PUBLIC MEETING AT KIHIKIHI.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1503, 21 February 1882, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT KIHIKIHI.

A public meeting of the inhabitants of Kihikihi, and its vicinity was held in the Public Hall on Saturday evening last, to consider an erroneous statement m.ule, and a resolution passed at a public meeting held at Te Awamutu, last week, regarding, amongst others, a timber reserve in the immediate 'vicinity of Kihikihi. Major Jackson was elected to the chair, when he read the notice convening the meeting, and then went on to state that about two years ago, when bush and other reserves in the Rangiaohia district were all gazetted for sale by the Government, he, as chairman of the town board, and at the urgent request of the people here, so far secured the timber reserve in question that — after first selecting it as the mo&t heavily timbered lot — he so represented its use and importance to this township, that it was withdrawn from sale. Had he not done so, and had he not acted promptly in the matter it would unquestionably have then been sold, and, as a consequence would now be the private property of some individual. Again, last winter, the desti action of timber by a member of the late Rangiaohia board, as well as by a saw - mill company, who were, he thought, illegally cutting it down, and carting its timber away to Cambridge, and other places, caused him, in accordance with a resolution passed by the town board, to communicate by telegram with the Crown Land's Commissioner at Auckland, requesting that gentleman to move in the matter to save the bush. His having done so, he believed, so displeased the late Rangiaohia Road Board, that they immediately set about bringing it, with other reserves, under the Public Domains Act, and in doing so vested its permanent control and management in themselves as a board of tiustces. By so doing they became masters of the situation, and they knew it ; notwithstanding a letter to him from the Commissioner Crown Lands, recommending that before any such action was taken the interests of the Kihikihi people should be fairly represented on such boai-d. Mr Farrell, as secretary of the town board, endorsed the statement of Major Jackson respecting the action taken by him to secure the particular reserve for Kihikihi, when it was advertised for sale. He also mentioned the receipt of letter alluded to from Crown Lands Office, to Mr Walton, the then chairman, suggesting that Kihikihi should be fairly represented, but he regretted to state that, Mr Walton seemed much displeased, because he was not communicated with in the first instance when the Kihikihi board had had a complaint, instead of the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Mr Farrell was quite indifferent to Mr Walton's cold reception, as it was then the end of the road board year, when the annual meeting was advertised. They would he thought, wait for the appointment of the new trustees, and then bring the matter before them. In this the Kihikihi people were disappointed for by some informality of the anuual meeting the old trustees remained in office for some time. Mr Kay objected to road board trustees nominaitng themselves in such cases without first giving notice of their intention to do so in the local paper. Mr Moncrieff said, that, as individuals, he had nothing to say against those who were nominated but as a body, they were unworthy of the trust they took on themselves, so far as the control of the Kihikihi bush was concerned. They sold its timber to a saw mill company and in many ways allowed the bush to fee destroyed. Mr W. H. Grace said the timber reserve having at the instance of the Kihikihi Town Board been reserved, he would propose that the chairman and secretary of the Kihikihi Town Board be appointed by this meeting to interview the trustees and ask them' to give up their trust so far as regards this reserve', for the purpose of being vested in trustees to be selected by the inhabitants of Kihikihi. In case they decline the two said gentlemen to take such other steps necessary to protest the interests of Kihikihi. This was seconded by Mr G.J.Elmsley, s and carriedf' r - : ' j ] \J '<■ ,\l '

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