TOKOMAIRIRO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1089, 16 June 1865, Page 5

TOKOMAIRIRO.

{TOOK OUB OWfl 00BKBSPOSDBST.)

The public meeting about Pleuro-pneu-monia and the Land Regulations took place in the school-house on Saturday last. John Dewe, Esq., 8.M., occupied the chair; MrW. J. Dyer, M.P.C., introduced the subject of allowing cattle to be removed from infected districts into and through clean districts; and read the draft of a petition which had been drawn up. Mr Mollison, M.P.C., seconded the motion for the adoption of the petition; and, after some discussion, an amendment on one of the clauses was proposed by Mr. J. L. Gillies, and agreed to by Mr Dyer; and the petition was then almost unanimously adopted. It runs as follows: — *

To His Honor the Superintendent of the Province of Otago.

The Petition of the undersigned Settlers, Residents, and Ca rtle-owners, in the districts of Tokomairiro and Waihola : Humbly Sbeweth: That yonr petitioners have heard with surprise and alarm of the proposal to allow cattle to be driven from districts declared to be infected with pleuro-pneutno:iia through and into clean districts: That yo"ur petitioners are convinced that the restrictions proposed to be placed on the driving of cattle as aforesaid will prove ineffectual and useless, and that the result of removing cattle from infected into clean districts will be the spread of plcuro-pneumonia throughout the Province:

"That your petitioners, believing that the assertions frequently made as to the existence of pleuro-pneumonia in Tokomairiro and Wuihola may to some extent have influenced the decision of the Provincial Council in reference to the driving of cattle, desire to express their decided conviction that the said assertions, as regard Tokomairiro and Waihole, proper, are without foundation, nnd that the disease does not exist within the boundaries of the said districts."

That as the largest proportion of the cattle within tha Province of Otago is at present depastured within the boundaries of clean districts, to allow cattle from infected districts to be driven into clean ones will be to benefit a few at the expense of the majority of cattle owners .-

That the boundaries of the present clean districts aie so arranged that they do not prevent the remote infected districts having access to the Dunedic market, or free communication with each other:

Your petitioners therefore pray that your Honor will be pleased to refuse your assent. to any measure likely to facilitate the spread of pleuro-pneumonia in this Province, or in any way to interfere with the existing regulations as to clean or infected distric-s or cattle;

And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

Mr Adam, M.P.C., and Mr Clark, M.P.C., were present, and of course opposed the petition, expressing an opinion tbat it would be perfectly useless. From the speeches made at the meeting, it appears that the existence of pleuropneumonia on this side of the boundary of the clean district, the Waitahnna River, is generally acknowledged; but as regards the Hundreds, they are as yet quite clean. What deems to be wanted is an alteration in the boundary, as the Waitahuna Hirer ia quite a useless one — cattle can cross it in almost any place, and there are no settlers on its banks to prevent them doing so. Several gentlemen on Saturday expressed themselves in fnvor of having the Main South Road declared a boundary, but nothing decisive was agreed to. The discussion about the Land Regulations commenced very late in the afternoon. Mr Dyer moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr Molliaon: —" That in the opinion of this meeting, the resolutions on the Lind Question, agreed to by the Provincial Council at its last sitting, are prejudicial to the interests of the Province, damaging to its financial prospects, and opposed to the views and wishes of the majority of the bona fide settlers and residents of the Province " Mr J. L. Gillies moved, as an amendment, " That in the opinion of this meeting, it was impolitic to pass resolutions affecting the Land Regulations until after the dissolution of the present Assembly." Several gentlemen spoke on the subject, but ultimately the meeting was adjourned to next Saturday, without coming to any decision. Tne general opinion seems to be that the Council should not have passed the resolutions so hurriedly, affecting as they do, such vast interests, both public and private. It would have been better if the resolutions had been introduced and discussed during one session, and their final consideration postponed to the next. The country would thus have had an opportunity of forming and expressing an opinion on the subject.

A numerously attended meeting of the members of the Church of England here, was held last Monday, when it was resolved to build a stone church capable of seating 300. A very pood site was sometime ago given by W. 11. Manaford, Esq., and it is expected that the building can be erected for LIOOO. The walls are to be of rou«h rubble finished with freestone. A numerous building committee was appointed, and it was resolved that the building should be commenced as soon as L7OO was guaranteed. The sum of L4GS wa3 guaranteed by a few of the gentlemen present, and I understand that the sum has since been increased to about L6OO.

The new Presbyterian Church at Waihola, is a very neat, pretty and comfortable building, seated for about 200. On Tuesday evening last, there was a Soiree in it to celebrate the opening. Addresses were delivered by several clergymen and gentlemen, and as the Church was crammed full a handsome sum must have been realised towards the liquidation of the debt on the building. The Milton Road Trustees have already spent a good deal of money in repairing these roads, and I am happy to sea that both in that district, and also in Helensbrook, a rate of six-pence an acre has been allowed by the General Road Board. The district roads all round Tokoraariro are at present almost impassable, but I hope that the various local Road Boards will be able to guard against their getting as bad next year. The weather here lately, has been extremely changeable and unpleasant.