PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2419, 7 October 1886, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A meetikg of the inhabitants of Masterton, convened by Mr A. W. Renall, was; held in the Theatre Royal last evening, Thtfrewere about 400 persons", present, and throughout the meeting was orderly and thoroughly good-tempered. Mr Renall on ascending the platform said the convenor of a meeting was always accorded the privilege of nominating a chairman. The gentleman he proposed was one they would approve of, Mr W. H, Beetham (cheers), He would sue that evoryune had fair play (cheers). The Chairman read the advertisement calling the meeting, whioh was for the purpose of considering the desirability of widening Ronall-street, the action of the Council and Town Lands Trustees thereon, and all matters arising from the same. The latter clause, he said, would leave ample room for discussion. The widening and beautifying of tho strootfl of a'i town was an important subject to consider. No one could appreciate wide streets butter than himself, and he felt all present sympathised with such au object. Many years ago, in the old country, streets were laid off in. narrow lanos, and vested interests had since made it difficult to havo them widened, although the necessity bad become very great from increased population. Some of the finest continental towns wore disligurod by narrow streets. The Corao at Rome was but 35 feet wide, aud uiauy of the streets in London and Paris were the same, The tendency of the age was to open out these old thoroughfares and make, wido.-streets', and enormous sinus of money had been expended for the purpose, This had been done more particularly iu Paris, by thefirst Napoleon, followed by Louis Phillipe.- Baron Hausman had under the latter effected marvelloub changes in. that great centre of oivilization—Pariß. Boulevards had been laid off and planted with trees, and the narrow streotfl had .Riven way to wide carriage drives, rendering Paris one of the most beautiful and attractive cities in the-world. The result was that there was on an estimate 100,000 visitors to Paris overy year, and if they spent £1 a day whilst there, it would bo seeu that the ".'ork of street widouing arid beautifying tho city was loproductive. For if those streets had remained in their narrow and dirty condition of but half a century ago they would not have attracted visitors. It would be tho same in a smaller way with Mastertou. If they rendered the towu- beautiful and attractive many peoplo would visit it, Any steps in that direction would have his support. (Cheers) Ho then introduced the conveuer of the meeting. Mr A. VV, Reuall, who was loudly cheered un coming forward sail be did not know that he should have taken any action in tho question of getting Renall street widened only for Mr E. Meredith who had called his attention- to the advertisement that Town acre 21 was advertised to be lot for a long term, and if that were done the narrow dangerous entrance into Queeu street from tho Upper Plain would reinaiu. lie wont iuto the early history of the settlement , of the Masterton Small Farm Block. lie Baid the early Bottlers had surveyed the town at their own expense, aud at that time there was only tho cross road laid off which ran past the Post Oihco. They, however, set aaide certain acres which thoy reserved from sale for the purpose of putting roads through to connect with the back line of roads when required. The acre he wanted to call their attention to was one of those, or joined one of thorn, arid when ho erected the mill and they laid off the Upper Plain road, tho acre opposite' the Scotch Church was their own. That aero, however, was not opposite the Upper Plain road to allow of the road being opened through without making two ugly turns, and to avoid that he got Chew to exchange' his half-aoro which was tho section now under discussion. In those days nothing was thought of the widths of the roads, It was euouph if they could get a bridle track. The road was only opened 33ft wide, aud the balance of the soction was left for a limited period. (Cheers). Mr Gapper, who he dared say was away from the meeting (lau«htor) as he liked to speak behind nee's back (lau;htor) had said that it could not be a fact that section 21 was iutended for a road, as the street at the back was only halt a chain wido. How did ho know what was intended ? ho was not there twelve years ago. (Hear Hoar;. Why was he not thore this evening, He was conspicuous by his absence, Thoy could talk in Ws absence. Fightera like the dunghill cock always run away when faced, (Laughter and cheers). Ho explained that the section but for the bungliug of tho Truateos would have fallen into thoir hands live years ago when Mr Turner's lease was up, He thought the inhabitants present would agree with him that the street should bo widened, (Hear, Hear, aud Cheors). He went on to explain the early legislation in connection with tho presont aores now constituting the Trust, Iu 1871 they got tho aot passed undor which the Trust was at present operating. In 1875-6, duriug tho time ho was absent iu England, Mr Woodroofo took onorgetic steps to widen streets. Ou his roturu Mr Woodroofo waited upon him and asked if he had any objection to widen Chapel-street, saying the peoplo opposite would give something towards it. Ho did nut object, and tho owners of-the opposite towu acres gave abuufc £1 a chain. 'That would havo bocn about£ll, but ho did not think he got that much. They got the late Mr Cowan aud Mr Frazi to survey the land thoy wanted from him to widen Chapol-streetj and thoy did. Some time after he sold to Mr Board fivo chains along the frontage, and Mesßrs Williams and Barker erected a fenoo for him. During its progress he saw that the fence w»b boing erected beyond the boundary, and ho drew Mr Beard's attention to it. The- latter said he kuew nothing about it. He was where tho Council's officers put him. The Works Committeo appointed Mr Bish to wait upon him re the boundary lino, He uevor came, and the Foreman, Croad, had set to work and put up a line. When Mr Bish came and saw the rods placed in and the flags flying he. thought he (Mr Ronall)had been there, so "he never cameatall." (Laughter.) As soon as hesaw the discrepancy he waited on Mr Bish, and by tho chain they fouud the Borough officers were, wrong. They had moasured tho chain from a wrong angle (laughtor). He had lodged tho plan of tho land ha proposed handing over to the Council as surveyed by Messrs Cowan and Frazi with the Land Transfer office, and after awhile the Council wanted the transfer completed. He wroto back to tho Council that as thoy had put Mr Beard wrong they must first set him right before he would tranafor. The Council sent Mr Rawson to make a fresh survey who did so, and brought him tho plan to sign. " This aint like the other 1" I said, "No," said he, "that aint correct." Well, I said "I aint such a fool as to sign two plans," (Laughter) and so the' matter rested up'to tho present time, That was the history of the road referred to—Chapel Street, There was also a history to Porry Street. After his return from the old country ho said tho Council were making a mess of a plan submitted by Mr Woodroofe to them. That was what induced him to go on the Council. Mr Woodroofe proposed to subdivide some of his property. _ The plan showed a street laid off a chain wide with ingreßs and egress and was quite within the law. They refused to pass that plan unless

Mr Wpodroofe give thetii. a section 5 chains in length to connect "with & .react in Furgussou's estate. ."Mr ' Woodroofe sdid.'' I don't' see that aiid $ shan't doit.,' The consequence was the, Council . refuaod to pass the plan.' Mr Woodrooftf,' '(Jiiiiaequeiifly,' when the Council wanted, him to jjire a strip of his town acre to widen Perry Street, said he would see them somewhere else first before they should have it"(laughter.) .If they wanted' it they would have to pay for it. Messrs Wrigley and Cole who had promised to' give land on the other side of Perry Btreet when Mr Woodroofe took that position said they would have the same price for theirs as Mr Woodroofe. The consequence was the street was not widened and part of it was planted with ttoes by the Chairman, (Laughter) If ho (tho speakor) valued his laud at the Bame rato it was about £250 he had giyen. Wheu D. McGregor or It, Q. Williams was Mayor a proposal was made to raise a loan of £BOOO. Arising out of that was the question of wideuiug tho Upper Plain road. He pointed nut if they took a jplf chain strip of land it would destroy his. front-, age. aud throw hiin = back .on to the streams, and it would cost hiin £loo'or £SOO. After some considerable parleying it resulted in his offering to give 1 84 chains 10 feet wido. . That" oftbr 're; maiued open for some time, and tho culverts on tho road wore widoned. Aftor a while he received a comtriunisation from, he thought, Councillor Gapper, asking for 33ft instead of lOft. He said they could please themjolves; if they liked to fill the Btreain they could have the land. Mr J. Ruaaoll and Mr Jqhn King inspected the work required, and tho estimate of the cost was £2BO, The Borough Council offered hiin £2oo>"iu debentures or something of that sort. He agreed to take it, thinking it would never matter to dim when the stream Would be filled, and the money could. ;lio until tho interest would nuke :up the sum required by Mr Kiug's estimite, There was also 22 chains in. Ohapolstreet ho gave them. When he arranged with Ohew for tho exobango of .one acre for the half, he did so with a view that. Borne day it would be wantod for the atrout. Aftor the Town Lands Trust was created in 1871, the Act gave themiuo power to set asido land for street widening purposes. In 1877 thoy got a clause inserted in the Act, empowering tbrnu to convey to the Borough Council any land for street widening, notoxceeding 3a feet in width. The time had now arrived when that piece should be eiveu.tor . Btreet.widening, without any reference to him or Mr Woodroofe. Ho had another resolution which be would move later on iu reference to monies paid for street wideuint(,and beueffta derived by adjacent property-owners, from which they would 600 what share they had paid (chetjre) He again entered into the early history of the pioneer settlers, Ho drew a'coniparison between the past and the present populous to?n, and detailed no less than three serious casualties that had occurred at that particular narrow thoroughfare lately. He moved,'' That this meeting is desirous that tho Town Lands Trustees Bhould at once convey the remaining part of Town Acre 24 for the purpose of widening Ronall-street." He understood from the Town Lands Clerk that the Trustees had no wish to impede the widening of Renall-Btreet, but they wanted an expression of opinion from the people first. He might 'say that if they wished to sell they had no power to do so but on the other hand if the Council wished to give them money there was nothing to prevent them: receiving, it. (Laughter). Hut-why tiie Inhabitants should bo asked to purcbaso their own he was too much of an infaut to understand. (Cheers and laughtor). Some years ago, ho, as a Trustee, laid off a road by Porry's butoher's shop at Kurupuui. He did not know what had become of it. It Beemod to him-the other day as ho passed that it wos fenced in (laughtor), perhaps they would look it up and ferret it out. (La.ghtor). ■: _ Mr R. Allen: It's there yet! I'll point it oot I" (Roars.) Tho roaolutiou was read, aud Mr' T. Drum.mond aocouded the motion. Mr Woodroofe, who was received with cheers, addressed tho meeting. He said he did not como there as an advocate of that particular part of Ronall-street. He had been the first that had attemptod the work of street widening. He had mot with a groat deal ofoppositi.ro from the various bodies. He reforred to the narrow streets of Auokland in old times, and the disasters by lire ariaiug therofrom, When he found nothing but 33 feet roads in Masterton he set to work to do his utmoßfc to have them widoned, and hecould Bay, without fear of contradiction, that he was the first to bo the means of the streets being widened, (hear, hear.) The street leading to the Park and cemotcry near Mrs Hacker's was ouo. They had never asked Mrs Hacker for compensation. The street new the pound also benefitted the estate of Mr Bannisnister aud nothing was given iu compensation. He had met great opposition in oponiug the street opposite Mr Crayne's property. (Ho paid a high tribute to : th« memory of the late Mr HolmesCrayne.) He met with great opposition, from' his co-trustees, but he stuck to his work 'and get the streot opoued. Theyweuld havelet it aud the street would never have been opuned. Thoy had at the same time laid off a street opposite, at Mr Porry's butcher's shop, That was now feuced in and nover had been oponed np yet and Mr Parry was a Councilor and a Trustee. (Cheers and Laughtor.) Ho had moved that all Trust Lands abutting on to half chain roads, should, beforo thoy were leased have lb'ft 6in reserved for stroet widening. That resolution was on the books still unless it had beon destroyed. (Hear Hear). He alluded, to a remark by Cr Perry the other night that three feet should; be reserved in Renall-street to make the adjoining owners pay up. He would open their eyes to what had beeu done in Perry-street. A Bum of money had been voted to widen Perry-street, and Mr Perry the owner of a shop on the corner voted on tho question as a member of-the Council for which he was liable, He (Mr Woodroofe) had honestly aud honorably discharged his duties, (Hear Hear). There was still another thing it was most inconsifltant that Mr Brown should bo appointed Returning Officer, It gave him immense power (nonsense). It's no nonsense if a man wishes to be a roguo (laughter and cheers). It was a great power to place in any man's hands. Suppose a man wanted to falsify accounts. He was returning officer for the election of tho auditors of his own accounts, Ho had nothing personally against Mr Brown. He objected to seoret societies.' He had a good doal to say, but would not detain them. If lie had the law in his own hands the proposer and seconder of putting a man into such a position—it really was dangerou'sshould be punished. , ■ Mr T. Parsons noit addressed the meeting. He said he was not in tho habit of speaking in public, but he would like to put right his position as Trustee. Thoy had heard the early history from M r Renall of the Trustees, They had beon told that an qore of land had boen given . for half. He thought Mr Ohew had. got the best of that bargain. They should have laid it off then as a ohain road if they had wanted to. Instead, the balance of the acre had been included -in:tbe schedule of Trust lands in the Bilj o| 1871. It had been stated that he kd been desirous of preventing the street

being widened. It"was: &>ih]fi£;;b! the ' sort, ' 'He. 'Wanted". Wi&fih| the matter to "an issue', and #y«jill« ceeded;' The Trust-lands did aooi\m \ to the ratepayers of terton alone. • 'There- were."otli%sis. had a claim on the Trust oU(side' : M ; Borough, who also.'had'to be studied/;' Ha was glad to" hear the remarks that had'? fallen from. Mr Woodroofe. ■ He thought thero would be no. doubt now of nis helping in having the street widened. (Hear Hear). He thought, aftor what had been said there was a better prospect of the Btreet boiug widened. He thought there was no occasion for the remarks contained iu an article in ono of tho local _ papers.' He'hail'.not stufled the Roll J with hiß cousins and aunts for the pur- . pose of being returned.on the Trust. The road'referred to by Mr Reaall, next to Mr Porry's shop was - in tho hands of the Council to open. (Mr Renall here interrupted the! speaker amidst cheers and laughter. Ho said they had never convoyed the land to the Borough). ' Mr Parsons said he' was sorry to say things in the past had been done in a. very slip-shod manner by...tjjjji old Trustees. (Mrßenall: "Ah! yowsnow nothing about it.")'. •About the Returning officor and Mr Woodroofe. He did not aeo that the. Returning Officer could bo a rogue, if they appointed a scrutineer. (Mr Woodroofe; How about borrowed money ? Thoy can't appoint a scrutineer for a poll on that I") ' Mr Parsons thought such remarks wore Juito uncalled-for. •' (prolonged cheers) te thought the Trustees ought to got some compensation for-the land. (Sir Renall: Prom whom ?) •Some from tho Borough Council," some from Mr Renall, aud somo from Mr Woodroofe. Ho was of qpiniou that three feet should bifal rotained, and then the time would come when some one would bo glad to give the Trustees £2OO for' them to throw the road open the whole width. (Cheers) H« thanked them for the patient hearing they had wen him and turned his seat amidst cheers. .-. • slr Reuall, in reply, .said he thought he could dispose of .his friend Mr Parsons . in a very few words.: (Laughter.) He had spoke remarkably well for a man that got up to spk upon a matter that ho know nothing about, .(Laughter.) Ho congratulated them on having bucli a representative. (Cheers.) Ho wished to disrobe the resolution of all extraneous matter and let.itgq .to.the Tniateee as "moved, if Mr, Parson's lwkwLat the acre exchanged with Mr Chew. rflLfould find a great gully through it. "W' Mr Pai'sous: It's all the bettor for that. Mr Renall: "It might be for a brewer." (Rws).', Ho was. ou the Board at that time and he wanted to get a road from the Upper Plain stwiuht into Queen-street, and to do so they had" to get Mr Chew's section and that the reason- for- making the exchange, ' Why the Trustees should want three mouths to decide the. question' showed their brain box was as shallow as an old Maori canoe. (Hoars of Laughter). Mr Parsons': "They-asked for six months'time I" •'<- Mrßenall:" Who did 1" MrParsous: " The Council!" Mr Reuall: "The Council! Yahll What are they to do with it ?:It belongs to the people," (Cheers). Whero,(Mr Renall continued), did Mr Parsons think they were going to got a inan fool enough to put a house at one end. of that section worth £IOO and a'£2oo house at the other.". They would uot pay rent as well, they would not be suchJfoolß. (Laughter). If Mr Parsons' reJKtion was earned out the present would never get any advantage out of the land. He (Mr Ken'all j was 74 years of age and he had boon 47 years in the colony. Hohaduoversdughta personal favor at the public expense, and personally he did uot' care, a buttou about the road boing widened, He had not a hoof to so along it and four feet would beenough to got Mb bandy logs aloifg? (Cheers and laughtor). The resolution was thon put and carried unanimously with tho excoptioti of a solitary "No'' whichwas yelled out afterwards aud caused some amusoment. Mr Renall then movod "That in the opinion of this meeting all persons who have beon benefitted by the widening of any street should contribute pro rata thereto." He would first refer to Perry Street. Apiece of land in that street was at the time under lease to the present Mayor. \A hundred poundß wbb paid for the street and if tho widening of that Btreet conferred a benefit upon the people opposite why, he askod, had they not boou called upon to pay a share of that sum. (Hear, hear.) He'next reforred to Worksop road. Ho remombg|L.it had well been said if they- wantotlMud Alloy constructed give'Gappor a section (laughter.) Tho Municipal Corporation Act said when any person was desirous of laying off/"a Btreet he Bhould submit a plan to the Council. Hnving got his plan passed' he could thon commence building or disposing of sections, but the borough had no right to expend any money on that read until* was first formed and made to the satisfa" tion of the Borough Council. There was no suob a thing as takiug over a road, How, ho asked, did they 'construct Worksop RoadJ-fCheere.) They had dono so illegally, and if they did so after the Act came into force on. January Ist it would bo at their own cost.. It-was the duty of the auditor to stand between tho latepayers and the spondiug body and see that tho money, was legally expended. That was a point their auditors had never taken into consideration. The new Act did away with tho present audit system. The accounts would have to bo sent in to the'Auditor-Gonoral, and if an exception was takou to any. expenditure, any burgess could "go for them" (Hear, hoar). Thatwou|d put an eudtoall matterssuchas tho Worksop Road. Why had thov-jnot asked Mr Perry, tho Mayor, aJJlfr Gapper to contribute to tho cost oFflftt. " Why had they uot come forward ?" he asked, " and not sneak and slink away. Why, I'd face the devil.hiinself if I was in the right I" (cheers and laughter). He' asked it Mr Parsons was .aware that he (Mr Renall) had given nearly ,bve acres of land for street widening. "He>was Borfjk. the Mayor was not present that night, as* he had a little matter to settle with hjm. He referred to what had boen said about him by the Mayor wheu he waited upon the Trustees, fledid notlike beinglaccuseo! of meanness. He would show how matters stood botween him and the Mayor. He thought they had got aa much out of him as out of the other. He did not mean to say ttiaf-aa Mayor Mr Caaelberg had not douo his duty. (Hear! hear,) AtKurupunithey : each gave £1 in a case where a man had died. Next, in the case of Johnston, the Mayor.gave £l. Not wishing to out him out he gave 10s. : -i (Laughter). That was 10g to the Mayor's ' credit. The next was Agricultural ; Socioty, the Mayor gave £lO, and he gave '< £5. That was £5 10s to tho Mayor's ' credit. (Laughter) The Mayor gave £5 i" to the Drill Shod, and he only save £2. • Tho Mayor aftorwards withdrew his p.ufe* Bcription, but his (Mr Renall's) there. (Laughter) For the Acclimatis- ''. a tion Society the Mayor stands at £2, - ho stood at £lO, and he thought that put ' him ahead, (Laughtor and cheers) He had. only mentioned those little facte because ho did not like to h referred to as a stingy man.'. He regretted the Mayor was not present ot he would no doubt put •'■ the mattor right. He (Mr Renall) haoVJ written aud apology the Council, or.tinned to fence "in ■' Chapel street, he was wrong ia :

W ~ ? Jl**lMLH!MfWWlW^, " ''-l ? * ""''fr.iPft '■' using s threat. 1 * (Laughter.)' Bower,'. . . h'e'hnd o,bTfen«e<l''m the' land and .they ■Xhad.'iiot n'ot'd title to.ji/' He byjught'iliis '' -;hmx% 'toajcliise by gating that,lfe ; was, ,not'g6iiii{-tiask'the'm'.to pas's'thV.'Jasf'. ,pN[k)»al.'..He.wa8 l Kbvjeverj'., ready' and" willing if, those' gentlemen who "liad. . benefitted by street'widening 'were,. to ' contribute every shilling of' boiip'fit. it' '.■ could ho'shown lie had received, "Ho concluded by proposing a vote (if thanks to the Chairman for the maimer in which ho had conducted the .meetim;. The motion was carried by acclamation' ami 'the mooting closed.