Waitekauri.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2131, 2 November 1875, Page 2

Waitekauri.

(FROM X COBBESPONDENT.)

PUBLIC MEETING.

Sunday, Oct. 31. A public meeting took place up here yesterday afternoon to take into consideration the means of urging upon the Government the advisability of at once making a road from the Paeroa to this. It was an exceedingly wet afternoon, so that the attendance was not so large as expected, but at the appointed time for the meeting to be held there were about forty persons present. Mr Corbett, being voted to the chair, made a few. remarks upon the subject to be placed before the meeting, and then called upon Mr T. Shaw as one of the conveners to address the meeting. Mr Shaw made quite an elegant speech about the difficulties we have labored under for want of a good roads—also the neglect of this district by the Govern, ment. He then introdnced the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr Marrinan :—■ . „ • „ . That this meeting for the following reasons would impress on the Government the necessity of making a direct road from Paeroa to Waitekaun: Ist. That a splendid goldbearmg reef has been lately cut in the Welcome claim, a mile and a-half Paeroa side of the Waitekauri Company's machine site, and prospectors report that the reef system is extending in that direction. 2nd. Tbat the contemplated road by Mackaytown is 14 miles long, and would take a large expenditure of time and money, and when finished would not be available for any of the new fields, besides losing the coming fine weather, thereby delaying arrival of the muchneeded machinery, the want of which has so long retarded the development and

progress of the district, - an/Tso causing» loss to the community and revenue of the country. ... :. '■ "

3rd. The present pack track from here to the Paeroa is about eight miles long, and .could with a comparatively small expenditure be made into a good sledge road, passing along the crown of the range right through the reefing dig. trict, so that claims on either side of the range could make their own deviations. The Chairman invited discussion before lie put the foregoing resolution to the .meeting, but after a good deal of talk, nobody being able to propose anything better, and, as.. nobody ; present^|hought the resolution before the meeting contained all that could be said about the matter, it was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. ... • -„, .<»;,;.. Mr Leahy proposed, and Mr Quinn seconded — that a committee of three should be - formed .to embody the propositions in the form of a memorial to be forwarded to Sir Gftorge Grey. Mr King moved as an amendment that there be a committeeiof five members, . to consist Gf the following? gentlemen —Mfcaars. Cashell, Leahyr^haJF^lMfeand the Chairman of the meetfm^TP&icll was carried by acclamation. , ; ~ ! —~Z~~. MX Shaw said that before the meeting closed he would like to call the attention of the meeting to the difficulty and inconvenience the miners in this part of the field are put to from the want; of a J. P. at the Paeroa for signing permits for blasting powder. After a little desultory talk, it was thought best* for the.; committee td say something in the memorial about the matter.

Mr Clarke proposed, and Mr Ritchie seconded, that the thanks of this community are due to Mr Leahy for the trouble he has taken to find a- new track for the district. He also paid a high compliment to his perseverance as ,a, prospector, which was; carried; t witk loud cheering, and one hapjy fellow struck up M For he's a jolly good fellow." : Mr Cashell proposed a vote of thanks t6 the conveners or the meeting. : Mr Shaw thanked the meeting on behalf of Mr Clark and himself, and-said he hoped that we should derive some •benefit on account of the meeting being held./ ••■ :

The meeting cthen terminated with a, vote of thanks to the Chairman for the efficient manner in which he had performed his duties.