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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8663, 4 September 1891, Page 5

An important public meeting- was held in the district schoolroom, Waimate North, on August 20th. to consider the interests of the district in the matter of roads and railway, more especially in connection with a letter received from .Mr. R. M, Houston, M.H.R. Mr. W. Davis, J.P., was voted to the chair. Mr. John Press then rend the letter from Mr. Houston, which was followed by a very animated discussion. Mr. H. P. Ludbrook moved and Mr. W. E. Goftb seconded, " That this meeting would urgently ask our member to use his best efforts to secure the construction of the through Kamo-Kawa-kawa Railway." Mr. Press then read a copy of a resolution he proposed to submit at the County Council meeting on Monday, August 24. Mr. A. 0. Steele moved and Mr. YV. H. Bedggood seconded, " That this meeting, having heard read a copy of the resolution to be submitted for approval at the County Council meeting on Monday, August 24, respectfully asks the Council to pass the same in the interests of the whole of the northern districts." Mr. W. E. Goffe moved and Mr. Hugh Bedggood seconded, " That this meeting, having heard read a letter from Mr. R M. Houston to Mr. John Press, desires to thank our member for his efforts ip connection with the construction of the Wai-mate-Opua Road, and that he be respectfully requested to take such measures as may be in his power to have the work carried out as soon as possible." Mr. W. E. Goffe moved and Mr. James Kemp seconded, "That this meeting desires to thank Mr. R. M. Houston for his efforts in connection with the Tau-inarere-Puhipuhi Road, and asks him to continue the same until the road is complete." The opinion of the settlers in this district, expressed sometimes in forcible language, is that the people who live in Auckland city and in other parts of the colony know little, and care less, about this northern peninsula. Here are a few white settlers contending, not too unitedly, against great natural difficulties. One difficulty lies in the fact that, though we have one of the finest harbours in the world, the settler cannot at any (joint get his waggon alongside a steamer, nor, indeed, get within several miles. The Maori popu-, lation own and use drays and waggons for heavy gum and merchandise traffic. Their use of the roads is almost, if not quite, equal to the white settlers. They own, too, vast tracts of laud, but do not pay rates. And yet it is known that there are -very many families in the Canterbury and other Southern districts waiting to come here to settle. We have vast undeveloped wealth, and no strength to get the benefits. If the Government would out take this district in hand in a, business-like manner, we at any rate would stop some of the exodus from the colony. Those who live in districts favoured with easy access to the outside world can scarcely realise the thankfulness expressed by the settlers here at the prospect of getting communication with the wharf at Opua. But it was distinctly expressed at this meeting by the several speakers that any help from the Government in this matter would not be accepted in the form of a bargain to surrender the claims of tho Bay' of Islands County to its share of the resources of Puhipuhi and the through railway.— Correspondent.] r