MEETING OF NGAIRE SETTLERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 49, 29 September 1880, Page 3

MEETING OF NGAIRE SETTLERS.

THE AMALGAMATION QUESTION.

A meeting of settlers in the Ngaire district, convened by Mr.S'outhey ,as chairman of the road board, was held at Brett and Johnston's 'Hotel, Normanby, on Friday afternoon-, for, the purpose of considering the advisableness of extending the boundaries of the Ngaire survey district ; and also fox the purpose of discussing the question of merging all the district road boards, into the proposed new county of Egmont. On the motion of Mr. Gray, the chair was taken by Mr. Southey. The Chairman stated that the. settlers in the lower Ngaire district wished to be amalgamated ''with the newly-constituted road district. They did not wish to have

to go as far as -Hawera for anything they required. Their interests were identical with' those of the settlers in the northern part of the district, and they had nothing in .common with Hawera. By the law ' recently, nassed, the lands in the hands of the Maoris' would be liable to be taxed, ans the 10,000 acre reserve at Te Roti would \>rh>g in an annual income to the board of .£250. He would like a resolution bearing. Ron the subject to be moved, but regretted there was such a small attendance of a tilers in the district. Mr. McCutchan did not feel so sure about the £250. But even if they could get that Amount. from the Te Roti reserve, the settlers in the lower district would be just as well off by remaining as they were. Mr. Quin proposed that the settlers in blocks X., XIII., and XIV., now in the Hawera Road Board district, petition the Patea County Council to be included in the new district* He considered it only fair that the rates to be derived from the Te Roti reserve should go to the new district. If that was not dpne, th money would very likely be spent in improving the communication between Keteonieta and BTawera, instead o{'in the district where the reserve was situated. • Mr. Gray seconded the 'resolution. He quite concurred in the remarks that had fallen from Mr. Quin. Mr. McCutchan said the chief argument for the lower Ngaire district being included in the upper was the rates to be derived from the Te Roti reserve. He could not, for the life of him, see any advantage in the lower joining the upper Ngaire district. The land in the upper part was worth only £1 per acre, whilst the land in the lower district averaged £8 198. per acre. He could not see why 'they should not remain as they were. It was do' the interest of the settlers in the lower Ngaire to open communication with Normanby as quickly as possible. "Was it just that they should get the settlers in. the upper Ngaire to come' and spend thenmoney ? "Whai they wanted ' was to get into Normanby, where there were three good stores, and there was a gentleman in the room' who was prepared to build a large drapery establishment there. The settlers in the lower district could derive no advantage by amalgamating with those in the upper, and Tie felt sure they would not do anything so 'foolish, or that they would be so blind to their own interests. r Mr. Stewart wished to know was a portion of the deferred payment money to be given back to tfye settlers ? The Chaitmpxs. reaUed that 25 per ceat. was returned for the purpose of making roads in the blocks sold. Mr. 'Stewart said, from what he had beard that day, the settlers in the lower Ngaire district, would, have more money to get than those in the upper, because their land was so much more valuable. If they joined with the upper Ngaire, the money would go to make roads for the settlers there., He did not much like the idea of joining with the upper district, because the settlers there appeared to be so selfish in their views. The new district ■would have to get an engineer, whilst the 1 Hawera Road Board district had one already, and the settlers in the lower district could, he (the speaker) presumed, have the benefit of his services. Mr. Quin. pointed out that five members of the board lived in the lower Ngaire district.' .I'heir object was to conserve their own' interests, and hot to be made , laughing'stacks of like the settlers in the Whakamara' "block "had been by the Hawera Road Board. Th- y could all see, from the reports in the papers, the amount of quarrelling that took place at the meetings of that body. Mr. McCutchan asked did not the fact ©f five members from the lower district being on the board prove that there were not enough capable men to be found in the upper district to sit on the board. The 4J250 to be derived from the Te Roti reserve should not have been mentioned, because they were not sure that they would get it at all. ,

Mr. Gray said that there was a movexnent in the lower district for amalgamation, more than in the upper. ' Mr. McCutchan replied that he did not' meet a single man favorable to it, except MessrsV Soutbey md Quin. ' Mr. Stewart said* -if they amalgamated, they Would be at the mercy of the' men noW on the board. Those who had been elected might be very honest men, but in every part of the world men acted for : theirK)wn interests, and he did not think the members of the 'new board were different from' those to be found in any other part' df the world. Mr/'Bdbson 'said that Mr. Quin had been' referring! to the quarrelling which took place at the Hawera Road Board. Bat it had all taken place between those members who came from the Whakamara block. Mt. Morrison' and himself repre- . sented that district (Normanby. and Ketemarae), but they would have nothing to say to the making of the roads in the • Ngaire district The matter -would be left in the .hands of the engineer,, who gave his services at. 10s per day, and he thought that ,as cheap as the new district could get.the,.' .work done. If there was an amalgamation, between the upper and " lower Ngaire, it would only be a repetition of the Whakamara .business. ■ Mrl Gray pointed out .that they only 'wanted to make the boundaries ot the new road district according to those of 1 laic Ngaire survey district!' 1 They'tlid not want' to take any of the Hawera survey „ district: away, . -!....; Mr. jQnin said that Normanby would . iY6ry, soon be the principal town this side of Carlyle. It was absurdUoJtutyfi the Hawera road district hugging two townships., ' Besides, Normanby . must ' soon become 'a '. ' . ' ' Messrs. S. Gibson and McCutchan did joae'e^ng* few. 'were present.

The resolution was then put and carried, four hands being held up in favor of ft, and three against. Ajee; Messrs. Quin, Mabey, Gray, and H. Gibson. Noes : Messrs. McCutchan, Stewart, and Robson.

Some discussion then took place as to the wording of the advertisement, in consequence of the ruling of the chairman, that only those living in the proposed district could vote. Messrs. Stewart and Allen contended that, in consequence of the wording of the advertisement, they had a right to vote. The Chairman said the object of the meeting was to have discussion. The voting would not affect the matter one way or the other. A petition would have to be sent to the county council praying to have the lower portion of the district merged in the upper.

Mr. Quin agreed with that view. Mr. Gray proposed that some gentlemen should be appointed by the chairman to send a man round with a petition, in accordance with the resolution just passed. Mr. Quin consented to act with the chairman.