COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 196, 18 August 1900, Page 5

COUNTRY NEWS.

WAIHI

WAIHI, Friday

WAIHI RESIDENCE SITE.S.-MEETING'

OV COMMITTEES.

Tlu» respective committees of the Miners Union and citizens of Waihi met last night In Filling's Hotel, to discuss this question, and to submit resolutions by each body. Mr 11. I. Barry (Citizens' Committee) was elected chairman, and Mr A. 1\ Itoss us secretary for the evening. After the two resolutions had been read by the secretary, a general discussion took place. The principle upon which the resolution of the Citizens' Committee was based was that of insurance, and this principle was objected to entirely by the Miners'! Com-; mittee, Mr Graham (Miners' Committee) stating that they were totally against any scheme which included further rates or payments. , ■ • Mr Barry held that it was useless to further discuss the resolutions owing to the evident disagreement relative to the principle of their resolution, viz., insurance. Mr J. E. Tailor considered that something ought to be done to-night, so as to put forward a proposition for the public meeting to consider. He was also against any Government officials coming.up here to consider the matter, especially .if they were anything like the previous valuators who paid Wiilhl a visit. Mr Drumm, speublng on the union's resolution, stated tbat one of the cMef points

fo consider, ami one which affected us most, was the monopoly of sections in Waihi. He thought that the leUse hi perpetuity mid taxation on the unimproved value of the laud was what we needed most. Mr T. Cni'lcßs filso spoke on the 'matter. Mr A. Y. Ross considered that; the nuestiiMi of duinmyisin or monopoly 6l .sectionswas out of the .question entirely: the. people had the remedy in their own hands, and if il person could prove that any section Wv'is held Illegally" »y nnothpr individual, ho Could apply for that section and have the Jirst consideration. The Mining inspector was also the proper person to see thrtt the law relative to the matter was fully carded out. Ml" Dnnnin proposed, "That, any- scheme, entertained by' this committee will be based on (ho principle of taxing tue unimproved vallio of the land. Mr Kafz's amendment to this proposition was withdrawn. Messrs Marti'ii, Graham, Klnnon, .Katz, Morgan, Karry, Gilder, and Hoss spoke, and after a Ions; discussion it. -was agreed to adjourn the meeting till Thursday evening.