MEETING AT KAITANGATA.

A public meeting was held in the Schoolhouse, Kaitangata, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of considering the advisability of taking steps for having the township proclaimed a Municipality. There was a large attendance. Mr Stoddart was called to the chair. The Chairman having briefly explained the- object of the ir.eeting, Mr Hislop said the subject had been talked of for a long* time, and people had had ample time to consider the question. ' Some seemed to think it was premature to form a Municipality, but he did not think so. Tho township contained many more than the required number of inhabitants. It was extending very fast, and unless it were created a Municipality, all the rates they paid would be expended outside the township. The streets were in a disgraceful state, and required immediate attention. The Chairman read the clause of the Ordinance -describing the steps necessary to be taken. Mr Henderson, solicitor, said the proceedings were very simple. He read the form of petition required to be sent to his Honor the Superintendent, which required to be signed by a majority of the householders, and fifty signatures were necessary. Mr J. S. Fleming, 6 being asked to afford some information, explained the

working of municipalities, and the liberal assistance given by the Provincial Government to municipalities at their start. Dunedin, he thought, had got £05,000, and Port Chalmers, £5000, but he feared if the proposed new order of things were brought about, the allowances, subsidies, &c., given by the General Government to Counties .Road Boards, and Muiiieipailities, would simply amount to **• ample powers of taxation **" in other words they would have to pay for whatever improvements they might make out of their own pockets, fie explained that they would have the license ices, but upon condition that they maintained, the roads through the township. He advised them to see that these roads were fully formed and metalled before they undertook any responsibility in the matter, as the amount of the license fees would be quite inadequate for the work. As a chief reason why they should have the township formed into a Municipality, he pointed to the irregularity of the surface of the ground, which of necessity would.be considerably disturbed when the Engineers were" set to work upon it*. New buildings were being erected every day according to the present levels of the streets. Many of these would be altered, and the houses would either be undermined by cuttings, or smothered by embankments. li they were created a Municipality, their lirst act should be to get permanent levels laid down, and avoid all those annoyances. There was also another matter that should be attended to ; he referred to the adjoining ground being laid off in sections and sold ; they should endeavor to get as large a number of these as possible for reserves. The Chairman said if the meeting were to appoint a Committee, immediate action^ could be taken to prevent the sale of all the adjoining ground. Ai'ter some conversation, Mr Hislop moved that a Committee be appointed to take the initiatory steps necessary for having the township proclaimed a Municipality, the Committee to consist of Messrs Stoddart, Macdonald, Smith, Henderson and the Mover. — Carried unanimously. ■ A vote of thenks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.