PUBLIC MEETING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 249, 17 May 1882, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting, called by His Worship the Mayor, was held yesterday evening. The meeting was opened on the motion of Mr. Thomson, who proposen that His Worship the Mayor take the chair.

His Worship read the notice convening tbe meeting, and stated that he regarded this as one of the most important meetings ever held in Hawera. The matter had been considered by the Borough Council, but had been unanimously referred to the burgesses. In laying the matter before the Council he bad endeavored to show tbe very large amount of public business transacted at Hawera. Some two years previously the want of both a Court-house, and further accommodation at the Post and Telegraph offices, which werequiteinsufficienb, had been pointed out, but nothing had yet been done to supply the want. Hawera was undoubtedly the most central position for land to be sold, and when the matter was brought before the member for the district he had admitted that the need of accommodation was urgent. He (Mr. McGuire) had already pointed out that £46,000 had been received at Hawera within the past year, exclusive of land revenue derived from sales of land at auction. No one knew better than the Hon. Major Atkinson how great the need was, and if the matter were duly urged upon him, no doubt it would be dealt with. He estimated the total receipts at about £44,000. The total amount paid away annually was only about £500, and the buildings only cost £400 or thereabouts, which -was not a fair propoi'tion. The citizens were entitled to demand better accommodation as a right. It would be of service to the country as well as to the immediate district, more especially to settlers who came from a distance to pay instalments on land and were often subject to serious delay and inconvenience.

Mr. G. V. Bate proposed, That a deputation wait upon the Government to represent to them the necessity for providing suitable accommodation for the transaction of public business, and that the Borough Council appoint two members to act as a deputation to wait upon the Government in connection with the matter. The mover thought that the accommodation provided at the Land office and R.M. Court was too disgraceful. In addition to the matters referred to by the Mayor he would point out that police buildings and a lock-up were much required. On Thursday next he believed there were 31 cases on at the R.M. Court. He did not wish to make too much of this point, but it was nil business to come before the Court. He thought that any two persons who might be appointed to go down to Wellington would be empowered to float the £5000 loan. Whoever was entrusted by the Council with this duty would surely be competent to undertake the duty he suggested should be confided to them. Mr. Arniit had much pleasure in seconding tbe resolution. The churches, banks, and even the newspaper had done more to further the interests of the borough than the Government, and it was high time that a lock-up was established and a suitable Court-house built.

Mr. King was sorry that Mr. Bate's resolution had first come before the meeting, as he considered that the first matter to be resolved was, that the necessity for providing suitable accommodation for public business should be brought before the Government. Mr. Pulford admitted that he had a resolution in hand, which was to the effect that Major Atkinson be urged to place a sura of money on tho estimates to erect a Post and Telegraph Office and Supremo Court buildings suitable to the growing importance of the borough and the county. He would prefer that it should be taken first. (Leave having been given by Mr. Bate). He pointed out that if good buildings were once erected, there would bo no necessity for Hawera people to bo dragged clown to Patea to transact District Court business. All were agreed that this town was destined to be a great centre of trade — in his opinion, the largest between Wanganui and New Plymouth. It was necessary to badger the Government well, and then they were sure to get what they wanted.

Mr. Thomson seconded, and spoke to the same effect.

Mr. Parrington thought no one could expect to have justice administered in the present hovel : the atmosphere was such as to affect injuriously the brains both of counsel and the bench. He hoped no effort would be spared to have a building'provi'ded where justice might be decently administered. Mr. Matthews said he came to the meeting intending to listen to the argu-

meut3 to be adduced to show the inadequacy of the present public buildmg9 at Hawera He endorsed the remarks already made by previous speakers. He referred to the immense expense incurred by the Government and by suitors at tbe recent protracted sittings of the Supreme Court, at which 100 witnesses from this district had been forced to attend. Tbe thirty-one cases referred to by a previous speaker were civil, not criminal, cases.

The resolution was then put by the Mayor, and carried unanimously. Mr. Bate then again introduced his motion to have a deputation, appointed by the Borough Council,' to wait on the Government ; and raise* the proposed loan.

Mr. Parrington noticed that in the resolution nothing was said about the expenses. He assumed that members of the deputation would pay their own expenses. Mr. Thomson was surprised that the borough should suppose that members of the deputation would pay their own expenses. The resolution was to the effect that the Council should undertake the duty of appointing a deputation, and the Council would have to arrange as to the cost.

Mr. Laishley was anxious to propose an amendment. He thought that their member was very well posted up in the requirements of the place. He would propose that the resolutions passed by the meeting be telegraphed to the member for the district; and that a petition be got up, to be signed by the burgesses, urging that funds for these buildings should be provided. Mr. I. Bayly seconded the resolution. He agreed that at the present time it would be a waste of money to send two gentlemen down to t Wellington to ask for a grant which might be made without the expense of a deputation. Major Atkinson would have a lively recollection of the day of nomination, when he had to address the electors at the present cottage which did duty as a Courthouse, and was not likely to forget it. Mr. Bate was surprised at Mr. Bayly taking the line he did. He (Mr. Bate) thought that past experience showed how little attention had been paid to petitions and resolutions which had been sent to Wellington. It would be difficult to secure £5,000 at 7 per cent, except by a personal visit. Mr. Cobham— (" It would be easy.") Mr. Bate did not think so. Mr. Thomson supported what Mr. Bate had said ; in the past, they had had a native difficulty to contend with, and had had no support from the Government, but had been forced to take the law into their own hands. Their member was a colonial member who looked out for the good of every other district except his own. He (the speaker) knew that m the past, nothing had been done. It was utterly useless to petition or telegraph. Mr. Parrington thought the honorable member should be bearded in his den. Even at New Plymouth there was no courthouse, but they had the use of a good building.

Mr. I. Bayly asked what had bsen got by previous deputations ? The results had been very small. His Worship was sure that in order to get rid of a deputation, Ministers would now do anything, and promise anything. If the Government were badgered long enough the district would be sure to get what it wanted.

Mr. Yorke was not a burgess, and had not intended to speak, but he thought that several speakers had said more about their absent member than was warranted, They had petitioned for several things which had been granted, for instance the division of the County had been granted in answer to a petition, a clerk of the District Court had been appointed, and a land officer had been stationed here. He mentioned these matters in defence of an absent man, as he thought those who had accused Major Atkinson of having done nothing, had said more than the occasion justified. If a telegram and a petition were sent and no satisfactory reply received within a reasonable time, he would be prepared to agree to a deputation, but not before.

Mr. King thought that Mr. Bate had no business to have dragged this £5,000 loan into question, and that it was high time this matter was urged upon the Government by deputation. The member for the district held a high position, but was a member for the colony, not for the district. He regarded this as a very important question, if it were pushed on properly now, nawera might defy rivals, croakers, and even railways. The district had supported Major Atkinson nobly in the past, and had claims on Major Atkinson on the score ot gratitude. But these claims had received a very luke-warm support from the local Press. They had just had an instance oi it, as shown by the line taken by the last speaker. It was the duty of the newspaper and of the member to see that suitable public buildings were erected in Hawera. Those who urged for delay knew that the time was not ripe for Manaia and other townships to claim public buildings. He thought the member must be bearded in his den, as had been suggested, and the claims of Hawera as a large commercial centre forced upon his attention. The new comers into the district might not be aware that a suitable courthouse had been asked for five years before, when Patea was a much smaller settlement than Hawora.

Mr. Pitcher's experience was that telegrams and petitions in New Zealand would do no good. Mr. Laishley rose to reply. The Chairman held that the mover of the amendment had no right to reply.

The amendment was then put and lost ; and tho original resolution was carried almost unanimously. The meeting closed with tho usual vote of thanks to the chair.