THE ONSLOW BOROUGH. THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF JOHNSONVILLE.

Evening Post, Volume XL, Issue 8, 9 July 1890, Page 3

THE ONSLOW BOROUGH. THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF JOHNSONVILLE.

A publio meeting of the ratepayers of Johnsonville wai held in the Oddfellows' Hall in that township last evening for the purpose of discussing matters in oonneotion with the proposal to join the Borough of Onslow. Mr. M. Atkinson was voted to the chair, and explained that the oonvenera of the meeting were certain gentlemen who dissented with the action of some persons who had been instrumental in getting np a petition praying that Johneonvillo should he included in the Borough of Onßlow. These ratepayers had not called a publio meeting before presenting the petition, and the present meeting had tjeen called for the purpose of giving them an opportunity of explaining their aotion. He called upon Mr. W. Cook, as one who had taken a part in circulating the petition, to address the meeting. Mr. W. Cook said that all he had done was to sign the potition, and present it on behalf of other ratepayers. The Chairman expressed the opinion that the petition had been got np in an under* handed manner, Mr. Cook thought the least naid about underhand business the better. People who lived in glass houses should not throw stones. The Chairman mentioned that Mr. Harrop, Mr. James Sims, and several others had stated that they had signed the petition under a misrepresentation. Mr. Hugh Greer thought the ratepayers who had presented the petition had done wrong, as they knew that the general feeling was against incorporation. The Chairman failed to see that Johnsonville oould benefit by joining the borough In faot, he thought it would be a positive disadvantage if annexation took plaoe. Mr. F. Long said that if he could be shown that there would be a benefit in going into the borongh he would at once oonsent to incorporation. Before the Fetone Borongh was formed a friend of his who owned land there paid 25s a Tear in rates, whereas now he had to contribute 355. He (Mr. Long) felt that if Johnsonville went into the Onslow Borough the ratca would alio be inoreaaed. He asserted that those who were in favour of incorporation Had' got up the petition priThe Chairmain urged those who had presented the petition to come forward and explain their reasons for taking suoh aotion. Mr. Pook maintained that the petitioners had right on their side. The Chairman asserted that the other Bide had been afraid to oall a meeting before presenting the petition, and 'that half the people who had signed had done so because they were in ignorance as to its purport. Mr, Waddington gave an emphatic denial to the statement that people had signed in gnorance. All those poople whom he had induoed to sign had signed with their eyes wide open. Replying to Mr. Waddington, The Chairman said he had been advised that the petition oould not be granted for three years. Mr. James Bell moved that the Chairman, Mr. E. Corlet, and himself should wait upon the Colonial Secretary, and protest against the petition being given effect to. Mr. Waddington said that 53 out of 67 of the ratepayers were in favour of incorporation. The Chairman said that the petition had no real value, because a publio meeting had not been previously held. After further discussion, Mr. Bell withdrew his resolution, and movod another to the effect that the meeting was opposed to the propoial to join the borongh. Mr. Corlet moved that Mr. Atkinson should vacate the chair, because it was considered desirable that he should be allowed to apeak more frequently than he could do whilst presiding over the meeting, and also because he was an interested party. This was seconded by Mr. Joseph Chapman and oarried. Mr. Atkinson thereupon vacated the position, and after a deal of disoussion Mr. Chapman was elected as his successor. Mr. Bell said that he had been called " a rat " and " a tool " because he had signed the petition and had afterwards signed the advertisement oalling the present meeting. This, to say the least, was most nngentlemanly of those who made the assertion. The total revenue of tho Town Board was 4225, and the question was whether thii amount would be spent in the district if they joined tho borough.— (A voioe: No.)— 11 they joined the borough there would be nc oommunity of interest between their district and another district in the borough five miles airay. He thought that looking

at tho question in an impartial manner i was better for the district to remain as a present— at any rate for two or three yeaw County Conneita rarely went in for loans but it was well known that boroughs in dulged in a pood deal of borrowing. The motion of Mr. Bell was seconded bj Mr. Corlet. Mr. Qreer maintained that it wonld be t detriment to join the borough. What the ratepayer! ought to' do was to wait for c few yean, and then perhaps they might be ablo to form a borough of their own. At the present they spent the whole of thoir rates in their own diatriot, bat if they went intc the borough a considerable portion ol their revenne wonld be spent in othei parts of the borough. He contended that the Onilow Borough was the most expensive borough in New Zealand, and that there was nothing bat ruination in view if they joined it. Mr. Long endorsed the remarks of the last ipeaker. and expressed the opinion that annexation meant it positive onrse to Jobnsonville. Mr. Waddinnton said that if they joined the borough about four miles of the main roads would be taken over, whioh he thought waa a very fair proportion. At present the county bpent money in maintaining roada as far away as the Rimutaka, and Johnsonville had to oontribnto a portion of that money. This, he thought, waa not fair. He also considered it a Beandal that the working expenses of tbo county should swallow np 33} per cent, of the total income. Mr. Qreer said that bo long as they remained as at present they .could manage very well. Mr. Waddington asserted that the voads in the djstripj; wepe so bad that the people were swimming in them. (Laughter.) Mr. Atkinson said it would be better to spend JBBO on roads as far away as 'the Rimntaka than allow .£202 to be spent on roads in the Wadestown (Ustvlot. If they joined the borough they would he tacked on to one of tfie wards, and wonld have no representative in theConnoil foratleaat two or three years. Mr. Cook thought that his aotions since he bad been in Johnsonville had bren above suspioion, and he challenged anyone to contrad iot him. He pointed ont that before the Borough could borrow a poll of the rate* payers would havo to be taken, so tj)at they would have an opporonnity of expressing iheir views. If they joined the borongh shey would only be qireatly unrepresented in tho Counoil until Novombor. The Aot would not allow moro than three wards in a borough the size of Onslow, andhe thought the offer of the Counoil to inolndo Johnsonville in one of the wards was as fair aB could be expected. The statement that .£2OO of the revenuo from JohnsonrilJe would be apeak in Wadestown, was altogether too absurd, and an insult to tho intelligence of the ratepayers present. Mr. Qreer appealed to the ratepayora not to consent to annexation. Mr. Corlet thought it was very hard that the County Counoil should take .£B5 away from Jobnsonville to pay for the maintenance of roads in the Bimutafca distriot. What the ratepayero ought to do was to agree to remain ai at present for a couple of years, and bog how the borough got on. Mr. Cook, replying to Mr. 8011, said that the borough did not intend to take in the Ngahauranga line. Mr. Bell asserted that at present tho County Council gave Johqsonville more than they gave that body, Mr. Waddington denied this statement, and spoko at length deprecating the action of the Counoil in plying away Eomuoh money in salaries, travelling expenses, &o. After further discussion the motion of Mr. Bell was withdrawn in favour of a proposition by Mr. Greer, seconded by Mr. Long, that a deputation bo appointed to wait upon the Premier and urge that Johnsonville should not be incorporated In the borough. A show of handd waa takon, Mr. J. Sod aoting as scrutineer, and the resolution was oarried by 12 to 11. Mews. Atkinson, Bell, Corlet, Long, and Greer were appointed to interview the Premier. A vote of thanks was passed to the representative of the Evening Post, and a similar compliment having bean aooorded to tho Chairman the meeting terminated.

Messrs. W. and G. Turnbull and Co., have beon advised that the R.M.S. Arawa arrived at Plymouth on Tuesday morning with her cargo of meat in good oondition. The traffic returns of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway for the week ending Stb, July amounted to JJ1229 13s and for the corresponding ppviod of last year £1091 Ca Bd, showing an inorease of £138 7a 3d. The steamers Jubilee and Tekapo, leaving for Sydney this afternoon, take 1050 tons and 1200 tons of colonial prodnoe respectively. Both vessels have all their passenger accommodation taken up. The s.B. Tekapo, which arrived from thn South this afternoon, brought the following passengers :— Misses Carr. Everest, Hewer (2), Rennie, Menzios and Hay, 2 Sisters of Mercy, Mesdamea Howley, Rosa and 5 ohildren, Gilchrist, Scott, Spraggon and 2 ohildren, Hon. J. Peacook, Messrs. Tamo (2), Ross, Maher, Caplin, Parkinson (2), Everest, Bradley, Sims, Hewer, Brown, Black, Nelson, Baxter, Wilson, Short and Peroival ; 52 steerage. The long-talked-of football match between the cabmen of To Aro against the cabmen of Thorndon is to be played on the Manawatu Reclamation ground to-morrow afternoon, beginning at 3 o'olock. v In our advertising columns the members of the Chamber of Commerce are invited to take part in the deputation to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works, whioh is to wait upon him to-morrow morning at 10 o'clook, in referenoe to the extension of the railway to Te Aro. The looal members of the New Zealand Rifle Association meet this evening at the Drillihed to consider the recommendations forwarded by Captain Sommerville. The attention of members of the Wharf Carters, &0., Union is directed to an advertisement in another column calling a meeting for to-morrow night for general bnsiness, &o. We remind our readers who are interested in horses that Professor Hickton, who is known as the King of Horse-tamers, will give an exhibition at the Exchange Hall this evening. He announces that the oleverest feats will be performed with untrained and vioious horses. Mr. James Dristoll is also announced to appear in his ohampion Black wire act. "Looking Backward " has become immensely popular. The men and women who look forward, and aot wisely, by purchasing a supply of that most popular of remedies, Renauaw's Monaroh of Pain, to be in re&dineaa for any emergencies, will save muoh pain and suffering.— Advt. For contmuanon or reading matter tee fourth vaa*.