MASTERTON-MANGAHAO ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2388, 1 September 1886, Page 2

MASTERTON-MANGAHAO ASSOCIATION.

\ 9 A general meeting of the members of, the above Special Settlement Association was held in the Temperance Hall last evening, about forty members being present, Mr \V. W. McCardle in the chair. The minutos of tho last general meeting wore read and confirmed. Among the correspondence road was a reply from the Minister of Lands, offering to refund the Association Is por acre for the 3,000 acres they wish to relinquish, and leaving tho block of land fronting the river for the übo of the Association, the Government reserving the right of surveying and opening a road through the block. The Chairman stated that several members of the Association had waited on the Minister of Lands, and MrMcKorrow, tho Surveyor-General, who showed evory desire to assist the Association in settling the difficulty. There was no doubt if they were to wait for the Government to locate the road it would cause delay. He thought the best way was to ballot for the sections at once, the members to take the sections subject to the road being taken through. He did not think they noed delay the allotment although the Minister objected to the allotment before the first instalment was paid. They would see that it would be •impossible to pay beforehand, as the valuation could not bo done until they knew what extent of land the members drew. Mr Croad proposed, That the offer of the Government be accepted, and that, they be aßked to proceed with the- proposed roads as Boon as possible. Mr Poster seconded the motion. . Mr Galloway was.of opinion that tho question waß not thoroughly understood. He expected the Committee would have had a report to guide the members.. They could not expect members to settle the question right off without having some information laid before them. The Chairman explained the informa-. tion having been but recently, received the Committee had not had time to meet. Mr Girdwood as one of the Committee said there ought to have been a. report,

,bo that,the.'meeting, sould^ve'"beenassisted jn their deliberations'. ' Ite had never missed, a meeting of the Committee, and the Secretary had, refused to-.call ■ a meeting'although he had been requested by several of the members'.to do go, The" Association" had appointed a committee, The committee had appointed a Secretary, and'tlwSfifiretary tookit all into his own hands saying he could do without them, He would leave it to the meeting to. judge who was i-yht. They had been unable to meet, consequently they had to leave the members in the'dark; and he should _ refuse to act on the committee if they could not meet when business required them. He was in favor of accepting the terms of tho Government and to go on with the allotment' at once, and let tho GoveramentSake the road through when they liked. Younger Associations were ahead of them, although tiie members of this Association were ready and willing to go on to tho land and work.

Mr Kedmati, the Beoretary, said he had endeavored to act in a straightforward maimer in all matters connected with the Association. He had tried to get two meetings of the committee since their last general meoting, and after wasting time over it, had failed. "He refused to call the committee together again until a general meeting was held. He felt justified in what lie did and said it would have boon better if ho had takon more upon his hands instead of leaving it to the committee,

Mr Holdaway suggested a way out of the difficulty would be to add a VicePresident and twojtown members', so that a meeting might be held without members having to attend from a distance. ■

Mr Redman hoped they would djsouss the matter fully as. it was not fair for members of tho committee to sit upon ;the Secretary,

'. Mr Girdwood oonsidored it to bo the other way about. :.The Sooretary was sitting, on tho committee. The Secretary •was a paid servant of the committee, and (ib such when called upon to appoint a meeting should have done so. He had acted wrongly in not carrying out the instructions of the' committee. They were morely pointing out to -him his', error.

The Chairman ruled the discussion oul of order.

Mr Rem said it was not desirablo to deal with some of the southern sections abutting on the river, as the proposed road would cut them up and make them comparatively useless. He woqld suggest that tho allotment should be. delayed another Beason (No! No!) The Chairman explained that the allotment and settlement must go on in accordance with tho instructions of the Minister of Lands (applause). Mr Reese snid he could see difficulty through cutting up tho sections in consequence of a road having to bo taken through by Government, Referring W town and suburban sections, ho said they were altogether out of proportion to tho requirements, and he suggested they should be reduced from 800 to 600 aores (Cries of No! No!) Mr W. Jessen thought the road would be a drawback to the settlement. Membora would not know how.to go to work about fencing, flo thought it would be better to hold over tho southern portion. In answer to a question the Secretary said there were 30 members on the book; and one half of'thom had paid up. Thove were 64 rural sections to allot.

Mr Andorson suggested that tho town and suburban section should be allotted, It was getting rather late for rural sections.

The Chairman oxplained that the class of timber would admit o! bushfallinq to the end of November, He thought the Govormont would insist on something being done soon by way of Improvement. The resolution was then put and carried,

Mr Mason suggested the members balloted out of rural lands be allowed to participate in town and suburban sections, Mr Girdwood thought that the members who had' riot paid up. should' be struck off the roll of membership, so that, tho whole of those who had paid up should 1 have the certainty of getting their land. Mr Marriott said membors should be made to pay in accordance with the rules of the Association,

A long discussion ensued on the question of compelling members to pay up, the result being that Mr Reese moved that members be given twenty-one days' notice to pay their arrears or to hare the opportunity of withdrawing from the Association and to receive tho amount they had paid less 10a expenses, Mr Hogg seconded the motion, and characterised the suggestion to strike mombers off tho roll at a momont's notice as unfriendly and ungenerous, He hoped a better feeling would prevail, Mr Crewe moved as an amendment, and Mr Foster seconded, That a previous resolution bo rescinded, that membors in arrears 14 days bo struck out. Mr Girdwood did not think it reasonable that those who had paid tip in full. the monies demanded shuuldbo put on the same footing as those who had only paid one quarter and take their chanoe at tho ballot.

I. The Chairman mid they had no alternative but to accept the members as paid up . Mr Holdaway moved as a further amendmont, That the ballot for sections take place on Tuesday, 14th September, and those members who had not paid up then should be struck off the roll. The last amendment was, after discussion carried, ? Tho question as to what Bystem should bo adopted at the ballot was held over. It was resolved, That the first payment for the land, being one-tenth of the purchase money should be paid witlun fourteen days after allotment. It was resolved, That tenders should be invited for falling 200 acres of the township. It was resolved that members balloted out of rural sections should be allowed the night to ballot for town and suburban section, Messrs Holdaway and Galloway were elected members of the Committee, and Mr Girdwood was elected Vice-President. The meeting then adjourned.