PUBLIC MEETING AT MATARAWA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1817, 18 October 1884, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT MATARAWA.

From the Standard.

A meeting of the householders was held in the schoolroom on Wednesday night, for the purpose of coiisidermg-Thaf steps should lie-taken towards inducing'the Governnent to build the much required bridge across the Waiohine river- and connecting Greytown with that district. Mr A Gollon was voted to the chair and this district, notwithstanding the iudiSerent weather was fairly-repre-sented. After considerable discussion the following petitions were duly framed and adopted by the meeting : To the Honorable the Minister of Public ..Works— '1 . ' Wo, the undersigned residents of Matarawa and Gieytown district, wish most respectfully to point out to your Government (he urgent necessity ol erecting a traffic bridge over the Waiobine river between Matarawa apd Greytown. We would respectfully point out that a promise was made by a former Ministry, through the then Minister of Public Works, to make the railway bridge' available for ordinary traffic, but the promise was never fulfilled, '• Our' only means of communication in tim? of floods is by a detour of nearly seven miles, so that the bridge referred to in the Goverment resolution ■■ is not at all suitable for our requirements, on account of the road being-flooded and perfectly impassable at the present time, whereas by a proper bridge, the distance would only amount to three: miles,

We at the same time beg to respectfully call your • attention to the fact that a late settler in this district recently lost his life iu attempting to cross .the river wh.on in flood near the usual ford.

' We would- also respsoifully submit that we" have on our own accord twice erected. a' swing bridge ..for foot passengers, and that each time it has been carried away by floods, and is at present awaiting re-erection.

We would therefore respeotfuUy ask your Government to place a sum of money on the Supplementary estimates sufficient for the erection of this bridge, and wo will ever, to.

It was resolved on • the proposition of Mr Thomas Zillwood, seconded by Mr. JV Johnson, that Walter 0. Ordish •be employed to canvass the district for signatures, and the petition to be forwarded to. Mr Buchanan, the member of the district, per Friday's mail. The meeting, after the usual vote-to the Chairman, then adjourned.