PUBLIC MEETING AT GILE S TERRACE.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1048, 21 February 1873, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT GILE S TERRACE.

A Meeting was held at Mr Harrison's Store on Wednesday last, to consider the advisability of petitioning his Honor the Superintendent to authorise the repair of the Orawaiti Bridge. Mr Barrie in the Chair. The following resolutions were carried unanimously. That in the opinion of this meeting, the tax on the Orawaiti crossing, as punt charges, will be both unjust and impolitic and will be opposed by every legal and constitutional means by the residents on the terraces. That there is no necessity for the Orawaiti Bridge being destroyed, but that it ought to be repaired at least for foot passengers, and that his Honor should be asked what assistance the Government will give towards that object. That a deputation consisting of Messrs Braithwaite, Barrie, Harrison, Riding, Dunn, and Mullens, be appointed to wait upon his Honor to bring the above resolutions before his notice. The feeling of the meeting seemed to be that the leasing of the Orawaiti crossing was an unjustice under which the miners would not submit, and that the Government would be greatly to blame in allowing an additional tax to be put upon the miners labor, and that considering the amount of country unprospected north, it would be, at the least, politic for the Government to put no obstacles in the way of that object. A very unanimous opinion existed that if nothing was done in the matter the miners, sooner than pay|an additional imposition, would erect at their own expense a bridge suitable for foot traffic at a distance up the river. The meeting was one of the largest held on the Terraces for a long time past, there being at least 150 persons present; representing every claim throughout the northern terraces, and including also several Westport and Orawaiti residents interested in the matter.