Public Meeting.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 145, 28 May 1883, Page 2

Public Meeting.

FRIDAY NIGHVS MEETING.

REPORT OF THE SPEECHES.

A public naeenng, convened by his Worship the Mayor, was held m the Public Ball last evening io discuss matters of interest to the Town and District that may be advantageously brought under the notice Oi : Parliament at the forthcoming Session. The attendance was hot so large as might have been reasonably expected on euch an occasion. The Mayor occupied the chair, and with a few brief remarks called uporrMr Hawkins to move the first resolution . In moving the first resolution Mr Hawkins said it gave him great pleasure to mova the resolution which he held m I his hand, although it would probably [ lose some of its weight owing to the somew I*?.?*1 *?.?* small attendance. He considered :•.•; was the first duty of a member to g'v Itess the electors, and dwelt upon tha t.d vantages of a member comhrj face to face with his constituents. He also went into the subject of tolls, and thought they ought to be abolished throughouc the country, and at the same time stating that he had tp pay ihe sum of lls m the shape of tolls on a recent occassion before he leached Woodville a distance of 17 tniles, which was lather a heavy tax on travellers. ..•: Proposed by Mr Hawkins, seconded | by Mr Engels, arid carried —That this meeting regrets that its member, the Hon. W. Johnston, has not visited the district during the recess, to enable his constituents to lay their wants before' him. Mr Engles m seconding the resolution thought that Mr Johnston was too thick-skinned to take much notice of what might be said that evening. He (Mr Johnston) had been too long thnir member, and a change at the next election would be advisable.. Mr McNeil m moving- the second resolution explained at some length tie circumstances under which ther fist bridge was erected at the Gorge and considered that the Lower Peny was one of the heaviest taxes placed upon any settlers m the colony. The Woolville people were placed m a very awkward position, on account of being attached to theH*wkes ; Bay province. It was true that they might get a bridge built over the Lower Ferry under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, but it was not likely that the settlers of Manawatu were going to tax themselv^B to assist another county, as it would not pay the adjoining county to do the wok. This was the only river between Waitara and Napier that was uribridged. ; Proposed by Mr McNeil, seconded by Mr J. J. Murphy, and carried— Thftt the Government be respectfully urged to place » sufficient sum on the estimates to construct the long-promised bridge over, the Manawatu river at the Lower Gorge Ferry. . Mr Murphy, of Woodville, m seconding the resolution, said he had prepared a few figures before leaving ; Wbodville which showed that that place contributed r the respectable sum of £372 anhually^in the shape cf tolls, a sum which was not to be sneezed at. He paid the small item of £1 10s for one load to be crossed. He did not wish to complain of the working of the ferry but at the same time .considered the punt was m a very bad state of repair j and. complained of the council m not looking better after the working of tb.e ferry. . . Mr Bruce agreed with the remarks of Mr Murphy, but stated that the ferry was leased. for a certain time, and m that matter could not be remedied. But if Mr Murphy would explain his grievances to tho County Council he felt sore that that body would do its best to redress them. Mr Peebles complained of the working of the ferry, stating that it was with great difficulty that anyone could get on the puntj and when they did _\get,on it, it was not aafr. It might be allright for a light vehicle, but, it was eimplv dangerous for a loaded di ay. He substantiated the remarks made by Mi Murphy. „ .„ ... Mr Lintoo then went into the subject of. the .railway line from Palmerston to Woodville. He was glad to see some nf the Woodville people present, and if they had taken the matter up before the line would probably have been commpnced before now. They could not get anything: .unless they went into agitation. The speaker then explained the action taken on a former ; occasion with regard to this line and went into the history of the survey which bad been made to Bunnythorpe. If the line was taken to Bunny thorpe it would be of no use to that place or Feildinsr, as he w:is quite certain that Burihythoppe would never be a place of much importance, it would however be a benefit to Palmerston if brought direct from the Gorge. Mr Johnston had teen asked more than once what the' Government intended to do m the matter, of this railway and he had ropli; d that they ; had no intention of doing any tbiug out ofthe present loan. The West. CoHSt Railway would be finished m about two years, and it would not take very lon vf for the line to -be completed from Wairarapa to Woodville ; it was therefore necessary • that this line should be started at once, It would. be no loss to tue colony when completed as far as Ashursfc, until such | time as it was niade]through the Gorge, as it. wou'd pay as well per mile as any other line of railway owing to the number of setters along the route. It could not be said that the Palmerston people were selfish m this matter as it was a broad question affecting the interests of the colony to have the Aapier and Wairarapa lines connected with the We&t Coast line. Proposed by Mr James Linton, seconded by Mr Venn, and carded — That the Minister for Public Works be asked when the Government intend to commence the construction of the railway line irom Palmerston via the Manawatu Gorge to Woodville, this work being of the greatest importance to the County of Manawatu. Mr Veen m seconding the resolution, i eaid that it was not a Palmereton affair

but o f the greatest interest to tho North Island as the line over the Rimutaka would never cairy the traffic. Mr McNeil explained that this line would save 17 milesi and a3 the port at Napier was of very little importance this line would be the means of a large number of settlers on the Napier side getting their produce to market. "- Mr J. Pi iieary then "went into tha question of the great trunk line of railway connecting Auckland with Wellington: He said this was a matter of great colonial importance. It had been talkei about, written about m the newspapers, discussed m the Wellington .Chamber of Commerce, and had also been referred to m a very able speech lately delivered .by Sir William Fox. It had been proposed to construct the liae along the coast to the Mokau, but there was another line inland passing the Taupo lake on the western side and joining the. coast line at Feilding. The speaker here explained the two lines by means, of a map. The inland line would openjup neoro country than any other line of railway. A very stong argument against the coast line was that it would run m opposition to water carriage, and it was welln known that a railway could never compete with water carriage. The speaker then read an extract from tfie speech of Mr Stevens delivered at Marton a a few days ago referring to this line. It was not however a question at this sta«;e whether the coast line or inland line was the best, But it was to urge upon the Government to survey the inland line before deciding on any other. It was ; stated to be free from engineering difficulties/ It was thought m urging this matter on the attention of the Government a resolution l would carry with it some weight. However, if they waited to,do any good they must agitate, agitate. In 'Urging, the Government to survey this line be did not think it was doing any injustice to any other part of the country. If. this line was adopted it would do a great deal of good to the: whole of the' North Island. They did not want to urge the Government to adopt this line, but that the surveyors should go over the country to report on "the merits of the line before coming to a decision . Proposed by Mr J. P. Leary, Seconded by Mr Keeling-, and carried— 'That previous to the route for the main trunk line from Wellington to Auck*« land Ying 1 decided upon, ' the Government bejasked to have a survey made of the OrJna, Valley, with a view t© ascertain the advantages which it is believed; that route presents. Mr KeeJirig m seconding the resolu. tion stated that it 'was purely a colonial ; question^ but Palnwrston was so far j interested m the matter as being a part |pi the colony that the line adopted should be the best. A great many of <Mir railways were what is termed political railways, but this being the main trunk Hue it was desirable that no such influence should work againat the route which is considered would be most profitable to the colony not being adopted. Mr Snelson dwelt at some length on the advantage to be derieved from having good read communication with Mangatinoko Block, stating that it was a nice flat piece of country like Palmerston, surrounded with a totara bush, and as the timber was getting dona m parts of this district it was very necessary that they should keep up the supply. Apart from this it. was the only land available m this part of the country that the Government could obtain any revenue from ,and they might spend a. few thousand m opening it up. From a geological point of view it might prove very valuable. He had seen m one of the local papers a report of Mr Nicols which stated that the Taura ranges were auriferous, and there was no knowing what the ranges m the ne gbborhood of this district might turn out m; this -Trespecfc. • However/! t was their duty to look after . the commercial interests of the place by opening any fresh fie ds of industry. Proposed gby Mr G. M. Snelson, seconded by Captain A. H. Walker, and carried— Tb at' ' the • Minister of Lands: be requested to cause a line of road to be surveyed connecting Palmerston via Fitzherbert with Mangatinoko Blockjj and have the work constructed with a view to an early settlement of theeamp. , .; * ■ - :; -- Proposed by Mr Ferguson; seconded by Mr Venn, and carried— / That the Government be requested to expend without delay, the- sum of £800^ previously promised, for widening the road between Palmerston and the Lower Ferry ;at the Manawatu Gorgei ; Proposed by IWr Bruce , seconded by jMr Linton, and carried—That this meeting ur ijes the member for this disI trict to support arid 'expedite to the utmost of his power, the petition for the I separation: of : the northern portion of the Manawatu County, now signed, aod j about to be Jaid before the Government. It vras resolved, that Mr Linton be asked to wait oh i the Hon. W. Johnston With the above resolutions. : A vote of thanks. to the chair concluded a very unanimous and orderly meeting.. . i