Public Meeting at Mangatainoka

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 246, 31 December 1894, Page 2

Public Meeting at Mangatainoka

A public meeting was held in Walthar’s Hall on Saturday evening last. Mr Helps was voted to the chair. The Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to discuss several importr.nt matter* concerning the settler* in general. One in p .rticular was to consider the action of the Hoard in the forfeiture of John Walther’* interest in section 75, Block XVIII , M uigah&o. He considered the father was the proper person to guard the interest of hi* son, seeing the son was yet a minor, lie then read an extract from the Wuirarapa Star relating to tiie warfare between Mr Hogg and the Com missioner of Lands. Several other small matters were touched upon, lie then sug- ' gested us there was a consul, able amount of business to be done it would be advisable i to appoint a secretary to do the writing. 1 Mr Cade was called upon but declined. ; Mr 11. Marsh was appointed to officiate as secretary. Mr G. il. Kemper thought those settlers who had allowed tho overflow to go through their sections deserved substantial recum pen?*, as the overflow was a great blessing to many settlers in the district. Several settlers supported Mr Kemper’s statement, stating that no material damage had been dene since they were completed. Mr R. Marsh thought it advisable to finish one thing at a time. He then moved, That the motion re tiie forfeiture • of John Waitiler’s section iu the P&hiatua Village Settlement be rescinded, thi* meet- j ing being of opinion that the section is I held by him for hi* *ole use and beiiefit. This could not find a seconder. Even- i tually Mr MeCrae remarked if Mr Marth would alter the word rescinded to reconsidered he would seeond the motion.— This was agraed to. Mr G. Walther, senr., briefly explained the facts of the case, and also stated the Commissioner had said it was one of the greatest case* of dummvism ever brought before him. Voice : So it is. Mr R. Thompson asked Mr Walther if he or his son did not receive notice to appear before the Land Board’s last meeting to show cause why the sectior> should not be forfeited ? Mr Walther : Yes ; but when I got the notice 1 was so enraged that I omitted to look at the date of the met ting. I thought ;t would be held on the usual cate, instead of which it was ueid on th- 20th. Mr Thompson thought Mr Walther and son should attend the next . looting of tit* Land Board and a«k for a rehearing. Mr Walther: Yes: but the Commissioner told me plainly he did not want to see me, but my son, who was the person interested. Mr Marsh though; that if the son was put in a room before Mr Baker, he (the son) might have a very poor time of it. Mr Marsh then spoke very strongly against tho actions of the Commissioner for Lands. Mr Thompson wished to know, why Mr Marsh persistently condemned the actions of the Commissioner of Lands knowing well that he is only a servant of the present Liberal Government, and that it possible that he \* acting strictly <n accordance with instructions given him by Acts of Parliament, as it is r.ot Mr Bak< r who makes the laws, but the men who artabove him ? Mr Biker was only to administer them i applause Several stated that they h »d oftiraes received very insulting di tnands for rent | supposed to be i:i arrears, a: the mum time some held the receipt for said rent. Mr B. Man thought something was radically wrong when the first in:dilation received from the Land Department wa* for rent iu arrears when none knew what rent was he.ng charged, also notifying that sections woulo be surrendered. He failed to see why the Commissioner was so anxious to ha%«- sections surrendered. Mr Gitchard made *ome remarks about timber being removed from sections without consulting the selectors. Voices : Make them pay for it. Moved by Mr Slia Jboll. seconds! by Mr Campbell, i t : meeting expiv?*e« an opinion that the l;:nd laws are br ; ng administered in a manner that is extremely injudicious and oppressive and calculated to retard or frustrate rather than promote settlement, and that a copy of same should be sent to the Premier, the Minister of Lands, the Chairman of the Land Board, and its members.—Carried. Moved by Mr Ksniper. seconded by Mr Walther, That the secretary write to the Minister for Lands urging him to have the books of both the Commissioner of Crown Lauds Department and Receiver of Land Revenue investigated, a> neither department seems to know what we have paid or what wa have to pay, nor yet when due. Their reason for this step was ow ing to the fact of certain demands being aiad* periodically beyond the ordinary rent* and interest. Although several have written for information, none has been sent. The resolution was carried. It was then resolved, on the motion of Mr Baglay awl ate m W I hor Mr Bhi Ibok, That the Minister for Lands be instructed to appoint a certain day and place in the locality at which all defaulter* or complaints may be heard and dealt with instead of compelling settlers to go to Wellington a* at present, a* many cannot afford theexpt -Cirr id a iai .. .. ith Move dln Mr Mai ah, *.. ■k I ; M Keuiper, That this meeting, as representing various associations, fully agree with and endorse the remarks made by Mr A. W. Hogg nt the last meeting qf th-i Land Board, and say that many facts could bo brought forward to prove them if an opport unit v offered. —l 'arried. Mr Cade thought the Laud Laws were good ; no fault could ho found iu them : but ho thought the fault lay in their rual administration y applause). Mr G. 11. Kemper thanked the settlers who asked him to become a J.P., but he would with their permission decline the proffered honor, a* he was getting too old. As no mm objected ha n i uuka ; Ihal 1..» left it open for *oiuc one else to accept such appointment. The usual vote of thanks terminated the meeting.