DEPUTATION TO THE HON. MAJOR ATKINSON.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 98, 23 March 1881, Page 2

DEPUTATION TO THE HON. MAJOR ATKINSON.

A deputation, consisting of about forty to fifty persons, waited upon Major Atkinson on Monday afternoon, at Prosser's Hotel, for the purpose of bringing several matters in connection with the district under his notice.

Mr. M. D. King, Chairman of the Hawera Town Board, said the first matter they wished to bring under Major Atkinson's notice was the necessity for building a Court-house, Land Office, and Police Station at Hawera. Population was fast increasing, and these buildings would be necessary for the public convenience. Mr. McGuire said that Major Atkinson was kind enough at one time to make a promise that he would endeavor to get a sum of money placed upon the Estimates for building a Court-house at Hawera, but it had not been done up to the present. He considered that Hawera, trom its situation, was entitled to have as good a building as the one at Patea. The present building was hardly suitable for a dog-kennel. Strangers who came here were quite surprised when they saw the building which did duty for a Courthouse, and they often expressed an opinion that, considering the amount of money tue Government were receiving from the district, that the people were entitled to something better. Manutahi, and other small places, had suitable ponce stations, whilst the sergeant at Hawera had only a miserable shanty about twelve feet square.

Mr. Barleyman forcibly pointed out the inconvenience of having the Government Offices separated. He calculated that there must be a loss of about £100 a year through having the Post Office and Court House so far apart. If a person wanted a stamp at the Court House, he had to travel nearly a quarter of a mile to the Post Office to get it. The inconvenience was worthy the consideration of the Government, if they wished for economical administration.

Major Atkinson would simply say, in reference to the first proposition, that; he had no recollection of ever having made such a promise as that stated by Mr. McGuire. He might have said that he would do his best to see that Hawera should get its fair share of public buildings, and he would only have b. en doing his duty as their representative to do that much. But the money available for public works was getting much reduced, and the Government were, as far as possible, devoting what was left to pushing on the mam lines of raliways. Therefore, he could hold out very little hope that a Court-house would be built, unless it could be shown that it was absolutely required. But if it was a question of taking the money away from the railways, and devoting it to public buildings, he should, as Colonial Treasurer,oppose its being done.

Mr. Thomson pointed out that there were large reserves, and if these were either sold or leased, a good building could be put up, without entailing any loss upon the Government.

Major Atkinson — Don't misunderstand me. I should like to see suitable buildings in Hawera, but I think — and I expect you will agree with me — that the pushing on of the railway is of far greater importance.

Mr. Barleyman suggested that if the Government would hand over the remainder of section 19, except the portion that might be required for public buildings, the Town Board would, perhaps, build a Court-house.

Major Atkinson — I shall be very happy to go into that matter with the Town Board. I shall be spending a day here on my way back.

Mr. King said the next question was the re-appointment of a Clerk of Court and Receiver of Land Revenue for Hawera. It was a great inconvenience for people to have to send their money to Carlyle. The greater proportion of the business was done at Hawera, and therefore it was only right that they should have an officer there to receive money and to issue summonses.

Major Atkinson — I entirely agree with Mr. King's remarks. The Minister of Justice promised me that a man had been sent up.

Mr. King — He was sent to Carlyle — not to Hawera.

Major Atkinson said he understood that the person appointed only remained at Carlyle, in order that he might be able to obtain an insight into the manner of keeping the accounts. But he would telegraph to the Minister of Justice, and would he able to tell them definitely on his way back.

Mr. Barleyman said he wished to make a few remarks upon the question. He had understood that the Government had promised to establish a District Land Office at Hawera. The Taranaki Land Board had recommended it. When Carlyle was a District Land Office, there was an officer who performed some of the functions of Commissioner of Crown Lands. He was also Receiver of Land Eevenue, and received payment and gave all necessary receipts. The original records of all transactions were then kept in Carlyle, and all information respecting transactions which took place there could be obtained. In Hawera it was different. After a lapse of three weeks after one land sale, he (Mr. Barleyman) went to the Land Officer here, and could not ascertain how much money was due upon some land purchased. At the last sale, and although the Governor had exercised the only power of appointing a Receiver of Land Revenue (and he would here remark that there seemed to be a delusion abroad that the Governor could appoint Receivers and Sub-Receivers, and that only a Sub-Receiver had been appointed at Hawera), yet the Receiver of Land Revenue had declined to give receipts for payments for land on the payment of the whole of the purchase money which could be available for registration purposes. He himself had been compelled to hold securities for large amounts unregistered for weeks, something having been said that these receipts must be signed by the Receiver of Land Revenue. He believed that books had been forwarded for entering transactions at Hawera, but on going to the Land Office the other day he found the gentleman in charge of the office pasting slips cut from the Star upon pieces of paste-board as the only information available for the public with reference to the sales of the land at Hawera. If there were reasons why Hawera should not be the head-quarters, the Government had promised that there should be an office here where applications could be received, where information could be obtained, and where purchasers could make

pavmaufc for land, and obtain a receipt available for all purposes for which receipts of Receivers of Land Revenue by law were made available. He hoped Major Atkinson would inquire into this matter, and have the' Hawera office put upon a proper footing. The: original records of transactions, or copies of them, should be available for reference at Hawera.

Major Atkinson said it must" be very gratifying to have such an active local Press, and that it could be made available for reference at a public office. With regard to the exact constitution of the Land Office, he knew it had'been considered at the time by the Minister of Lands, bnt he was unable to say whether or not it had been decided to keep the original documents at Hawera; but to keep them here would, he understood, necessitate the building of a strong-room, and he hardly thought the Government were prepared to undergo the expenditure for such a purpose. It had been decided that all possible information should be available for the 'public. What concerned the lawyers did not, however, always concern the public ; but if Mr» Barleyman would write to him, stating what was necessary, he would endeavor that the convenience of the public — and of the lawyers — should be met, as far as possible. , ,

Mr. King said the next matter they wished to bring under Major. Atkinson's notice was the necessity for appointing a Resident Magistrate, and holding a Court once a week, at Hawera. Settlers were gradually getting on to the Plains, and: the country was becoming settled. Consequently, the people in the district considered they were entitled to greater facilities than they had' at present. Major Atkinson said there was very little probability of getting another Resident Magistrate.

Mr. Davidson — Could not the Resident Magistrate be sent here from Patea ? This is the most central part of the district, and the bulk of the business will be done here.

Major Atkinson said be would bring the matter Tinder the notice of the Minister of Justice. But the tendency, throughout the colony, was to reduce, rather than increase, the number of Besident Magistrates.

Mr. McGuire pointed out that the Resident Magistrate for the district was also Commissioner of Grown Lands for the West Coast Land District. The West Coast Commission, which had to deal with lands almost in the same district, found Hawera the most central point. If the Commissioner of Crown Lands was resident in Hawera, the unfortunate mistakes that took place could never have occurred. There was no douht whatever that the hulk of the business was done at Hawera. . .

Major Atkinson said he would, talk the matter over with the Minister of Justice.

Mr. King urged that the Court should, at all events, be held here once a week.

Major Atkinson — Is there enough business here ? If so, I shall see what can be done.

Mr. King pointed out that another policeman was required for Hawera, aa Constable Crozier had lately been sent on to Patea. When Hawera had only half the present population, .there were two policemen ; now, they had only Sergeanfc Ghaill bere. « -• •• » .

Major Atkinson — Do you * make that application in the interest of the.sergeant, or of the public ? - Mr. Milinoe said that most of the sergeant's time was occupied with keeping books, and a second policeman -was required, because the- town was sometimea a little rowdy.

Major Atkinson — Oh ! I cannot believe that ! (Laughter.) I shall see what can be done. But the Government must expect the public to help them as much as possible in carrying out their policy of retrenchmentMr. McGuire said the principal necessity was the Land Office. He had to keep the balance of the money in his pockets, for land he had purchased, for weeks, because they had not a proper officer here to receive it, and he had to put back a trip to Auckland in consequence.

Major Atkinson asked whether tbat was the fault of the Begulations, or of an individual ? He rather thought it was the fault of the individual who had been appointed. Mr. Barleyrnau said he had also to keep money belonging to his clients in his pockets for some time. Major Atkinson said he wished th& matter had been brought under his notice. Any public inconvenience ought to ba remedied at once.

Mr. McGuire said that some of the settlers on the Plains had to go to Carlyle to pay their money. Major Atkinson — That should not be. The Government never thinks of the convenience of its servants. It is the convenience of the public that it thinks about. Mr. Davidson said he called at the Land Office four or five days to pay money that had been left with him by some parties that had purchased land, but could find no person there. At last, he caught the officer, who then told him he could not take the money, because all the books were in the office at Carlyle. He wished V> point out that Haw ra was the centre of the county, and he considered it only right that it should receive the same fair play.as Carlyle. Major Atkinson — Patea or Hawera must not be considered at all. It is the public that must be considered. I shall look into these matters. Mr. Barleyman asked Major AtMnson if he would be good enough to obtain from the Treasury Department a return showing the amount of money paid -into the Public Account at Hawera by the Receiver of Land Revenue since the constitution of the West Coast Land District } the amount paid into the Public Account . at Wellington for land purchased in the West Coast district; the amount paid into the Public Account at Carlyle by the Receiver of Land Revenue since the constitution of the West Coast Land District ; • the amount paidinto the bank at Hawerafor transmission to Receiver of Land Revenue, Deposit Account, at Carlyle. Such a return would enable them to dee where the bulk of the business was done, and it would afford- satisfaction to the public. Major Atkinson said he could not promise just then, but if Mr t Barleyman would give him the papers, he would carefully look over the matter. *' Mr. King 6aid the next matter they wished to bring under Major Atkinson's notice was the Government reserves. He,

Considered they ought to be either sold or leased, and then suitable buildings could be put up, without entailing any loss upon the Government.

Mr. McGuire said one or two persons "had gone into calculations. The paddock next the Post Office was kept for the horses belonging to the Telegraph Office. Judging by the amount which the reserve recently leased by the Town Board had fetched, it was calculated that the two Government horses cost £475 per annum, which was paying rather dearly for them. Major Atkinson said that was only one side of the question. The Government did not wish to denude itself in the small towns of all its reserves, because the time might come when it would be necessary to put up public buildings. In the large towns, they found that when they wanted to build, they bad to buy at exorbitant rates. But he would he glad to consider Any suggestions for bringing in money to the Treasury, especially at a time like the present, when they needed all they had for railways. Mr. King asked Major Atkinson's opinion as to the best way of securing a new riding for the settlers on the Plains, as permission had lately been refused to them by the County Council to form a road board.

, Major Atkinson said he did not remember just then, hat provision was made in the Counties Act. He would look the matter up, and let them know on his way back.

Mr. King asked that a return should be obtained showing the amount of monies paid in at Hawera and Carlyle. fit was a similar return to that asked for by Mr. Earlevman.l Major Atkinson promised to attend to

The deputation then thanked Major Atkinson, and withdrew. He left soon ■ afterwards for Carlyle, -where he was to address the electors at seven o'clock that evening.