MAURICEVILLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 295, 21 October 1879, Page 2

MAURICEVILLE.

[from our own correspondent]

October 19th. On Saturday, the 18th instant, a largely attended meeting was held in the schoolroom to consider the best steps to be taken by the settlers to improve the condition of the roads.

By 7 p.m., the hour appointed, a great number of settlers from all parts of the settlement were assembled, aud Mr Forsberg (chairman) opened proceedings by calling on Mr H. Aulin, at whose suggestion the meeting was held, to address them.

Mr Aulin spoke at some length, advocating the advisability of first getting the north road metalled and rendered available for traffic, supporting his views expressed in his letter which appeared in the Daily of October 17th ; and stating that, although he fully recognised the necessity to form the western road, as desired by the owners of sections residing at that end, still, as it was not probable that sufficient money could at present be obtained to complete both roads, it would be more profitable to all to have the north road metalled first and thereby rendered of some use,

Mr F. Hansen said that the unexpended balance now available remained from a vott for the western road, and therefore, as a matter of right, should be expended in the formation of that road,

Mr Jens Hansen spoke to the same effect,

Mr Swainson said that he was one of the earliest settlers, that he had occupied his section on the north road for nearly seven years without a proper approach thereto; and further that such was the bad state of the north road that the approaches to his part of the settlement were, at the present time, more difficult and dangerous than those to the western settlement, where the road is not yet formed. He therefore strongly supported Mr Aulin's views,

Mr Jagerhorn rose and argued that as the money now available had been voted in answer to a petition from the western settlers, it was wrong of the last speaker, Mr Aulin, and others, to try to divert the expenditure to the north road. He moved and Mr Aulin seconded—

" That all present do sign a petition to Parliament for sufficient money to metal the north road, and that the disposal of the money now in hand be left to the discretion of Councillors Moore and McGregor to be Bpent on the Mauriceville decided at the last meeting of the Council."

On this motion being put to the meeting considerable confusion ensued, which resulted in Mr Jagerhorn omitting from his resolution all words after" north road," on which the motion, as altered, was carried unanimously. Mr H. Aulin moved, seconded by Mr Swainson—

" That steps be taken to induce the Council to expend the balance now in hands towards metalling the north road." This was carried by a majority of about three-fourths of those assembled, the dissentients being western settlers.

With a vote of thanks to the Chairman the meeting terminated.