The Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1880. THE DEMANDS OF THIS DISTRICT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 22, 26 June 1880, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1880. THE DEMANDS OF THIS DISTRICT.

The meeting held on Saturday night was, in every sense of the term, a representative one. The weather was anything but inviting, and nothing but a sense of duty, and a wish to see what the majority considered grievous wrongs set right, could have induced three-fourths of those present to attend, many of them having come long distances to the meeting, which could not therefore be classified as a Hawera one. Living, as we have done, until quite recently, in other parts of the colony, it could not be expected that \fe should knovr as much about the grievances under which the settlers of this district have labored, as those who have been here for many years past. Our columns" have been, however — and shall always be — open to the free discussion of all public topics, and foremost amongst the subjects which have occupied a good deal of attention, "we have noticed that of the settlement of the land, and the Taranaki harbor scheme. Even at street corners both these subjects have been frequently discussed ; in fact, wherever a few men met, the conversation was almost sure to turn upon the land or the harbor question. It is not to bej^ondered at, therefore, that this strong feeling should have

i, eventuated in an important and representative public meeting like that which took place at the Town Hall on Saturday evening. With reference to the question of a harbor at New Plymouth, we think • with one speaker, who affirmed that if the .£200,000 already voted by Parliament were sufficient for that purpose, there would be no justification, at the present time, at all events, for interfering with the Harbor Board's j expending a sum of money which has been already authorised by Parliament. Indeed, we will go further than that, and say, notwithstanding 3 some strong expressions used on Saturday night, that there are very few in this district who would not be glad to see a harbor at New Plymouth, provided that it could be made for '. £200,000, and that the settlers' land here was not taxed to guarantee that amount. But there is a feeling ' throughout the length and breadth of this district — all the engineering opinions to the contrary — that not alone «£280,Q00 would .be required to B construct a harbor at the Sugar Loaves, but that; double Sir John Coode's later estimate, or even treble a the amount, would be required. Towards the latter part of 1877, the Patea County Council entered a strong protest against the raising of the loan • which was then being negotiated, and went so far as to petition Parliament. The present action of the settlers here cannot therefore be considered either ill-timed or out of place, seeing that a further sum of ,£BO,OOO will be re- • quired, according to Sir John Coode's estimate, and seeing that the residents of this district will consequently be deprived of a very considerable source of revenue forsaking .their roads, if the proposed plans should receive the . sanction of Parliament; for we hold, that the wording of the General Harb bor Boards Act precludes the Govei*nor from giving his sanction to the alterations. It as there specifically laid down that for any new harbor works, to be done after the passing of the Act, the consent of Parliament must first be obtained. In the face of that Act, we cannot see how the Governor can give his sauction to the alterations proposed. The suggestion that the money should be devoted towards constructing a serviceable jetty at New Plymouth, and in improving the natural harbors at Waitara, Opunake, and Patea, is certainly deserving of consideration ; and the only reason for not embodying the proposal in the . resolution was a fear that it would , look too much like " robbing Peter to pay Paul," and those who prepared the resolutions' thought it would be better to leave .the Government to deal with the matter as might to them seem fit. As to the settlement of the land, there can be no two opinions. There are other settlers, besides the Messrs. Middlemas, who are thinking of clearing 'out, if the present state of things should continue much longer. We believe that every member of the Government is anxious to see the native difficulty at an end, and the country settled, and that the present Native Minister has done all that he possibly could towards attaining that object. But the resolution which was carried with acclamation on Saturday night very truly expressed the feelings of the settlers. They were led to believe that, once the award of the Royal Commission was finally determined upon, the surveys would be pushed ahead, and that settlement would take place, . They have waited patiently, and have not tried in any way to embarrass' the Government; but they feel that, should the present force be disbanded at any time, and the Plains be not occupied by a good body of settlers, there would be a repetition of the disturbances which took place last year. The course which the settlei'S took on Satui*day night was a perfectly constitutional one, and it will lose none of its effect because of the moderation which characterised the proceedings. It was a subject upon which everybody in the hall felt strongly ; yet there was not a harsh expression used, or a word of condemnation of the present or previous Governments uttered. With reference to the constitution of the Land Board, we do not think it likely that there will be any change, at least for the present.- We have long held the opinion-that the County Councils should have !afgeV ! dvtties,' or be swept "away 'altogethetv''and give place to the Road Boards. But, if the present financial scheme of the Government is carried out, and the County Councils are still maintained, one of their. functions might be the administration of the unsold lands within their respective boundaries. There might be a large survey staff for each island, and the expenses of survey could be easily charged to the land. We should prefer to see the fouid aduuuisteced fry a responsible Minister of the Crown, as is the case in the Australian, colonies, or else that the Land Boards should be of a more representative character than they are at present. Considering the large area of unsettled lands in and about this district,' we think the least that can be done is to have an office open here once or twice a week. Indeed, it is an open question whether it would not pay well to have a district land office here. If that were done, some of the present discontent would be allayed. At the same time, the representation -of the Taranaki Land Board ought to be more equally divided. There ought to be at least two representatives from this County

on the Board, and it might be wise, as the chairman of the meeting suggested, to remove the Land Board to a more central point than New Plymouth. Looking at the area on the map which yet remains unoccupied, that central point would certainly be Hawera. We know, however, how hard it is to disturb existing arrangements, but the suggestion that a district land office should be opened here, in order to meet the public convenience, and to provide increased and easier facilities for settlement than exist at present, is deserving of the best consideration of the Chief Commissioner and the Land Board.