PUBLIC MEETING AT PORT MOLYNEUX.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 182, 4 January 1878, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING AT PORT MOLYNEUX.

.A public meeting was held in the Odd- - fellows' Hall, Port Molyneux', ori Friday, "- the 21st inst. , to consider several questions ;;of public utility. The-weather, which had -,--.-*-been;- threatening for some. days^ settled ;- into a pouring rain early in the evening, •and no doubt materially affected tW'at..tendanqe. Mr D. Henderson was chosen r 7 chairman of the meeting. : y ;" The Chairman ' read the ' notice calling ': the -meeting," and the subjects to be "larought before them, viz., (i) Boring for ..;. xoah; ;(2) -The iCemetery Reserve ; (3) i. The action of the Road Board re the -Town-. y ship Reserve. He (the Chairman) said he < had spent a good deal of time and money :in searching for .coal upon his : own land. On orie occasion lie' sank a. shaft - on a por- '..--' tioir" of ;the Reserve, arid" coming; to a , stratum- of the .< nature ofijwhieh. he Was - "i doubtful, he took a. portion" of it to Capt. ;, -Brittpn, and requested. his opinion Capt.,. .vHuttpn mfprmed.iiim it was fire-clay" of a -very superior quality, arid ' that coal was -certain to be found in tlie neighbourhood. -He would now call-:dn T some one to make . a proposal' to the i meeting. "-,;y .- ; .;-"-■ Mr: Wi Hay stated that.Mr J.M'Eweri _f : . had intended >;to" = propose .the fkst.mption ?.; bearing, on y. this, : \ question. ;.,He had : no A .doubt; 'Mr.-rM'E wen. had .been prevented, .from attending 'by the weather; aricl ' to prevent the'motipn ! from lapsing, he (Mr r . Hay) would take his r? pliace, 'although- lie """-'-"' had coriie' J utterly unprepared to "i say ; a ; ; word cm: the sub j ect.v '; He "rti o yed — ' ' That ... /the presenirmpeting resolve that ; it, is ad- ■'■■; tisable to/prospectin; search ipf. coal /upon ' j j some portion of. tlie .township reserve, or : -within the Port Mol-^eiixdistfictj and by _,-.;boririg' or otherwise as * shaU^b'e ;*deeriaed : v}bi|st'by"tHe Comiriitteej ivhp 'may :be ap-, , pointed b^4lie v meeting;-to>;carrx' this;reso-y-'lutiorPiritd effect. 17> He/liad.no doubt that;

y J eveiy :6ne. there was;fiiEy-^atisfied oof.thef f .the yy A great.adyaiitages -t^t^o^ld^MsfflE^f/fpoal Vir..^were fpurid.-;'v.TheyC Kai:"/iHe^pplmon-'of a; gebtlenian^thdrbughiy ■" qnalified'to that the indications of the sdjdy/sb'/far as it/ had been tested; were in favour of a sue- / cessful issue.#'Matt¥]?s in general had not yy /been -regarded t as ; f very/ favourable about y ii?Port/Molyne^,foi!>;^qme^timeysSo much yy soij that;thfeyfn_ight/ almost ; regard .•tih.em-',. / y- : selves. m the" 77 : S:Ms rfW^^lc^ywliq/ S l r trussed, in" Pro"-' ' ;y~ -^ ;/y ; , she rga v^fupl, -^ ;yV: kee^on'tr^ at any-yffaMr^aLii-g^ zy</jectorsiofitkts"meetingweretproceeduig on y y!H!M?y6&ra^ zimm^o^^MiM>^^^^ :^ y Kf^#ppiiy;E^^

.ihlvery^i^ |l|p!§|&at'he^!^ gi-pu h4 : jylMey;er/r K He \ i?^B?jft&gyto ?; assist >in- r tl^^eseht-.in- ; ; ||tan4#;butlnpt; to haveVtheg^tt^pt \madp ia-gr^dein^^ Ignct^imcmof^]^ ?|feM&;lji;^ ?iii;yi6tQria, ai a/ member of the Govern^" tfneiifs*^^^ i/pr^cpal in .that OOplbny.. From, that exlie believed there^a^ohly^bnV Indication :(ofrcpah in .jthisAdistrict, and- that ; w$s t kt : ,a.y coiisiderJableVdistance 'from Port MtdyM^ziSy('si^7.AAi i ;.- T t i \ , v Mr J. Paterson said they had a di'sliftctf opinion from Captain Hut-ton, a qualified ; geologist, tlia,t coal was.certain to be", found i;iii f the vicinity >'6f 'ffiie-clayir :^Professor iißlackdidjuptroccupy the same position as which the* other^did.'tTherbVere corifiictin^ opimoris : ,%nd at the prensent stage in iSuch, matters, always, wouldhe. 1 Tier ; thought the ; : best argument iri" such a case was to piit' the Matter'tp the! rtest atid proVe which was right: ■'. z■ :\ -„ 7z •■ - yjjMf. Jenkinson wished-to, ask the Chair-, man why,;he/had .hpt continued his.searcli after obtaining the assurance' from such a quarter that it was likely to be crowned . with success. y<f z- - •: y ( 7\ y„ . ■/-. ... V y The ; phairman explained - that i lie had not Vcohtinued .feecau^ riot Pn^his o>vn-' ; prpperty^yßrpfessprJßl^ pretend^ to '-be -a "geologist: .' Hejwasyan analyst. Captain Hutton was the highest authority in such matters.

-- ,: The motion- -was' -then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously.. „ 7 Mr f J. Shiels > then 'moved— -"^Tliat a .Committee -:be appointed^in ternisof the previous to collect .subscriptions and„ commence operations .on the place and in the way that shall after-wards be deemed' "best.' 1 The Committee to consist of ,- Messrs, -Brugh, . Henderson,, James -Paterson, Inglis,, M'Eweii, : Wm. : Hay. ; (Hilly Park), Jenkiiisoh. R. G: Wilson', Tait, Melville, and tho Mover. " ; ; He need not reiterate the benefits that would result if their present intention were to prove a success. Dr- - Hector said that if , coal iw'ere found on the south side of the river it would be of superior quality. It was for •our interest in every way that. a thorough trial be made to find it, so that, even°if unsuccessful^ it would.be no fault of ours;

Mr G. Ballpch seconded the motion! The motion on being put to the meeting, -was unanimously- agreed to. .. The Chairman then intimated that as the first, subject to be brought before the meeting had been favourably arranged, they would now take up the question of the Cemetery Reserve.

Mr A., Melville moved— « That the present Cemetery Trust, -having, been eleven years in, office,. .and' taken no steps whatever to improve the Reserve, be now requested to resign their position as Trustees, and in the event of either or both declining to do so, tha+-.the Governor- be requested to remove the present Trustees and appoint ; others in, their place." ;It seemed to him that Trustees, in accepting such a position, came under a pledge to the public to use their best endeavours to carry out the objects for which any such trust was conferred. He. thought the present Trustees were very much to be blamed. They had shown great remiss-liQS&jiny-p^pirmmtr their duty ; indeed, they, bad performed nothing at "all, and on that ground alone the : meeting.would.be iy.V.y-, justified in calling on them'to resign, and yield the opportunity to better men.-. Mi* W. Wilson seconded the motion.

The Chairman called on- Mi*' Jenkinson, as'Truslee, to give some information on the matter. '

Mr Jenkinson commented, in ; seyere terms on the language used by Mr Melville to describe the action of the Trustees. He was not aware that he had been remiss in his d\ity, or that he had neglected to do anything which had been required to be done. He had once been asked' to resign, but as he had not been informed of the meeting, arid had afterwards learned that it was composed of onlyfour persons, he paid no attention to the request. He could not- sec that there, were any good grounds on which he should now be asked to resign. " : - - .

Mr Inglis said that had the cemetery been iri a proper condition for interments it would most likely have; been used for that purpose. He, ror one, would some time* ago, have so required it. Improvements should precede any such request, and so long as it remained in its present state of nature, it could not ,be expected that, any such request would be made. Mr' Paterson, the other -Trustee, said that the Trust had not .had a meeting for eight years. " He thought the public were as much to, blame as the Trustees. They had never been called on to do anything, -arid * so> had not "done at., ., He was quite willing to resign if his co-trustee would do the ' same, ; and ■he was willing to pledge himself notio accept a re-appointment on any consideration

MJr.vHay ; said -that, .any, gentlemen appointed to manage such public interests, Were riot appointed to'domothing, ;,as. had been done in- the present , case, but with the intent that they should initiate active steps, of improvement, and call/ npcn the public for such assistance as' might be needed to carry them out. They ought to lead iri.- the march' of improvement- atttloaotfollow. The present trustees had been in office for eleven years, and had not yet taken the_yery .first step xequir.ed to reclaim the ground. They had htid ' a very good;chanbe f to show^-yyhethei: they meant to do anything, and should now stand aside arid allow others the opportunity di show-, ing what they, may, do., ' Mr Sliiels'thoughtthe managers certainly :hadmot fulfilled, the duties^ they had t un-y dertaken. A They "seemed "to fancy that 'because they haddone riothing,, : ; no .blame could be attached to t them, but the V4ry 1 object oi : their being- appointed',-! was .; in -order- to, do spmetlmig. It was, time forthem to decamp,' aricVleVo'tliers r take ; tlieir <place. v-y'.rv.- A', -yyy .y-y^y <A k . „"r. rJ y\ , Mr Jenkinson thought Mr Hay 'and Mr SHiels had-ttalked : a ? deal> | said nothing. -His co-trustee offered to resign, if he would do so. _ He could'riot^sde^that iwas sou^djflpgip. y ,He {proposed^ as ->n" on the Original motion™'' That; -the Governor :be; recommended- f to £ . appoint f Mr Bobert ylnglisi as co-trustee, un -the room 'of j^^:G<brge®^ jniia \^amendment not, being -seconded, lapsedyy 77. y-T^TT'TTsTySgx. ;;?^TKeVpngm^(m6tion was put and carried unanimously.* • ■ .'v y y'y. "Sy 'Zz7&s%-ti<\ /Wilspn\ tiietfiriove^^tl^at^ of vM^sraylnglis-

Ay-z.7 yz:yymv&mrixmm>k}yv}&nz ■ i&^ophy^^^a^Hier appoihfcedf tbrrwait pjssfnt^ t|^fees^ Vahd^ further, jf s*Tcari*y>6tif the terms; of 'tfieCprevipus'"" Wt !)tolutibn:"r^Seconde^ •• -" A .-;. The; motion^pis earned "unMiiffously. „,.. _ yThe' ; ;firsifftwo* qtie^l^^liayiiig 'j.itfw *t)|enf disposed of, 'the renuuni^^'pne'-vcon-" cernihgthe action of the UoadßcEi-d Ye '.Reserve, canie ttolb^c'Onsjudered.,; ; The -: cohsidefed : that ; . as "'a ; 'member of the Road Bpard- : ;h ' would not f belli a proper position were; he to remain 'iii'tlie ; chair while ythe'i present- question ."■fas" -discussed, y He then left, the chair, but was u hahhnovisly" voted back?. Ai- -.--'... | ; Moved- by Mr. Hay— " That in view; of ; the recent acts of. the Board, it be recommended-. to : the County Council, to! appoint: a pound in the vicinity of Port Molyneux, ? to- avoid ; the -extra- ''.expense:.'. that would ."otherwise be entailed by. driving, cattle to the' pound at Baiclutha. "—Seconded by MrK.'G-. Wilson/ 5 "■Ay--.yry., :: ,y „. _..*.

' -As this motion was . considered somewhat premature, it was allowed to stand over." ■"."."' '''"'-■> •'••'- ---. ! ryyz-. .■_.-.■.-,',:■■;: - 1 Mr Jenkinson : moved:— s". Thai .the actionof, the Board be approved of so far as the assessment oh cattle was "concerned.;" but after-wards withdrew his 'motion; ? ,

Mr Jenkinson .then;, proposed— "/That this meeting,. consider the; system which? ,the Board "intends !to adopt '"' concerning Reserves." -" He understood certainiparties r wererciaiming. compensation -. for damage done td : 'their. ipnces" by- cattle iii Hhe Reserve. He 'considered tliat" was fair enough.. He desired chiefly to know on what principle of allocation .the Board' intended to issue tlieir licenses 5 ; The Reserve was for. the benefiTpf the inhabitants of Port Molyneux. • If the* Reserve would only run 150 head of ! cattle and 300 applications -were made," on what principle' was the smaller' number' of licenses to be -alloted among larger number of applications.: \7as> the man with most acres to, have the largest'number, or the 'man who had a friend at court, or the. one who with eight or : ten children had in his own family 'the largest number' of inhabitants ?''-'■ But i 'ori; what principle was this allocation to be made. . He could get no further answer. ,

The Chairman remarked that the Board was quite willing to received suggestions, but he was sure the public would be satisfied with the final action of -the Board.

Mr ; Paterson said the Board had' not decided beforehand on. any distinct plan. That would have to be fixed on after it was seen how many applications would be

received

Mr Jenkinson thought the Board wonld act fairly. .enough, but it was surely most reasonable to ask on what principle such assessment was to be levied. "But. as the Board had not considered the matter it might be allowed to drop. 'Mr R. . G. Wilson moved— f That the members pf the Road Board, District of South Molyneux, be = requested not ; to sanction the appointment Of a ranger for the purpose pf impounding all unlicensed cattle found trespassing on the Port Molyneux Reserve, believing that such an appointment will "not be a financial success, and at the same time will be the occasion of much unpleasantness in the district." —

Seconded by Mr Inglis.. y Mr Jenkinson thought that no' one' had any right to run cattle at their neighbours' expense. The Road Board had taken a step in the right direction. ;Tt would prevent any persons runnings more cattle than they had any right to, at the ; expense of others whose right was as good, and this could not be looked to unless- by a ranger. He could not agree with Mr Wilson's motion. ■

On the riiotion being put, it was lost by a majority of two. ' -

Mr G. Balloon moved-—" That the asse&ment on horses be reduced- from Ll 10s to Ll, "—Seconded by Mr W. Wilson. Various opinions were expressed to the effect. that the difference betv/een the charge on cows and horses was too ex-. treme. .

The motion was put to the meeting and earned. ' ' - ; "• ■ • '• '< ■

In connection with- the allocation of the applications for licenses, Mr Jenkinson moved — " That every, .one owning a cottage or land under ten acres be allowed to run two head on payment', arid- oho head additional for . every additional . ten acres owned."— Seconded by Mr Shiels!

After some discussion the motion was put to the meeting, when the votes were equal. -:.-' The Chairman' gave his casting vote against the motion.

With a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated: -