THE GRAVEL QUESTION.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 42, 29 August 1885, Page 2

THE GRAVEL QUESTION.

zl. Public meeting took place at the Mfikaraka Hall last night for the purpose of considering the decision in the late gravel case in the R.M. Court. Owing to the wet weather there was not a, large number of people present, and the meeting comprised those mainly interested in the matter at issue. Mr Weston, on being called to the chair read the advertisement convening the meeting, and then said There is one thing which I object to and that isz the words “ working classes.” A s Bobby Burns remarked “ a man’s a man for a’ that," even if he is in a bottle (hear, hear, and much laugh -

Mr Twohey' had much pleasure insee. nding the motion, which »as put a id carried unanimously. In answer to a r> quest that Mr Greene would express his views upon the subjee’, that gentleman said he was sorry to say that he could not respond, as the decision had dumfhunded him. (Roars of laughter.! Mr Malone, in seconding the. •notion, >aid that they would now be' debarred from taking a bit of gravel for their back doors. It seemed a queer thing that after 22 years enjoymeut of the privilege they should now be stopped. There could be no doubt but what the water was salt, as the cows would not drink it. If it had not been for the river gravel they would never have had a road in the place. It was a very poor thing to say that it was a good thing it had been stopped, as it would drive them to get better metal. They must fight against the decision, and obtain their rights. (Applause.) Mr Mullane expected the next thing would be to stop the public roads The Chairman thought that after that expression of opinion the local bodies would protect the public interests. Mr Joyce, who was received with applause, had been requested by a number to come to the meeting, ns he thoroughly understood the subject ho had thought it right to comply. As they had seen by one of the papers he was an interested party. That same paper said it was a good job that they had been stopped from taking the gravel. He would presently ask the Chairman to read several sentences out of the paper referred to in order tha'. the meeting might hear the opinion of that paper. But it was only the opinionlof one of two men in the office, and not the opinion of the people nt large (bear, hear, and applause). If they were prevented from taking gravel at Matawhero th-y would also be prevented at Warengai-hika. Ho had crossed the river scores of times at the point in dispute and found it salt. The matter wanted to bo more fully represented, and he would urge them to stick to it (voice : We mean to stick to it). The river had been a right of way from all time (hear, hear). He would now s*k the Chairman to read from the paper referred to. The Chairman, these are the sentences referred to in the Herald 1— “ But, viewing the matter from a point in connection with the general interests of the public and the district, a prohibition to use river-bed gravel cannot have but a good effect. The more public bodies, or contractors for their works, are prevented from obtaining gravel for (ho roads, the more urgent is the necessity for finding a plentiful supply of good metal, and the more likely are the public to j»et good roads to travel over In light therefore, if in no other, the decision given on Friday last must be regarded as eminently satisfactory. . We arc, therefore, content to congratulate the district, on the grounds given above, on the decision arrived at in the “ Great Gravel Case.” (Groans, howls and hoots of boo hoo, and Oh Sarah, and much confusion.) Mr Joyce continuing said that was what he referred to That paper totally ignored the rights of the public. Was that a paper to represent public opinion (cries of no, no), ft [only represented one or two men’s opinion (hear hear). He had spokou about the matter iq dispute in the Council upon public grounds, in order to try and obtain justice. False reports were repugnant to the welfare of all, and should not be tolerated. (Hear hear.) The evidence in the R. M. Court shewed that the river was deep and salt. They must push matters to head quarters at once, and not let the grass grow under feet (hear, hear, and cries we don’t mean to.) Mr A. Y. Rose said the decision of the R. M. did not carry much weight, -and they would havo to carry the case to the Supreme Court. They should create another case, and then get the decision ol the R. M. which was sure to be averse, and then carry it to the Supreme Court. He did not think the Government would do much for thorn. He had seen the river rise and fall half-a-mile further tip, (hoar hear.)

Mr Muldoon had taken up the mat ter on public grounds. He had taken gravel before he knew such a man as Clark. On one occasion he had found a gate locked across a public road and he had asserted his right to pass. The Government road, which bad been surveyed, should be opened. He did not intend hushing it up. The R. M. had spoken to him about it and asked him to appeal, and he had replied that be would take it up again in the summer. He would want more gravel. (Voice yon will have to pay 10s a load. Laughter.) The Chairman : “ Can’t you get him to come up in the Noko, and see yon take it (roars of laughter.) He (Muldoon) would move “That a letter be written to the County Council in the name of the meeting, asking that the Government road which is now fenced across upon Mr Clark’s land be at or-ce opened.” (Applause) In seconding the motion Mr Mullane would ask the mover to add the words “and that a Committee. consoling of Messrs. Twohev, Weston. Greene, WaLh, Wall and Malone, he formed, to assist t l e chairman in ht carrying out the resolutions, and drawing up a petition to the County and Borough Councils upon this subject.” The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Walsh had known the river for fully 18 vears, and during that time it had changed fully three chains. The river was a natural water course and public for everybody. The County Council should be asked to test the question. (Hear hear.) Mr Parker would like to ask the Chairman how the doctor had analysed the wafer. (The Chairman could not tell. The papers said so.) The water was salt underneath, but might be fresh on top. (Voice: It’s so salt that my cows will not drink it. Hear, hear.) A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.