KIRIKIRIROA PUBLIC MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1199, 4 March 1880, Page 2

KIRIKIRIROA PUBLIC MEETING.

A large and influential meeting of ratepayers of the Kirikiriroa Highway District was held yesterday afternoon, at the Royal Hotel to consider the advisability of stopping certain roads, one known as Runciman's road, and the other two as Swarbrick's. Mr Primrose occupied the chair. The Chairman read the advertisement, calling the meeting, from the Waikato Times, and explained that the trustees had no wish in the matter. The ratepayers only would have to record their votes. The first road discussed was " Swarbricks." Mr Potter suggested that plans should be laid on the table. The discussion of closing this road was then adjourned until the plans could be produced, and the question of Runciman's gone on with. Mr dimming asked for an explanation as to whei'e the road led to, and whether it led to any other persons land. Mr Runciman explained that the public had no interest in the matter. Mr Potter moved, " That the road be closed. *' Mr Henry seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. The question of Mr Swarbrick's road road Avas then brought forward. Mr Swarbriek explained reasons for wishing this road to be closed. The Chairman read the following petition from certain settlers, protesting I against its closing. j To 'Ihe Chairman Kirikiriroa Highway District I Hoard. Sir,— Ma\ ing been informed that Messrs Swarbrick h;i\e applied to your Hoard to ha\ethe Heach Ro.ul, passing through their property, closed, we, the undersigned settler*- and property owners in the Kirikiriroa Highway District most strenuously oppose and object to any interference with the road, and we trust jour Hoard will support this- appeal against Messrs Swarbrick's applications. (Here follow 21 signatures.) Mr Tees asked whether an engineer had not laid out the road now proposed to be closed. It had cost £60 to make that road. The Chairman explained, in answer to a question, that a vote would have to be recorded for or against the closing of the roads. Mr Potter said that as no opposition had appeared in print, he thought it was necessary that a motion should be brought forward stating that these roads should not be closed, and for several reasons, one, because already a large amount of money had been spent on these roads. Money had been laid out on roads leading into these roads now proposed to be stopped, which >\ould in such wise bo thrown away. There was an immense area of land which would be deteriorated in value if these roads were closed. Tt was a manifest injustice to violate the rights of land owners at. it was now sought to do. There were a number ot ■30 \\w « lot-> w-tyich would, by injured, bv

this shutting up of roads, which would also render it impossible to cut up lands beyond in small lots. The road, too, was was one not leading to a swamp or a i mountain, but to the navigable river of the district. He maintained that no case had been made out by Mr Swabrick. He proposed "That the roads be not stopped. " Mr Powell, who seconded the motion, said the road was their only road, and a main thoroughfare from Ngaruawahia to Hamilton East. The interests of both townships were involved in this matter. To close the roads would make a difference to him and others of three miles in getting to the bridge at Hamilton. Others would suffer even more, and all for one man's interest. j In answer to Mr Lamb, it was stated that the road sought to be closed was a main road from East Hamilton to Ngaruawahia. j Mr Lamb said there could be no question in the matter if such was the case. Mr dimming thought one portion of j the road could be closed without public injury. Mr Swarbrick suggested, as a means of throwing oil on troubled waters, that the river road, about which so much had been said, should be left out of those proposed to be closed, and that they should entertain the question of closing the other roads. The others were never of any use to the owners of land contiguous, they had never used them. Mr Henry as one of thesa persons objeoted to this statement. He had opened another more convenient track past his own house for his own use, or any neighbors' ; and since the gunofields had been opened there were often 20 to 30 persons passing every day. If Mr Swarbrick's roads were closed this trespass would be permanently forced upon him. » Mr Tees complained that people would be cut off from the river if these roads were closed. Mr Swarbrick asked that a separate vote might be taken on each road. Mr Potter contended that the questions at issue could not be altered. It must be discussed as a whole. They could not now separate the roads ; they had been all advertised together. The Chairman then called for a show of hands in favor of Mr Potter's motion, when 23 hands were held up ; on the other side six hands wore held up against it. I The Chairman then declared that the roads should not be stopped. Mr Swarbrick, in proposing- a vote of thanks to the Chairman, hoped that no ill feeling would grow out of the proposed stoppage of roads. Had he known there had been so strong a public feeling against the stoppage he would not have moved in the matter. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the procaedings.