ALEXANDRA.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 883, 19 February 1878, Page 2

ALEXANDRA.

February. 18th, 1878. . A public meeting was iield here iu he Public Hall on Saturdav aft.er-"oo-t la-t, for tiie imrpos« of takin/ into consid-erat on the xenaion of hv railway from t>j the lioi.tier, in connection with nati\'6 ffiira. Upwards of thirty settlers ittended, many bring precluded frira attending in ooMseqnence of funeral of the late Mr MeU-mnachie. Alter several persons havino- been proposed and dec'ued the honor, Mr Johii Aubin was called to ohe chair. he chairman having read the notice oonve the- m ean ; ,' remarked '• lie thought it. was hardly n 'ce-<-s>ry to mention to th' meeting how

"tup u-'ant it was to the whnle o'UUM-v sit large that the hes iin«» • ior. d be chosen t> (he frontifr, iliat would eventually facilifcite i.'i »■ of a mai i line of r lilwuv ch rough the whole of the conn rv, as wasooureujplaced by the Gov rnmenr.. On that account we ha I ewry to hold the present inee \ng, and to endeavour to if.-t fc ' ,p ''ne extended in that direction, hj« e ir. w.tud send to open up tnp King Con 11 rv wi hj it«hundredsoftho itindso.aLTiS j iif v*lu»b e mud i.ow w,i*t» and i unpr.ft ♦••)!♦, and whic'n nn . ht oe concerted into indues by t'i iiisau Is id' Cj the gre .t Leuotic ■

of both races. Te Awiiinucii ln<l had their meeting to eudeivpur to gee tlie terminus brought into the centra of their towu•ship, and he thought that. Alexandra should also briag forwar i their claim to have the line brought this way. The n itives wished it. It, was, wiihout doubt, the least expensive line, being on a level all the way from Ohaupo, nnd with uo engineernig' difficulties wnatever. It would, if brought here, tend to familiarize the n itives with the great ad vintages they would receive by a qiick and cheap transit for their productions, and that far raorj crops ol" wheat and other produce would be grown by them than at present., and would in a great meisure tend to remove what is called the " Native Difficulty." The Alokau natives recently had a meeting wiih Sir George Grey an 1 the Native Miniser, and expressed their anxiety to have their country opened to Europeans, and would, no doubt, like a iine of railway, so as to give them an outlet for their produce, .m s which would induce them to go ,nore largely into cul.ivation. He thought the claims of the natives should not be ignored, in having the most suitable line of road, as they —equally with ourselves or oar children—would, eventually have to pay for cheir construction. • Mr J. Sage had some ough resolutions to lay before the neeting for consideration. He quite igi-eed with all the Chairman had *aid. There was no doubt whatever iiat, if the line was extended in oiiis direction, it would be d'me at very much le>s expense than by Te Awaruuti, and that AKxaudra i. iie place from which any futuiv ■ ■x>ensiou would be the most advau- ' Ali, or nearly s», of tinative produciions .were brough ••;re. Ttjt;y had a large and dail«•creast ig populatioo in thdir in•e.iluCu n«ig loriiood, WUich Had ;tl a y higuitie l .ts wis i to nave um i v. yex eudet there. He tn .u^h ■.voul'l be s..icidil on the paro i j ■; Go*ermueu • not to p.iy mo • ; e a i*niu »u to . l»«ir w.shea o

.lis matter es, total y as unos ■ lanes con i be complied w t.i at jo ai para lively msigmti. ant cxp.-usr. tni bd fXOieiuely be etnciai to in. oouutry at large, M. S ~'e th n proposed the following re.iulauo.js

Resolved, first, That in the opinion oi : this meeting 1 , a line of railway from Ohaupo. to tue frontier, via Alexandra, i=> inore direct, and could be constructed for one third the expense, there being no engineering" difficulties whatever, than the proposed line, via Te Awamutu, and überefore pray the Government to. have \,he line surveyed. 2nd, That a line of railway, via, Alexandra, would tend indirectly to remove the native diriiculty, as it would familiarize ohe natives with its use and advantages oy affording them a quick and cheap mode of transit for the conveyance of their produce to Auckland. 3rd, That the Government be desired to delay advertising tenders for Te Awamutu line until after the native meeting with dir George Grey and the Native Minister in March next, when the natives may nave an opportunity of expressing t benopinions.

JVb G, V. Tisdall, in he resolutions, remarked that \w was one of a deputation who vva-t c on the Premier on hi* late visit here, md mentioned when the railway exteusion was a question brought forward, that in tne original pro positions Alexandra was always named as the termiuus. No one even heard of Te Awumutti being' he terminus, but that the lai-.-Government for political motives nad made thy chauge. Hj, he speaker, did not warn, .he terminus to be exacth in Alexandra, but he wanted jnsticV done to that plaj?, and no reaso i had ever been given for making Te Iwaoiutu the terminus. He thought chat Sir George Grey would like to see justice done. Sir George had heard of the last meeting here, vvnen the natives took part, .iiid had asked for a copy ol the petition to be forwarded to nim, and no doubt, justice would b. iou«, as lie thought the Natiw

iai us should have some attention paid to them. No doubt then >vould be some change in the Nativ< representation ere long, and even. Uiaily they would have to pay thei .sh»re of the liaoiliti.-s of the 'jountiy. He had asked Sir George ■Jrt-i-y tor a re-consideration of the a j c , fr mi a sens.-? oi jus ie , .vh'uh, as he tin ler.itoo 1, the Premier acknowledged tins place had never ivcei'-ei. .Oily twelve months, ago a seuier wa*. driven from his land, and tow h,s ploughs and harrows were iymg, eaten up • with rust, on the river binks. Had he received proper protection from tne Government, they wou d have now been in fail work, and more settlers induced to come and settle amongst us.

The Chairman having r3id the resolutions to meeting, they were carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr Hvginson, sen. and .s.ioiidi'tl i>y Mi- llv P -h en, th-ir t cu, j it ifsotutiuus be f awarded to S.r Gj' rge Gr;vy aiid I lie .dingier o." Pu >i.o V\ ..i'ks. Carried mem eon.

M«js- rs I'i.sdale Aubin and Hope »veiv* •». 30 appointed a caiuiu.ttee to see aiic with the n in g-.-liiiig then, to m,tke ihe terminus n i;io viciuity of Alexandra. A ve e of ih ui!c* to the Cnairman taiiiii.ii ted tlie proceedings.

LAi'IVjJ MA.Tr.IiU3.

'['jisirs s a large meeting going o at ild'Jiangi, prep.tr iCory to til Premie 1 and -i.Na.ive Ministers vj.-.r in ii.ii jli nex', wini'h io is n-)\v rep set wiil take plao • some tiuin ai. ne (ri'j of the in >n hj.

Xue Alokuu chief Weiere, \\Lo it

re.ortel as not having been in European territory tor 15 vears past, was in Alexandra a few' lays before the P.-eini.-r's arriva . -Own CORRESPONDENT.