PUBLIC MEETING AT PAHIATUA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2292, 11 May 1886, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT PAHIATUA.

(From ouk own correspondent, ) On Saturday night we held a meeting to discuss the question of railway extension to Eketahuna, About fifty persons assembled at the schoolhouse, the fine weather favoring the meeting. On the motion' of Mr McOardle, Mr T. Miller was voted to the chair. Mr McOardle introduced the subject to those present, and drew attention to the meeting at Eketahuna, which had been held for a similar purpose a fortnight since. He also drew attention to the vast resources of the district, and the need that existedforroadandrailway communication. He referred to a statement that he was reported to have made to an elector for the purpose of damaging Mr BoetWs reputation as a member. He had been made to say that Mr Beetham had pre-/ vented small-Bettlers having a ehanco to procure suitable holdings of land with a view to saving the land for large holders. Ho said he had never made such a statement, Ho had always found Mr Beetham ready to work with him in the interests of settlement, He mentioned the journey of the Ministers, Mr Stout and Mr Ballance, through the Bush, and their promise to advance the settlement of the land to the utmost of their power. He endeavoured to explain the action of the Government during last session ro tho absence of railway extension in the district, to their wish to meet the views of the House by economising tho funds available for the purposes of public works. He finished au exhaustive speech by moving a resolution to the ■effect that tho mee'ing cordially agreed with the movement to have the railway extended as far as Eketahuna without delay, and the Government be urged to pusli on the work as speedily as possible, and that a committee be appointed to draw up a petition to obtain signatures in furtherance of the object. The motion was seconded by Mr Yeats. MrG, Beetham, the member for tho district, then spoke for the resolution, expressing the gratification he felt at the apparent interest taken in tho Railway extension question. He expressed his opinion that the Railway extension to Eketahuns was not inimical to the interests of the Pahiatua settlers., Oiice extended to Eketahuna ho had no doubt it would soon reach Pahiatua and Woodvilleto connect with the great arterial routes from the East and West coasts to the North of the Island. ■ He had been proud to have been identified with the extension of the line as far as it had gone. He also considered that the settlers should be grateful to tho Atkinson Government lor the interest thoy had displayed in their railway. He had always felt that the construction of the railway bridge over the Manawatu river was an earnest that the work would be' proceeded with sooner or later, He could not quite appreciate tho reasons given by the mover of the resolution for the Stout Government discontinuing tho Railway extention. Their economy, was not evidenced by their wijsli to embark tho colony in the construction of the East and West Coast Railway in the South Island. During his late journeys he had never seen any unoccupied land in Now Zealand at all to be compared to the extensive and fertile district by which they were surrounded. He had no doubt if the present Government placed a sum'on the estimate for the completion of the Railway to Eketahuna the House of Representatives would support the vote. He thanked Mr McOardle for the remarks he had made relative to his (tho speakers) earnestness on the land settlement question. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The next motion was moved by Mr McOardle, and was to the effect that it was expedient that the Waste Lands Board should bo empowered by Parliament to raise money on th» security of the Crown Lands within 1 their districts for the purpose of opening up roads pre- ; vious to sale. The same argument was used by him that he has used on previous occasions whilst advocating this measure. The motion was seconded by Mr Haggen, who said that similar provisions ; would in his opinion suit the Hawkes Bay districts.

Mr Beetham, whilst cordially endorsing a t;reat deal that Mr MoCardle had said upnn the necessity for an enlarged exponditnro ,011 opening up Crown-Lands, was of opinion that the Waste Lands Board w»b not the proper body to whom should be entrusted the task of raising the necessary funds for suoh a purpose. He considered it to be the duty of the Government, and the Legislature to undertake that work, feeling assured that, the money could be raised by the Government on much more advantageous terms than isolated Boards could possible be expected to command. To test the feeling of tho meeting, he moved that the scheme as proposed by Mr McCardle was not satisfactory Mr Davie seconded the amendment.

Mi- McCardle having spoken, the amendment was put and lost, and the original motion carried by a large majority. '

Several questions were asked of Mr Beetham, relative to the establishment of it Post Office. Also as to the position of the proposed road to Fitzherbert, and were replied to by Mr Beetham, who explained the position, and promised to give the matter his attention.

•Mr Reese then moved that a cordial vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Beetham for his attendance, and to Mr McCardle for giving them the opportunity to ventilate such important questions. Tho motion was unanimously carried. A vote of thanks to tho .Chairman was moved by Mr McCardle, "'and carried, and the meeting terminated. ■