BAY OF ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 2018, 8 July 1870, Page 4

BAY OF ISLANDS.

PUBLIC MEETING. Mil. MrI.KOD AND HIS COXSTI I UKXXS. l UOM Ol'K OWN CuUU KSIMN DKNT. ' Kawakawa, .I tine liS, IS7O. Ox Monday evening, the 27th instl.. a public meeting wa? held at Stewart's Ilolrl, to take into ron-ideralion the establishmunt of a district .-rluf-l in this neighbourhood, the forming of a road from 1* ikaru 1 fill, and other public mailers. Xot wit branding the inclemency of tin* weather there tv;s a well attended ineeti.ig, and tlit' ><ttl.-r*j. by their turnim; out in such numb.'o, tdiovw-d tb : neither rain nor bad roads w<< il<l keep tlie . from pitting in an appearance ou stieh an important occa?iou. in opening tlio meeting tho Chairman, (Mr. I'n.rar), in a short address called tin l attention of tho*e present to the importance of the subject they had to deal witii. When he attended -Mr. Carloton's meeting here a short time ?in«'e, he \va> aMonishcd that nothing was said on the subject ; bin as Mr. MeLeod, tlie other member tor the Hay, wis present, perhaps he might give the meeting son o infornmti'n. In answer to a question the Chairman said that the employee* of the Coul Companyjwere determined to carry on the school independent of Government aid, and that the Company hud subscribed forty pounds (IMl>) towards the building of n M-huolroom ; but. an opinion had been expressed that without Government aid it would not be likely to prosper.

.Mr. -McLkoh was glad lo learn that (lie miners were able and willing to hare a school of their own, and lie believed it would prosper, lie was not sure that Government aid would not be given. Indeed, if both schools weii- Marled, Government, aid eould be asked with propriety- on belmlf of eaeli, als:> for Waugaroa, ilokianga, and other pel. es. )n speaking to many people on this important matter he was astonished at the apathy displayed. Im-oiii a conversation he had with one or two members of the Edueatiuntl lioard, he was of opinion that fortv pound* yearly might. lie for the school lieiv, and forty pounds also for the school at the mine. Government iniylit also lie imtueed to set apart a pieee of laud for a Church and school, and no ett'orl on iii* part should be spared in trying lo ,-eeurc it. Jle also oll'eivd to again visit the Educational Board. Mr. McLkoo proposed, seconded by Wu. Callagiian, and carried unanimously, that Mr. K. J. Chatfield be elected Secretary and Treasurer to the Kuwakawa Educational Board. Mr. ]lARDIK proposed, seconded by Mr. MooitK, und carried, " That a committee be appointed (with power to add to their number) consisting of Messrs. Moody, Moore, Neil, Doel, Stewart, T. G\ Williams, and to communicate with the Central Educational Board and to carry out the views of this Hireling in the establishing a district school. Mr. Moohlproposed, seconded by Mr. T.ivlou, and carried, "That Messrs Chatlield, Alexander, aud llardie be selected as a committee, to receive subscriptions in aid of the buildin" of a school." ° The next suhje -t. to I onsi'lered was the forming a road from Fakaru Mill. Mr. Mooi: snidthata roail wasmueh wauled in the locality referred to, n-; it was impossible to bring produce from the settlements by the present route. The native* were willing to join the European seLtlers in their efforts in having a good road made, and also to bear part of tho expense, as it was the main road to Wangarei, Waikarr, aud maaj other native settlements.

| Mr. McLhod said that the Government had voted a large sum of money for such purposes, and, wo understand, that tho mode the Superintendent, has adopted forlhis district, is that for every pound subscribed by the people the Government will givo two pounds. The remarks of Mr. McLrod were kindly interpreted by Mr. William Callaghan, to the natives [(resent, at the meeting. A warm discussion ensued, as to which was the better way to bring the road, and iL was suggested that an equal number of ICuropeans and Natives be chosen to scttlr tin; question. Mr. Mrl.KoD propped, seconded by Mr. Neil, and unanimously carried, " That, Marsh ill-own, IJcmi Taut-iri, and llori Wyovarii, be chosen to act. in conjunction with three huiYtpcans to be named, lo inspect the ground, and report to a general iiiclting of Europeans and natives as the most suitable direction for the proposed road."

M>. Andrew ItcLco-l, Mr. Ferrar, and Mr. Wm. were deputed to act with tlu natives in drawing op the report required. The CriAiuMAN"then said a3 two of the import nnt questions had been satisfactorily arrange 1 , he did not think a better opp >ruinity could oeeur of calling on .Mr. McLeod to give a few remarks on political matters. "SX-\ «hu* Iwn irnpnrlaut mutters had t.een .-...c1, : md was ulad to notice tlie energy an 1 inU-iv.-l ■ lispliiy.-d by the settlers. I>ti«•«>*ii l'ie lint* Viuviurinl Council a vol- .Ct-,001) was agreed tu, to be divided amongst; the districts north of Auckland ; by nil arrangement with the members of "the Northern districts, .C7SU hud been secured for the I»av district. For himself, he luid spared neither time nor labor in furthering the interests of the Bay, anil lie trusted thut his lino of conduct had given satisfaction to the electors, and secured their confidence In reference to a late meeting the speaker said 110 sooner was it known that lie (Mr. XleL-od) had started oil a .journey to Wangarei. than a meeting was called within a few hours' notice, when his private character imd been assailed by Mr. Carlctou in a most, undent lemanly manner, when he (Mr. Carleton) knew it. was impossible tor liiiu (Xtr. McLeod) to be present to defend himsull. Why was it that Mr. Carlclon, having such a low opinio i cf thu wording class, hud not endeavoured to raiso them towards his own level duriiiL': the last 17 years of his political career ? Was it that too much of his time had been occupied as a "flee lanee" hedging in such claims as Mr. Busby's ? and >vas it necessary to hedge in Mr. Busby's claims to the detriment of the Bay of Islands? Toryism was 011 the wane, ami democracy is in the ascendant ! Lll it there was every hop" : by it we have free constitution*, and the working class is enabled to hive a voice in the governing of the country—for the people will rule, and there can be 110 doubt that the voice of the people is the voice of God. Too much cannot be said in favor of the forty acre system, for by it wo have introduced u valuable class of intelligent settlers into the country. (Applause.) Mr. W.\t. Cali.aofia.v proposed, seconded by Xlr. Uhatfiki.L) and carried unanimously —

" That this meeting tender to Mr. .McLe >d a vote of thanks lur, anil its approval of, the exphuiat ion of his political views, and hid and irii letl attention ami support, tot lie interests of the Hay district in the last sitting of the

Provincial Council ; and that, Mr. Mcl.eod, being the promoter ami constant supporter oi the prosperity of this settlement, this meeting pledges itself to support him in the next election for the General Assembly." Three hearty cheers were given by the meeting to Mr. McLeod. A vote of thanks, moved liv Mr. Mooi:k, and seconded In Mr. McLeod, was given to the Chairman, which closed lite proceedings of tho meeting. [ We very much regret that pressure upon our space should have compelled us to curtail our correspondent's letter. —Kd.]