PUBLIC MEETING AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 379, 17 October 1874, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT HAMILTON.

There -vas a large attendance of settlers at the meeting called by the Chairmen of the Kirikiriroa, Hamilton East, Hamilton District, Tamahere, Hamilton West, and Cambridge Boards. The object of the meeting was to urge upon the GovernI ment the necessity of erecting a bridge at Hamilton connecting the East side of the river with the proposed railway station near that town. Mr CoX was voted to the chair, and explained briefly the object of the meeting, and, called upon some of those present to propose resolutions. Captain Steele said the first resolution had been entrusted to him. He did not think that it would be necessary for him to say much in its support, He felt certain that if a bridge were erected, the Hamilton station of the railway would attract as much traffic as any other three stations. The traffic from the districts of Cambridge East, Hamilton, Tamahere, Piako, and Matamata would pass through it in addition to that of the immediate surrounding district. The existing punt was quite inadequate for the present traffic, which had increased very much during the list few years. Some few years ago the punt was let for ,£4O per annum ; it was now let for .£l4O, and had proper yards] for crossing cattle been erected, he felt confident that the lease would have fetched another .£lOO per annum. He believed that they had good grounds for asking the bridge from the Government, and he believed that they were favorably inclined. People had a custom of speaking of the Waikato as being very limited in extent — there are yet miles and miles of country unoccupied, the traffic from which must pass through the Hamilton station. In addition to a bridge being a great work of utility, he believed that it would prove a financial success, and that it would pay a company to construct the bridge for the tolls. He would, vithout further preface, move the resolution he was about to read : Thia meeting is of opinion that the construction of a bridge across the Waikato river at Hamilton is necessary if the districts of Cambridge, East Hamilton, Tamahere, Piako, and Mxtamata are to be benefited by the railway, as any other means of communication cannot fail to prove inadequate to ;he requirements of the large and rapidly increasing poptlation of the above-named districts. Captain Rmciraan seconded the resolution. Mr J. Forest said, it appeared to him that the meeting had been called to compromise the difference between the east and west side of the river. It must not be thought that Cambridge settlers wou Id cart tieir goods to Hamilton ; they will, in preference u® the miserable steamers. In place of meeting to advocate a bridge, they should be advocating a railwny through the country on the east side, and until this was done not a man ought to be satisfied. Mr Hammond thought it desirable that the meeting should confine itself to the business for which it had been caTled. Ho did not suppose that any difference of opinion could exist as to the desirability of having a bridge. Independent of the railway, he believed that it would be a paying speculation to build it, and to construct it would only be meting out simple justice to the settlers on the East side of the river. The main trunk line must be kept alive by feeders. The present punt was quite inadequate to the present requirements of the district — at periods it worked one day and stopped the next. Ha believed that only a little pushing was required and the bridge would be built. Captain Steele thought that the meeting should confine itself to the business before it. When speaking, he had forgotten to point out that the population of Waikato was as great as that of Taranaki, and more than two-thirds that of Hawke's Bay ; the district on those grounds was entitled to consideration. Mr J. K. McDonald said Hamilton was the only town of importance in the Wnikato, and would shortly be much greater. There could be no question that the biidge was an urgent necessity. He considered that it was beyond the power of the Government to construct a railway to Taupo along the East side of the river, and he was of opinion that it was out of the province ot the meeting to discuss the Eastern railway. Captain Steele said, before the resolution avis put, he wished to state that Mr Ahight the Provincial Engineer had assured him tlwt a bridge that would last for fifteen years could be Unit for £7000. No other person rising to address the meeting, the resolution was put by the Chairman and carried » unanimously.

ill" Soil flonf Ion s.ud as lit; might be considered personally interested in the matter, he would say but few words, but this he would say. The Government Living decided that the construction of the railway through the Delta was necessary for the welfare of the country and development of the Waikato district, it is absolutely necessary that a bridge should be constructed, and the success of the railway itself depends very much upon a bridge being thrown over the river at Hamilton. The fact that threefourths of the traffic is from the Eaet to the West side of the river is conclusive proof. To leave a wide river unbridged between large and fertile districts like Tamahere and, East Hamilton and the railway would be absolute folly on the part of the Government, of which he felt quite sure they would not be guilty. He would read the resolution, which he proposed for the acceptance of the meeting : That Messrs Cox and Leslie, and Captains Steels and Runciman be a committee to forw ard a memorial to the Govern ment, and furnish thorn with all the necessary information bearing on the question procurable, and that it bo forwarded through Major Jackson, the member for the district. Mr Gumming seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr J. K. McDonald said that the matter should not be passed over lightly. What they wanted was an iron bridge, and supposing that it cost £20,000, they were entitled to it. If a woodon bridge were erected it would always be wanting repaiis. The people of Wanganui, by persistency, got a bridge erected at a cost of £30^000. The Chairman reminded the last speaker that the Wanganui bridge was a provincial work. The colony was now, politically speaking, in a transient state. He would not say what he thought of the movement ; he might approve of it, or he might not. The work would probably devohe upon the Board of Works. He did not think it wise to ask more than there was cause for as they were not likely to get their demands complied with. As regarded the bi-idge, he thought they would be unwise in saying that they would have an iron bridge or none. He knew a bridge in the South a mile long, which only cost £15,000, it was erected in a place where there was not a tree within 60 miles. He believed the Waikato could be bridged for £7,000 ; if their demands were moderate they were likely to succeed. Mr Hammond thought it would be invidious to dictate the kind of bridge that should be erected. % Captain Beere said he had taken trouble to go into the matter ; he believed that a good permanent bridge could be put up for £7,000. A second-rate for £3,500 or £4,000 ; the latter would last twenty years. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.