SANTTARY MATTERS AT KARTTANE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13199, 4 February 1905, Page 2

SANTTARY MATTERS AT KARTTANE.

At a public meeting, presided over by Mr T. i'arata, i.i.11.R., held early iu tho week, it was decided to r.-rcet sanitary conveniences on the high giound adjacent- to the cemetery, and an Executive Oomniitle was appointed to carry out tho work. When a start was made on Thursday to take out the necessary excavation the workers were met with u protest from some of the Natives, and nothing was done pending further reference lo a public meeting, which was called for nino o'clock yesterday morning. In opening the proceedings yesterday, Mr l'arata. said that there was some misunderstanding, and that the Native community had come to the conclusion that to erect sanitary conveniences in tho neighbourhood of tho cemetery would be distasteful,(to the Natives, lie contended that- the inhabitants were wrong in supposing that the land selected was puhlio property, bocause in reality the Treaty of Waitangi conferred'upon tho Natives llie whole.of the land and beach extending from Ihe cemetery to the river at low water, embracing the cookie and pini bed?. Nothing could be done without the sanctioh of a gcnoral meeting of the natives convened for the purpose, and they could not recogniso the resolutions of previous general melings of the public as committing them to any assent to what had been carried.

Dr Trilby King, speaking on behalf or tho Sanitary Committee, said that, ill aoeordanco with the request of the previous mooting, Mr M'Donald and lie had commenced the supplying of what was needed on the sit© selcotcd, but the workmen had desisted from proceeding on lieing told by some of the Natives that in their opinion disrespect to ancestors might be implied in allowing sanitary conveniences to be erected near the cemetery. Ho at once saw Mr Parata and the Hon. Mr Pinkerton, and, after consulting with fishermen and othew, it was decided to hold a special meting in order to arrive at a final and definite con-' elusion. But personally he had no doubt that as objection had been raised by the. Natives to the site previously selected they must look out for somo other place which would be acceptable to everyone. The mere fact that it had occurred to some of tho Natives to raise the question as to tho proximity of the cemetery was quite enough to make it undesirable to consider tho original situ any, further. It had been suggested that tho position was far away from the boateheds, and that a loss conspicuous site would be preferable. Both Hicse. objections were true, but. at previous meetings no one had been able lo think of any other site on public ground which would meet the sanitary requirements, and it was frit that by the growth of ehruhs all question of unsightlincss could bo quickly met. liowevor, the first objection was ]*aramount, and, on furl her looking into'the niattw, they had come to the. couehlsion that an admirable site for the purpose would lie at the triangle at (he foot of the cliff, close to wliero the road from the. station joins the bench. Here trees and shrills werealreadysotall that the small structure required could be placed almost entirely out of sight, and could bo approached through a small wicket gate, loading by a winding pathway through the shrubliery from the road lino acrds.s the triangle 'to the beach. There wou'.d thus be two inconsnicuou'3 means of accc-ss, and as the sandy soil stood some four or five feet, at least, above the flat, all risk of offenco was obviated. Tlio point raised by the chairman as to tho whole of the northern aproach to the peninsula being Native properly need not affect the question, because if the Natives would assent to the necessary work lieing carried out in the meantime he would himself see that what was dono would 1» not only unobjectionable to the Natives, but would be as acceptable lo them as it would to tho rest of tho community• In order to allay all doubt on, this point, he was willing to undertake that at tho end of six months the structure would lie removed if any objection to its remaining were then raised by the Natives. Soniflthing must lie done, and h? felt that as the pipis and cockles wero used for food, the Natives should be more inlerested than anyone else in keeping tho river flat free from all pollution. BUILDING SITE, The Hon. Mr Pinkerton thought that there would lie no objection to placing a motion embodying Dr King's proposal before tho meeting; if rejected, the whole question would be at a(i end unless something further were brought forward. Somo further discussion then took place, Mr jlackinnoii and Mr Otto Bower, speaking on behalf of the fishermen, and pointing out'tlic invidious position in which tliey wore placed. Many of their cottages, ihcy said, woro without any sanitary conveniences. They had come forward to assist in making suitable provision, but wore mot witJi obstacles at every turn. They had shown that it was net- their fault if the placo was not so clean as it should be. Dr King then formally proposed the following resolution:—"This meeting reouesfc Mr T. Parata. to tot tho feelings of the Natives of tlio district during the course of the coming week as to their willingness to have sanitary conveniences placcd on the position in the triangle at tho entry to the township (pointed out to the moo-t----ing), subject to tlie undertaking of the Sanitary Committee to remove tlio structure

at its own expense at the end of six months if desired to do so by the Natives; or, if that period should be. allowed to pass by to undertake removal within a year of ieeoiving notice at any future time." Mr Parata, reverting to tho point of Native ownership, mentioned that it had been the intention of the Natives to use the site at some timo for; the erection of a boa-lshed. _ . _ , Further discussion took during which Mr Moses Wood said lie was of opinion .that if ever the structure were allowed to be ercctcd it would remain there for ever. _ Dr King's motion •was then seconded by ,tlie Hon, Mr Pinkerton, and carried by a majority of one vole, i . The meeting was al»ut to break up, when Mire Harper announced that' an; a.iicc3'or' had been buried 'at tho spot mentioned, and this was confirmed by the Chairman, who gave tho name of the deceased—viz., Hinekoraku. . Dr -. King then proposed tho following amendment:—"That as it has been discovered that bodies have been buried on the site selected, all further proceedings by (lie Sanitary Committee be^slopned." This was seconded by the Hon. Mr Finkertin and carried unanimously. It is understood the committee will desist from further efforts in the direction of trying to induce t,lie acceptance of the necessary sanitary conveniences.