ROBYN PARKES
In 1899 the residents of Motueka began discussing the possible separation from Waimea County Council and proclaiming the ‘little village’ a borough.
To progress this a public meeting was called at Forester’s Hall on the 9th of June. Mr R. Rankin began the meeting by moving a resolution to have Motueka proclaimed a borough.
He believed it was the right time as the village had advanced during the previous few years, and that the advantages to be gained from administering their own affairs would further advance it.
He raised the success of Richmond as a small borough remarking on the good condition of its roads and indicating that there was room for improvement in the condition of Motueka’s roads.
Mr Hursthouse, a member of the House of Representatives for Motueka, in a vigorous speech, denounced the proposal as being intensely selfish. It appeared to him that a few people were dissatisfied with the condition of their main street and the idea of constituting Motueka a borough arose solely on that account and that such proposals were detrimental to the interests of the majority of the ratepayers.
He followed on that rates would rise and predicted Motueka roads might be put in good order, but the outside country would be starved.
In return, Mr Rankin refuted the argument of the rates being raised and stipulated that a three-farthing rate would be quite sufficient. Mr Hursthouse replied that although the rate might not be raised above three farthings, property values would rise, and more farthings in the pound would be the result.
The resolution was seconded and a committee consisting of Messrs Jordan, Wratt, Edwards, Moffat, Batchelor, and Everett was formed to investigate the matter and report back.
The findings from this investigation, with H. Everett entrusted with the task of ascertaining the areas/boundaries of the proposed borough, showed it should not contain more than nine square miles, allowing the inclusion of 5760 acres.
It was then proposed that the borough of Motueka should be a little less, as it was easier to define the boundaries.
Therefore, the area would be 5643 acres, and the boundaries would be to the south and west from the seashore across the outer part of the Moutere mudflats, including Mr Batchelor’s property, then westerly as far as Mr S Starnes’ property, then in a northerly direction to the Whakarewa orphanage (College St), the river then being the boundary to the Motueka bridge, and from there easterly to the seashore.
The ratable value would be £82 000, exceeding the amount required by the Act by £2000.
The total income from rates, licenses, and subsidy from the Government would be over £400.
Mr Trewavas raised a misunderstanding that he had understood the borough proposal had fallen through owing to the opposition shown by the government towards the establishment of small boroughs.
The member (Hursthouse) had slated that the petition would have no effect and therefore there was no purpose to go on with the matter and that the Government would not grant the petition in view of legislation to be passed in connection with the local government bill.
The proposed amendment to the Bill provided that no township should be proclaimed a borough unless the population amounted to 4000, however, the bill had been somewhat criticised.
The meeting ended with a confirmed proposal that it was desirable to have Motueka a borough. The motion was carried and seconded with one dissenter.
