IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XV, Issue 2294, 15 June 1888, Page 2

IMPORTANT PUBLIC MEETING.

On Wednesday an important meeting was held in Home's Building, Strand, with reference to Crofters, Codlin moth, and the Cottiny-cushion Scale. His Worship the Mayor, (Mr D. Lundon) presided, and amongst those present were the Eev. Mr MacLennan, Messrs T. Wrigley, J. A. Clark, Burrows, Spencer, Moss, Watts, Alexander, iMclatosb, Ghey, Blake, E. C. Jordan, Commons, Smith, Tanner, Starkie, J. Galbraith, and others. The meeting was called by Mr Grey. HIGHLAND CROFTERS. The Key. Mr MacLennan and Mr Galbraith explained the advantages to the district of having tbese crofters here, as they are expert fishermen, sailors, and farmers ; and are accustomed to \vt»avo their own cloth, tan their own leather, and grind their own corn. Te Puna paper township was available for them ; and, if settled in fishing villages here, the immediate insequence would be the creation of a large export fishing trade here. On landing in Canada each crofter family received from a home fund £125, and the Imperial GoTernment paid two thirds of their passage money. These advantages might be made to apply to this colony if our Government took the proper steps. Many of the crofters besides possessed some private means. The steps already taken in the matter were also detailed. The Minister of Lands (Mr Mitchelson) in answer to Mr E. C. Bruce, had stated to the House that no land was available here for a crofter settlement, (showing the dense ignorance at Wellington of matters relating to Tauranga). The Eev. Mr MacLennan and the proprietor of the Times, had immediately wired that Te Puna Paper Township was available as a crofters fishing settlement. In consequence the matter had been gone into afresh. Thanks were due to Messrs Kelly, M.H.8., and Bruce M.H.E., for their action in the matter.

On the motion of the Rev. Mr MacLennan, seconded by Mr J. Galbraitb, proprietor of the Bat of Plenty Times, it was unanimously resolved that the meeting petition Government to set apart the Te Puna township as a Highland Crofter Fishing Settlement, and that a petition to Parliament embodying the resolution be taken round for signature by the public. After the meeting the Mayor sent off a telegram to the Premier to this effect ; and yesterday Messrs Kelly, M.H.R., and Bruce, MH.B., were wired to the same effect. THE CODLlff MOTH. It was also resolved that the Codlin Moth Bill would, if passed, be a greater nuisance than the codlin moth It was the opinion of the meeting that the introduction of the small bats from South Hants was the proper remedy. j THE COTTOirY-CtTSHION SCALE. Icerya Purchasi. Mr Spencer introduced to the meeting the subject of this pest, which it appears is more to be dreaded than even the codlin moth, as it attacks almost every kind of native and introduced plants, but especially orange and lemon trees. It was resolved that Mr Spencer send to the Bay of Plenty Times a communication on the subject.