AT PAEROA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1902, Page 5

AT PAEROA.

After a beautiful drive in the moonlight, which made the weird scenery of the Waitawheta Gorge especially picturesque, Paeroa was reached at 9.30 o'clock. Sir Joseph Ward at once proceeded to the Criterion Hotel, where several deputations were waitingl. Mr Hugh Poland, Chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council, at once opened the business, the first matter dealt with being the Hospital at Waihi. He introduced the members o1 the Ohinemuri County Council, also of the Ohinemuri Central Committee. He explained that five years ago £600 was collected in Paeroa, and less sums at other places, to establish a hospital, but a difficulty arose as to which was the most suitable site. Meetings were held and Waikino was finally agreed upou as the most central.- At that time the Waihi representatives voted for Waikino, but theiE action was not approved by residents at Waihi, but the District Board were, willing to grant a branch institution only that'twenty beds were asked for at once. Some 105 people at Waihi then asked for a separate institution although there were 7000 in the county. He understood the report of Commission was taken to mean thai such an institution was required at Waihi, but two members of the Commission had informed him that was not their intention. The Thames Hospital Board, through their solicitor, pointed out that the finding was illegal. He quoted the Act an< contended that it clearly proved unless a separate institution was in ex- '■ istence a separate Board could not be : granted. The trouble with the Conn-1 ty Council was that if the hospital was erected the whole district would be liable for its maintenance. The Waihi people would therefore only contribute one-tenth of the cost, while they would have the control of such an institution.

Mr Kitehing-, Chairma.n of the Central Committee, said as a matter of justice they objected to the establishment of the hospital at Waihi, when the whole district was liable. Waihi had a population of 3812, and the rest 0 fthe district 6166. The petition from the people of Waihi claimed to represent seven thousand six hundred and seventy people, but it did not. The objection of the committee w#s that the ridings would have to bear the cost of an institution over which they would practically have no control. The best way would be to create Waihi a separate district and let i 1 have the hospital and maintain it.

Sir Joseph Ward first apologised, being delayed at Waihi, and said that at both the Thames and Waihi there was a strong- disposition to have a separate district created for Waihi, and he thought that would be the best way out of the difficulty, and he would urge that fact to the Minister in charge of the Department. Waihi, with its population, must have the hospital, and, therefore, the right thing seemed to. him to be to create the separate district.

Mr Poland considered that the solution suggested would suit all parties.

SILTING UP OP PAEROA RIVER. Mr. Draffin brought before the notice of the Minister the matter of the silting up of the Paeroa River. He said it was causing floods and doing great damage to settlers down the river. The only remedy appeared to be to put a dredge upon the river, because they could not think of stopping the mining companies' operations.

Mr. Moore said when the river was in flood the water ran; for chains back over the settlers' ground, depositing tailings, which would ruin the district. Mining was only temporary, but settlement was for good. The river was the olny place to drain low-lying ground into. He did not think dredg-ing would do, as it wotild be too expensive. Perhaps a fluming to carry the tailings to low-lying ground would get over the trouble.

Mr. Poland said the river had been declared a sludge channel when there were few settlers who did not understand what it really meant.

Mr. Cockley said the Maoris, who owned the land on the frontage, were already suffering severely.

Mr. Forrest said the Government were the worst sinners, for the debris from the railway works was thrown into the river.

Sir Joseph Ward said the question was a far-reaching" one, and very difficult to deal with. The Government would be glad to help the settlers, but it was a question of whether it would pay to stop miningl operations, which, he thought, no one would advocate. As far as railway debris was concerned, that would be stopped if possible. He would, however, discuss the whole matter "with the Minister for Mines and see what could be done. ROAD TO WAIHI. Mr. Poland referred to the immense cost of maintaining' the main road to Waihi, and asked that the gold revenue, which would now go to the Borough, be allocated so as to give a fair proportion to the County Council to maintain the road. Miningl operations were going on all through the colony, and unfortunately hundreds of settlers had suffered. The whole question was a very difficult one. The mining had produced millions of money, and benefited industries all round, and it would not do to stop such an important industry. They must-not suppose the Cabinet could grapple, with what had proved an almost unsolvable problem.

Mr J. Mackay suggested that a dam should be put in the gorge, where the tailings could be lifted with an

elevator and carried back to the waste lands at AVaihi. Then the lower, river could be dredged, and the sscour would keep it open

for navigation. Sir,- Joseph Ward said the whole thing-, was a question of what it would cost. He thought the question was worthy of consideration, but it was a question for engineers to deckle.

Mr Poland said the Maoris on the banks of the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers had always got their water from the rivers, but now they could not use it. They thought it would be an act of justice to give the Maoris a supply jof pure water, now that the rivers had been polluted.

Mr Mackay said he had taken the levels and made the estimates and found the work could be done for about £000.

Mr Ward said he would bring- the matter up on his return to Wellington. He thought it was one that should be attended to as early as pos-< sible.

Mr Moore said it would be unfair to the Council to have to maintain that road safely for the benefit of Waihi.

Mr Draffin pointed out that while the mine was at Waihi the battery that saved the gold was in the country at Waikino.

Mr Poland said they only asked for a fair share of the gold revenue. Other roads in the country were also used to cart timber to Waihi and i Waikino. Six waggons of eight ; horses each were constantly employed carting coal for the Waihi Company.. Mr Boler suggested that gold revenue should be allocated amongst local bodies.

Sir Joseph Ward said the question was a peculiar one. With its population Waihi had a right to be a borough ,and the law stated the gold revenue should go to tlie borough. Tt' the Government started doing' an unjust act other local bodies would put in a claim. The Tight was was to settle this matter by mutual arrangement. He considered the position was an unique one, but no (jovern-« ment could interfere. Supposing1 an equally valuable mine was discovered outside of Waihi there would be a big cry out if the Government gave a portion of the gold revenue i>o the borough. If the position* were reversed they would be the first to object' to losing the gold revenue. RAILWAY MATTERS. On the application of Mr Poland, Sir Joseph Ward agreed to pay £S5 ptv annum for wjater taken from the Council mains for railway purposes. An application was also made to have improvements made to the railway station at Faeroa, but the Minister explained the matter was under consideration, and would be attended to when the railway was completed to Waihi.

Mr Poland thanked Sir Joseph Ward for the way the deputations had been received, find champagne being- brought in at. his request, the health of the King, ann also that of Sir Joseph Ward was diTuTc. At the request of the Minister Mr Poland's ■health was also drunk. Sir Joseph Ward then left for the railway station about 12 o'clock, and was 6'ouveyed by special train to Te Aroha, th> Hot Springs Hotel being reached ai a few minutes after one o'clock in the mornnig; where Host Summers was awaiting his guests. Sunday was spent quietly enjoying the resttumess of Te Aroha. In the afternoon, the Mayor, Mr Wright, e&eorted Sir Joseph Ward round "the Domain, and a visit, was also paid to Mr J. William's gardens, where various kinds of mineral waters may be tested, which bubble up alinostV.de by side. Ascending- the hill to a summer house the visitors had a fine panoramic view of the Thames Vfllley .