PUBLIC MEETING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 35, 11 August 1880, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting, convened by the Town Board, was held on Saturday evening at Lloyd's Hotel, for the purpose of urging the speedy completion of the railway from Stratford to- Hawera ; the necessity for tb.fr erection " of* a court-house, and other matters.

There were about 40 persons present. Mr. H. B. Parrington was voted to the chair, and, having read the advertisement convening the meeting, briefly explained the object for which it was called.

Mr. King proposed the first resolution, as follows : — " That this meeting is of opinion that the r.iilway works between Hawera and Normanby should be commenced ,mthout any further delay, in accordance with the recommendation of the Railway Commission, so that the line may be completed at the same time as the section from Mangawhero." If ever there was a time when action should be taken, the present was the time. When the railway was completed from the Waitara to the Mangawhero, it would require a surf-boat to go through the puddle on the Mountain road. The section from Mangawhero" 'to "'Normanby had been already let ; but as -yet-no steps had been taken towards completing it to Hawera. As there w"as nothing in the Public Works Statement with regard to pushing it on to Hawera, it was high time that they should take action to get it done. (Hear, hear.) He saw no reason why the line should not be opened to Hawera as soon as to Normanby. They would be able to get their goods from New Plymouth and Auckland very much . cheaper as soon as the railway was brought to Hawera. Even now, with the Mountain road in such a frightful state, he (Mr. King) could get his goods cheaper from Dunedin that way than he could from Patea. Therefore, he thought they should urge their member to ' do all he could to get the work pushed on as speedily as possible. Mr. Cockbum seconded the resolution, which was earned unanimously.

Mr. Duffill proposed the second resolution, as follows : — " That this meeting would advocate the advisability of erecting a Court-house in Hawera, which could also be used for a Land Office, and for other public business." He thought the time had come — now that Hawera was assuming such large dimensions — that they should have a court-house here. He had no doubt that in a short time they would require to have a Eesident Magistrate here, and they should therefore endeavor to get a court-house erected.

Mr. Sanders seconded the resolution, expressing an opinion that they ought to have a court-house, and ought not to have to go to Patea to get their business done.

Mr. S. Adamson thought they -would only be standing in their own light if they tried to get a court-house built. The Town Hall company received a year for the court-house; and if a building were put up, that amount would be lost to the shareholders.

Mr. Cockbum — That's a very one-sided view.

Mr. King said he held a good many shares in the Town Hall company, but he considered he would benefit far more if a court-house, which could also be used as a district land office, were built here. Public buildings gave a town a good appearance. Mr. Murray thought they required a gaol more than a court-house (laughter). He would like to know how the courthouse would benefit Hawera ?

Mr. King said that at the . present time the court was being held in the Town Hall, which was a most inconvenient place. It had been decided- to have a district land office here, and the little box set apart for the use of the clerk would hardly be sufficient to contain all the maps, documents, &c. It they had a court-house, it would be likely to fix the office permanently at Hawera. The jGSO which the Government paid only went into the pockets of a few shareholders in the Town Hall company; the general public had nothing to do with it. The Chairman having expressed an opinion that the question should be further discussed, as a good many persons were interested in it,

Mr. Bate said that Major Atkinson had told him that one thing which influenced the Government in granting the site for the Town Hall at a nominal rent was the fact that they would be able to use it as a court-house. He had a few shares in the Town Hall company, but he thought the pLice had so far gone ahead that that would be a mere nothing as compared to the benefits to be derived through the erection of a court-house, and he would support it, if he saw any chance of getting it built. -'- ' ' ■ Mr. Dawson_ pointed out that courthouses had been built at Bulls, Feilding, Marton, and other places riot so important as Hawera, and the Government were going to spend a large sum in building a court-house at Palmerston North. The Chairman, in putting the resolution, said he was glad to* see so much

unanimity, and thViact^of] "post "51 the speakers beingA*s}iarehol]ieSJ-in^e^Town Hall company, should carry all wie more weight. .•■»-••- .-■.-■ . '•^♦jg ij&2.~~% The resolution -wasj. J«a.«jpt<!sinanimouslyir'. . . - J' : ■I&%3fc->9'. Mr. Bate proposed the tianfd resolution, .as follows:— "That this". jne"etu)g%ould suggest that the present clerk of the court, Mr. Wilkinson, be appointed- a -district court clerk, and thus obviate the inconvenience, and consequent expense, of attending bankruptcy meetings in Carlyle, and that periodical sittings of the district court be held in Hawera." They were really worse off- now tban-before the clerk had been appointed, because Mr. Bacldeley attended sometimes at Hawera". Unluckily, during the past few . months, bankruptcies had been- rather Jrequent, and he (Mr. Bate) could easily. .see that business men would, be put to great inconvenience through having to go^ Carlyle. He thought the Government would grant their request. ■ v .. . Mr. McLdowie seconded the resolution. The Chairman, in .putting the motion, said that Judge Shaw had told .him" that he would hold sittings- of the district court in Hawera if a clerk were appointed. Mr. King pointed out that-jit/would be the means of saving a good deal of time to the settlers, as at present they had to take a share with the Fatea people as jurors. - ,- . f. The resolution was carried unanimously. • Mr. King proposed, — " That the chairman forward the foregoing resblutdens to the Hon. Major Atkinson^" , -•, y Mr. Cockbum seconded thejcesolution, which was carried unanimously; Just as the, meeting was about to separate, Mr. Sanders said he considered that ;>n association should be formed for the purpose of watching the r interests of the district. A number of people were not on the electoral roll, and; if such, an association as he suggested existed they would be able to get the names of these people placed on the roll.- * In Nelson, a .Reform Association had done a deal of good in watching over' the interests of the place, and in. s-eing that those qualified .to vote were placed on the electoral roll. Mr. Bate thought the suggestion of Mr. Sanders a- good 6ne.- Major Atkinson always < said, when asked to-do anything, "Why did not some of your* local-men communicate with me ?" If they had an association- such as the .one suggested, they would then be able' to communicate officially with their member. The chairmen of the Road Board and Town Board were very good men, but they^confined themselves to their particular lines. In Carlyle they could see the good effects which resulted through having men who were recognised as. the. heads of the places. Latterly, they =had 'got £17,000 for a branch line, on which only an excursion train would . be able to. run for some years after it was finished. He did not blame Carlyle, but he thought they would be only looking after- their own interests in having an association .to watch after their interests. But it should riot be a political body. .. „ „ . „:■ Mr. King pointed but that they need not go iiiijtlier back than, that" week to show the necessity for such an .association, and he instanced the case of the telegrams which had passed between the members of the Town Board and Maior Atkinson. The fact of only having half the people of Hawera. -on tbe electoral ipll, should spur them on to action. • I^thev. did. not do something of the kind, they would find that Carlyle's influence wouid be in the ascendant at the next election. Mr. Sanders considered that immediateaction should be taken, and a' committee formed. Mr. King suggested .that -the matter should he brought up at the cpunty meeting, which would take place- ,'qn vie 28th instant. ■ ■ The Chairman said that a committee had been formed to organise that meeting, and it might be as well to authorise them to bring forward a resolution bearing on the subject. > Mr. Sanders mpved, — " That the chairman should communicate with the committee in reference to the matter." Mr. Cockbum seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business.