The Pahiatua Star. (Published Tuesdays and Fridays.) FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1890.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 5, Issue 411, 11 July 1890, Page 2

The Pahiatua Star. (Published Tuesdays and Fridays.) FRIDAY, JULY 11, 1890.

As indignation meeting, attended by about 400 people, was Held at Woodville on Monday night to protest against the proposal of the Kailway Commissioners to remove the terminal station buildings. A resolution was passed that the proposal was a violation of the original public works scheme, since endorsed by all Governments, while it upset the conveniences of railway communication to settlers in the district. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Commissioners and to euteiview members of Parliament on the matter. Numerous speeches were made dur.ng the evening, and strong feeling was evinced against the policy und management of ol the" Commissioners. This was not all that was done, for once having got thoroughly warmed on the lailvay quesLou, the principal men of Woodville hit u[ioii a plan of conferring a great Lie: sing on L’ahiatua by having the line continued from Kketahuna to Woodville. Of course the idea was wholly and solely in the interests of the unfortunate settlers who inhabit these purls; there was not a particle of sellishness in the matter ! It reminds us of the time when another such gathering was held in Woodville. at which it was seriously suggested that the Government bo urged to continue the line frjm Woodville to Scarborough- in the interests of the PaInatua settlers ! If we know anything about the feeling of settlers in this district, and wo think we do, they are not at all anxious to see the line continued for many years to come. What they require is roads, and until they get these u railway will be almost useless. There is another thing in connection w ith the question that is of some importance. The line as located w ill be of little or 110 use to a large proportion of tlie settlers, and for this reason there is not much interest taken in us construction. When the settlers of this district agitate for the completion of the line then it will be time enough for Woodville to move ; but ut present there is no reason why we should agitate, it would be a disaster to this district to push tho line through now ; therefore {from a local point of view) we hope tho Government will spend a little more m r. ads and allow the railway to wait. The following is the resolution passed : —“ That in the opinion of this meeting the line to connect Eketaliuna with Woodville should be proceeded with at an early date, for the following reasons :—lst. The enormous settlement going on m the district will make it the last paying line in the colony. 2nd. Forty thousand pounds lm- already been expended which will otherwise lie unproductive. 3rd. That connection unit benefit the Government by givmits own line trajic which will otherwise feed the Manauatua Railway. 4 tli. That the expenditure of AIOO.OOO, the amount required to complete the line, is liisigniticant in comparison with the benefits and profits which would accrue.” It is gratifying to notice that the Woodville people regard the construction of the Gorge line as a fraud. We did not expect such an admission.

At the last meeting of the County Council Mr Kottouiley obtained a slaughter license which had been refused at the previous meeting on the ground that the site was within half a mile of the town boundary. The Chairman and other Councillors argued on Monday that, hav mg gone carefully into the question, they could see nothing to prevent the issue of the license, and it was consequently granted. Whilst we are in no way op. |>ueed to the issue of the liceuse, we think it only right to point out that the Council treated the Town Hoard with utter con. tempt in the matter, for according to The Slaughter House Act Amendment, 1888,” it is provided that no license shall be granted for a slaughterhouse within one mtle from the boundary line of any borough, without the consent of the Borough Council. Of cuurse it might be set up that a borough is qnite a different thing to a town district; but we will explode that idea by quoting from the interpretation clauee of ** The Slaughterhouse Act, 1877." “ Borough " includes every city, town, or borough incorporated under any Act of the General Assembly ; therefore the consent of the Town Board should have been obtained before tho granting of Mr Bottoinley's license. It may not be pleasant for such a high authotity os the

Council to have to ©un»uh tbt wwhts of an insignificant body like the Town Hoard; bat tb« law demand* that no liccnac thdl b« umWr certain circutmtnnrc* without the etuiaent of lha Borough Coun* cil (or Town Board a* the ca*e iuuy be), and our City Father* would do well to enter their protect Much tin*eetnly conduct. The nite Mr Bottoniley ha* cho*en tnr his slaughterhouae may not interfere with the health of the town for the next twenty years; but this is not the question. What right ha« tho Council to »el the law at defiance ?