. The Government had dismissed two hundred of the A.C. Force, and he should have thought they could have sent 50 men up here. The time was certainly come when the Government should fulfil their promise. t Cr Osborne said Government had broken faith with the Council, and that they should be reminded of their broken pledges. He moved—" That the Chairman of this meeting be requested to communicate with the Hon. the Native Minister with the view of having his attention directed to certain, promises said to have been given to the County Chairman regarding the formation of the road through the Komata." This was seconded by Mr Walker and carried unanimously. „ ' A vote of thanks was passed to the County Council, on the motion of Mr' Walker, for their energy in endeavoring to obtain the consent of the Government to commence the work. 1 ? It was unanimously decided to aend&J ropy of both resolutions to the Govern-' ment. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.