THE REMOVAL OF HOKITIKA PUBLIC OFFICES.

Kumara Times, Issue 880, 26 July 1879, Page 2

THE REMOVAL OF HOKITIKA PUBLIC OFFICES.

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE TOWN HALL. In accordance with a requisition to the Mayor to call a public meeting to consider the action of Mr Reeves, M.H.R., in endeavouring to get the Public Offices removed Horn -Hokitika to Greymonth, a large number, of persons assembled at the Town Hall last evening. - His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and in opening the proceedings ! said he had been requested by some of the burgesses to convene the meeting j personally he had little’ to say on the matter. He would call on the conveners to explain the object of the meeting. Mr W. S. Hanna said that at the request of several persons who had not signed the requisition, he had been one * of the conveners of the meeting, as ho considered the action of Mr Reeves in endeavouring to get the Public Offices ■ removed from Hokitika to Greymouth was deserving of their support. He would like to say that this was from no personal spleen as against Hokitika, but, he thought the change would be beneficial to the community at large, as Greymouth was far more central than Hokitika, the lion’s share of the public works being north of the Teremakau, taking in the Grey Valley. The West Coast Times had desicnated them as the “ Arahura Ring,” and the people of Hokitika treated them in the most cavillous . way when asked for their support. in any matter affecting the well-being of this district. If the offices were in Greymouth, .suppose for instance contracts were to be let v ,h man at Reefton or np the Grey Valley would not have to travel to Hokitika—[A.Voice: “ How about a man from Okaritol”]. He heard it hinted that Kumare would be a more central position, and he thought so himself, .but he was afraid he would be considered selfish if he moved a,.. resolution to r tbat effect.—[Laughter.] He thought that if the offices were Qrequiem th, suitable ,bui}diqgs could be easily procured,—[A Voice; “ Buy; up all the hotels I ’—laughter]. ,He then;'‘ moved that— J ’ This meeting desires to express pathy with the endeavours'of Mf iy eyea, ... . M.H.R., to remove the ;Public.’wfprra''-'* Offices and Law Courts from Greymouth, as a nibrer centm': aK# and calculated to benefit thessati\tohtiutiyat large. > - - Mr Skelton briefly seconded the reso- ~ lution. • '- : .r~ .... ', v Mr Cuming moved, as an amend- 1 i ment— \

That in the opinion of this meeting it is considered that Kumara would be a jndre central place place for the Public Worfta Offices, Supreme Court, Gaol, and 'other Government building’s than. and it is hereby. resolved House of Representatives consideretfare'moval of the said buildings .nec&ssary from Hokitika, the claim nf : should be considered in prefereiwe otb Greymouth. . ‘ . [“ Hear, hearand roars ofdkUghter]. For a number of years therehftd been considerable rivalry between Hokttka and Greymouth, but he considered.'that the Grey people were the- megt .selfish of the two. In Greymouth when their bar was bad, you never heard of it ; but if the Hokitika bar -was in a similar state, it was soon made public.- He considered that the people here should not champion either of the rival . towns, but look ‘ after their - oVni interests in the matter, as both tdwna squeezed all they co'uld possibly get out the inhabitants of the district. The mover of the resolution evidently 'was at sea, as there, were branched of the Public Works Offices both in Reefton and. Greymouth ; at the former there were two resident engineers he believed, and at the latter the staff consisted of seven. The people of the Coast were always, dissatisfied and crying for changes; now they wanted ■the; 'G&ol and Lunatic Asylum shifted-—[Laugh-ter]. They might laugh but be could assure them that although Hokitika might get the benefit of the prison labour it was supplied from Greyttotith as all prisoners convicted of the most scandalous pieces of crime always came from that quarter, [Laughter]. - He could speak on this question as he • had often to go to Hokitika to meet out justice to them. As no juryman could be summoned more than 20 miles from his residence the people of Greymouth had been exempt for the last 14 years from serving-on any jury. He considered it would be unseemly on their part to take any action in this' rivala between the two tovvns, and they hMr far better resolve to have the offices moved up here.—[Applause.] Mr Pollock seconded the resolution, but, despite all the appeals .made by the audience could not be persuaded to mount the platform.

SMr W. S. Hanna’s reappearance probed a succession of cheers, laughter, counter cheers, groans, and howls, amidst which he vainly attempted to obtain a hearing but had to retire. The chairman, before puting the amendment, said that as an old resident of the Coast he thought any action in this matter was bad taste on their part, as it was only a paper warfare between the two towns. Still, he would say that if.he thought that passing a resolution in favour of Greymonth would be any benefit to the residents here in the matter of the railway deviation he should support it, as he would one in favour of Hokitika if any benefit was to be gained by so doing. He should say no more on the matter but put the amendment. The amendment was then put, and carried amidst cheers, there being only two hands up against it. Mr, Cuming thanked those present, and a. vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings, which throughout were of a highly humorous though orderly character.