KINO COUNTRY PROGRESSIVE & VIGILANCE ASSOCIATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12001, 25 June 1902, Page 7

KINO COUNTRY PROGRESSIVE & VIGILANCE ASSOCIATION

A meeting of residents and outside settlers was held in Otorohanga on Saturday, June 21, to reeoive the report of the Vigilance Committee, and with the object of forming an association to further the interests of the district. The lion, secretary, Mr. John Ormsby, read the report, which showed that in the short time the committee has been at work it has proved itself to- be a real live body. The Hon. Jas. Carroll had been interviewed and the following subjects brought under his notice:—(l) Working of Native Land Administration Act of 188+; (2) fees for the administration of native lands; (3) boundaries of the district; (4) townships in the district; (5) advisability of laying out a model farm for natives on the same lines as the one at Wanganui; (6) the rabbit question ; (7) throwing open more Crown lands; (8) regular sittings of the S.M. Court; (9) formation of the road between Otorohanga and Te Kuiti, the only link missing on the road between Auckland and Taranaki; and (10) recreation grounds. With regard to the cost of administration of the Native Council, it was suggostod that a limit of 5 per cent, be charged. Mr. Carroll was in sympathy with the committee, and promised to give his attention to their movements and suggestions. A letter had been received from Mr. Langley, chairman of the Kawhia Vigilance Committee, asking co-operation in a petition to the House to form a county council, and it was agreed to further the objoct as much as possible, but to take separate action in the matter, and at the same time to see if the boundaries of the proposed Council could bo extended to- take in a larger district in the direction of West Taupo. Correspondence was read from the traffic manager of the Railway Department, the result being that by spring wo shall have a faster sorvice to Auckland, together with an extra train a week, making four in all. Three trains a week will catch the express at Frankton, and the time-table altered to allow the train to leave some hours later, a great convenience when it is remembered that manv of the further up-country people are travelling an hour or two before daylight arrives. A list of works needed in the district has been forwarded to Mr. Lang, M.H.R., and it is to be hoped that we shall see some of the more important on the Public Works Estimates later on. The building of a bridge across the Wuina and the forming of the Otorohanpa-Te Kuiti Road are imperative if settlers on the new lands are to be able to be in touch with the various townships and the railway. After the report was gone through it was deoided to form an association on lines drawn up by the Vigilance Committee, and to be called the Kim? Country Progressive md Vigilance Association. In order to give all an opportunity of discussing the rules and matters connected, the meeting was adjournod till Saturday. July 19. In the meantime circulars are to be distributed in the out-districts apprising settlers of the object of the association and giving them the opportunity of stating their wishes. [Own Correspondent.]