OWAKA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9, 4 August 1911, Page 5

OWAKA.

PROPOSED TOWN DISTRICT. (From a Correspondent.) The householders of Owaka assembled in the library social room on Tuesday evening last to hear the report of the committee appointed at last meeting held on July 7th. As previously reported in your issue of 11th hist, the instructions to this committee were to obtain all information necessary re the formation of a town board district for Owaka, and report at a future meeting. The manner in which the residents tuincd out was evidence of the intense interest takea in this forward and iieedlul movement. Several ladies were aiso present. Mr J. Putoi'son was again voted to the chair, and Mr W. Smith acted as secretary. The Chairman stated, pn behalf of this committee, that they had procured ali the necessary Acts and al*o a map of the proposed Town Board Dis- , trict. Thes? were laid on the table and several residents inspected the j map. The Chairman, assisted -y Mr W. H. Smith, then explained in a very I clear and explicit manner the complete details and wor.iing of the pro- j posed scheme. The Chairman quoted examples from the valuation of p operties in the proposed area as to what the rates would probably be. An idea existed among some that the tales would be extraordinarily heavy if the proposed scheme eventuated. This idea was completely dispelled by Messrs Paterson and Smith who seemed to have a thorough grasp of the Acts and their Amendments, and they arc specially deserving of great credit for the amount of work undertaken to prepare data for the meeting and also for the excellent manner in which even the smallest detailwwats t explained. The map of the district proposed, shows a nice block of two mile-! square, around the township, and it met with general approval. In this •dock are 70 or SO householders almost all of whom have now signed the petition which is to be forwarded to thi* Governor in Council re |uesting that steps In- taken to form Owaka into a town distr'ct immediately. A spirited discussion took place and a great number of questions were asked, the answers given being apparently satisfactory to those interested. A motion was carried unanimously "That the householders of Owaka pro-**] ci'cd to have the district shown on the map declared a town district." '. The committee appointed to raise funds for the improvement of our foot/paths (or rather sludge channels) reported that they had raised a-oout £">o apart from cartage promised by subscription. A deputation had waited on the County Council asking for a grant to assist in this work. The request was refused, but the Council promised the assistance of the surfacemen for the laying of the gravel, etc. It considered by some beforehand that the deputation was going on a fool's errand, but the committee prol ably thought that if the residents we.e willing to put their hands in their pockets and subscribe £SO in cah. surely the controlling body will assist up with a subsidy, especially considering that the present footpaths were made, and have always been maintained, by the residents and private asssistance. This treatment has be<\i one of the strongest factors in fostering 'th<* idea in the ; minds of our most progressive townsmen that the sooner we put ourselves in a position to do something for our townnsip the bette,- it wijl be for Owaka. The paths committee were instructed to spend the money raised as soon as possible. A vote of thanks to the chair and committee 'closed the meeting.