NGARUAWAHIA. Public Meeting.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1281, 14 September 1880, Page 2

NGARUAWAHIA. Public Meeting.

The meeting called by the Chairman of the Ngaruawalria Town Board on Saturday last to decide what action should be taken relative to the withdrawal^suburban lands was largely ami influentially attended. Mr Robert Lamb was voted to the chair, and having read the notice in theWAiKATO Times calling the meeting, he -desired some ot those present to frame, resolutions on the subject. The only information he had been able to gather was from a telegram received by Captain Lindsay from D. A. Tole Esqrs. to the effect that the Waste Lands Board had been notified from Wellington to withdraw these lands from sale, but no reason was assigned. The chairman considered that no language could be too strong to reprobate the action of the Government. Let the matter be settled one way or another, if the natives were to have the land, — and there appeared no other reason for the withdrawing from sale except this everlasting "Native negotiations"—let them have it, and be done with it, but not time after time raise the hopes of the settlers with the idea that the lands were going to be sold and then, just a day or two before the sale, withdraw them. It was most disheartening to intending purchasers, and would most assuredly ruin the prospects of the district generally. The first resolution was proposed by Mr E. Fitzpatrick and seconded by Mr Innes, " That it is with feelings of considerable regret and disappointment that the people of Ngaruawahia and surrounding districts have heard of the decision of the Government to again withdraw the Suburban Lands from sale." Mr. Schrafft, who had lately arrived in the district, at this stage informed the I meeting that he had been induced to re- ! main at Ngaruawahia with the prospect of purchasing some of this land ; that he had applied to Mr. Tole to purchase certain lots just prior to the advertisement appearing, and had been informed that a sale would take place on the 15th September. Upon the strength of this, he had purchased a lot of young trees, fencing material, &c., &c, which would now be left upon his hands. He had also arranged for building a house ; it would be a very serious matter for him. Another ! party was also reported to be in a similar position. The Chairman considered parties so situated would have a very good claim for compensation. The next resolution was proposed by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Nicol, "That this meeting would respectfully urge upon the Government the desirability of re-considering their decision in withdrawing the suburban lands, as the European settlers are unanimous in the opinion that they have been treated most unfairly, having petitioned time after time to have these lands sold. If they have been withdrawn for Native purposes, the Europeans think they have a much greater claim upon the consideration of the Government. Mr E. Fitzpatrfck said he wished to say a few words before the meeting separated, they were, of course, presuming that the native question was at the bottom of this affair. He had hoped that the farce of running after the natives with a bag of flour in one hand and a bag of sugar in the other had ended when the last attempt was made at the Kopua. The settlers submitted patiently in the hope that Sir George Grey would settle the difficulty and which would have been for the good of the whole Colony. This failed, and the natives then fully understood that all the promises and offers the Government had held out to them were revoked. It was enough to disgust anyone this continual withdrawing of the lands after they have been offered for sale. The following resolution was then proposed by Captaiu Lindsay and seconded by Mr Butcher, ••'That a committee of four, composed of Messrs. Lamb, Patterson, Fitzpatrick and the mover be appointed to communicate with the Members for Waipa and Wrikato and to take any other steps they may think necessary to get these lands offered for sale. ' ' Mr Lamb moved the next resolution, which was seconded by Mr Burnett, "That this meeting view with indignation the act 'on of the Government in withdrawing the lands from sale, the settlers having bepn informed by the late G ■verninent that all promises and offers of this land made to the natives had been withdrawn ns they had not accepted them." In speaking to the above Mr L imb said, when some time ago certain negotiations were opened by Sir George Grey with a view to settlement of the native difficulty, these lands amongst others were offered to Tawhiao upon cer111 1 in conditions but were declined, the offer was then and there distinctly and emphatically withdrawn by Sir George Grey before he left thn Kopua meeting. It might be well to draw the attention of the present Government to the fact ; they cannot surely have gone back to those clays. All tho foregoing resolutions were parsed unanimously. Mr Fi/patrick proposed, and Mr Lamb seconded a cordial vote of thanks to the proprietors of the Waikato Times. He s:iid that district was much indebted to them for their able advocacy of their cause during many years past. With a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting closed.