HAMILTON WEST HIGHWAY DISTRICT,

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 531, 14 October 1875, Page 2

HAMILTON WEST HIGHWAY DISTRICT,

i. inwmra of ratepayers of the Hamilton West Highway District was held a* Gwynne's Hamilton hot©} at 2.300*c100k on Tuesday aiWnoou for the purpose of electing a Trustee in the room of M* Hinton,.re9igned. There was a considerable attendance, and Mr J L Longbottom, Chairman of the Board, occupied tbe chair, and haying read the advertisement oonveninf the meeting, called upon, the ratepayers to propose a candidate. Mr Martin proposed Mr John Enox, Hamilton West. Mr Vialou in seconding tbe nomination of Mr Knox, said that one of has reasons for supporting the election of Mr Knox, was that he was opposed to making the cutting, anc( to tbe spending of the punt-money upon aa improper objeot He (Mr Vialou) had himself pleaded to Mr Wfl. liamson that a separate account should be kept of the funds from that source, but the money had been spent as fasti as possible for purposes not contemplated. ' Mr McPherson proposed Mr Dtegan. %J^P HYdeH V de *» «eoMidiog the nomination of Mr Deegari, said the candidate was a gentleman well qnalified by education to ocoupy a seat on the Board, atad he (Mr Jffevde) felt sure that, if elected, Mr Doegan, would do ni* utmost to adranee the ioteresls of tee district. Mr Webb proposed Mr 0 U Montrow, who declined to stand. "Mr Vialou suggested that the candidates should giv* expression to their views, so that the ratepayers should have an opportunity of forming an opinion as to their fitness for the office of Trustee. Mr MoPherson— l shouldliketo know whether they intend to remain in the Board, or to go in and serve their own purposes and then resign as some do. - • Mr Knox— My reason for standing in place of Mr Hinioa is to do all £ can to oppose tbe business upon which the Board is now engaged, the cutting down of the roaH in front of Mr Wood's. As one of the monibers of the BoarcUaid they are going to mortgage the finances of the Board for seven years I am going in tj prevent this mortgage of the rates for the next seven years, or seven months. I urn going in to" make Ihe road from Mr Mania's ooraer to Mr Cox's gate, to make the roaJ to No } bridge, and to endeavour to erect a landiug stage if any money ii left for that purpose. I wiiJ also endeavour to have the back streets repaired, and if anything is done similar to whac is now being attempted, I shall call a uteting ef the ratepayers and lay the matter before them, {applause). Mr McPherson— De you thiuk the Board has power to stop the contract after it has been signed ? Mr Knox -Perhaps if we give £20 to the contractor to stop, it will be better in the end than to let it (to on. If Igo into the Board my first action will be to offer £20 to the contractor to terminate the contract. Mr McPherson— You state you would get a landing stage. Mr Knox — I would. MrMoPherson— Areyoa aware that the Waikato S N Company is aetuaily paying the Town Board on the other side of the river for allowing them to make a wharf there f Mr Knox— l know nothing at all about it, but I maintain that the town lives by the country, and except we giro the country settlers an oppbr- ' tunity of getting their goods in without risk or damage, we are standing in the light of our own interests. We should offer vrtry accommodation for the Waikalo river steamers to land goods, and shew that we ralue tbe interests of country settlers. Mr H Uuater here commenced to address the meeting, but was called to order. Mr Madden asked the Chairman whether or not ratepayers had a right to address the meeting. The Chairman said they had. Mr Whitaker— l appeal to the Chairman as to whether or not while candidates are giving ex* pression to their views anyone has a right to address the meeting. Mr Hunter— ls this a meeting for legal advisers? I thought we came to hear the ratepayers, not the legal advisers. The Chairman— We will hear the candidates first. Mr Hunter— Well, let 'em rip. Mr Deeg%n~lf I am eleoted I will form the roads as I think best for she district. I will hav«no connection with contracts. I will do my best for the roads as a whole, and not spend all the money on the back streets. I will not make a lot oi work about the bank of New Zealand, and I will not retire from the Board until my time is finished. Mr Vialou— Do you approve of the present cutting ? r Mr Deegan — I do. [Mr Viabu was about to ask another question when he was interrupted by Mr Hunle*-. The Chairman called the latter to order, and said Mr Hunter would J«are an oppurtunity after Mr Vialou had finished ] Mr Hunter — Let us hare no orations. Put it m a few words. lam going to rehease John Knox s character, Jook you. The most, astonishing thing is perhaps, that he was so dormant, look you, that h« could neve»- see anything, but now he is going to do everything- that is good and generous to the community. Now see the number of times — and at tue sameUm* in reviewing the transactions o( previous Boards he did not think one penny was put out of its place. It was all laid out to some good, lo>fc you. Now here is John Knox— not our Koox — the Scrip* tural Knox (laughter) going to arrive at some sort of conclusion. He is a very good man f r obstruction, look you, that is the only failing attached to tint man. He he« plenty of capability, but really now, look here now, I appeal to common sense, would you like a man like John Knox to obstruct. I would sooner be a pig myself than be a member of a Board with John Knox. Look here now, really now, he is all right now, if you sail in the same boat. But, look here now, I think I've said quite enough, (great laughter.) Mr Vialou— There is one thing I wish to say Mr Deegan says he will support the cutting away of that hill. Now anyone must see that there is no necessity for doing anything of the kind. The Chairman — I must call jou to order. Mr McPuenon— What if that to do with the meeting.

Mr Vi%loo -It it to do with it. Mr MoPhowon— Th* contract is let j too winnot interfere with it, * Mr Vlalou- We wak| to elect • mnto tb!» 0 " 0 *' To ° <mnno * •** yow free •8» l f n *» wh« tbecontract ia let tf f Was the sEtE&r^ r would h * r ° *• fuu P ri °* wo^^hinTw 7<^ iOit '* m# " 7 *' f#w meitffcr HamUtonXS w^j£«V£ £ punt from a., and it was in consequence ofeorreipondence between myself .yd Mr Williamson that we were enabled to retain the punt. TMr Hnnter-That.is foreign to the point at Imm 1 1 will. how you that it i. «ot out* order. £& Butler-- It ii foreign to the bluing of the mset. ing. The punt has got nothing to dv with it.l You let me finish, if you please.. [Mrßutlei--You keep to the point. ] I will keep to the neint. You are going to make «se of money [Mr Hnnl 'rSrJrll? <mto (£* R 3 If 7°« Agoing to[Mr McPherson--Wbat right bad you to make any promise f] I did as Chairman. [Mr McPher-•on-What rijht had you to promise Mr Willuunthe Board f] I -ay'that tlu, matUr hat tTerT. thing to do with thi. meeting, and I «h»ll roppO rt the man who wiU do what IpnMni*d. TMr B* 1 ?"^^ u «» *«0 that the pant realiwd P] You know nothing about it. IMr Butler -I wa. here. I know. Wa« >t epeut at the punt P] You know nothing »boat it. Mr Montroge asked the candidate! whet ncr, in the event of it being »h#wn that any portion of the Town Belt had been dir trted from its original purpow, they wotd4take action wiflab* Tietr of prerentm/? any more of the property being iimilarly diipoted of. Mr Knox— l hate been hire far yeiri, a»d I haTenoi^ h^ard.tbat »ny portion of tho TownBelt ai originally gazetted by Dr Pollen hat beta diferied from it§ legitimate purpose. Mr McPherion— You are awar* of it. Mr Odium— Didn't yo* me Mr Cor ploughing » portion of it np a daj or two ago? Mr Knoi-I do not know that that piece wa* in the Town Belt. 5 - Mr MoPhtraon— Do you mean to as* that tht Lake wa» not in it P Im?it wu right round it MrDeeg»n, in reply to the queet ton »»i4 h» would vii hi* influence to recorer any portio m of th« Town Belt improperly dirertej. Mr Monlroae said Mr Knox had ehdU big question. He btd_put a hypothetical mi if any portion of the Town Belt hai been direrU£ Mr Knox said in that ease h* would nee fan influence to recorer it, and to pwent furthtf eneroachmenta, J „ [Both speakers were frequenUy intempled by Mr Hunter, who was politely requested by totaione near him to "shut np,'* and waa informed "you don't know what you are saying." 'Where* upon Mr Hunter aaid " No I donV 1 Mr McPherson (to Mr Knox) will you go In until the end of the year. Mr Knox—l will stay in nntil I go out Mr McPfaerion— Will you resign in order to get the filing of the punt, as you did before, Mr Knox— lt's a question whether you'll hare a punt to selL [At this stage the Chairman racated the chair, and the polling commenced in one of the small parlors. After the poll had close*, tk« Chairman resumed the chair ] Mr MePherson— About these proxies t Ars) these proxies genuine P I understand some of them are from Auckland. MrJMcOoTern (who was one of the seratinsers) 1 have a pretty good idea that they are correct. - Mr Vialou— A Justice of the Peaoe signed them. (ATDice. Declare the poll.) Mr Madden— ls it usual in a meeting such as this— Mr Hunter— Wo legal advisers^ ■ - Mr Madden— ls it usual to* allow *a meetirig like this to adjourn from a public room before the* ratepayers hare had an opportunity of aslfof questions P I had sersral questidns to ask, and 1 had no opportunity. -I understood 'that "whsfethe scrutineers ware appointed if was belfeved~> that the b«Mne>B should proceed. Mr Hunter— Thie is a matter of about 4SS. He has no right to speak at all. The Chairman- Silence. Mr Hunter— :'*e as good a • right to speak. look you, as he 'ha* to talk. [A roioe : What's the good of blathering P You are going ahead like a bsrber's goose.] The business coutd go on just at well without Mr Madden, or 50 Mr Mad* dans. [The Chairman— Order.) I h«T» tho same right to speak as that msn. t hare a better right, now look here, really, than. Mr Madden. • - - Constable Haddock (serenl/) Cannot you allow the meeting to go en ? [This rebuke, coupled with the stern and threatening attitude of the gentleman in bine, awed the irrepressible and loquacious Hnutfe into silence ] The Chairman— Gentlemen, the result of the> election is as follows :— Mr Knox 14, Mr Deegan 24 (sensation) It now falls upon me to gire ay ctstingYote. I rote for Mr J Deegan. [Loud cheering, and signs of enthusiasm, in the midst - of which one. .or two prominent burgesses got excited,. and danoed about the room. A rate* payer called out in Milesian aooents for "Three cheers for the Kyber Past," and Mr McPhtrsott cried out " Down with proxiss."] * Mr Knox—l beg to thank the 24 genUeatea who hare voted for me. If I had been fleeted by the casting vote of the Chairman 1 wo*li hare placed my resignation in his handsMr Deegan— l am rery thankful to the M' wW V voted in my favor. I will do all I can for I.' MrHeyde— {tottovoce) And the ratepayer at large. . " Mr Deegan-Certainly, and the ratepayer* at large. T * The meeting then dispersed.