PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 410, 10 March 1880, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting was' held in the Tow J Hall, Masterton, on Monday evening, for the. purpose-of: considering the proposal M the Greytown-Trustees, .viz.::—That the Masterton. Town f Lands .Trustees, with the cunsent of the inhabitants of Masterton, ehall relinquish all their right and interest in the .48-aore 'reserve-in-

Grey .receiving ;'-•-JMr Rqiialiy th||ohaKman ofgthe; Masterton Trust, bresided|ij|;< 'S% '■:■ ' [The Chairmani'having explainedl the %oiidfjl\j(jmeeiiih|ilpr6ceedeltoreadan. ; Daily, : the same. If, as thV»D'AtfY:.^id, s then:half'6i tho reserve;had been filched' from Greytown, th/eyou^ -: penny qf compensation. c ThVEiiLY said that tHe?Slnini ..was 'a moral "on'<j He did no.t~J^gK^what,a..moral; claim, was;,he, had never heard of a dividend being paid out of morality. The only question put before the trustees was a business one. He protested that, no injustice was done to Greytown when Masterton and Greytown dissolved partnership. Greytown could have had. its .reserve if it had bought for Masterton a ; bit of ttie Manaia. He also gave his unqualified denial to the statement that at the former meeting he had only given the Masterton side of the question. He concluded by. challenging Mr Paytoutospeakon the subject. MrPayton said the question would be fully explained by Messrs Carter and Jackson, and that it was unnecessary for him to detain the meeting. He considered it would be hopeless to try to show Mr Renall what a moral claim was.' ;

Mr Cuff, Chairman of the Greytown Trust, with the permission of the meeting, would explain the position they took at Greytown in the-matter. They did not say they had a legal claim; they would not say that the half of the reserve had been filched from them, but : they : did say that the reserve was originally intended for:Greytown only, for recreation purposes. The leases.of the reserve were' .now falling in, and it was desirable that a new arrangement should be made. The reserve had, in a manner, been alienated fi'om'Greytown, and on this ground they had a claim for liberal treatment, What they proposed to give Masterton would be an equivalent to the income it now derived from the land. They did not, however, desire Masterton to consider, the question from merely a commercial point of view, but in the spirit- which animated the founders of the reserve when they sought to/provide a recreation ground for Greytown.—(Applause.)' Mr 0..R, Carter said: "I. appear before you to speak to you about very old affairs connected with the township of Masterton, _ I am perfectly neutral in the matter in dispute, and occupy a perfectly independent position, for, from the time the Small Farm town settlements were founded, I have never received a penny for my. services in connection with them,' nor have I indeed received even as much as a vote of thanks. My reward has been to see two flourishing townships arise from among the old members of the Association. I was connected with that Association from its birth, and if our new settlers paid more attention to the early history of the township, they would be belter able to judge how questions now of importance, have gradually grown from small causes. The Small Farm Association was founded in 1853, at the time when Sir George Grey reduced the price of land from £1 to 10s per acre, and the attention of all classes in the community was turned to acquiring land. It was a question then whether the capitalists should sweep up all the best land, or whether the' poor man and the artizan should have a share of it, It was out of this agitation that the Association arose. In the one Association the Masterton and Greytown townships were included. I always understood, myself, that tho 48 acres of town belt belonged to Greytown. For a time Mr Allen and myself managed the affairs of the Association, but subsequently, when Mr Allen to give up money and papers belonging to it the sole control was left in my hands. I, as trustee, issued conveyances to all the 'settlers. -At a meeting of the Association held at-the Crown and Anchor Hotel, in Wellington, it was reported that forfeited acres in Greytown had been sold for £3l, and it was resolved that this money should be expended,, in. purchasing a reserve for recreation purposes for the benefit of that township. My opinion is that £2O was devoted by that meeting to purchase 40 acres, and that the remaining 8 acres were paid for by myself out of the funds of the Association. I supplied tho report of that meeting to the Independent, which bears out what I say, and I consider that report as valid as the minutes, which are unobtainable. I do not say that the. half of the reserve has been taken from Greytown by fraud, but by mistake. Had Masterton been the sufferer by the miscake I would have' come forward and spoken for Masterton as readily as I have done for Greytown. I have been pleading the moral aspect of the question, and though, as your chairman suggests, a business view only should bo taken, I expect you to take the whole of the circumstances into consideration, and decide them fairly and honestly. I have a stronger point which I will bring before you. Before the dissolution of partnership the Association became practically two Associations, Masterton and Greytown being recognised to possess separate interests. The Crown Grant from Governor Gore Brown was not to the Wairarapa Small Farm Association.

The Chairman : You are wrong, . Mr Carter read a portion of the Crown Grant, in which the Greytown Small Farm Association was named, the Chairman interrupting him repeatedly,, Mr Carter: It is a strong proof of what purpose the reserve was intended for, when in 1858 the Grown Grant tome specified the Greytown Small Farm Asso.ciation, I ask Masterton settlers, as men who do as they would be done by,, to accept the offer of Greytown, Considering the use Greytown intends to.make of the reserve the price is fair and equitable. Since my return from England I have been sorry to observe a'feeling of jealousy among the townships of the Wairarapa. At Featherston it doep not do to say it 'is windy, at Greytown one must not say it is watery, at" Carterton one must not say it is gravelly, and it is dangerous at Masterton to say that the town lies in a hollow-i-fApplause.) ■ ..■ ■ . i ing was not ton, and read'.an which stated that the 'arrangement war proposedbyMrKempto'n,sen; -. ': Mr 'Cuff said Mr.Kempton gave that statement an unqualified denial, The Chairman'denied ever giving a

casting vote,'..or.: that the reserve i was bought outof.the ilie forfeited 1 , 'adres. : : ■■;•■s%s "V'.• : tei;/ Mr ; James; Riissepw&| a .member t of? the original ■admit the exclu|ve|ighfcgf Greytown %t thei. reserve^^w'oiildlotept s thV/JM offered.- '/ ■ "://' ••■ ; %g|li Mr J. Y. Smith considered, that iHw-

Associations existed when -the Crown Grant was giyeiij .Mr.barter's;argument; would have been conclusive; but, as'orilyone existed, it amounted" to very little. Formerly the right of • Masterton ;;in „the: reserve4iad been unquestioned; nor did he' see anything which had occurred, recently to alter the position. He then proposed the following resolutions : " 1. That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that an arrangement, should be made between the Masterton and'Greytown Trustees by which their joint interest in the 48-acre reserve at Greytown may be terminated.—2. That for this object two arbitrators be appointed, one by each of the Boards of Trustees, who shall inquire into all the circumstances of the case, and fix the amount to be paid by Greytown to Masterton for the.hitter's share; and that in the event of the arbitrators being unable to agree in their award they have power to appoint an umpire, whose decision shall be final.—3. That the expenses, if any, of such arbitration shall be shared ; equally between the Greytown ; and Masterton Trustees," He thought Mr Carter- was mistaken in attributing, a jealous feeling to the townships. His experience was just the' ;'...•;''••...••;.■: : j ; Mrßockel seconded-the propositions', and in a speech that was not very intelligible attacked the Wairaeapa Daim. :

Mr Cuff preferred deciding the question at once, to hanging it by arbitration,' Some time ago a deputation from Greytown waited upon the Masterton Trustees, and it was distinctly understood that the Masterton Trustees would recommend the Masterton settlers to accept the offer made. A considerable amount of surprise was felt by them at the tone which the former meeting had taken,' He appealed to the other members of the Masterton Trust as to whether they did not agree to support the provisional arrangement. The' Chairman : Mr Cuff is laboring under a mistake. I warned the deputation that' there were business men'in Masterton, and they would take a business view of the offer. '

Mr Feist could bear out the statement of Mr Cuff, that the deputation went away under the impression that the Mas-, terton Trustees agreed to £250 as a fair equivalent, Mr Renall himself said that he had no objection to recommend such a proposal to the meeting. Taking all circumstances into consideration, he (the speaker) thought the sum Bhould settle the matter.

Mr Woodroofe questioned the right of Mr Feist as a Trustee to be a valuator. From enquiries he had made, he considered the reserve more valuable than it was represented to be. He proposed four arbitrators instead of two. MrD'Arcy proposed that instead of settling the question that night, a formal poll should be taken. Mr Hall supported the proposition of MrD'Arcy. He believed the reserves' would re-let at much higher rentals, Mr A. 8.. Bunny aaid they wanted more information as to the nature and value of the property before they could decide, As far as he could judge, the Greytown Trustees had not a leg to stand upon. Mr McCardle pointed out that the public.meeting had been called on 1 the strength of an assurance given by their elected representatives, the Masterton Trustees, who had no control over the' land at Greytown, and it would be better to accept a fair equivalant for it, over which they could exercise the entire control. They should also assist Greytown to carry but the laudable objects for which they intended the reserve. Mr Cuff pointed out that if Masterton had desired information as to the value of the land it had had plenty of time>-since December to obtain it. Mr Bunny had sailed in his buggy over several sections of it which were now paying rent. _ The question was then put to the meeting. Mr D'Arcy's amendment was rejected, and Mr J. V. Smith's proposition fc» arbitration was carried by a large majority.

A PERSONAL EXPLANATION. . Mr Renall, at the request of Mr J. V, Smith, endorsed by the meeting, vacated die chair, His Worship the Mayor taking his place. ° Mr J. Y, Smith read an extract from the Waieaiupa Daily which reported the former meeting, in which Mr Renall accused him of imbecility, and invited him (the speaker) to meet him on that platform. He called upon Mr Renall then to make good his charge. Mr Renall; I respond to the invitation with great pleasure, After I and my colleagues had watched over the Masterton reserves for 25 years, we handed them over unconditionally to the people. Among these reserves was that known aa " Ward's Section." Ward bought the section but never returned to take possession of it, I placed the land in such a position that Ward could have it at any time he claimed it, and if not, it should be the property of Masterton. I and Mr Hare inserted it in the schedule of the Act, and in that Act gave the management of it to the Trust. What did Mr Smith do? His duty was to administer the property, not to enquire into its title, T proposed that a separate account should be kept of the land in oase it should be claimed. Had the Trustees retained possession of the section it would have merged into the Masterton Trust. I might have got it for myself instead of for the town; as it was my old friend Lancely got possession of it. Then Mr Smith wrote to Dr Pollen to tell him that there was a section in the scheduled the Town Lands Act which ought not to have been there. We have tried recently to oust the occupants of it, but were nonsuited on. the ground that the'land of absentees, unclaimed for ten years must be administered by the Public Trustee. If we could have smuggled another little thing through the House we might have got the land altogether. Mr Smith, by his bad management and imbecility prevented Us. If I appoint a man as mv executor, his duty is to administer mv property, not to find out if Ihav© a bad titletoit, MrJ.V Smith: The first election of Trustees under the Act of 1871 resulted ■n the return of Messrs Renall, Bannister Woodroofe, W. Chamberlain, R G* Wilhams, and myself. I was urged to aeorat the Chairmanship of the Trust and it was easy to see that the selection was disposing to Mr Renall, who inter, run edtte first meeting in such a manner way nad .to assert my position as Chairman. Thereupon Mr,Renall left!the mora, and rarely appeared at any meetinu while I remained in office. I never, as .many gentleman do, act iudependeutiy »f my colleagues. Why was Mr. Renall not present when Ward's section was under discussion, : ;Mr Renall-; I wm; >

Smith;; I have the minute bo - ■ here.' , : , : :—■

Renall: I do,not care for the ; iggite.bopk. ■■"■;■■.' N'h: Applications having been scei'ved for Ward's section, the Trust '.' opinion as to their poffer.'b mo' In the. Enabling Act' of the General Assembly of 1870 it is not to be found;: but m the Provincial Act of 1871, which » depends upon -the vEhabliiig Act; ■: it is in- •■■'. sorted; ."Mr Eenall might. just as ".well : have acres in the moon into • .the ;TownLand9,.schedule as.a.country : •' sectioh-which had nothing/to do with-'they town, and with which the Act could riritv V .deal. . ' ''^ At this 1 stage.Mr Renall was' repeatedly' : A called to order by ih' e - Chairman for in- *\ terrupting the, speaker. • \. Smith: I saw, Mr Holdsworth and the Provincial = Secretary, respecting" the section. Mr Holdsworth showed me the' : ■Grown Grant.to. Ward. No one could ?et that.. Crown Grant.but the owner or his legal representative. If Mr Ward's land could' be appropriated as a reserve why should not other absentees' lands be treated the Banie. way? Mr Renall has called me some hardnames, so I may say that he could not have done a more in-tensely-stupid thing than to have put the section into the schedule of the, Act. .Mr Smith'concluded : by: narrating' the services he had-giyen for a series of-years as chairman of the'.Trust, and the:handsome manner in which his colleague's-had acknowledged'them bhliis retirement.

Mr Renall iwords in conclusion, but the. meeting was by this time dispersing, > ';.':: v/; A vote of thanks to. the Chairman concluded the proceedings.' '■:■••: