PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 1409, 2 February 1859, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

A 1 citi.ic Meeting of Electors wns held on Monday, at. the Resident Magistrate's Court, pursuant to notice by the Sheriff, for the purpose of electing Twelve Commissioners under the Streets and Sewerage Act for that portion of the Te Aro District comprised within the boundaries set forth in the Superintendent's Proclamation. The meeting was convened by the Sheriff for twelve o’clock, but before that hour a considerable number ofelectors owning property in the district had assembled together, and it was evident that the proceedings had created considerable interest, and that astrong feeling of opposition existed against this fresh attempt to bring the Streetsand Sewerage Act into operation in Wellington. The Resident Magistrate’s Court was very much crowded; about one hundred and fifty persons were present.

At twelve o'clock H. St. Hill, Esq.. Sheriff, opened the proceedings by explaining that the electors were called together, in compliance with a Proclamation by the Superintendent for the purpose of electing twelve Commissioners under the Streets and Sewerage Act, for a portion of the Te Aro District. He then read the Superintendent's Proclamation, and calk'd upon the electors to nominate twelve persons as Commissioners according to the provisions of the Act. Mr. J. C. Crawford said that as be had been attacked by one of the newspapers in this town with reference to the proposed road, he wished to say a few words in explanation. It was particularly his wish to avoid persona lities ; l.ut a newspaper could not be managed without hands, though it might be without a head ; an! it was known that the newspaper he referred to was not conducted by a man, but belonged to one of the female sex (disapprobation),— not one of those hotiris that were so seductive, but by an ugly old hag (great disapprobation, and loud cries of “ question.") He wished to argue the question on its own merits, and to state that he had moved in the matter, not for his own benefit, but for the benefit of the public (disapprobation). He had been in luced to take the question up at the request of the great majority of the residents m the district (cries of ‘ name, name’’). Mr. Crawford named a few persons, some of whom dented they had ever asked him to interfere, (why did you not call a public meeting?) He should have neglected his duty if he had not come forward to do his utmost to get the road (laughter). He was asked why he had not called a public meeting : an advertisement had been put in one of the papers, but nobody came. (An elector: “ I was there.'' Laughter.) He had called together those who were interested in the road, and consulted them whether it would be better to proceed by subscription, or otherwise, and, from the small number of residents, it was considered that to make a thorough job the best way would be by way of assessment. The road was not a matter of great importance to him, but it was to the settler of small means, and lie wished them not to be diverted from the question by any personal slander directed against himself, but to consider it on its own merits, and as one of local improvement. [Throughout Mr. Crawford's address the meeting expressed frequent marks of disapprobation.) Mr. Bowler said he strongly disagreed with those who had sought to introduce the Streets and Sewerage Aet into a portion of the town again, instead of having the whole town brought under the operation of an Act approved of by the inhabitants, under which taxes might be raised for local improvement. He should rejoice to see a road made through the swamp, and would be one of the first to contribute to it; but let it be done in a pro per way. He was opposed to any hole-and-corner meetings, held with a view to benefit a few in a district (hear, hear). An attempt had been made to introduce the Streets and Sewerage Act into Thorndon, and it had failed; and now it was sought to introduce it into Te Aro, under the pretence that if the absentees did not contribute, they would sell their lands; but they had now a Supreme Court to appeal to, and he would defy them to sell one section of land (Cheers). Mr. Crawford had come forward as the champion of this road, but there were Mr. Hunter and others outside the town equally interested with Mr. Crawford, and ho considered the question ought to have been met in a fair nnd straightforward way, and not* by a hole-and corner meeting. He (Mr. B.) did not come forward on this occasion from any feeling of opposition to the Superintendent, and ho thought the resolution he was about to propose would give him the best opportunity of consulting the wishes of the inhabitants. Ho would move, as he had been requested to do by a large body of electors who had met to consider the question on a previous evening, the following resolution :—

That this Meeting bo adjourned for six mouths, and that the Superintendent bo requested to withdraw his Proclamation bringing the Streets and Sewerage Aet into operation in the Te Aro District.

The resolution was seconded by Mr. Scott. Thn Sheriff said he thought there would be a difficulty in putting the resolution to the Meeting in its present form, and suggested tho omission of tho latter part referring to the withdrawal of the Proclamation,

Mr. B.iwi.i.t; apin-tdt-.l to the I’lectms. :m<l Hll 1 tl'i-ii •.■'iii.-w-nt the n-M.lutiuii wasatiietided tw follows ; —

Aligns' lilqq lidjnuiiit-d until the Ist day of

lire Sheriff then put the resolution as amended to the meeting, when tt forest of bands was held up in its favor; against it there were only two dissentients. It was understood that a Public Meetinu would be held shortly with the view to the adoption of a .Memorial to the Superintendent leqtiesnng httn to withdraw his Proclamation.