PUBLIC MEETING RE PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 107, 20 June 1885, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING RE PIAKO COUNTY COUNCIL.

On Thursday evening a meeting, convened by advertisement in the Aroha Nbwh, was held in the Te Aroha Public Hall, for the purpose of considering the action of the Pinko County Council, etc' Mr Ahier in the chair: The Chairman opened the meeting with one or two brief remarks, and then requested Mr Jas. Mills to move the first resolution. Resolution No. 1. Proposed by Mr Jas. Mills, " That this meeting having in recollection the part taken by Mr J. 0. Firth and other members representing the Piako County Council at an inteiview with the Hon. the Minister of Mines, on the occasion his visit to this district, desires to express its indignation at the conduct of the said Council in not adopting measures at their* meeting )n May *28th, to take advantage of the generous offer made by the Minister on behalf of the Government to contribute £1000 towards the cost of constructing the branch tramway to connect the new battery with the mineB '* Mr Mills, in supporting the resolution, said : There was no occasion for him to say much in order to show they had good grounds for feeling indignant with the County Council. The Thames County had received promises of assistance from the Hon. the Minister of Mines same time as the Piako County had and had taken the ■ necessary steps to avail of it. But what had the Piako County done ? They had got a prophet in the council, his latest prophesy being that ere long the new battery would be buried by a slip ; but this gentleman had prophesied before, and his prophecies proved false. A year or so ago he pro pheaied that the receipts from the tramway would in t\ short time be- doubled. They might dismiss hid prophecies ua of no account. Biit w'.iat of Mie great Ohia who com js out of his way and interviews Mr Laruauh. wiio promises to assist the work ot mi Icing a connection to the new battery, an 1 then is bare faced enough to go and oppose tin striking of n rate, thereby effectually preventing that very connection from bein^ gone on with. Surely they could not believe such a course as this was pursued without a moti7e, viz., the determination to still have a monopoly This same gentleman, although acting in such a way as to effectually prevent the connection to the new battery bcinij gone on with, nevertheless had no compunction to try and got the council to sanction the making of a track round by the Buck reef, where the family ovvned another mine, and also seemed specially anxious for Mr H. H. Adams, that great and noted (?) engineer, to have the expenditure of the money. Was such unblushing effrontery to be quietly submitted to ? Was the track he was personally interested in to be made, an I the connection to the t\e\r battery to be kuockeii in the liead ? One h«*lf of the lepopulation and poverty of the district lie considered, was in consequence of the conduct pursued by this family ; during the past twelve months over 100 families had left this district, and primarily through their actions in and out of the Council Council. The cost of crushing at the existing battery had been reduced, but they all knew in what way. What was the good of striving and working 1 if all the lesulta were $o be absorbed by Mr Firth's battery. Then they can't let our meeting piss without having n fling at the proposed Borough. Those present were well aware that just now there weie not the required number of householders, thanks to the policy that had been pursued. Wit.h regard to the payment and taking over of the liabilities — they had no desire to do otherwise than take over and pay their fair share, but no doubt they would not all see alike as to how much that waa. They certainly would not lie very willing to pay for the trestle work to Mr Firth's battery, and other work he could mention. Ho considered it was disgraceful on the part of the Council to absolutely take no steps, and make no effort whatever to have the connection to ths second battery made, especially when such liberal assistance had been promised them by Government. The resolution having been seconded by Mr J. Fnrrell, waa carried nem con. Resolution No. 2. Proposed by Mr D. J. Frazer, was aa follows : " That a petition, expressing the views of this meeting and urging upon the House of Representatives the desirability of having Ihu branch tramway referred to in the previous resolution completed without delay, be forwarded by the Chairman of this in'eeting to the member for the district, Mr J. B. Whyte, for p» esentation, with a request that he will 4ise his inilnence in furthering the wishes of the petitioners."

Mr, Frner th«n read the petition, which is ns follows : — -_ ■ *»- / " To the ''Honourable, the House of Repro H\ sentatives of New Zealand. The petition of the undersigned Miners and Eesidents in the Te Aroha District*

RlfiSPlfiOTPi/rJfY StftfWKTS,— That whereas the Piako County Council having failed At their last meeting to provide for taking advantage of the liberal offer of, £1000, mide by the Honourable the Minister of iVfines, to* wards constructing the tramway, ao urgently required, to connect the , iwvf battery with the mines, and -thereby delaying the progress of this district. Yonr petitioners would earnestly ur^e that .the Government mulct, some fair provision, whereby the resident* of, this district may receive the benefit of the Minister's generous ' offer, eithor by granting to the new battery owners the option of constructing the tramwav upon the terms offered to the Piako County Council, on the 'understanding that tha line shall become County property as soon as that local body shall' recoup the owners the amount of money expeude I by them on the tramway, or otherwise ad yoar Honourable House may deem fit* Your petitioners' reasons for making this request are — 1. Because this district will suffer a great loss unless the work be proceeded with immediately, as the plant, now on the point of completion, cannot be ntilised, and must remain idle until the tramway is constructed j 2. Because the proprietors of the. new battery are willing to construct the tramway forthwith, provided that the Government grant the prayer of this petition ) 3. Because your petitioners feel asrured that as soon as the battery commences work, the gold returns wi.l iumediately increase in Buch proportion as will materially augment the County revenue, thereby assisting to reduce the present heavy overdraft ; 4 Because your petitioners believe the present Government are anxious to en* courage the spirit of enterprise shown by the owners of the new battery, who hare already expended over £500 oa the County road, to enable them to convey their machinery to the battery site, and who last year made an offer to the Piako County Council to construct the tramway provided that the Piako County Council guaranteed bank interest oa the County Engineer' 9 estimate, of cost, bat which offer was declined ; 5. Because your petitioners feel confident that the Piako County Council have at present no intention' of proceeding with this important work, and while regretting having to take this unusual course, your petitioners can only urge upon your Honourable Honse the importance of this u- dertakingf to the whole district, an/I which your petitioners feel satisfied the Honourable tiie Minister of Mines (having visited the locality) will fully endorse. An i your petitioners will erer^ray. The resolution, having been seconded by Mr B. Montague, was carried nerrt con. Resolution No. 3. Proposed by Mr Thos. Wood i "That the Chairman of this meeting be authorised to wire to Mr J. B. Whyte asking him to request vh.j Government to declare the railway bridge open for traffic, and soliciting him also to obtain a grant of £50, being* two- thirds of the amount required by the contractors to form temporary approaches, as stated in a letter formerly sent to the Minister for Public Works," Mr Wood briefly spoken in support of the resolution. Seconded by Mr Hetherington and carried nem con. A fourth resolution was also carried via., "That Messrs Pavitt and Mills be appointed a committee to act at o;ice, if a favourable reply were received from Government." The meeting shortly afterwards con* eluded