MEETING AT OPUNAKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9082, 16 June 1888, Page 5

MEETING AT OPUNAKE.

A largely-attended meeting was held on the evening of June 2, in the Town Hall, Mr. John Newman, Chairman of the Town Board, in the chair. The chairman read the notice convening the meeting, which was to consider the advisability oi promoting a regular steam service, harbour matters, and other subjects of local interest. The chairman stated that the steam service should be gone into, explaining that a lot of exports, such as dressed flax and other produce, had either to be carted about 40 miles to New Plymouth or to Hawera, whereas the Opunake Bay was a good bay, and he maintained that steps ought to be taken to remedy the handicapping the district was suifering from the costs of freights on imports and experts. There was a landing service, bub it had to be discontinued, owing to it not getting support enough to keep the crew constantly at hand, but now he was informed that several steamboat owners would call regularly if they could depend on 10 tons and upwards, and without much delay. The expenses of the landing service had been too great, and the crew did not take sufficient interest in the work. Good, wages could be made if four good energetic men as a crew would take the matter in hand. The landing company would lease their boats by the month, and at the present time, if the exports and imports came by water, instead of overland, the crew would average £15 per man per month. At present imports are between 30 and 40 tons per month overland, exports between 20 and 30, and the flaxmills export about 70. The Lighter Company was still in existence, having the boats, &c., to deal with. Mr. Lbbitt asked if the company were prepared to call for tenders. The chairman asked Mr. Ebbitt if he was prepared to take the service. Mr. Breach, as chairman of the landing service, would be able to give some information on it. Mr. Maxwell haa interviewed some owners of steamers, and could assure the meeting that a steamer could easily be got if it could depend upon being tendered on arrival. One firm would send a boat every ten days, if for only 10 tons. If she could not land the 10 tons, she would be there again with it on her return. Mr. Strachn proposed," That a committee be appointed to canvas the district to ascertain what amount of business is likely to be done—an energetic committee, not a committee who would go to sleep over the matter." The following gentlemen were named to form the committee: —Messrs. J. Newman, (Chairman of the Town Board), G. W. Gane, Holmes, H. Wagstaff (of Pihama), A. H. Moore, McHardy, Strachn, and Pennington. The motion was seconded by Mr. Maxwell. The chairman informed the meeting of the usual charges of landing, but still there was room for reduction. Mr. Ebbitt was not prepared tostate the amount perton he could land the goods for, although he was prepared to take the service up. The question of the Opunake Harbour Bill, which had been entrusted to Sir Harry Atkinson to see put through all it stages, and which had passed the second reading during last session, was fully discussed. Messrs. Breach, G. Rogers, Cross, Anderson, Maxwell, Moore, Elwin, McGregor, McHardy, Simpson, Strachn, Pennington, Gaue, and others spoke. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Pennington, seconded by Mr. McHardy. " That the chairman telegraph to Sir H. Atkinson inquiring whether he is moving in the matter of the Opunake Harbour Bill, and desiring to know whether the district can do anything to strengthen his hands. It was left to the Town Board to take action on receipt of reply.

Resolved, on the motion of Mr. G. W. Gane, seconded by Mr. Donald McGregor, " That this meeting is unanimously of opinion that the public convenience necessitates the opening of the post and telegraph offices in Opunake between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m., on account of the late arrival of the Southern mail on fours days of the week, and that the closing of the offices causes great loss, as the Southern mail leaves at an hour before the said offices are open, and this resolution be communicated to Sir Harry Atkinson and the Post-Master-General. A motion was passed advocating the Government buying the native lands leased to Europeans, ana giving the lessee the opportunity of acquiring the freeholds, &c.