WAIPORI PUBLIC Versus PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 291, 28 August 1873, Page 5

WAIPORI PUBLIC Versus PROGRESS COMMITTEE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — A public meeting was held on Saturday, 16th inst., as per advertisement, to request the Progress Committee to resign, as they had lost public confidence. Being of an enquiring turn of mind, I have tried to ascertain why- - they have lost this so-called public confidence. All I can glean is this : fcKat Messrs. Cotton, and Uonry vere nominated members of the Progress Committee, but were nofc elected. The Committee, shortly after taking office, wrote to the Government in reference to some sheep that were depasturing on the Waipori commonage. They thought if large numbers of sheep were allowed to run, it mattered not if they belonged to petty squatters or large runholders> or if they were or were not assessed, that it would be, in fact had already been, the means of driving bona fide settlers' cattle on the neighboring runs, thereby entailing expense and trouble ' on those who are the the least able to * bear. The Committee had also refused to forward a petition presented to them by Mr. Henry, requesting the Government to throw open a piece of country between the Waipori and Wetherstones commonages, until they had ascertained the views of cattle owners on the subject. These supposed derelictions of duty constitute the nature of the Committee's offences — very grave ones indeed ; but, fortunately for the Committee, a way is left by which they can atone for their errors. Mr Henry stated that now the members would seetheir mistakes, and would no doubtt stand for re-election, and that he would have no objection to work with some of them. Oh ! what a liberal and generous mind h© must possess. The thanks of the Committee, as also the thanks of the public, are due to Mr. Henry for so much condescension, and his opinions should carry more weight in public affaire than any one's in the district, for is he not always one of the first to come forward, not with tiniQ alone, but money also, to farther public interests. The past services of old and tried members of the community, sink into insignificance compared with what he has done. No blame, however, can be attaohed to Mr. Henry for trying to forward his own interests. It is all the better if his interests are the interests of the public also ; but very little credit redounds to him for trying to attach a stigma upon a public body because they did not rush a matter that no doubt was of great * importance to him without first consulting the publio whom they represent. — I am, &c, . Justice[Since the above was in type, we have been informed that the old Progress Committee have been re-elected. Ed. "T.T."]