VISIT OF SIR DONALD M'LEAN.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1851, 8 December 1874, Page 2

VISIT OF SIR DONALD M'LEAN.

CONFEEENCE OP BOEOIJGH COUNCILLORS & OTHEES. A meeting of the Thames Borough Council, the "Chairmen of the various Highway Boards, and Chairman of the Thames Valley Kailway Committee was held last evening in the Council Chambers to discuss matters in connection -with the proposed deputation to Sir Donald McLean respecting the road to the Waikato and other matters of local interest. There were present the following gentlemen : —His Worship the Mayorj Crs. Ehrenfried, Brown, Macnab, Butt,,, Wilson, Anthony: and Messrs Kilgbur, Bagnall, M.P.C., Brodie, and Spencer. Mr Brodie attended as representative of the Waiotahi Board in the absence of Mr Kowe, who is ia Auckland.

The Mayor stated the object for which the meeting had been called,,at the desire ; of a number of the influential inhabitants. The idea was to come to some arrangements for appointing a Committee to deputationise Sir Donald McLean respecting the urgent necessity there existed for roads to connect the Thames district with the interior. He thought the Committee appointed should not confine themselves —or rather be confined—to any particular request as regards the wants of the district. They should set forth the position of the place as regarded its wants plainly. The need for railway communication might with benefit be introduced; also, the Tauranga, Ohinemuri, and Cambridge roads—though the road most urgently wanted was one to connect the Thames with Ohinemuri, and from the Waikato to a navigable portion of the Thames Eiver. A good deal of discussion occurred, though the meeting was perfectly unanimous on one point—namely the immediate necessity which existed for the means of, communication and transit alluded to. Mr Brown considered they might confine themselves to a road over the Kauaeranga and one from Hamilton to the Thames Biver. , Mr Bagnall said, as it appeared to him, the work of most necessity was a road to Ohinemuri, or a bridge across the Kauaeranga and a road made over the delta which would communicate with a navigable portion of the Thames Eiver. This would, be a part of the main road to Waikato when constructed. A road could then be made from Hamilton to that point. He felt the want of communication with Tauranga, and the desirability of a railway, but this should at least be demanded. As many would know, there was at present a quantity of land open for settlement, which this rpad would have the effect of opening up. With regard to the road to Waikato, it had frequently been complained by Waikato settlers that they had further to drive their cattle to Auckland than they would Jiave to the Thames if a road were cut through. His idea was to make a good road to communicate with the Thames and a rough road through to Waikato.

Mr Spencer agreed with Mr Bagnall. The Mayor thought discretion should be left with the Committee. Dr. Kilgour said he had a distinct remembrance of a sum having been placed upon the estimates for the construction of a road a certain distance from the Thames to < >hinemuri. Mr Bagnall said a motion had been made by himself regarding the necessity of this, and it had been recognised by the Council, but no money had been placed upon the estimates for that purpose. Mr Brodie considered there would be no difficulty experienced in getting the road mentioned by Mr Brown. Men had once been employed cutting timber for a road in the vicinity of Katikati, but in consequence of something which had appeared in the papers, the Natives took alarm, and the work was discontinued at that time. He thought it was desirable to have a road made over Kauaeranga, but they required one to connect, the Thames with Hamilton as well. Regarding the Tauranga Road, "Cr. Anthony said the Tauranga people would be likely to get it sooner than they. Cr. Butt pointed out, in alluding to some remarks from Cr. Brown, that the Thames River made a good highway, that, unless communication were effected with some point in the Eauaeranga so that boats could be worked expressly for the river trade, the Thames river would, be little better than useless. It would be no use trying to dovetail river trade with the sea traffic, as sea boats would be oT too great a draft to ride over the shoals of the river, and river boats would not on the other hand be fit for sea purposes. Therefore the only plan was to have river boats, when all the purposes could be answered by transhipment. More discussion ensued. .*A deputation was formed of the following gentlemen to wait upon the Native Minister :•■— The Mayor, Dr. Kilgour, and Messrs Spencer and Brodie. It was finally determined not to impose any directions -upon the Committee, leaving the matter to .their discretion. It was also decided, should Sir Donald not come down, that the deputation should proceed to Auckland and interview him there. Doubts being expressed as to the probability ef< his visiting the Thames as announced, it was resolved that the Mayor communicate with Sir Donald McLean to ascertain definitely. This concluded this portion of the business. >