PUBLIC MEETING AT WAITOA.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1435, 13 September 1881, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT WAITOA.

— I p c A well-attended public meeting was 3 held, on the, idtV inst., in "the Waitoa Public H3.11, for the purpose of consider- ' ing the almost impassable state of roads in the district, and to ask assistance from > Government towards making and repairr ing the main roads. ' Mr Reuben Parr was voted to the chair, and first read a letter from Messrs !j Ohepmell and' Hugh Campbell, regretting their inability to attend, ■ and expressing 3 their sympathy with the object of the 3 meeting, also a letter from" Mr J. B. 1 Whyte, explaining the efforts he had 1 made and would further make, to induce 1 the Government to grant aid to make and maintain Thames-Waikato road. The Chairman then, as representing the District Road Board, said that during the past year nearly, one half of the rates collected had been expended on the main road : that for the next year there would be only about £500 available for all road works in the district : that it would be almost impossible for the Board, with their limited funds, to keep the main 1- road in passable repair, without taking into account other road works that will ; be required. , t Several speakers then expiessed their t regrcb that the Government had not i given some assistance for this main road, , especially as it had liberally assisted 1 othei* districts to make roads, bridges, b J notably the Thames County, who have asked and got their thousands and tens of thousand pounds for works that were not of more importance than this : that, in fact, the Thames County had not, with all the money given them, made, or had to make, a road that carried so much traffic as the main trunk road from the Waihou river to AVaikato. Much dissatisfaction is expressed .that while the Government so liberally assisted other districts, , this really line district have been so long neglected, especially as there are many thousands of acres in the Te Aroha block still in the hands of Government, who will not (or do not) sell it, so that it may be rated, while the early settlers have for , years been paying road rates, and in many instances liberally given contributions for .making roads, thus making the Government land more valuable year by year, the Government at the same time miserably refusing assistance in making roads to its own property, the settlers justly feel they have good cause for complaint against the present Government. The Piako County Council was, as a local governing body, spoken of as almost useless, for Whilst some County Councils had done some little good, the Piako Council had done »'*.tle or nothing, except collaring a few dogs, and that as it had been hanging up so long it might as well go hang altogether for what good 4 they have done or are Ukely to do for this district. The following resolution was then moved by Mr Strange, seconded by Mr Seddon, and carried unanimously :~ "That the thanks of this meeting be given our member (Mr J. B. Whyte) for the efforts made by him in endeavoring to obtain the assistance of Government to make and keep in repair the main Thames- Waikato road, and urging him to represent to the Government the pressing necessity of granting assistance to the district Jjoard.tp carry out works that will be absolutely required during the year, including building new bridges on the main road to Hamilton, costing about £500 j making , and Repairing ThamesWaikato road, £800; and making new roads to open land on Te Aroha block purchased by^ settlers, ,and not having outlet to main roads, £1000 ; making a total of £2300 for pressing needful works, and the- Board having only about £500 at its disposal to carry out these works ; also to obtain funds4£l2oo) for building bridge over the Waihou River at Te Aroha." Moved by ( Mr^Collins and seconded by Mr Taylor-^ 1 That the above" resolution be forwarded by the Chairman to Mr Whytepressiilghimtogive itliis immediate, atte ntion> and obtain^ unds to carry on the proposea works during the coming summer, months. "^Carried, Mr T. Taylor and others then complained about the manner the Governm'e T hVdrams r 'hid -tf'efen 'carried' out on the Te Aroha land, not being sufficiently wide pr deep to^ carry away the 'water, consequently nn places "overflowing land no fe^&?rg4oo4ed,, tanA/shat t anA/$hat the roads made in connection with the drains were of R°. |^>7J?e^oc cpmmunication. Mr F. Strange further explained that in consequence of the drains not being made according td' the natural outfall, he considered the money spent had been an iiniur-yllinsfead'ofi a benefit to the disitricbwL ''■(.- ,i l .':"(.,' •;! '( •< Aheirty .vote of thanks was then given tothechairman,Mrß. Parr, for theenergy

and public spirit lift Had on all occasions shown in any matters connected with the good of the district. < The meeting was then adjourned to the 24th instant, for the purpose of forming an association to look after the interest of the distriot generally ; also to establish a library, and, debating olub in connection with i\\o Public Hall, Waihou. — [From a Correspondent.] - VMhon', 12th September, 1881.