PUBLIC MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1046, 14 February 1873, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A meeting, convened by advertisement for the purpose of considering the proposed action of the Nelsou Government with regard to the tenure of township sections in Westport, was held at the Masonic Hall, Lyttelton street, on Wednesday evening last : Mr J. W. Humphrey in the chair. The attendance - was good, there being nearly two hundred persons present. , v - ■■;■■ The Chairmais" read the advertisement calling the meeting,and suggested the desirability of the matter being fully and fairly discussed, as it concerned the interests of every resident in Westport. The action of the Provincial Government, as now contemplated, tending to fix upon the public a charge of £BO per annum for every acre of land held in Westport. Mr Mtjnro proposed the first resolution bearing on the question:—■ " That it is the opinion of this meeting that the rental of £5 per annum proposed to be charged on occupiers of sections on the Coal Quay Reserve is oppressive and unjust." The terms of the resolution, he said, were explicit, and had the merit of brevity For his part he never could exactly understand the varied arrangements and contradictory regulations that had been made concerning the Westport Coal Reserve, both the General Government and the Provincial authorities seemed to have control over it, but neither seemed able to guarantee to occupiers of sections thereon any definite tenure of the land they held. The notice recently published by the Warden of the district, declaring that the Provincial Government would at once charge five pounds per annum for the occupation of each section on the Colliery Reserve, and hereafter apply to the Council for power to perpetuate the charge for fourteen years, had excited much adverse feeling, and the general opinion was that in a matter of such considerable importance to the wellbeing of the community, it was necessary to give expression to their feelings and say plainly whether the public would consent to pay such rent or not. The terms of the resolution lie had read them condemned the proposed rent as oppressive. The Chairman had remarked that it would amount to £BO per annum tor every single acre; and the meeting would easily understand that, if they calculated that every acre would be subdivided into sixteen sections 33 x 6*6 feet, and for each of which £5 rent was sought to be charged. It mattered little whether tho fund to thus accrue from leases on the Colliery Reserve was devoted to any special purpose or not; it wou'd be, to all intents and purposes, oppressive on the section holders, as the freeholds of the sections, under the express terms of the Land Act, were not worth more than £SO each. Difficulties stood in the way of freehold right to sections on the Reserve being obtained under present circumstances, inasmuch as the Reserve had been set aside for a purpose, good in itself, and necessary for the well-being of the district; but the people who had settled on the Reserve by the permission of the Provincial authorities, and who had heretofore paid, and willingly, heavy annual charges for that privilege, should now, under the changed circumstances of the place, seek, in a spirit of conciliation, and no antagonistic mood, to arrange with the Government for the future tenure of their sections upon better terms. It was very possible, in fact most probable, that the freehold of the sections would be never given on any terms, but he saw no reason why leases at a fair and equitable rate should not be granted. In considering what would be fair and equitable terms, it was necessary to bear in mind that the market value of the sections was in reality not more than £lO or £ls, although the Nelson Executive sought at present to charge 5 per cent, annually on an assumed value of £IOO per section. To this the public demurred, although prepared and willing to submit to any reasonable rental for a fixed term of years. The resolution indicated the exact feelings of those who had convened the meeting. They considered that £a was an unjust and arbitrary charge, taking into consideration the present aspect of affairs, and the future prospects of the place. It-was more especially unjust because, if he had read the Land Laws aright, it was expressly stipulated by those laws that the utmost to be charged as rent for tha unsold lands of the Colony, was 5 per cent, per annum on the actual value. Westport had been declared by the Nelson people as being but a community of growlers, and for the last three mouths they had been noted as persistent memorialists, but it was necessary both to grumble and memorialise, and in this case they were bound to agitate to protect their own interests, lie would counsel that some well considered plan should be coolly and deliberately adopted to make equitable terms with the Superintendent of Nelson, not stubbornly opposing his expressed intention but falling in with his views, taking caro however to guard ourselves againsttiall iniquitous demands. The public had in fact to accept one of two evils, either to continue paying business licence fees or accept a lease for fourteen years. In either case the charge sought to be made was too much and action should therefore be directed to securo reduced terms, at tho sarao time not losing sight of the fact that if. it were possible to

obtain tho freeholds such would bo preferable to either. There wan a probability of Municipal Government being soon in existence in Westport, and the proposed action of the Nelson Executive would seriously impede the free action of the Municipal authorU ties in levying the taxes absolutely necessary for town improvements, and which taxes the community would willingly pay, if not too grievously imposed on by the Provincial Authorities. The Business License fee as heretofore paid, had been submitted to willingly when business was brisk and the place prosperous, but it now pressed heavily on many and should be lessened. Mr T. Field, in seconding the resolution, said that he thought all preseut would agree that the terms of such resolution were none too strong, more especially considering the preseut depressed state of affairs in Westport, and taking also into consideration the many and long continuing losses and misfortunes the community had suffered. The proposal to tax residents heavily for a long term of years under the pretence of a lease was unjust. In other towns throughout the Colony, settlement was encouraged by the granting of freeholds upon easy terms, and although it might not be practicable to do this on the Westport coal reserve, yet the Government should grant tenure of of sections upon the easiesi. possible terms of rental. As the Super.ntendent of Nelson was about to visit the Coast, action was now necessary to put the whole matter in a proper light before him, and prepare the way for useful action in the Provincial Council.

The resolution as proposed by Mr Munro and seconded by Mr Field was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously, amid applause. Me Robert Whyte rose to propose the second resolution :

" That a respectful memorial be prepared and forwarded to his Honor the Superintendent, through Dr Giles, the Resident Magistrate, praying that any action as to charging rent for sections on the Coal Quay Keserve be delayed until the Provincial CounciL shall have had an opportunity of framing a resolution to meet equitably the circumstance of the case." He said that the many difficulties found by the Nelson Executive in dealing with the Coal Quay Reserve, probably accounted for the peculiar wording of the advertisement which had lei to calling the present meeting. As ho understood the subject, all Public Reserves had been handed over by the General Government of New Zealand, to the Superintendents of the Provinces, and were under their control subject to certain general restrictions, one of which made it illegal for any Superintendent to alienate or lease any reserve for a period of more than three years without the express consent of the Provincial Council. Thus the purposed intention to lease the Coal Reserve'for fourteen years required special Provincial legislation. But there was still another difficulty presented by the Land Law, which stipulated that at the expiry of fourteen years, the rent charged would be doubled, and as the law stood, if rents were allowed to run in arrear at any time during the existence of a lease, the amount would also be doubled and other vexatious restrictions placed upon the lessee. Thus the whole questiou of leasing was beset with difficulty. Another objection to the proposed terms of lease was that already alluded to by a previous speaker, its clashing with the action of municipal local Government. The Provincial authorities in seeking to at once establish the power to levy an annual tax of £5 for a long term of years, seemed to have overlooked or ignored the fact that municipal taxes would be also absolutely necessary to pay for works heretofore neglected by the Nelson Government, and the two combined would make the burthen very heavy indeed to the ratepayer. In fact so heavy that many properties would hardly yield enough to pay' such taxes. Whatever other action might be found necessary, he thought the proposal as contained in the resolution he had just moved would meet the general wishes. Opinions seemed divided as to whether the freehold or leasehold tenure would bo the best or more readily obtainable, but in either case unanimity of thought and action was desirable.

Mr T. Sheahax, in seconding the resolution, said he would make a few remarks as to the power held by the Provincial Executive, and Council in dealing with reserves. He had Found, on reference to the statutes of the Colony, that by an Act passed in 1870-71, power was granted to the Provinces, through Boards of Waste Lands, consisting of the Superintendent of each Province, the Speaker of each Provincial Council, and a Waste Lands Commissioner in each Province, specially appointed by the Governor, to exercise wide discretionary powers in dealing with waste lands and with reserves. As to the latter they could alter or dispose of auy reserve, or change the object for which it was originally reserved, excepting reserves set apart for educational, church, or cemetery purposes, over which they had no control so far as alteration or disposal, except under one or two circumstances. The Westport Coal Reserves was one of the general reserves of the Province, and came under the power of the Waste Lands Board. On tho discovery of the South-west Goldfields, and tho consequent necessity for providing residence areas for the

population Sucking to this port, the Government had allowed occupation of the Reserve at the rate of £5 per cent per annum, upon the assumed value of the laud, in accordance with the provisions of the Waste Lands Act; the Board exercising the power to prescribe the boundaries of the land open for occupation. From this occupation the Nelson Government had derived a handsome and continuous revenue, and the occupiers, urged by the necessities'of their business affairs', had heretofore submitted thereto. But uow an important era in the history of the reserve had commenced. Municipal Government had become absolutely necessary, and was in a fair way of being established. The Nelson Executive had acquiesced therein, as also the General Government, and hence the recent proclamation setting forth that the Colliery Reserve was no longer Crown Lands, and thus no longer open for occupation under miners rights, mining leases, and business licences. Such proclamation having tire effect, as he understood it, of clearing the way for Municipal Government. In considering the matter now under discussion, some serious difficulty arose in deciding what to ask for. The Government might strongly object to the absolute sale of the reserve or any part of it, as being held in trust, not for the individual good of this or that community, but for'the Colony of New Zealand, and urge that no possible right could be established to favor its alienation from the purpose for which it was originally set apart, unless it could be indisputably shown that the area as now existing was wide enough for town settlement and coal purposes also. But as no railway works had yet been laid out, no plan in fact even suggested, and no approximate idea arrived at as to what might be the ultimate extent of land required to develop the coal trade, which sooner or later would he the mainstay and chief commerce of Westport; it would seem unwise on any Government to first sell the land and then, possibly, when people were settled thereon have to buy it back again at a greatly enhanced price. He was strongly in favor of obtaining leases at a low annual rental as being most fair between the Government and the people. He would therefore suggest that the meeting should giye expression to an opinion thereon, whether in favor of obtaining the leases of sectious upon fair and reasonable terms, or urging upon the Government due consideration of all arguments in favor of granting freeholds. After such expression of opinion by the meeting, a committee might be appointed to give effect to any resolution arrived at Rethought that if the meeting should decide in favor of leasehold tenure, that a rent of £1 per annum for each section would be ample, taking into account that the majority of men in business would require two or more sections, whereon, in addition to contributing to the Provincial revenue, they would have to pay probably £3 or £-1 per year for some years to come for municipal purposes.

The resolution as proposed by Mr Whyte aud seconded by Mr Sheahan, was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The Chairman suggested that those present should give expression to their opinion on the matter. A conversational discussion ensued, and ultimately, to test the feeling of the meeting, Mr K. Whtte proposed. " That it is desirable that the holders of sections on the Coal Quay Reserve be offered the freehold of their sections at a fair and equitable fixed upset price." He said he thought that if the freehold of all the hind in occupation in Westport could be obtained it would be by far the most desirable of the two propositions. Leasehold tenure, such as the Government could grant them, was at the best insecure and awkward to deal with. The only valid objections to legislation having for its object the granting of freeholds, was the probable exigencies of the future coal trade, and he thought for that purpose a sufficient area might be maintained even on ground now occupied, and which, with the two street lines reserved for railway lines, would prove sufficient, and that parties on such reserve might for the present retain their holdings either by lease or license, while the sections beyond such boundary might become freehold. Tho Governmeut, in granting such lease or licence, could stipulate that whenever such reserve was actually required, the occupiers must remove upon securing certain compensation. He thought ample room might be found for a coal depot and railway lines for mineral and passenger traffic, and also for wharves, without putting present occupiers to any very serious inconvenience. He did not'like the idea of rental in any shape or form in a country where land was so plentiful and withal so valueless without permanent settlement. Tenant-right, under any circumstances as proposed, would be subject to the freaks of legislative changes or the overtures of capitalists inimical to the interests of section holders. Mr H. Neil seconded the resolution pro forma. Mr Mhnro proposed, as an amendment that " The holders of sections in Westport, be offered the leaseholds thereof, at a fair and equitable annual rental; . . The amendment, he said, was to be taken as merely put forth to test the opinion of the meeting, and not as an expression of his own opinion in favor

of either one on the other. He was j in favor of leasehold sectiops generally, ] because many sections in", the lower part of Westport, would not be desir. able property upon any other terms, except at a mere nominal price. It must be also borne in mind that opposition to the expressed wishes of the Nelson Superintendent, bad never yet I resulted in much good, and if any terms were proposed at all, it would be better to propose such as the Superintendent and his Executive were likely to accede to. There was nothing this community had succeeded in getting, that had been asked for in variance with the Superintendent's own personal opinion. It was no use kicking against the pricks, the Superintendent seemed to rather like to be in opposition, especially if the Goldfields people had some special tit-bit of grievance, against which he could show his authority. We had better, so far as consistent with our own independence and freedom of thought, go hand in glove with the Nelson Govern aaent, than strive against them. They had the balance of power in their hands, and were not slow to use it; and all the eloquence or influence we could exert as a com* munity, would not succeed against either the Executive or the Council. He (Mr Munre) thought it would be found quite as practicable to deal with leasehold as with freehold tenure, if proper reservations protecting the interests of leaseholders were ensured. Referring to the Land Act he had found that the only legal annual rent chargeable, was at the rate of five per cent on the annual value. That on the value of Westport sections would amount to about five shillings per year, which he considered ample, although Mr Sheahan had suggested £1 per year. This last sum he thought could be only fairly chargeable on a few corner sections which had been enhanced in value by reason of the enterprising action and outlay of the present occupiers. Mb Sheahan seconded the amen<?« ment. Personally he was in favor of obtaining freehold, but he thought the idea was impracticable. The reserve would be maintained as part of the estate of the country and any attempt to dispose of it would be regarded with jealousy, more especially considering the small portion of river frontage available for wharfage accommodation. The actual portion of the Coal Reserve facing deep water being that now occupied by business premises. To sell such now would only entail re-purchase hereafter, and no Government, regardful for the development of the coal resources of the country, would consent to this. He agreed with Mr Munro's remarks, that it was better to co-operate' with the Provincial Government in the settlement of the question rather than adopt any antagonistic action. The Waste Lands Board were evidently favorable to the idea of leasing, and would probably help rather than retard the movement to obtain a fair adjustment of the question.

Mr Whyte, in reply, while admitting the importance of the Coal Reserve, which really, judging from the remarks of the previous speakers, would seem to be suddenly attracting the attention of all New Zealand, still urged that the interests of the population, who, struggling against misfortune, had performed the work of settlement on the Buller, were just as worthy of consideration as the great coal question. If by continual neglect the present population were allowed to leave the country it would be very questionable if the coal mines would ever be opened up. It had been by the unaided efforts of a few individuals and altogether apart from Government action or encouragement, that the present coal trade had sprung into existence. He contended that the present general interests of the community should receive the greater share of attention. The Chairman then put the amendment and declared it carried. The show of hands being, for 25, against 16. Mr T. Bailie proposed, " That a committee consisting of the, conveners of the present meeting, with power to add to their number, should be appointed to carry out the object of the meeting. Mr Yardley did not disagree with the remarks of the previous speakers, nor the suggestion made by Mr Bailie, but he was of opinion that the Government might be asked first to sell the land. The public here wanted the plain simple fact settled first whether they could or could not purchase. He thought the committee should first get explicit information on that point, and report thereon, and then call another meeting to decide what should be done. Mr E. J. O'Conor explained that the Provincial Council could not sell the land without first obtaining an act of the General Assembly, but the Council could at once authorise the Waste Lands Board to lease. He seconded Mr Bailie's proposition. The resolution was put to the meeting and carried, and a vote of thanks to the Chair terminated the proceedings- -

According to Auckland papers, the working of the newly-discovered coalfield at Awitu—on the shores of the Manukau—is likely to be attended with the most unqualified success, and to add another rich industry to those already existing in that province. . At one place there is a seam six feet thick, only thirty feot below the surface of the groundV