ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 216, 15 June 1866, Page 3

ALEXANDRA.

? Public Meeting. A public meeting of a very dcsultary character was held on Saturday night last, at the Boyal Mail Hotel, Alexandra, for the purpose of hearing the report of the doings of the late deputation to his Honor the Superintendent respecting the appointment of a Warden for the Lower Manuherikia. Mr. Doran in the chair. The chairman said that, before calling upon the delegates, Messrs. Chappie and Finlay, he would call upon Mr. John Jack, the Secretary to the Committee, who had the management of the affair. Mr. Jack said that a memorial to his Honor the Superintendent had been drawn up by Mr. Finlay and himself, praying for the appointment of a resident Warden ; that funds had been collected, and a deputation sent to town accompanying the memorial. The Committee had held five meetings, and had done their best to forward the object in view. Mr. James Sandison, a'so a member of the Memorial Committee, endorsed Mr. Jack's statement, and stated that the Committtee felt themselves Justified in aeloiitin 3 the course they had done in respect to the appointment of another delegate in the } 1 >ce of Mr. Chappe. A call was then made for the members of the deputation, which was responded to by Mr. Bobert Finlay, who said that, on the morning succeeding their appointment Mr. Chappie and himself proceeded to Dunedin, and arrived there on the evening of the second day. The succeeding day was the 24th of May, the Queen's birthday, and no business could be done. The f ol owing morning they saw Mr. Pyke, the Secretary for tl e Goldtields, who procured them an interview with his Honor the Superintendent at 1 o'clock. 1 hey urged the'r cause very strongly, but found that nothing could be done to secure the services of a resident Warden. As tl ey could not get all they wanted they endeavored to get as much as possible. The Superintendent said that the services of il r. Warden Eobinson should be constant for three days a week. He (Mr. Finlay), 1 however, believed that, notwithstanding j the pres nt disappointment, the importance' of the Lower Manuherikia district would soon show that a resident Warden was required, and he believed they would ultimately get one. Mr. Chappie also greatly exerted himself on behalf of the Lower Manuherikia. Mr. Chappie was called upon, but did not come forward. Mr. Sandison niain addressing the meeti g said he had nothing to say against Mr Chappie, but did not consider that the deputation had fully earned out their in- :- r .ctioi s. The memorial stated that the a«ts of Mr. Thompson the Cfficer in Charge, were u<t legal. Mr. Chappie had been to the Provincial Solicitor about the subject, when he was desired to deal on y with the Superin euuent. It was the Superintendent's ?n wer they wanted, and not the Provincial Solicitor's. He (the speaker) that, if the matter had been gone into properly, a much better understsmding weu'cl have I ecu arrived at. The Committee found it necessary to take the course they had done in displacing Mr. Chappie, because they felt convinced that gentleman had made misrepresentations to the Superintendent on a previous occasion. While the deputation were away a letter from tha Government had come up for Mr Warden Eolinson to report upon, and, from what they could learn of the facts of the case, Mr. Robinson's answer would not bear out Mr, Chappie's assertions, therefore they felt assured that Mr. Chappie was not like'y to benefit the cause which he had in hand. He (the speaker) was selected at a public meeting to supersede Kr. Chappie. In a iswer to a question from the body f the meeting, Mr. Finlay said that both himself and Mr. Chappie "were most cordially received. The former interview was alluded to by the Superintendent, but in a jocular kind of manner. 'ihe rewas nothing said detrimental to the business they had in hand. A voice : It was rather strange for the Superintendent to joke about the business of a deputation. Mr. John Jack explained that the business of the first deputation was to induce the Government to preserve existing water rights c.s they stood. It had nothing to do with the Butcher's Gully workers or any one else : the object was a general one. Mr. Johnson said that the people of Butcher's Gully refused to sign the petition because they wanted more water, and not a Warden. Unless they had more water there was no occasion for a Warden, is the miners would have to leave. Mr. William Th overs said that he went to Butcher's Gully for the purpose of obtaining signatures to the memorial. The miners refused to sign it, because they were led to believe that a sub-Warden would be appointed. They wanted a Warden with full powers : 'they did not want an apology. The speaker then gave it as his opinion that a Mining Board would be an advantage : there were plenty of men able to form one. It would prevent no end of disputes, as laws would be made by those who understood their working. The mining agents only acted in the

interests of their clients, and made representations to the Government solely to suit their own purposes. Proposed by Mr. Willis, That, the steps taken by the Memorial Committee be entirely approved of. Seconded by Mr. Dawsi n, and curried. Mr. Ohaj pL-'s absence was severely commented upon. Mr. Finlay proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, and the business concluded.