OREPUKI.

Western Star, Issue 375, 28 August 1880, Page 2

OREPUKI.

(FROM OUR OWW CORRESPONDENT.)

A meeting of the Progress Committee and the public was held at the Courthouse on Monday evening, Mr Thomas Gemmill in the chair. The Secretary read the following report;— “ Gentlemen : This Committee, in surrendering their trust, have the honour to present you with the following report., Since their election on the 11th June 1877, they have held 11 meetings, nine of which were held between the date,of the Committee’s election and the 17th July in the following year. During that period your committee worked assidir us]y and harmoniously together for the welfare of the district, dealing with a variety of subjects, all of more or less public importance, such as recommending the making of roads and br dges in and around Orepuki, and between it and "Riverton. —Endeavors to obtain alterations in the Mines and Electoral Aet s—Efforts to obtain a portion of the Goldfields revenue for purelv local expenditure —Looking after the amazing rights of the general public—Urging upon the Government the necessity of constructing the Orepuki and Eiverton railway —-Selliiig the surveyed lands here on the deferred-pavment system—And also to obtain more advantageous postal communication.—On or about the above mentioned period, viz., July, 1878, your Committee' became conscious ths*fc their "efforts for the promotion of the general, progress of the district were, not appreciated and seconded by the public here to the extent they had the right to expect. They thereupon determined to subside, and ceased to act until very recently, when Mr "Warden Wood, recognising the Committee’s existence, referred the question of granting certain residence areas to them. Af er advising thereon, it was determined to wind up the affairs of the Committee, and deliver back their trust again to the public-’’—A proposition, by IMr Jolly; seconded by Mr Griffiths, That the report as read be accepted, was carried. A'motion was also made to induce the. Committee to accept office, biit was generally declined for the present, partly on account ef the fewness of the public, present; but with : the understanding that at a future: time the Progress Committee; should ,/be resuscitated.

The evening terminated .with a meeting of the committee of the public library to transact some local business. The Secretary reported ' that 110 volumes of books, received from the Southland Ed neation Board, were in Riverton waiting despatch by the first boat. This will make 14S volumes added to the library during the present year.