Public Meeting.
Fifteen persons attended the public meeting called by the Major to discuss the advisability of petitioning Government to acquire Waihaorunga for settlement. His Worship, said he wished to bring forward a subject of great importance to the borough and the distiiot. It would be remembered that the close settlement of Waihaorunga had been talked of for some time, and with aview to bringing matters to a head he wrote to the Canterbury Land Board asking if they would send the names and addresses of all the unsuccessful applicants for Waikakahi block. This request the Land Board acceeded to, and he now wished to publicly thank the Board for its consideiation in the maiter. He had leeeived 631 names and addresses, and it had been suggested that if they had these it would be easy to ascertain how many would be likely to apply for the grazing runs of Waihaorunga. Then the Government could be approached with definite facts to prove the demand for land. It seemed to the speaker that considering the desirability already manifested for good land in the district that possibly the owners of Waihao Downs Estate, adjoin, ing Waihaorunga, might give permission to include the unsold portions of that estate in the circular to the 631 applicants already mentioned. Accordingly he had written to the owner, asking, if he had not yet disposed of all the blocks for sale would he object to some being taken up and received a reply that they would be prepared th t submit the 3000 acres now for sale and also be prepared to accept a reasonable*' prioe for the remainder. He did not make 'this 'public until he had received permission. It was not necessary for him to state that Waihao Downs included some of the finest land in the district and that an immense sum had been spent on improvements. It was well watered and fenced and Mr Blakely, Manager of Elephant Hill, declared that it would grow anything. The speaker did not need to emphasise the value of.su.oh settlement to the township of Wairaate, to the new S&leyards Company ans to Waimate County as a whole. Such laud would be eagerJy takenv up and it behoved all in the district to assist in obtaining it for the State-. In conclusion he wished to say that should the steps now to be taken end as , they desired, they .would not lose Mr and Mrs Douglas. Their hosoitality and geniality were too well known to allow of him to forget .this aspect of the case. If it were necessary, there were few in the district who wouli not look on their departure with regret. ' The chairman thought they should get a rough idea'ot the cost,, and areas, and probable rentals, and then circularise all unsuccessful applicants. These numbered a,bout 631, and if they could get 200-bona fide applicants, they should be able to induce the Government to take us>' the land at $ reasonable cost. Mr Boreh&m objectedto getting the disappointed balloters. Mr Cholmondeley thought this one of the strong points. They should get these and as many others as possible. The chairman said, it had to be proved, to the Government that there would be plenty of applicants when the land was taken over. Mr Coltman thought it would be a sufficiently strong position to ask the Government to take over Waihaornnga* forwarding the Waihao Downs correspondence. ' Mr Hamilton moved, Mr Scott seconded and it was cwiqd » That this meeting is of opinion that the Waihaorunga and Waihao Downs estates should be purchased by the Government for settlement." It was decided t&at a committee consisting of Messrs Barclay,; Scott^ Hamilton, Cowan and Boreham work up 'the matter, arid t.aker all necessary steps. Mr Hamilton was appointed secretary to ,th©r comr mittee. His Worship said' be had not brought up the matter pf celebrating Arbor Day at the Council meeting and the proposition to form a'.Bpsutifying Association was to remedy this lapse. , > , ,It was decided not ttt.- go.- on with., tha
other business, as it was getting late, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.
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Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 18, 8 July 1899, Page 2
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691Public Meeting. Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 18, 8 July 1899, Page 2
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