YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LEASE!

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 775, 5 June 1877, Page 2

YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LEASE!

TUB “BASTKRn 4|J ” TV W A 1K.., to.

The first el«sh kebwe«n the working and noiutrurkiuf co«utie» lying side by Hid«j hj« jiMt fctifcm place in the catfft at* the Hamilton punt, \faikato \rortm th» Act, Waijw does not, Vk«t riv«, g-Wfmphicftlly shaking, separatee tkem. The ferry n*.r«nu« at the Hamkron pnnt heretofore belong t* the Town Boaid of Hamilton "West, on the W&ija B.l© «f the riwr. H 0 *, ho»or#r, that ike Ckunmes Act has com© infa force, and Waipa will not «rork th« Ant, Waikatn, which does a«ek* to cUiw fch« wh »l§ control of »h*> fe».'jry «m 1 th»-. reveane of th* foray, wki«4j. hftd Wa*>>a County t'b» Act infa.il, would hav» keen «Wed enmity between the two Oouniaea. U> to ktely, active meaMftittt for the j»o9Be»at» oi'the [iiiut

were not taken, because in May the Waipa Council was again summoned to re-consider their former determination not to accept the Act in its entirety. That question having been | definitely settled, Waikato applied to the Government for the Ferry, arid as a result of sues application, ou the 14th May the Following letter was addressed lo the hssee :—" General Government Offlces,' : &uuldand,' 14th May 1877. Sir,—l have the honor, by direction of the Hon. Mr Whitaker, to request you will pay the reufc of the Hwmilton Ferry to the Chairman of Waikato County Council in future.—l have, <feo., Edwabo Green, for General GovernmenViLgebt." X >w, MrPoter had leased the Ferry for twelve months froui the Hamilton West Town Board some two or three days before the Waikato Council adopted, the Act, aud, not! unnaturally, did not care to pay his rent twice over. He therefore, on the 21st ult., wrote as follows to the Hamilton West Town Board :—" Gentlemen,: —As the rent of the Ferry falls due within throe days from this date, payable to you or any other person appointed by you oh your behalf, I beg to forward for your information, copy of a notice served on me by tho Clerk of* the Waikato County, Council at the, insance of the Agent of the General Government.—l have, &c., Ebenezeb Potxer, Lessee Hamilton Ferry." '. .

This drew from the Town Board a formal notice to Air Potter to pay the rent to wo man until the Board had met. Mr Potter, finding himself between the upper and the nether millstones, aud that it was possible he might be converted into grist for the meal poke on either side the river, wrote to the Waikato Couucil advising them of the notice just received from the Rud Bjard, arid further saying, "Seeing that 1 am in the hands of that Board and not relieved in any way by the order referred to (Major Green's), but merely requested to pay to yoa the rent in. future, would you be kind enough to communicate with the General Government.'Agent with a view to obtaining a definite order, as the rent is to be paid to you, relieving me from the demand ot the Hamilton West Town Board on my paying the Waikato County Council the rent as between lessor and lessee. I further desire to inform you that I am prepared to pay the rent due and accruing at the times agreed upon on receipt of such order or release from the Genera. Government Agent." On the 26th of May the Clerk of the Waikato County Council informs Mr Potter, in answer to his letter, that the letter of Major Green is sufficient authority, bub that the Council is willing to guarantee him from any consequences, legal or otherwise, resulting from his ooedieuce to such instruction.

Mr.Potter then rankes application direct for advice and instructions to" the General Government in Auckland, writing on the 28th May. But the Hamilton Bast Town Board had had enpu/h of diplomacy, and was determined to cut the Gordi&n knot and Bettle the " Eastern question " by a coup d'etat. On Tuesday afternoon the Hamiltou Town Board mustered its forces. One member was out shooting and another invalided, but the remainder of that body marched down in three divisions of one mau each. The Lessee was taken in front, rear, ana flank before he become aware of the raoyonient upon hina, and, like a wise man, surrendered at discretion. The Board gave him twenty minutes to pay the money or clear out. The month's rent, ,£26 15s, was paid, and the victorious army returned with the spoha opium and flying colours to the Hamilton "West Board room. It is said that the Waikato Council ara about to bring the big Whitaker £an to bear upon the enemy'd eutrenuhments.