ELECTION OF MINERS’ DELEGATE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 159, 26 November 1872, Page 5

ELECTION OF MINERS’ DELEGATE.

A meeting of the Interim Committee appointed by the Minei’s’ Association was held in the Town-hall on Wednesday evening, 20th inst.

The following were presentA. Wood, Chairman, and Messrs Taylor, Hayes, Barker, Strahan, Colclough, Fraer, Jolly, and Smythies.

Upon the motion of Mr John Hayes, seconded by Mr Jesse Barker, it was agreed as follows ; —“ That Mr A. Wood be appointed to canvass the districts of Garrick, Bannocicburn, Gorge, Quartz Beef Point, and Lowburn for members to join the Association ; and that he receive £3 for expenses.” Mr Fraer proposed, and Mr Barker seconded —“ That nominations for a delegate to Mining Conference at Tuapeka be received by the Secretary till 3 o’clock on Saturday next, and if more than one candidate is nominated' that a ballot be taken in the Town-hall between the hours of 4- and 8 p.m. on the same day. That no person vote except he be a member of the Association ; and that the expenses of the delegate be paid by that body.” —Carried.

Mr Andrew Wood was appointed Presidium Oflicer for the election.

Mr H. W. Smythies \v;us elected Hon. Sec., in room of Mr M. Fraer, who had handed in his resignation.

As determined at the meeting above reported, the election of a Delegate was held on Saturday, the 23rd instant. Two nominations were handed in,—those of Mr Charles Colclough, of Cromwell, and Mr Janes Grouibie, of Bannockburn. Thus a ballot was necessitated, which was taken between the hours of three and eight p.m. on the same day. At the latter hoar, a considerable number of persons had gathered at the Townhall, and the declaration of the result was awaited with interest. Mr Andrew Wood, the Presiding Officer, shortly appeared at the door of the building, and made known the state of the ballot, —as follows :Mr CJrombi;, 70; Mr Colclough, 25. Such a result astonished everyone, m>t less on account of the number of votes polled than of the largeness of_ the majority. The interest evinced in this matter becomes especially evident when it is remembered—l. That none but members of the Cromwell Miners’ Association were allowed to vote, and that the Asso nation had been in life barely a week. 2. Tnat only two days elapsed between the fixing or the day for the election and the actual arrival of the day itself. 3. That five hours only intervened between the discovery to the voters of the nominated c indid itos and the ■dosing of the ballot. Under these circumstance”, therefore, wo were both pleased and surprised to see the high interest exhibited in the election.

Mr Crombie thanked the miners in a few well-chosen words. Ho seated that he would be happy to give information regarding his views, either at a public meeting or otherwise, and also to receive suggestions noon matters likely to be discussed at the Conference. [lt will bo observed that a public meeting is to be held at the Bannockburn with this object.] Mr Ooblongh thanked those who had voted for him. Ho hoped that Mr Crombie would give greater satisfaction than the representative from the Bannockburn district already elected by the miners to another assembly. —(Hear, hear.) _ A vote of thanks to Mr Wood for so efficiently fulfilling his duties as Presiding Officer, —proposed and seconded by the two candidates, —concluded the proceedings.