THE BEACH PROTECTION.

West Coast Times, Issue 659, 4 November 1867, Page 3

THE BEACH PROTECTION.

PUBLIC MEETING.

A Public Meeting was held on Satur■4ky, at 11 a.m., at tho Prince of Waled *Opera House, for the purpose of taking into consideration the offer of the Government respecting tho Beach Protection, and with view of ascertaining whether the occupiers of sections in Revell street were willing to take them up at 20s and 30s per foot, the proceeds to the devoted to the Beach Protection Works. Mr Mcc was called to the chair, and said that the object of the meeting was to ascertain what proportion of the inhabitants of Revell street were willing to pay 20s and 30s per foot for the lands occupied by them; so that the money might be expended in protecting the Beach from the inroads of the sea, and thus save Revell street from being washed away. He might mention that his Worship the Mayor would have taken the chair on this occasion, but he waspre* vented through ill health from doing so. With these remarks he begged to introduce Mr Prosser to the meeting. Mr Peossee said that there had been great agitation respecting the subject of the Beach Protection, borne time since a deputation waited on the Town Council, to ascertain whether the Government could not be induced to erect a permanent protection on the beach. The Council had communicated with the Hon. John Hall, and the Goldfields Secretary, and the result was that the Government wished to know whether the residents in Revell street were willing to take up their sections at 20s or 80s per foot, for if they would do that the Government would fake steps for the perinahent protection of the beach, according to the recommendation of Mr Balfour. [Mr Prosser there read a letter from the Gtoldfields Secretary, which was published in Saturday's West Coast Times.] He (Mr Prosser) considered that they had obtained a great concession on the part of the Government, for in effect the section holders in Revell street if they paid the money, would be made a present of their lands, inasmuch as the amount would be expended in protecting them from the encroachments of the sea. He considered if this liberal offer was not embraced, that the property in Revell street would be of little value, as it would bo liable at times when a severe gale set in to be washed away. He wished to remind them, that if they desired this to be carried out, they must give notice of their intention to take up the sections they occupied by Monday next. He was aware that there were some persons who seemed to prefer having the laud put up to auction at the upset price of L4B per acre, with a valuation for improvements erected thereon, but he would remind those that if a low value was put upon, their buildings, the original occupants wishing to purchase might be required to pay much more for their land. If the residents of Revell street did not accept the offer now made to them, the matter would be left iv the hands of the Counly Council, and he (Mr Prosser) would like to ask whether, with only two members for Hokitika, four for the • country districts, and two for Greymouth, they were likely to get much of the produce of the land sales for the beach protection. It was quite possible that the six members might object to spending any more money for the liver works and beach protection of Hokitika . He (Mr Prosser) thought it much better that they should take up their lands at once, so that they might have the money expended in the town, more especially as the Hen. John Hall had, on the part of the General Governmeet, promised to ratify the arrangement proposed by the Goldfields Secretary, provided it was carried out before the local Board came into existence. With these remarks he begged to propose the following resolution : — " That it is the opinion of this meeting that the residents on the East and West sides of Revell street should be urged to take up their allotments at 20s or 30s per foot according to the depth, on or before the 4th inst. — that being the last day upon which they can avail themselves of this chance — for the purpose of enabling the Government to protect the beach in accordance with their promise of the Ist instant." Mr Button had very great pleasure in. seconding the resolution. There was, however, one matter which Mr Prosser had omitted to mention, which was important, viz., that although they would have to give notice of their intention to take up the land on or before Monday, yet they would not be required to pay the money at once. If they gave the notice, they would acquire a vested right in the the land, which they would not have to pay for until the Crown grant was issued, and then the land would become their own freehold property. If they delayed doing this they could by no means make sure that the proceeds of their land sales would be spent in Hokitika, for although the Superintendent, Mr Moorhouse, had promised that such should be the case, yet he had no poAver to carry out such promise without the consent of the Provincial Council, and that consent had never been obtained. He (Mr Button) was one of the deputation that had waited on the Hon, John Hall and the members of the Provincial Executive, and Mr Williams, the Provincial Solicitor, distinctly told them that in the event of tho present offer not being accepted, the Provincial Government Mould not sell the land at all, but the matter would be left in the hands of the local board, and he would put to them whether the six members of the local board were not more" likely to devote the proceeds <5f the sale of the lands to the payment of the proportion of the debt which would be- saddled upon Wetland than to expend them in Hokitika. • If Revell street were swept away it would be the ruin of the town, and they were therefore all interested in getting Revell street protected. Mr John Kellock said that he was sorry to see the meeting likely to be led by one or two ; he would therefore move as an amendment that matters remain as they were at present, and they would then* have the option of paying 30s per foot or L4B per acre for their sections. Mi P. Solomon seconded the amendment. In reply to Mr While, Mr Prosser stated it had been estimated that to sheath pile the beach from the bottom of Revell street to the Prince of Wales Opera House would cost L6OOO. If any surplus should remain after this had been done, he thought that it should be tunded, either for the purpose of reIS fi ° 1^ foi './? Tr y in g fro protective $ fi? rther they required. SpJShr^T"! ?"? that the Goldfields SwS^t?^ *?? received a telegram from the Hon. John Hall, to the effect that only a bare valuation would be allowed for the buildings erected on the sections. The amendment was thenjput and'

negatived, and the original motion passed. Mr Button moved the next resolution — " That the Town Council be requested to carry out the foregoing resolution, and take such steps as may be necessary to carry it into effect." Mr Prosseb seconded the motion. Mr Klein objected to Revell street being made to pay for a work which would benefit the whole town. Mr Button remarked that the question they had simply to consider was whether they should accept the liberal offer made to them by the Government or not. Mr M'Beth denied that Revell street alone was called upon to bear the expense. The money proposed to be expended was public money derived from the sale of public lands. Mr Peossee said that, in all probability, the inhabitants of other parts of the town would have to pay 20s or 30s per foot for their sections. He denied that there was anything unfair towards Revell street in the present proposition. The motion was then passed. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.