THE JON. GEO. FISHER

Thames Advertiser, Volume XVII, Issue 6049, 13 April 1888, Page 2

THE JON. GEO. FISHER

DEPUTATIONS

The Hon. G. Fisher, Minister of Education and Marine, and Commissioner of Customs, whose arrival we reported in our last issue, received an important deputation from the Upper Thames, on, the_ subr. [iect of the extended limi:B..olU jurisdiction. |of the Thames Harbour Board. The deputation consisted of the Chairman of the Ohinomuri County Council (Mr W. Niclioll), Messrs Dearie, Corbett, Gillespie, Bagnall, Blair, Darrow, Read, Bagnall, Robson, Casarells, Phillips, and Hogg, ami were introduced by Mr Cadman, M.H.R. Messrs Brodie (Chairman),. Carpenter,, Bawdeo, and Wood attended on behalf of the Thames Harbour Board. Mr Bagnall on behalf of the people of Ohineoiuri and Te Aroha, as represented by this deputation, asked that , the I Governor's proclamation extending the | limits of the Thames Harbour Board so as

to place under their control the Piako anil Waihou rivers and the tributaries of the Thames river, be revoked, in order that a atop be put to the imposition of harbour dues and wharfage by the Thames Harbour Board. Beyond expenditure:on the Kopu wharf and £30 at Paeroa wharf, and a small sum tor buoys, all the wharves had been erected at the expense of the residents, The Board had perhaps expended between £300 or £400 in the upper country and had entirely ignored the Waihou river until it saw a chance of deriving a benefit therefrom. The shipping accommodation would be ample for many years to come, so that there existed no necessity for the intervention of the Harboiu Roard, which body merely desired to derive additional revenue for expenditure atShortland and Grahamstown. The upper country settlers were prepared to take over control of the rivers and keep the wharves in repair and keep all debris out of the river. The chief spokesman, Mr Bagnall, said the practice of putting sawdust in the river had been discontinued, and no snags floated down from the Waihou river. They all same from the Kauaeranga river. There was a snag at Hikutaia, but it had been there for a number of years. _

Mr Blair, said the whole of the Harbour Board money was expended at the Thames and nope qp the river. Mr Bagnall maintained that the jurisdiction of the Board had been extended in direct opposition to the wish of the people up the river. Two telegrams were read from the residents of Te Aroha endorsing the views of this deputation.

Mr Corbett qonsidered the up country people had gqod grounds of gomplaint agaioqtthg Harbour Board tor allowing the Kaueranga snags to endanger veseojs in the Thames river. The Ohinemuri settlers according to MrOaßsrells objected to the liability of the up country people to pay rates on any contemplatied harbour improvements at Rooky Point or elsewhere. Mr Brodie on behalf of the Thames Harbour Board, expressed sympathy for (he foregoing speakers 'as no one liked to put his band in Ip's pocket fqr but money had been borrowed by the Board, and would have to be met, In time of flood debris was brought down from up country, and therefore the up country residents should bo rated. The Board had no power to levy a special rate for harbour improvements, except by Act of Parliament. Regarding the sawdust in the river, he thought the natives should be protected, and so should tho fishing industry. The up river people beemed to think they could float Boags dqwn and ipe the' buoy?, and pay nothing. The wharfage cjues are 'small jo cqinparison with the benefits derived fpom t(jo Thames Harbour Board oporatjon?. : . Mr Dean pointed out that nearly: £990 had been expended by the Board at Kopu and Paeroa wharves and Gillespie's wharf, including buoys and beacons, whereas dues -eceived from Paeroa only amounted to r iio MM® of tae money ha,i;been borrowedfag %e was on the Board. ' ■ Mr Carpenter considered tho settlers should pay towards the cost of Board's maintenance. The interest and coupons had to be met, for which purpose the rates at tr ( e Thames had been doubled. After considerate dtypginon Mr Brodie announced that unless the Thames H, arbour Board were allowed control of Up riyers, their only WW would be resignation, and throwing fte onuefin foe Government. The Hon. Minister of Marjoo the arguments pro god con, and inquired whether it would' be possible for those present to compromise. He asked whether it was the £150 revenue from the Waihou river that was the cause of contention to which he received answer that it y/as fclje question of the protection of the fishing industry, and. tjje deposition of tailings. The Hon. Mr Fisljer continued that the only question in his mind wnsthe|iabj)ity of the but the Oliinemuri peopte §qn}d not be held responsible for the last loan cheated two years since, as the proclamation had only been issued nine months ago, and if the Government took action they could not be bamperod by it. Ho could not see how the qp country settlers could be eipected to assist to defraying liability incurred for Grahamstqwn and Sjliqrfhjnd. He had a distinct bias, but no feeing of f ßtagpmsm towards tlje Thstrnes Board, and thp matter being of top gr,eat importance tp; take upon himself, be woffld see that it received careful consideration at the hands of the Government., , .^^Za'.l The usual courtesies having' been exchanged the deputation withdrew. THE FIBBBBPH'S PJBVANOE.

Colonel Fra?er interviewed the Minister on behalf of the Tharaea fishermen in re-gar-1 to the size of a apeoioa of Ant' 8 s ) 1 called dabs allowed to be taken. Their grievance re putting sawdust iu the rtvors had been removed by the HarbourBoard preventing the practice at the saw mills,

MR MILLER'S CLAHf 0!J fBfyEfJR'PH DEPARTMENT.

Colonel Eraser introduced Mr David Miller, who werjt fully fnto his claim with the Minister, and a satisfactory Battlement will probably be the outcome, THE SCHOOL OF MINIS. Aftor luncheon the Hon, Mr Fisher was driven to the School of Mines,_ where the secretary, Mr Bruce, showed him over the institution, Heexpreßsod himself highly pleased with the machinery, but did not extend his ecomiums as far as ihe laboratory. He was more taken up with the machinery, wljiph for practical tests was worth nil the reßfc. TARARU SCHOOL, The Hon. Minister for Education was shown over tlio above school by the head master, Mr Home, nnd examined the drawings and expressed pleasuro with iho tonic sol fa singing of the childron. THE BATTERIES, On his return the Herald battery was visited, and Mr Molloy explained the hydrogen-auiulgara process. The Monmi-

taiari and Prince Imperial batteries were also visited, and the process of lifting the amalgam off lhe plates iuleresled him considerably. THBBIQ PUMP, the local feature and envy of the Philistines was duly interviewed, and elicited vory seueral surprise from the members of I the Ministerial party, who were apparently unprepared for the view of such ponderous machinery at the Thames, The: Honorable gentleman expressed the highest degree of pleasure a&d ap preciation of his visit which had proved of far. greater inteieat than his most sanguine hopes had led him to anticipate, and he hoped that the degree of activity which was being imparted-to everything, and the maoy new processes now io course of carrying out would haßten, and enhance the material prosperity of the district.