ALFREDTON SMALL FARM ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume II, Issue 59, 15 February 1868, Page 3

ALFREDTON SMALL FARM ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the members of the above Association was held at Masterton on the sth instant. Mr Masters occupied the Chair. The Chairman having read the advertisement calling the meeting and explained the objets for which the meeting had been called together, said that he would resign the situation of Chairman and Treasurer of the Moroa Small Farm Association.

Mr F Re veil proposed and Mr Arnott seconded his re-appointment, which was unanimously carried. Messrs Arnot and Reveil were elected Trustees of the Association.

The Chairman read letters from the Provincial Government, dated 10th August, 1866 and a later one dated January 21,1868, in the latwere enclosed the resolutions for consideration.

Mr Kemble in alluding to the desire of the government for cash payments instead of the original proposal of allowing three years, blamed the course taken by the Executive in thus overlooking the interest of the working classes. •

The Chairman stated that only ten names had been put down as purchasers at the original price of £1 per acre. He then proceeded to take the opinion of the meeting on the various resolutions proposed for their adoption by the Government.

Clauses 1, 2 and 3 having been agreed to, Mr E. Walker proposed, “ that the Trustees be authorised to select tiic section given and the site for the township.” Mr Kemble seconded themotion which was carried nem. con. Ou the discussion of 4, Mr Kemble asked the price of surveying the township. The Chairman said he was unable to give the required information. Mr llevell proposed, “ That Mr Masters be authorised to purchase from the Government 100 acres for the township of Alfredtou. The motion was seconded by Mr Kemble and carried.

In place of danse 5 as proposed by the Government, the following was carried which was proposed by Mr Arnottand seconded by Mr Edwards, “That as soon as the Government have made a cart road from Langdon’s to Alfrcdton and have surveyed the town and conveyed it to the Trustees, the members of the Association will be prepared to pay the Government the amount due for their allotments.” Clauses 6 and 7 were likewise not agreed to. In the last clause it was proposed by Mr Arnott, seconded by Mr Revell, that the figures “ 1870 ”be inserted for “ 1869.” Carried unanimously. Mr Revell proposed, “That the Superintendent be requested to purchase the Native Reserves in the Moroa from the native owners or if that be found impracticable, that he be requested to have the reserves surveyed aud clearly defined.” The proposition was seconded by Mr Edwards and carried.

On the motion of Mr Revell, seconded by Mr Arnot, it was unanimously agreed “ That

Mr Masters be solicited to write to his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh requesting permission to name the township after him as Alfredtoh.

The Chairman in explaining to the meeting the financial position of the Association said that he had received about £670, which included £7O received for town sections. The present number of shareholders was 36, and the amount of land taken up 4,650 acres. The next subject discussed was the offer of the Government to expend £l5O to be spent in improving the road between the Moroa and Langdon’s. Mr Baird, the District Engineer attended and said that he was directed by the Government to consult the wishes of the Moroa settlers on the matter.

It was resolved on the motion of Mr Arnot, seconded by Mr Cross, “ That the sum should be spent in cutting the bush 12 feet wide between the wild hills and Arnott’s road, and that the balance, if any, should be spent in improving Makirikiri creek road.” An amendment was moved to the above, but it was lost by 5 to 3 on a division. The amendment was proposed by Mr Brannigan, seconded by Mr Edwards and read as follows:—“ That the £l5O should be spent in widening Brannigan’s track and in cutting round the steep pinches. The Chairman was instructed to pay the money collected into the provincial chest subject to the government agreeing to the amendment in clause 5.

After a vote of thanks to the old Committee and the Chairman the meeting separated.