The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi.` SAIURDAY, FBBBTTABY 13, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1908, 13 February 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi.` SAIURDAY, FBBBTTABY 13, 1875.

The present is a Tory good time for the Borough Council to see what can be done regarding the foreshore and other matters, supposed to be capable of settlement, by a conference of the Mayor and Councillors with Sir Donald McLean and others in the position of Her Majesty's Ministers. It will be remembered that some weeks ago, when Sir, Donald McLean came to Auckland, and before it was positively known that he would come to the Thames (muchness be the hero of the coup d'etat irhiok was accomplished during his Tisit), the members of the Borough Council, and others not members of the Council, busied themselves with preparing a programme of business interviews, in case the Native Minister should by any chance make his appearance, which was thought improbable, as Mr James Mackay had everything in fair trim for completing the work in which he had been for a, long time engaged, and in which ifc was beliered he would ultimately bo successful, namely, the opening of Ohinemuri. Differences arose, however, between Mr Mackay and some of the Native Chiefs; •ome of the latter tirged Sir Donald McLean to come \ domx-l H« came.

Negotiations ensued; and finally the coup d'etat took place—the Hon. the Defence and Native Minister hurrying away immediately after, with the promise to return in a fortnight, or somo other brief but indefinite space of time. It will be in the recollection of readers, that the visit of Sir Donald McLean was to hare been made the occasion of having some talk over matters between the Thames people, through local representatives, and the Native Minister—a programme of business above referred to having been arranged. The Mayor was deputed to arrange with Sir Donald? as to time and place. The latter promised, we believe, to name a time, but the Ohinemuri business; occupying so large a share of his attention, his former stay in our midst was allowed to expire without anything definite being done. Now he is once more amongst us, accompanied by a colleague (tbe, Hon. Dr, Pollen), who, isj conversant with these matters, all p$ which are of vital importance, and pos-i sess a great interest for us and for the; future of the district. The deputation re? the road to Kopu, which formed the; business of a conference between citizensi of the Thames and tho two Ministers? yesterday, reminds us that now; would be a fitting opportunity for tho Thames peoplo to ventilate their ; wants—possibly their grievances. The Thamei ValJey Kailway • might now with propriety be once more brought underl the notice of Ministers ; and no bettelf time cotild be found.-tp ask the fulfilment of a distinct promise from the Premier, made a long time ago, and reiterated subsequently, to hand over the foreshore \ as an endowment for local purposes and to be under local control and ad-^ ministration. The Premier said the foreshore would be given as an endowment to the Borough Council. Yesterday Dr Pollen said, in reply to the deputation, . that the (SoTernmeni; had from the first determined upon this course, but that their intentions had been frustrated by; the Superintendent. H-QW, or in what. manner, the Superintendent could frus-. irate? any,such intention we cannot see. He might oppose the granting of the foreshore to the Borough Council, but we are unaware of any argument ever having been advanced sufficiently valid to warrantthe Government in receding from a distinct promise or to shirk from what they consider to be just or right; and it now remains for the Borough. Council, backed by an expression of opinion from the public, to respectfully demand from the Government the redemption of their promise. It may be that a section of the community would oppose thes granting of the foreshore to the Borough; but there are none who would raise any objection to granting the endowment to the district, to be administered for the benefit of the whole arid by the representasivejß^pffthe^people; and necessarily the as forming the largest-and >most-r important part of the district, would have to assume a share of the work of ufciliung to the utmost the natural advantages presented by the foreshore. Auckland has its Harbor Board, possessing large powers and a princely revenue, and it would appear that the Provincial Government want to obtain the control of Hhe Thames foreshore, and deprive this district of the control of what should be—and what has been acknowledged to be, its just rights. This/we say, should be under the notice of the, two = Ministers now visiting the Thames. The Superintendent has urged that he wishes to make reserves bri the ibresliore for benevolent purposes. No other reason had been adduced that we aro aware of, and if such very shallow pretences are allowed to frustrate the good intentions of the Government, the claims of this district must have come to be lightly regarded, and the promises of Ministers; esteemed of little moment. The remedy lies with the people, we opine. If they are are so easily satisfied as to cease urging their claims because the Provincial Government oppose them, farewell to all chance of endowments; . but if there is any healthy public opinion extant, now is the time to assert itj and in language not to be mistaken. The Thames Valley Kail way and the other matters embodied in the programme which was prepared, and which has been shelved during the convenience of : Sir, Donald McLean, we are compelled to pass over without further notice for the present.