PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 1413, 16 February 1859, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

A Meetinc of l.amlowncrs, and others into- I rested in the formation of the Te Aro Main i Hoad, was held yesterday evening, at the Lvccinn Theatre. The meeting was numerously j attended. W, Bowler, Esq. was called to the j chair. The Chaih-ian said that the meeting had been convened on an understanding entered into at the previous meeting at the Jie-.id nit Magistrate's Court, that some practical stops should be taken towards the formation of the Te Aro road to Evans' Bay and tlie adjoining districts. He referred to a letter by Mr. Crawford, published in the Independent. in reference to this road : that gentleman had said that they were born to be taxed, that they could not escape taxation, and that this road must bo made by taxation. He thought the real question before them was. not whether

they were to be taxed, but that, in making this road they should not be taxed without their own consent. and that all who would benefit by the road should contribute equitably to the expense of milking it in proportion to the advantage they would receive from it (hear, hear). I f the Streets and Sewerage Act had been broughtintooperation this would net have been case, for ilie road would ’nave been made by the taxes levied on those owning land in the town, while those owning land in the outskirts of the town, and who would also equally benefit by the road, would not have, been called on to contiibute to the expense of making it (cheers). Mr. Stokes said the resolution be was about to move had been rendered necessary by their previous proceedings. The resolution agreed tout the Resident Magistrate’s Court had post poned any further proceedings under the Streets and Sewerage Act for six months, but the Act was still suspended over their heads, like the sword of Datnoelcs, and ready to fall at a time when they might be unprepared and off their guard. They were all agreed that the .Act was obnoxious and impracticable and ought not to be brought into operation. They were all desirous. he believed, to see these local improvements carried out, and were agreed that the expense ought to be borne mainly by local rates: l.ut let the amount of these rates be lived by the rate payers themselves, and above all let these rates, be levied, not in a partial oppressive manner, but let all fairly contribute tn improvements by which all would be benefited. The Streets and Sewerage Act had been tried at Thorndon and hod proved a complete failure. The rateshad been fixed by the Commissioners not by the nite-payers, and were found to

be very heavy and oppressive, and when payment was refused, the amount was recovered by summary proceedings itt the Resident Magistrate's Court. It was no excuse on the part of the (lovernmont to say that this was the only act under which local improvements could be carried out. Tlie Council had passed a Corporation Act which the Superintendent had set aside, without taking any notice of it in any way. What they wanted was a Corporation Art. or some Act of a similar kind, which would place the management of the Town in the hands of its inhabitants, ninl under one local board, and by which all would be bound fairly to contribute to local improvements by a nioderr.te amount of local rates to be fixed by the rate pavers. They had scotched the snake not killed it. they had suspended the operation oft he Streets and Sewerage Act, but to complete their work it was necessary to get rid of it altogether, and with this view he would move the following resolution which bad been agreed to at a former meeting, but which the Siteriff had not thought it expedient to pro. pose at the meeting at the Resident Magistrate's Court.—

That tlie Superintendent lie requested to withdraw tile I'ro'-lauiation bringing the Streets and Sewerage AS into operation in tin- Te Aro District. Seconded by Mr. Wilson. Nir.. IjAtttiY wished to say a few words in support of the resolution. He was desirous that taxation should be avoided if possible and he thought he could shew a plan by which it could in this cnee clearly be obviated. If the hard-labour men were employed to make a roadway close to the magazine he thought a practicable road could he formed which would answer every purpose, ’.hat tlie prisoners would be employed where it would be most to the public benefit, and all excuse, for local taxation would be obviated. (Hear, hear.) He should oppose taxation in every shape until a Corpora lion was granted to the Town. Ide then referred to the example of Willis street, where by private subscription aided by the Government a good road had been made : and he thought the same course should be resorted to in this case, and lie was confident it would bo attended with equal success. The resolution was then unanimously carried. Mr. Wai.i.ai e said that the land owners in the Te Aro District were anxious to have a road made, and. with this view, it was proposed that a Committee should be appointed to confer with the owners of land outside the town in Evans' Bay mid the adjoining districts who would be benefited by the road, to ascertain what amount they would contribute, and to obtain the assistance of a Government surveyor to ascertain which would be the best line ol road. 'lhe iiiimbitunts of the town contributed largely to tlie revenue, mid were, therefore, ho thought, equally entitled with the Country settlers to the services of a Government surveyor in laying out n line of road. Under the Streets ttml Sewerage A ct the owners ol land outside the town would contribute nothing to the road, mid it did not seem fair to make a road by which they would be benefited without bearing their share of the expense By adopting the resolution, they would pro-

bably be emibled to have a piisr ible road before the v.iiiter in. ); e would move.— 1 lull a ( <)'.•!itjitti .* appoints Itn eoufCr with thp o'MU'is ( ,f laud v.van i’ Bay and the districts ii'ij’/iniug with a view to have th * road nnulc by Hubscriplioii, and that the 14lowing gentlemen ba a Committee for that purpose:—Messrs. \V. Bowler, Ilowani, Snteliiro. M’Mnnnaway, A. Wilson. J. Wallace, W. A. W. Smith, W. Ro. inson. R. Barry. Uaswall. Seconded by Mr. Scott.

Ihe Chairman, on putting the resolution, snid tint at. Nelson a rate was collected of Id. in the pound on the value of all property within the limits ol the town, for making streets and other local improvements, and this rut*? xvasch<?erlully pa:d by the ratepayers, and was loan I stiuicient for the purpose. At J horndon, under ihe Streets and Sewerage Act, a tax was levied for making the road of 2s. per foot frontage, which had been found most oppressive ; the land at Thorndon was of more value than the land in tlie district where th? new road was to be made, and if tlie same rate were levied in Te Aro. under the Streets and Sewerage Act. in many instances it would amount to more than what had been paid for i tli<- land by tiie owner of it. He felt sure that I me owners of land outside the town would 1 contribute liberally to the road, and he I thought the u.ouise proposed would be the bc&t under the circumstances to Lu adopted, and | that the Streets and Sewerage Act should lie i abolished

Jhe res'diition was then put to the Meeting 1 and cariiud imaiiiomusly. ? c Some furth* r discussion ensued as to the J course to be pursued by ihe Committee. Ldtimately it was moved by Mr. Wallace, 1 seconded by ?Jr. J>aii!H*, and carried'- unani ! *■ moiidy. ' 1 iljfit the ( ouiiiii’tce be requoste*! to ascertain the | best line of Road nud the probable expense, with su«h j information as may be necessaiytn carry out the objects , of tiie merting. ' The thanks of the Meeting were voted to ] the Chairman which termnvateJ the proceed- : ’tigs.