POKENO AND MANGATA WHIRI RAILWAY STATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4020, 30 September 1874, Page 3

POKENO AND MANGATA WHIRI RAILWAY STATION.

Pursuant to notice given by the chairmen of the Mangatawhiri and Pokeno Highway Districts, a public meeting of the ratepayers and land-owners in these districts was held | on Saturday, 26th of September, at three o'clock p.m., in the School-house, Pokeno Hill, to consider the question of the site for the station, as most convenient for the settlers in these districts. ' Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather there was a good attendance of settlers present, and I am happy to report that the meeting throughout was conducted in a most orderly manner. The chair was occupied by Mr. Austin.—The advertisement was read calling the meeting, and the chairman invited discussion on the subject for which the meeting was called.—Mr. Richard Hobbs moved, " That this meeting approves of the site in the Lower Township already fixed by the Government Engineers, aud that this lUi-'Otia t; rev fretfully b'.sl singly protest against juiy t» ."-iter re." Mr. Hobbs, in speaking to • '.solution, expressed his satisfaction i.. :■ Se course adopted by the uiujineors, ,vl:o c. .aid not possibly be actuated by any personal yirtives, but simply with a desire to place the station in ti.r Ho.-t and most- central aud convenient position for the districts above named as a whole. The settlers from Paparata and Mangatawhiri Valley and Pokeno wanted the shortest aud best fine of road to the station, aud this was secured by the station being placed where it had been by the engineers in McLean's Township. To place it any further South, or nearer to the Point Russell station, wliich is only about three miles away, would render it comparatively unnecessary, and he would much rather see it nearer to Mr. Austin's, or on the Bluff road, than in Mr. Porter's paddock. In fact, he believed that a very small proportion of the settlers wanted it in that locality. He, of course, was not surprised at the attempts of two or three people interesting themselves to accomplish an end : but the district should not be sacrilieed fur the advantages to be derived by the two or three people before alluded to. — Mr. Hobbs produced a plan or tracing shewing the site as marked on the Government plan, and he was perfectly satisfied that the decision arrived by the engineers was by far the best in every respect, not ouly from its being so central, but from its also being so near the Great South Road.- —Mr. Bathgate seconded Mr. Hobbs's resolution, aud in doing so remarked that he understood that the site was lixed by the Government, and that therefore he saw very little use in talking about it. No doubt the Government engineers thought it the best place, or they weuld not have selected it, and we ought to he satisfied with their determination. The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Pokeno district had also decided unanimously in favor of it.—The Rev. T. Norrie supported the resolution in a practical speech, deprecating anything like division, and giving his reasons very clearly and fully as to the reasons which influenced him in coming to the conclusion that the site fixed by the Government was the best for the district as a whole.—Mr. Porter, of the Queen's Hotel, moved an amendment, " That the railway station will be most convenient to the public between the Queen's' Hotel and the railway crossing on the Great South Road, and that a public petition be presented against its being placed anywhere else." Seconded by Mr. Robt. McFarlane. —Mr. Rhodes proposed, as an amendment, " That the station be placed at Bluff road." This was the site at first proposed, and he thought it was the best for many reasons. — Mr. .Smith seconded Mr. Rhodes' proposition. — Mr. Porter explained that lie was led to understand from the first that the station was to be placed iu his paddock, and it was in this condition that the owners of the land signed the permission for the line to go through the property. He also gave his reasons for believing it to be the best site. —Captain Gordon addressed the meeting, expressing his surprise at any attempt on the part of any one to interfere with the decision arrived at by the Government Engineers, who could not possibly be actuated by any personal motives.— After some further irregular discussion, which was carried on iu very good temper, the chairman put Mr. Khodes' amendment, when five voted fo'- it.-—-Vr. Porter's amendment was then put. when 57 ' amis were held up for it. One party who »vas present, and •v.".s not p. " ratepayer or a landowner," was objected to. and the chairman ruled that he could not vote.—Mr. Kobb's resolution was then put to the meeting, when 11) '-Landowners and ratepayers voted for it, and the chairman declared it carried.—The Rev. Mr. Norrie moved a vote of thanks to tlir chairman, which was carried, and the meeting closed. —[Correspondent. ]