CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 196, 11 January 1882, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

MANAIA DRILL SHED.

TO TEE EDITOR OP THE STAR,

Sir, — As hon. treasurer to the fund for the above undertaking, I desire to intimate through your columns that the officers have decided to erect the building on section 14, block 14. The title to the site promised is, I believe, set forth in letter No. 3, appended. As I was under the impression that the site would be chosen by the volunteers as a body, and not by the officers alone. I collected subscriptions upon that basis, and shall be prepared to return any man his subscription, who requests me to do so, on the ground that he thinks the volunteers should have been consulted. Personally, I think that subscribers who were not volunteers had also a right to be heard on the question of selecting a site for what is expected to answer the purpose of a town hall for some time to come. Judging by the correspondence appended — none of which was ever laid bef ore the volunteers as a body, until long after the subscription-list was scarted — it appears to me that if at any time the volunteerscorps were disbanded, the Government could take possession of the hall, or even in the terms of the grant could charge for the use of it for other than volunteer purposes ; whereas if a more central municipal section were chosen (such as No. 10), possession would, if the volunteer movement died out, fall into the hands of a local body, many of whom would almost necessarily be volunteers. Had the officers been requested by their corps to select a site, or had none of them been personally interested in property in or near the township, the present difficulty could scarcely have arisen. As the matter now stands, their impartiality has been questioned, and I, as treasurer, may have to refund subscriptions. Ido not know what steps will be taken to raise the £100 ; but when the list was started I expressed the opinion that if the matter were rightly handled, there ought to be no difficulty in raising nearly £100 among 150 volunteers, and that the balance could be readily collected from persons interested. I have seen no reason to alter that opinion, and had collected more than £20. In respect to the communication addressed by me to Major Atkinson, it was sent at the request of Captain O'Brien and Lieut. Wilson, pending tbe return of Captain Martyn. — I have, &c.,

J. O. Yorke.

I append copies of the correspondence placed in my hands by Sergeant -Major Langley, before the last public meeting was held at Manaia in connection with the drill shed.

No. 1. — Telegram.

"Wellington, sth October.— Captain' W. L. Martyn, Captain O'Brien, Glenn, and others, Manaia. — Be drill shed. Map sent to Captain Gudgeon, showing what sections are available. If you will select a section most suitable, it will be set apart for the purpose. The £200 promised to be given by Government for tho building (upon settlers raising another £100) is available, and can pay it at any time. — H. A. Atkinson."

NO. 2. — TELECtRAM.

"Wellington, October 6th. — Captain W. L. Martyn — Re your telegram, Hon. Major Atkinson, No. 5, Block XVIII. is a permanent Municipal Reserve, and cannot be alienated without Act of Parliament. No. 14, Block XIV. is a Government Reserve, and you could obtain permission to build on it. If you had selected an unappropriated section it could have been vested in you. — H. E. Reader, Lieut.-Colonel."

(Reply.) "Mauaia, October 7.— Lieut.-Colonel Reader— On behalf of the volunteers here, I beg to accept Section 14, Block XIV., for drill-shed.— W. L. Mabtyw, Captain."

No. 3.— letter.

"Defence Office, Wellington, 13th October, 1881.— To Captain W. L. Martyn. — Sir, — I am instructed by the Hon. the Defence Minister to inform you that permission is granted to the volunteers of the district to build a drill-shed on Section fourteen, (XIV.), Block fourteen (XIV.), of the Manaia. township ; but as tbis section is a Government Reserve, which cannot be alienated, it is to be understood that it cannot be permanently vested in trus* tees for use of the volunteers, which could have been done had one of the unappropriated sections been selected.— I have, &c, H. E. Reader, Lieut.Colonel."

No. 4 — Telegram.

"Manaia, December 30th, 1881.— Hon. Major Atkiuson, Wellington. — Public meeting Manaia, expressed opinion favor building drill-shed on Municipal Reserve, .Section 10, Block X. Is there any objection? — J. 0. Torke, Eor. Secretary."

No. 5. — TeIEGEAM,

"Wellington, December 31st, 1882- - J. O. Yorke, Esq., Hawera. — No objection by Government to erection of d; .. • shed on Section 10, Block XIV., Mans .a, but as ifc is Municipal Reserve, it wiii of course pas 3to Town Board ov Mu..i'.ipality, when formed. — H. A. Atkiksiu:- ."