WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 39, 21 October 1871, Page 15

WAIRARAPA AFFAIRS.

PUBLIC MEETING. There were no fewer than three public meetings at Greytown on Saturday last, the 14th inst, the second of which I am about to notice. This was a general meeting of the electors, summoned by the Superintendent of the Province, for the purpose of carrying out the duties imposed on a general meeting of ratepayers under the Education Acts of the Provincial Council. There was a very large attendance ; and, after some discussion, Mr’J. E. I. Boys was voted to fyhe chair. He announced his determination to keep order, to permit no rowdyism, and to have the first person who misconducted himself removed from the room. As the meeting had put him in the chair, he expected it would support him in it. This decisive tone had a decided effect. Mr Arnot stated that the committee had noticed, with feelings of regret, the discussions which had taken place with regard to school matters. In taking office in May last, and being recognised by the Superintendent on four occasions, they considered they were a legally appointed committee. On those grounds they had incurred certain liabilities, and they trusted that the public would support them in the action they had taken. They maintained that they had been legally chosen a committee, and were not afraid to have their actions criticised by the public. Their efforts had been directed to the establishment of a first-class school in Greytown. They had hoped before this to have removed the present school premises to the back of the acre on which they are situated, to have erected a suitable residence for the teachers, to have had the pit in front of the schoolhouse filled up, and the playground properly fenced. Owing to the obstacles placed in their way they had been unable to do these works, but they could point with prido to the school which had been established, and to the teachers that had been engaged. The existing committee would only consent to be reelected on the distinct understanding that they are elected as a whole, that they are not to collect back rates, or to recognise in any way any liabilities that former committees had incurred. They would he compelled to ask the ratepayers for £1 per house this year ; but trusted that in the ensuing year the school would he self-supporting. He would conclude by proposing that the Eev A. Knell be a member of the committee, who had consented to act if again elected. Air Braggins proposed, and Mr Freethy seconded the proposition, that no person be proposed a committeeman who is not present at the meeting. Mr Pethrick proposed, and Mr Arnot seconded the amendment, that the present committee be re-elected in a body. Mr Hornblow proposed, and Mr Freethy seconded an amendment, that each member of the committee be elected separately. This last amendment was put first, and lost by eleven against tliirty-two votes. Mr Freethy then proposed a list of committeemen, the proposition being lost by a majority of four to one. Ultimately the old committee were elected in a body, by a majority of thirty-seven to five, about one-half of tliose present declining to vote either way. Mr Lucas was appointed collector and Mr Hirschberg treasurer, when the meeting concluded. LIFE ASSSURANCE, Immediately after the foregoing meeting, another was constituted, to hear an address from Mr M'Donogh, acting Travelling Sub-Commissioner to the Government Insurance and Annuities Department, tc on the advantages held out by the Government offices.” The address was listened to with marked attention. Mr M'Donogh announced that he should deliver addresses in the other townships in the district in the course of the ensuing fortnight. GREYTOWN ROAD DISTRICT. The adjourned annual meeting of the ratepayers of this district was held at the British Volunteer Hotel, Greytown, on Saturday afternoon. There was a pretty full attendance of ratepayers present. After much dissussion it was proposed by Mr Hart Udy, senr., and seconded by Mr H. H. Jackson, “ That the existing Board of Wardens do now resign.” The resolution was put to the meeting and all but unanimously rejected. It was then proposed by Mr Petherick and seconded by Mr

Walker, *‘That the meeting sanction the levying a lump sum of £SOO for the construction and repair of roads during the current year.” This resolution was put to the meeting, and only two persons, viz., Messrs Vennell and Jackson, voted against it. In order to make the rate legal the resolution was put to the five or six persons who had paid their rates, and who alone were qualified to vote, when it was carried unanimously, There will be no excuse, therefore, for the Board losing any more time in assessing and collecting current rates, for this has been done in every other road district in the valley besides Greytown. PUBLIC BALL. I have been requested particularly to call attention to the announcement that a public ball will take place in the Wairarapa Hall, Greytown, on the 24th instant, for the benefit of the hall fund, when it is earnestly requested that settlers will attend from all parts of the Valley. The hall at Greytown was erected as a county, or district, and not as a town hall, for the accommodation of the settlers throughout the Wairarapa. There is a heavy debt still due on the building, and the trustees are adopting the present mode of raising funds to clear off its liabilities. The admission has been fixed at half the price that was charged on the former occasion, in order to insure a numerous and also a select attendance. The hall is a very large and substantial building, and is decidedly a credit to the district; but it is no credit to the district to allow the trustees to be any longer liable for the debt which has been contracted in its erection. It is fully expected that this appeal will be responded to by the settlers generally of the Wairarapa. THE RAILWAY. In the intervals between the three meetings held at Greytown on Saturday, groups constituted themselves to discuss matters of more or less interest, the principal topic being the Wairarapa railway. The general opinion appeared to be in favor of that portion of the road commencing at the bottom of the Rimutaka, on the Wairarapa side, and continuing from thence to the present trunk road, near the Silver Stream, being con structed first; and I was requested to urge this view, through the columns of the Independent and Mail, on the attention of the Government. A great many arguments and considerations can, no doubt, he advanced in favor of the proposal; hut it is the duty of the Wairarapa settlers themselves, by memorial or resolution, rather than mine, to place them before the Government. I. have devoted the fifth part of a long life, and sacrificed the saving of years, in advocating the interests of the working settlers of the AVairarapa, and in bringing the wants of the district into public notice. This being the case, to be told now that 1 have been lukewarm in the matter of this Wairarapa railway I consider is but a poor return for the services I have gratuitously rendered. If they want the railway let them say so themselves, and at public meetings let them press their views on the attention of their representatives and the Government. If they do this I will promise to be present to report the proceedings. Although the question is the permanent topic of discussion, and is in everybody’s mouth, neither the Assembly nor the Government has had any proof afforded them of the fact. I may mention that surprise, not unmixed with indignation, was expressed that a House which had been specially elected to push forward public works should devote the greater part of the session to wordy discussions on all sorts of subjects other than those members were sent to advocate. ADVERTISEMENTS. Permit me to announce here, in preference to inserting a notice of the fact in your advertising columns, that I am prepared to give due prominence to all forthcoming meetings, and to give reports of them after they have taken place, whether relating to race meetings, public balls, lectures, tea meetings, agricultural associations, road boards, education, life assurance, or any other public question, and all that I ask in return is that they be advertised in the columns of either the Independent or Mail. Meetings with reference to many of the above matters were held last week, or are to be held shortly,

which I am expected to notice ; while it has more than once happened that the advertisements have appeared in one paper and the reports in the other.