PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 671, 19 January 1881, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A. :FOBiTC meeting was held in the Town Hall, Greytown, on Saturday evening, to consider the steps taken by the Government in closing the police station, and to receive tho report of the deputation, There was a large attendance, and we were glad to notice among those present His Worship the Mayor, S, Revans, J.P.; J; Tully, J.P.; and Messrs H. T. Spratt, G. Wyetli, W, G. Beard, Rev H. V. White, Rev T. Eorrit't, several of the Councillors, &c. •• S. Revans, Esq., J!P., having been: voted to tho cliair, iead lh« advertisement calling the meeting, and briefly expressed his opinion t.hat the deputation had been shamefully treated; and should have had an opportunity of an interview with the Jlinisfer, as promised; W, G. Beard, Esq.', read the following report of tlie deputation, with tho oorrespondonce'' REPORT. • Re *ort of members'of tho deputation appointed at a public meeting held in the Town Hall, Greytown, on Deo. 22nd last to confer with the Defence' Minister in tho matter of closing the police station at Greytown'. • • Oil the following day the deputation, consisting of the MayoV, Dr Spratt, and Or B:\illie, telegrapli'ad to the Hon Mr Bryco as follows Will you defer .closing police station until we can comliiunicite with you} Onuld you meet deputation to-morrow, and wlifit hour ?" At'tho same tiihe they wired Mr Bunny, " Will.you accompany deputation to Hon sfr Bryce, re police station, and arrange with him hoijr to receive it—to-morrow,, if possible?" No reply was received to to either telegram, but on tho following day Mr Bunny reported that'he had seen Major Atkinson, who assured him (Mr Bunny) that the station should not be closed. The doputation, finding that it would he more satisfactory to interview Major Atkinson personally, sent him the following letter" Understanding from Mr Bunny that you are likely to bo in the Wairarapa op, Tuesday next, would you be willing to ijjG.et depijtatipn at Woodside station! I append a copy of resolution passed at a meeting held on Tuesday last, in respect, of this matter." The deputation proceeded to Featherston, according to agreement with Mr Bunny, but Major Atkinson did not arrive, and they then arranged with Mr Bunny to interview Major Atkinson. On 'their return to Greytown they received tho following telegram from Major Atkinson "Regret,that'l have,b'ee'n compelled;to postp'one my visit to the Wairarapa for a few days. I shall be happy to receive a deputation .when Icome, and will telegraph at least tho day before. I would ■have wired before ;,was uncertain as to my movements," Wishing to,, leave no stone unturned, the deputation then wired further to Major Atkinson': '.''Has ■Mr Bunny interviewed you re police station j Reply urgent what decision, or would you prefer meeting deputationj arid when I" " '' • i . And on the following morning received a telegram from Major. Atkinson;Have, had an interview with Mr Bunny, Removal of policeman from Greytown, to stand over until further inquiry; Deputation should have opportunity of seeing Minis.ter if necessary before filial action taken:" Relying on the contents pf that telegram, nothing further was.- done until'the 7th January, when,'hearing from constable■Willoughby that he had received instru.o-; tions to olose .the station"and remove from the distriotj the deputation.' wired to Major Atkinson" as follows Have you decided closing'police station, 1 and-how? Please reply." No'reply was' received to. this until the 12th, but in' the meantime feeling how unsatisfactory the position was, the deputatimi had'a meeting on the 11th inst,; arid'wrote Col, deader, the commissioner of police, as follows" R? the removal of polioeman from Greytown,

I have tho honor to bring under vour notice the following telegram received from Major Atkinson on the Ist inst.,. in reply to a request of a deputation appora- , 4'ed public -to";confer with the Minis:. ter;u'pqfrfte matter ttniSorefaritl the •: - ipoßsem'an has instru'ctibnS'tq iikidi yMJ.•. •altMßl{^^PJ> e 'H 8 e P®tv !; menti-find j.eiye'Ae town. at -once, andratar. greatly-Snrprised tliat the deputation;na*.-2; 'nbt had -tjie opportunity promised;?! rfh: ; UrMfitain# the 'MmiateJ," its it ,W of grejtt importance to the district that the reasons . ■for : tKe retention of the' policeman should jje fully:'discussed, and that the opportunity promised by/Major Atkinson .should , bo given. I beg to request at the 'yeißh of.; ray Colleagues' that the order should ba coiin'termanded until the'ideputation can confer on the matter. By the samo mail. I am communicating with Major Atkinson. Please reply by telegram, upon receipt whether request will be granted arid to Major Atkinson :' It having been ; brought under the notice of the deputation appointed to confer with the Hon Mr Bryce, (and now acting for him), that instructions have been issued to the policeman here to report himself in Wei-'" lington at once, and that it has been deci|V del to close the police station, I bring under your notice the following telegram The deputation hold thatthe opportunity has not been given, neither have they been informed as to the result of the enquiry, and as the instructions are given by the commissioner, I have communicated with him, asking that the order may be countermanded until an opportunity has been given the deputation of expressing their reasons why the station should be retained. Will you see that the opportunity, as promised, iB given the members of the deputution, (in Justice to the district), and telegraph me upon receipt, what day, and how would meet your convenience-'to receive the : deputation, and also defer any change likely to be made until the matter is more fully gone into.'" On the 12th the follow- , ing telegram was received from Major ' Atkinson "In reply to telegram re : police station it has been decided to take. no further steps at present." This was a reply, to that of the 7th, and covered the 1 letter of the 11th. In the afternoon of ; the 12th' the following from Col. Reader was received in answer to the letter addressed to him " The Bonorable the Defence Minister has given the •matter' his most careful consideration; and m the full knowledge .of the circumstances.' regrets that he cannot alter the decision he has arrived at, that the retention of a policeman at Greytown, with another at,... Carterton, and one atFeatherston is quite unnecessary. Immediately on receipt of Col. Reader's telegram, a letter enolosing ' Major Atkinson's telegram was forwarded to him. " Since writing you re closing police-station I have, received the 'following telegram from Major Atkinson ; ; (Telegram). I give you the information' •so that you may. countermand the order that the police station be closed." Not* withstanding the replies received froßi Major Atkinson, stating—lst that tho station should not be closed until the deputation had an opportunity of interviewing him ; and—2nd, that no further : steps should be taken at present, the station is now closed, and the constable has left. ....

Suoh having been done, the deputation felt it their duty tn convene a publie meeting without delay,, to consider what further steps should be taken in' the matter. ■ . Mr;J,' Tally then moved the following resolution, Beconded by Mr ,'flara-■merich:-"That a vote of thanks be be Riven to the deputation for its untiring efforts re the removal of the police station."—Carried. His Worship the Mayor, on behalf of the'deputation, briefly.responded,- ■' .7!' - Mr Grey would like to know if anyone present could inform him whotlie Defence Minister was, He understood that since the resignation of. Mr, Bryce, -Major Atkinson had been acting for him, "He would move-"That this meeting strongly condemn the action of the Government in abolishing the police station without receiving the deputation as. asreed upon, and notwithstanding their'distinct promise to allow the police statio|j to remain open." " i " ' Mr Feht'on seconded the resolution. The Chairman! before putting- tho resolution, would like to hear - Bonie .gentlemen express'their opinion—tod not in ton kind terms—upon the action of th'e Government that could treat them a'o shamefully. Mr W. G. Beard stated that in gen eral he did n °t take so'much' interest in'public matters <ib in tjie inotanpe', but telt very strongly' this subje'cf, Hi then slated what Had been done'by tlri' deputation. He cared : nothing about 'tli'e policy of the present! Government So doubt it was a very good one,- But. what ho did care about was 'the actib'h wh'ich had the present .matter, 4 Government that would aqt in t(iat fiia|'iner in a Binall matter wouldin'-alirga ono, In tho'/itiie of'a iJistiiicl.|)ronii& to the contary the 1 policeman, had ■ Jjedn removed Such an extraordinary tiring had novoi happened before and. the Qcrvernment that coqjd ag't jli fhat way unfit to' occupy tile' position jvhicji they did, He did not' mean' to say mkt the matter was a small one to fhiVdistirict. l£ was of greater importance. He proceeded to instance the amount' of evil effects'it would h'avo' upon' tlje districj;. Already the effects were seep. , parri(jinisjn jiatt already commenced.' The bad cnaracterg of the valley would'look upon Greytown as a special place of plunder. The colony was supposed to b;o supplie } d with opp Constable to eypry QOj) people. Such not tlie case jn the Wajrara'pi}, pfj inijtpaff of increasing the nuti)W they were pia'k; ingthem less. Featlierston was muchs|pal}: er place than Greytown, §o fag Oartprtppj and still thpy hadaOonqtjblepaph, Msstp ; ton waslargor, but it had two, one of wh°Hi although a very good man- }i) hia own department, was not fit for.tho dlstrlot, If he was removed to some place where ho would be mora appreciated, and a good working sergeant appointed,in his place, it would, have been hotter than removing the constable from Greytown, As wag mentioned $ a previous meeting, ft waa utterly impossible' '{or"'tiib constable to do the work \yhich: was required of him in a manner to give satii> faction, or even the slightest degree of I safety to the dlstriot. He;, believed if the matter was properly brought before, the Government they would appoin/ia constable for Greytown. --He concluujll a capital speech by urging them to do all in their potter to get a constable for Greytown. • ' The ReviH, V. White, while agreeing with Mr . Beard", did not- understand, bj* what he'had said, whether he.-supported Mr Gi'oy's reaolj|tiqii. For his own pajtj lie' did not. believe in .acting -in passion, and they shoqld reraembeir that they were' asking the Government For a favor, fjnd while believiug in .the chastisement that the'Goverriment had already rpceiyed, he would not support the resolution before the'meetiug, and asked Mr Grey to withdraw, it, ... . -Mr. Gray, in.reply, to Mr White, gave the meeting to understand that they were not asking any favor j! they were asking for their rights, and would have ,them. , . Mr W. G, Beard supported the res'olution. _ : The Government Had broken a'distinct promise: after : : atatiug that the. station would -not be closed, they almost immediately .instructed ' the .constable to oloae it. t. ' The Rev Mr White thought that the word "favor" had been taken up in a

wrong 88U30; Ifr perfectly ut ideratood that it was a right, and a opposed tlio removal of the policemin, but ho thought it wna some bundling on the part tif the Government, and not a wilfully broken promise, He would still ask Mr flray to withdraw his resolution, and if, he refused hewould, aak the meeting to ithrow it out. " . li \ ■ Mr Grey could not withdraw'hiaresp. lution, in tact .he could not word, it too Strong, He did not, .believe in going -on their knees to -the ,Government to ask as & favor* what -they : should demand as a tight. They were, entitled to a constable, and should have one,' Mr Tully gave the meeting to understand that Major Atkinson told Mr Bunny that the station would not be' closed, There could be no bungling. It; was a promise broken. • llr Baillie understood that the Com* missioner of Police waa a servant of the Government, and acting under instructions from Major Atkinson, which he ought to carry out, or, like any other servant, get the sack. The resolution was then put to the meeting and carried, the Rev Mr White only voting against it. Rev Mr White then moved, and Mr Bock seconded—That a deputation consisting of the Mayor, Dr Spratt, and Mossrs Baillie, H. H. Jackson, and W. G. Beard communicate with the Government to appoint a time.to recoive the deputation for tho purpose of urging thoir reasons against closing the police-station, and that Mr Bunny, be re- ; quested to accompany them.—Carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated (he meeting.

MASTERTON BOROUGH COUNCIL, Tub usnal fortnightly meeting was hold al the Council Chambers last evening. Present—His Worship the Mayor and Gri McCardle, Gapper, Russell, Bish, Perry, Bentley. and Vile. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. CORRESPONDENCE, Outwards—To E, W. Mills, re price for dog labels j to Mr Mason, Resident Engineer, re metalling the piece of road recently diverted at the Kuripuni Railway Station; to the Government storekeeper, for the alatutos of 1880 j to the difforent sawmills re the price of totara timber. Inwards—From Brown and D'flrcy valuators, askiug for an advance payment j from Messrs flowry & King and W. W. Corpe, enclosing tender? for supplying totara timber, .The latter were not opened, as all tenders were not in, VAiiUATOBs' Application, Two thirds of the.amouut due was ordered to be paid to the valuators, on the motion of Cr Pussell, seconded by Cr Perry, . RETURN OF SALABIEB, (Sc. Tl)9 return asked for by Cr Gappor at last ifleeting, was laid on the table. . ffQRKS COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the Conimittoo hold on Jan 17th—Present: The Mayor and Crs Bentley, and Gapper -it was proposed by Pr Gapper, apd agreed tp that the metalling ii) Victoria-street bo prooeoiled with,' Tfia overseer's report was repeived; Tho report was agreed to.' Cr Russell apologised for his absenoofrom the Works Committee on the previous evening, but he quite agreed with what was dons at it, overseer's 'report. Sib, —J submit to ypu the following report on {1)0 works in progress in the Borough of Masterton. ..Messrs Bentley Bros have fioppletpd their contract for metaling aoien chains of road in Villa.atreet, according to the instructions of the Works Committee, Mr Hoimelow is proceeding with .his contract in Victoria street very satisfactorily and I hope by the latter part ofto week to eeo the formation quite completed. : • Mr Hounqlow tho contractor for fo'ads, has filled in the ruts and broken a part of.'the stones in Columba road, and I-also gave him instructions to shovel off the. aideß of certain roads, within his contract so that when the wet weather comes the- storm water will liave a chance of runnii< avay, Mr AlaKillop iq giving; the > Waipoua bridge a thin covering or fine' gravel, 60 that : whe : n the''plaiiks shrink tho sand will ork down between them. ■ lam, &c. Qeorge Hdtion, Overseer, The overseer was instructed to attend to aayeri! p'a;e3 'whiriwaKU; • werq en< oroiching' on oertain roads, WAIPOUA BRIDOE. The account for the repairs to the Wat* . poiia Bridge was hold ovar till next meeting) 83 itra not fully made up, INSPECTOR'S RErpfT feK'TLEjiEs,-! beg to inform you that the Botougn lanip that was stolen some time ago has'been recovered. * On tie 13th' insli. I was inspeotiiig Richard Woodham's premises, when I saw M rWoodham's children playing with the lamp 38 a toy.' Mrs Woodham Btoitod ono of her children found tho lamp ' nfidfcr or at the hack pf frlr pprbefct's house, sijmp'time ago, but had po 'idfo tnat'itwaa • tlie Boroifgli lamp! Mi Kingdon identified • • - tho lamp as tliti one ho had mado for the ' Sdroilgh • Couucil. I would a|so state' that 7' ■on account of. the telegraph jiost -having to bo placed at tho corner of the Post Office, the Borough lamp has been taken down, and has not hpeft re-erected. . 1 Yours itc,, : ' r 1 J.'O. INGRAM, ' THE BORpUOJI LAMP. .Thin having been taken down by the Gg'yerp(n'en|i and a'telegrapli pos|i put ii( lis place, eqnp flight - discussion too[k place Tlr^' i^'iterj' hoiyerar,' iyj's left to t|ie (joverrimonfc-tlie Council to see that it ereqted jn a substantial manner, fyRJPUNI ROAD, Jl nl;ju ftf i} epction of this rpafy tp the Do3t of whi)h Mr Jonos had promised to . contribute, lajd before the Council, but fleit] oygrto next meeting. ' '|H Tenders for forming and motalliiHß chains, and forming and gravelling SIJ . , footpath in Lincoln Boad—S. £345; Bentley Bros., £210; lilink)iornH| Co,, £195; Henry Burgess, £3103 for iBHj and £l' per chain for footpaths. Hi . After discussion, the lowost tender, Mr Hoary Burgess, was acceptecj, B9 pIpRN PF Hj Cr Sapper suggested that the TowfljH "• should retire while the discussion •qfl.,this return. HH , Cr McCardle moved—That the referred to the Finance Committee wiHH . . striictionsio draw up a report. HediflM move.this in a spirit- of opposition toH| evolution, but'-' thought that the wild be better dealt with in Committee™ ■■ The Mayor ruled Cr McCardle out™ orcifr, a»>Cr flapper had the chair. "•Tlie Tofrn'Clerk hers retired, on tho re auect'of Cr Gapper. ' ; ■ . » • ot' Gapper thought that tho'' work to bo • - dono for the CoutfciTiftuid'be done for much . : less than it was'at present, and moved—- ■ • That the following offices bo amalgamated: Town Clerk, Treasurer, Collector, Do? Registrar, Valuator, "Town Bnrvpypr, and Returning Officer,' for tho annual salary of . £IBO.. Cr Gapper stated, that they were pay. " jhg' at present; £209 13s fld a yoar, Tho offer' was first to be made to the Town Clerk, and if ho did not see his way to take ' it, applications should be called. He did not do this out cf any ill-will to, or dissatis- ' faction-;with the-present Clerk, but 'he .thought they should etudy their finanoial - position. The reduotion he proposed was ■ about 14 per cent, Cr Vile seconded the motion of Cr Gapper pro forma. Cr McCardle objected to the amalgamatien of so many offices under one head. The ... valuators should be., entirely unconnected vsh the Council,,in order to insure there being ho doubt'as to the purity of the valuation, ■ Ho would move that the whole

mutter should bolelt in the hands of tho •Financo Committee, Cr Russell did not sou what they should knack off 14 per cent becaitso they lmd a cheap Borvant, though it to lately tho fashion to reduce everything, Ho would support Of McCardle's amendinont, . Cr Bisli agreed with Cr Hussell, Ors had not had an opportunity to study the return, and to refer it to the Finance Committee would be the best course. He would support the amendment. ■ ' Cr Yile.also spoke in fa\oi of tho amendment, Ho thought that the sjßtem of giving a commission on rites best, as he would be thus moat likoly to pet rates in than if in receipt of a salary. He was also of opinion that the Town Clerk should be thoroughly independent, and should only be a servant of the Council, and not have any connection with private business. Cr Gapper was surprised that a maa like Cr Vile should advance such an idea as that because n man liko the Town Clerk had, by his own perseverance and ability, worked himself up to a good position, lie should be told that he should drop all lie had gained, work only for the Council, at a paltry £2OO a year. He had, however, heard nothing advanced yet toalter his opinion as expressed by his resolution, His Worship would like Cr Mcflardle to state what he wished tho Committee to do when the matter was referred to them, Cr McCardle thought that to refer it to tho Finance Committee would give Councillors an opportunity to think over the matte' - , He amended his resolution to read: " That the Committee should report is to whether any amalgamation of officers is required, and what reduction of salary is lecessary." Tho amendment was then put and carried POLIOS AMUNOESimS,

Cr McCardlo drew tho attention of tho Council to tho alteration in tho police arrangements, whereby tho bailiff had been removed, and tho police made to do bailiff's duty. Soveral scenes had occurred during die abscence of tho police, Ho would movo that representation bo made to tho Government in the matter. Cr Russell seconded, but after considerable discussion the matter was allowed to stand over. BYE-LAWS. Cr Yilo moved that the adjourned meeting be held that day week to go further into the by-laws.—Canied. The Council then adjourned.

Heminiscenueb ott wsuujiuTON.—ln the year 1845 a worthy citizen pioadod his way with somo difficulty through fern and ti-tree to Te Aro Flat boing in search of tho surveyor's peg which had been driven in attlie corner of what is now Cuba and Dixon ( streets, Upon this spot was oreoted a smal house, in which a very successful drapery I business was carried on by two ladies of remarkable talent and energy, who have long sinoe retired from tho scene to the laud of their birth—"Land o* tho inountaip and tho flood, Land of brown heath and shaggy wood. 1 In the year 18G6 it passed into the hands of Mr Jam Smith, the present proprietor, who gave to the premises tho appropriate - name of Te Aro Homo, and under whose management business has steadily progreased with the risipg fortunes of the city. 9 until at length it was found that a ponside- - rable onlargoment was neceasary, and the I result was, To Aro House, as at prasout, one of tho most complete and Extensive 1 Drapery Establishments in tho colony of J Now Zealand,- The Joneral Drapery occu- ii pies a large space, being 49 feet by 25 feet, I amply sufficient for all Manchester goods, d Fancy Dresses, Silks, Glovqs, Hosiery, o Ribbons, Youths' Clothing Department measures 24 o feat hy 14 fpet, and lias attached a comfortable fittiqg-room. Carpets and Household furnishings have a similar space allotted to them. The Show-room for the sale of Mil- ~ linery, Mantles, Jackets, Costumeß, <k, is a vory spacious apartment, elegantly fitted up, and beautifully lighted from the roof, and measures 89 feet by 22 feet. The stock of goods is at all times large and well selected, and patterns are forwarded post free on application. A special feature at Te Aro House is the Order Department, and vety careful attention is paid to the wants T of Country Residents. Allorders are executed . under the immediato supervision of the proprietor, and securely packed and forwarded 'I tr> their destination with 1 ' that promptness and despatch which have always distin pushed Te Aro House, Cuba-stroet, Welling i on.—[advt.l j,

' OK THE W.J.O, HAKDIOAP, 1881. To be run on February 11, TWO HUNDRED MEMBERS AT £l. First Horse.. • ■ • .£6O Second Hqr5p........ ; ,... • t • t * • m i ■ ■ £3O Third Horse., Other entries (divided) £9O Tickets to be obtained from Mnrdooh McKenzio, Ekotahuna; T. S. Ronaldßon, G ley town; C, Giles, Carterton; Mr Hansen, Gladstoneß-, Sullivan, Wellington jA. Harford, Tenui; A. Elkins and Geo. Dixon, Masterton. The sweep will be drawn at Masterton on Tuesday, February Bth, at 8 p.m. Early application necessary to secura a ticket. , If all tickets are not sold, prizes will be distributed pro. rata. Commission deducted from all prizes. G. DIXON, ■ ' . ■ ' Treasurer.