PROPOSED LOAN FOR HAMILTON. Public Meeting of Burgesses.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2118, 4 February 1886, Page 2

PROPOSED LOAN FOR HAMILTON. Public Meeting of Burgesses.

A PBEMMiXAin meeting of the latepayers of the borough of Hamilton was held at the Public Hall, on Tuesday night, for tho purpose of (Incusing the proposal to rai>o a loan to bo expendid in tho election of public building", and for the improvement of Domain and lioiouffh land-*. The eh in was occupied hy His Worship the M iv»r, and there was about 100 ratepayer*, besid i* other«, present. The Chahman opened the proceeding' by reading the iuheiti»einent in The Waikato Tim>s calling the meeting. He then read the statement prepared V>y .v ciiinuuttee of the Council, and published in our issue <-f Tv .sd.iy. Th.it btatcui'nt of course gave only the bare feature-) of the scheme, and he would therefoie claim their attention foi a few minutes while he enlarged somewhat upon it. There was a tide in the affairs of m-in which, taken at the flood, led on to foitune. So said their greatest bard, and it was for the people of Hamilton to *:iy whether for them the tide which led to foitune had arrived. In his opinion and in thu opinion of the Council it had arrived. In order that advantage might bo taken of this tide, it was nccs-aiy that they should get a loan, and one of the first objects to which the money should be applied wa-> the erection of public buildings. This was of necessity a in lin feature in the scheme, bpcause it was understood, as between the Council and the Government, that certain land-* were to be handed over when those public buildings were erected. He need not repeat what he had already said about the want of Clown Lands and Survey offices m Walk i to. Hamilton was the natural centre of a district extending from Taupo to Waikato Head*, and from Te Ar >ha to the West Coast, and this district hid been without the accommodation provided for much smaller places. He could appeal to the gentlemen of the legal profession, to surveyors and to many others if they were not greatly inconveniencid by having to make .» journey to Auckland whenever they wanted to see some petty plan or tret a tracing. Then an office for registration purposes was badly wanted, and he need not say how unsuitable, inconvenient and unsig'itly were the prewnt Borough Council Chamber". As to the pay ing off the overdiafts, it was known that the borough had for a long time been piy ing a heavy sum for interest on overdrafts. By transferring the amount to loan a saving of 3% would be effected. H'3 could assure them that every shilling of the o\ei - draft had been legitimately spent, but the charges were too heavy. With reference to the domain land.s, it hid b-en ui^ed by some that it was ju->t as well to leave them a* they were, but he did not think this opinion was held by many (No.) They all knew that the furze nuisance was increasing, and unless some steps weie taken to abite it, it would grow beyond their reach. It was not possible for icsirlent-) to c >pc with the evil single-handed, and forthe Council to deal with a few cases would bj an injnst.ee, but to deal with the question comptehen sively would confer gieat b nefits upon the b irough, and would do much to induce Sittlement. It was for the burgos^es to say whether these lands sho.ild he waste or whether they should be improved and madp fit for settlement. It was the intention of the Council, if the people approved, to ■set a-ide a sum of money for the improvement of these lands, thereby at the. Mine time providing work for many residents of the borough at fair wages. Tin m mey it was proposed to boirow from the Government Life Insurance Assocntion, and tho-e who weie policy-holdeis in that association would hay.; the additional satisfaction of knowing that their money was well and ptofitably invested. The adoption of th"3 Bch'me could not possibly load them into my worse position, while it was more than probable that it would improve their condition very much. By natuie, Hamilton was fitted to be the foiemost town in Waikato, and the people had now the opportunity presented to them of taking full advantage of their position, (Applause). Xow, assumhiGrthitthesumof £2000 was applied to the election of the public buildings and a like am mnt to the improvement of the domain lands and the paying off of tho overdrafts, the amount of interest requiied would bj £240 per annum. Salaries, &c., would take £2">o, and otlur expanses, say, £109 per annum. Again -t this they would have to set £100, dom im revenue, £11-1, extra tevenue from iipw domain lands, and £JOO fiom general revenue, making a total of £1114. The Council bad gone very carefully into the matter, and they were unmunously of opinion that the borough would not bs h ir.i-.-ed in th-3 slightest degree by the now responsibilitie--they proposed to nndert dse, w hiuh indee 1 would iievor trouble th"in. In cinclusio-i, he said the obj *ct of tha Council in callm? this meet ng wa-. to afford tho buig'.ss-s the fullest information in their power, bv answering questions and allowing free discussion. Tiiey had not therefore com". furnUhe ! with any cut and diieJ lesilutions, but would leiV) tho matter entirely in the hands of the mooting. (Applaiis O Mr Bteadman .said ssveral of the allotments to bi handed over a*> dounin lauds were now occupied. In tho event of the present tenants purchasing the lease when the land was put up to competition, would it be necessary for them to c inform to some uniform style of fencing, &c ? The Mayor said the intention was un duubtedly to deal with the whole of tho lands in a comprehensive manner, but such matters as that referred to by Mr Steadman involved questions of detail which would have to be dealt with hereafter. The object of the Council was to promote the settlement of the land-*, not to dtive people away. In answer to Mr Hay, the Mayor said he was not aware that the Council was receiving a double rate from Crown lands fiom the Government, and from the squatters. The Government paid rates according to a scale of their own. Mr Keep aske 1 where it was intended to erect thu buildings. The Mayor said no site had been fixed as yet, but it was intended that it would be one most convenient to people on both sides of the liver. Mr Keep : Then you intend to put it on the middle of tho bi idge ? (Laughter.) The Mayor : It will, I think, be near the bridgp. Capt. Ste 'le said it was very inexpedient to di.scuss the question of site at present. It was titii** miuiuli t«. <!•> tint when they had decided t> buiow this money. He, however, h.ul a que-tnui to ask which he thought very peitinent. In the event of the buildin.es bein^ elected, had the Council any guarantee from the Government that they would be occupied ? The. Mayor said the best guarantee they could possibly have was that the Government would not hand over the land until a tender for the erection of the buildings had been accepted. Capt. Steele asked whether the Government or the Council would pay the salaries ? The Mayor said the Council had no intention of assuming the functions of the Government, nor did he think the Government would either expect or allow them to do so. But they could not offer the Government a better inducement to appoint these officers than by providing them with the necessary accommodation. Captain Steele : Has anything been done except talk ? The Mayor : We have the assurance of the Minister for Lands that the land will be given us in exchange for the buildings, which, however, will be Borough property. Capt. Steele said the questions he had asked had been put into his hands by others who, he believed, were too modest to speak for themselves. For his own part, however, he had one or two remaiks to make. He thought they could not afford to spend £2000 on buildings ; £500 would be quite sufficient for the purpose. He would suggest that the Council write to the Government, stating that they were prepared to erect suitable offices, without j naming a price. The plans might be drawn up so that additions could be made from time to time, as requiied. If the ■cheme were a little more modest it would be more workable. They should not invest their money in unproductive works, or they would drive away the very class of people they were anxious to encourage. Mr W. M. Hay thought the money would be well spent if it iuduced settlement, as he was sure it would. There was considerably rivalry between the various townships of Waikatn, and Hamilton must be on the alert. He was convinced that if their public men bad been endowed with the pluck and energy of the people of Cambridge they would be far ahead of what they were now. Captain Steele bad advised them not to go into debt, bit he would say, Go into debt in order to advance the interests of the place. There was no doubt that Hamilton was making rapid strides. It was the centre of the railway system ; it was soon to be the locomotive station, and no doubt they would soon have railway workshops. Opt. Steele quit* agreed. i^thitafCbfnjQ

in the main, but he thought the necessary building* could be put up f>>r, *«ay, ££00. As to the improvement of the domain land-, that was a policy he had always advocated. He did not object to going into debt exactly, but if they went into debt K«t it be for something reproductive If they did otlierwi-io they would rue it Tho M iyor aid the Council did not know e\ ictly what the Go\ eminent wanted in the shape of luildings. What the Council \\ mlcd was n new chamber and office*. He wished to impress upon the burgeons that if they lot -lil> tho present oppoitnuity it might not occur again. If they did not : fhid acco iiMiodation for the Government ofivv-, it would perhaps be provided somewheie else. Tluy also wanted b'tter ac cotiiiriod.ition for the library, but heliad not thought it \\.irth while to include lh.it in the list. He would b.i veiy glad it they could put up tin 1 building foi lets than £2000, but ho was hound to be honc-t and t"ll them th it the buildings were a main featiue in the schema If they were given hnd (if th.' vilue of f 1000 or £">OOO, surely they could afford to spend £2000 upon building- in return The bnrge^es would not be called upon to pay a penny ot the money. He inpeited that thn want of tlio office- to which reference hid been made had kept the Waikato back. He wanted to indues settlement, by securing to Waikato a larger share in her own government He wanted to see more men in the district. Give him men and he could make money ; but all the money in the world could not make a man. (Applause). Ci. Kdgecumbe said it would bo well to ■iiake one point perfectly clear. Tho Council had entered into a contract with the Gov eminent, whereby tho former were to get a certain area of land on condition that they spent a certun sum of money upon public buildings. Th n y got 170 acres on condition they spent t'2ooo. The question resolved itself into this : Wa« the land worth tho money? They must not, however, lose sight of the fact that the building- would be the property of the borough. Mr Seddon said the best thanks of the ratepayers were owing to the Mayor and Council for placing the details of tho pro posed scheme so fully and openly beforo them. He thoroughly approved of it, but he would impress upon the meeting that to be .successful it must have the unanimous siippoit of the burgesses. The time had unquestionably anived when the domain land, should be improved. These had hung over Hamilton like a wet blanket long enough. As to the buildings, he agreed with Capt. Steele that they should go economically to work, but at the same he adhered to the programme as laid before then;. They might spend, say, £1000 on the buildings at the outset. The Mayor said the Council were desirous of letaining in their hands as much of the money as possible, but they were bound m coining before the ratepayers to htite tho whole cisc, showing its woi st as well as its bes-t side. They had ci\ en the Minister a di-tmct pledge. If the Gov eminent were willing to let them off, W'll and good, but he still thought they «l)oul'l do their best to get Crown Lands and Survey Offices at Hamilton. Memtime he would ask the buiYce-ses to bear in mind that the obtaining the 170 acres of land was contingent iipm an e\p. i nditme of t'2ooo on public buildings. The question for them was :— Will you endorse the scheme as it stands ? Capt. Steole reiterated his approval of the sdieme, but opposed the expenditure of so much money ou buildings. He saw it was proposed to include an R.M. Court. Now they had a building for this purpose. He thought there was a great deal too much exti i% igauce in the country. Mr E. Feu-sou asked if it was intended to limit the tenure of the buildings by the Government, and whether the Council were to keep them in repair. He albo desired to know the value of the land. The Mayoi said the Government would occupy the buildings until they got offices of their own. The question of repairs might \eiy well bo leftover for future consideration. The upset price of the land was £30 per acre. Capt. Steele suggested that the Council •should pledge themselves to put up suitable buildings, leaving out of sight the question of td-t. They must remember that the land would have to be improved before it could be of any value. The Mayor agreed with the suggestion. He was quite suie the Government would do nothing but what was fair and reasonable. If th* scheme wis approved tho Council would do all in their power to conserve tli3 inteie»ts of the birough. No plans had been prepared, and it would be quite sufficient if the meeting endoised the need of providing the offices enumerated with the nec's-iry accommodation. If this was donp, the Council would at once open negotiation-, with the Government. Mr Xortl, croft, R.M., -aid it wjuld be well to -jttle the question as to who would execute lepair-. whon nece-s»ry, as if it wa-> likely to be left to the Government he should feel oiistr.uned to advise liU Deputment to protest ag tint banding over the K.M. Court reserve-!. When the piesout Courthouse ceased to answer the purpose, it was, he believed, intended to eiect another on one of the reserves mentioned, the revenue derivable from the others to be applied to keeping the building in repa'r. The Mayor said the allotments referred to by Mr Noitheroft were not included in the 170 acre*, chiefly, he understood, through that gentleman's opposition. Mr Tiewheell.tr said there appeared to exist a misapprehension in the minds of sumo people in regird to tho scheme proposed. In the minds of all lational men it was plain that it would placu Hamilton in the foiefiont of Waikato. Though they differed upon minor points they were all agreed m the mam. A compact had b.-en made with the Government, and it was now for the peopie t) say whether they would endorse this compact. It seemed to him that tho revenue to bt3 derived from the lands would pay the interest on the loan, while thu increased revenue by-and-bye would bo .sufficient to meet all charges for repairs, <&o. Th* expression of opinion ought to bo unanimous. They ought indeed to f,o fuither and express their heiise of obligation to the originators of the scheme. They all knew how dull things had been in the past, and how that many people would have left if they had been able to do .so ; but he believed one of the first results of the adoption of this scheme would be found m" an mcicv-ed of their land .sufficient to make them glad that Ihey had remained. (Hear, hear.) If there were any opponents of the scheme he hoped they would be outspoken, so that the Council might know the nature of the opposition. (Applause.) He would move '"That we, the burgesses of Hamilton, do hereby endorse the scheme as put before us, and trust to the administrative ability of the Council to cany it out." Mr C. J. W. Barton seconded the resolu tion. He would like to impress upon the meeting the necessity of unanimity, and upon the Council the need for taking prompt action. There was no time like the present. As the chairman had s»aid, there was » tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, led on to fortuue. They did not know what might happen to-morrow. At present they had a Government favourable to the scheme, and willing to help them if they helped themselves, but they did not know how soon a change, might take place. It was a turning-point in the history of Hamilton. (Applause). , The motion was then put and carried unanimously, amidst loud applause. The Mayor congratulated the burgesses on the decision they had come to. He could assure them that their confidence in the Council was not misplaced. The Council was composed of truly representative men, and he could, after sitting with them for fifteen mouths, bear the fullest testimony to their good qualities. la everything they did he felt certain they were actuated by a strong and firm desire to promote the welfare of Hamilton. Mr Seddon proposed a vote of thanks to the chair. Capt. Steele in seconding the motion, endorsed what the Mayor had said with the reference to the Council, but Mr Graham had forgotten to tell them that they had an able Mayor. (Laughter »nd applause). They owed a great deal to the Mayor, and they had to thank him for the earnest interest he evinced in all local affairs and his endeavours to wake the people up. He (Capt. Steele) had had his little say, and he now wished to express his entire concurrence with the Mayor's views, (Applause). The motion was carried by acclamation and the meeting terminated.

Mr J. M. Gellinff inrites tenders for clearing furze off Tanfield's aero, Hood-street, Hamilton. Tue guard of a railway train has been murdered in the luggage van between Naples and Benevento by brigands, who rifled the van of its contents, which included a portmanteau containing upwards Qf£4QQinfQkl.