MANAIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 353, 24 November 1882, Page 2

MANAIA.

PUBLIC MEETING-.

A public meeting convened by the Chairman of the Manaia Town Board, was held on Wednesday evening, at the Drill Hall, Manaia. From thirty to forty ratepayers were present. On the motion of Mr. Sutherland, Mr. A. E. Langley took the chair.

The Chairman explained that the fiist of the snbjects to be considered was the leasing of the Native Eeserves. The district and the town of Manaia had suffered from the delay which had ocourred, and some of that delay was certainly avoidable. He had obtained information from sources which he had every reason to believe was correct, that large blooks of land had been set aside throughout the Plains for the use of the Maories, and that the Trustee could proceed with the sub-division as soon as he had a mind. The present staff of surveyors was altogether inadequate for the rapid procedure of settlement. He believed that some stops were being taken now to push on the work, but there were as yet, so far as he knew, no survey parties at work near Manaia. There was no captious feeling or lack of gratitude towards the Government, who dealt with matters throughout this district in a liberal and masterly manner. He moved in this matter simply with a view of co-operating with Opunake people, who had suffered from delay more than Manaia people. He regarded this as a departmental matter which might easily have escaped the attention of Ministers. It was a large question, and one of vital importance to the district as a whole. Mr. Yorke explained to the meeting the

position as he understood it. He believed that before any sectional survey could be proceeded with by the trustee, the consent of the natives interested, had to be obtained. He agreed that there was yet room for more survey parties on the Plains, so far as he could judge.

Mr. Hughes asked whether it was certain that the consent of the natives was absolutely necessary before the trustee could deal with any land.

Mr. Yorke stated that he had understood in respect to Manaia's grant, a formal message had been sent to Manaia, requiring his consent to the leasing of a portion of the reserve. But, on the other hand, he knew that whenever any Jiapu had consented to lease their reserve, their consent had been notified as an item of news. Hence, he was satisfied that an effort was always made to obtain the consent of natives before subdividing their land.

Mr. Sutherland stated that, as far as he could see, the Government, the West Coast Commissioner and the Native Trustee were all anxious to see the land dealt with. As to the reserves generally, they had not been surveyed, but this was not the case in respect to the land awarded to Manaia. This had been snrveyed and sectionized, and he thought that this land should be dealt with at once. He moved that, in the opinion of this meeting, the number of survey parties actually engaged in the sectional survey of the native reserves on the Waimate Plains is insufficient to bring the land under settlement as rapidly as is desirable, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Lands.

The Chairman stated that he understood the sub-division of the reserves could be proceeded with right off, whether the natives objected or not. The action already taken had brought the matter under the notice of the authorities, and by that evening's paper he saw that the work was in hand.

Mr. McCarthy seconded the resolution. He thought it was a great drawback to the prosperity of the place to have the settlement of these reserves delayed so long.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr. Hughes moved, that the chairman of this meeting write to the Government, asking them to place the land known as Manaia's Reserve, in the market at once, as it has been already surveyed, and abuts on the township of Manaia. Rev. G. Wilks seconded.

A general opinion was expressed that this should be done, as being so near the township, it was a pity that the land should lie waste so long. After a brief discussion, the resolution was put and carried.

R.JI. COURT.

The Chairman introduced the subject briefly. He stated that the inconvenience he himself had suffered would furnish ample grounds for the petition to be urged. But he was not the only one— in fact, nearly every business man in Manaia bad suffered loss of time or money, or both, by the lack of facilities for obtaining legal redress. It was an object also for all to centralise their business, instead of, as at present, having to visit Hawera for every little matter requiring attention from officers of the court. There would be no extra expense attached to the opening of court in Manaia. They had a drill hall which; could be used as a court. They bad a policeman who could attend to the business, and a gentleman in the district who had been already mentioned in the Wellington Post as eminentl suitable for the office, viz., Captain Gudgeon, and who he believed would make an excellnt R.M.

Mr. McCarthy thought that there was very little need for much to be said, and endorsed what had been said by the chair. He moved that application be made to the Minister for Justice to have an R.M. appointed within the County, and that a sitting of the R.M. Court be held at Manaia.

Mr. Homer seconded the resolution.

Mr. Chadwick thought it would be very advisable to have this matter taken up jointly with Opunake, Normanby, and Hawera, as they would be more iikely to secure what they were aiming at. Mr. Hughes urged that as Manaia wa3 the only township throughout the district from which the Government had received any benefit by the sale of town it deserved, and should receive, special consideration at the hands of the Government.

CHANGING NAMES OF STREETS.

The chairman introduced the above subject, and pointed out that many who could pronounce some of the names of the streets could not spell them, and others who could spell them could not pronounce them ; a majority would not do either.

It was resolved that the Town Board be requested to recommend to the Government the advisability of changing the names of certain streets in Manaia, as appended, on account of the difficulty experienced by Europeans unacquainted with the Maori language in remembering the names: — Karaka-street to be North Belt; Kauae-street, South Belt; Hassardstreet, East Belt ; Kaepe-st., West Belt ; Riemenschneuler-street, York-st. ; Tau-ranga-ika-streefc, Hall - street ; Tauhuristreet, Eginont-street ; Eancouri-street, Wray-street ; Ngatai-street, Bryce-street ; Feron-street, Fox-street; Patakopa-street, Wilks-street. , The resolution, after an amusing but informal discussion, was put and carried unanimously.