THE DELEGATION OF THE GOLDFIELDS. PROCEEDINGS AT TUAPEKA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 262, 3 May 1867, Page 3

THE DELEGATION OF THE GOLDFIELDS. PROCEEDINGS AT TUAPEKA.

Minute of the Provincial Tbeasutiek to His Honor the Slteiuntendent. Tho Treasurer considers it advisable to place upon record tho account of Ms trip to tho Goldfields, in case any question concerning it should in future arise. Accompanied by Mr Mollison and Mr Hughes, the Treasurer arrived at Tuapeka on Thursday evening, the 25th of Apri', at about half-past six o'clock, lie was immediately informed thai Major Croker and MiThompson had yielded to tho solicitations of Mr Pyke and Mr Bradshaw, and had joined the General Government service. He sent for Mr Mackay, who "at once told him that if he lost all that he possessed he would adhere to the Province. Mr Brown, M.P.C., informed tho Treasurer, that Mr Pyke, disregarding the instructions he had received from the Provincial Govornment, had insisted on acting at Lawrence in reference to the consideration of applications for agricultural leases. Mr Brown declined 1 to sit with him, and the miners' delegates declined to recognise him ; but Mr Pyke determined to sit, had tho applications called over before him, and assumed the power of granting each application. This was the account of tho proceedings ■riven to the Treasurer. Ho was also informed that Mr Pyke and Mr Bradshaw claimed, on behalf of tho General Government, all the property belonging to the Provincial Government on the Goldfields. A consultation took place between the Treasurer, and Messrs Mollison, Hughes, and Brown, and it was decided that nothing short of taking possession would protect the Provincial property. It is necessary to state here, that although, for convenience sake, the Treasurer describes the action taken as his own, that in all that he did he was assisted and advised by Mr Mollison, his colleague in the Executive, and. by Messrs Brown and Hughes. Mr Hay, M.P.C., also readily lent, his aid. Tho Treasurer sent for Mr Inspector Morton, and told him ho intended taking possession of tho Provincial property, and that in accordance with instructions in town, the police were to take charge of it. Mr Morton had not received any instructions, but consented to act oivthe responsibility of the Treasurer, and continued to render most zealous and efficient aid. He ' suggested that putting locks on too doors would ha thj readiest means of taking por.se-sion. [ Lock:: ".vera put on, and the police were instruct- j cd not to allow any one ingress. The same evening, Mr Pyke and Mr Thompson were re-i ported to have sought admission, but were re- ! fused. In the morning, Major Croker, assisted! by Mr Thomson and Mr Pyke, attempted to gain admission. The Treasurer was sent for. I Major Croker endeavoured to frighten the police by throats, as did Mr Pyke. The Treasurer at once told these gentlemen that it, was of no use attempting anything of the kind ; that the buildings belonged to the Provincial Government, and that they could have out any papers : belonging to the Magistrates. The Treasurer I further ordered Major "Croker, Mr Pyke, and Mr Thomson down to town immediately in the name of the. Provincial Government, when they said they were not in the employment of the Provincial Government. Major Croker said lie had never been in the employment of the Provincial Government; and Mr Pyke, besides saying the same, claimed to have authority to act S3 Warden over all tho Goldfields. Major Croker instructed Mr Thomson to break open the door, which this gentleman prepared to do, but was restrained, as he was also in an attempt to get in by the window. Major Croker and Mr Pyke finally gave their words of honor not to take anything but Magistrates' property, and thereupon were allowed to go into tho building to select it. Mr Bradshaw, it may be mentioned, appeared up m the scene, but seemed to have very little inclination to act. Mr Pyke appeared to be the leader or Commander-in-Chief. Shortly afterwards, tho Treasurer was given to understand that Mr Pyke could be secured to the Provincial Government, if a promise to retain him in his position would bo made. The. Treasurer discussed the matter over with the other gentlemen already mentioned, and determined to do nothing towards securing Mr Pyke. Several arguments on cither side had to be considered. On the one hand, as a matter of expediency, no doubt the Provincial Govornment, by securing Mr Tyke, could restrain him from doing much mischief. Ho appeared to assume to possess absolute power, even to the granting away large tracks of country in the shape of agricultural leases, also to act as Warden and Magistrate. Apart from the dispute between tho two Governments, the Treasurer felt that it was in the highest degree unadvisable that Mr Pyke should be invested with largo powers. He was aware that the Executive had only been able to retain him in his office by carefully watching his department and giving limited heed to his advice. In short, the Treasurer knew that for some time the Executive had been much dissatisfied with the administration of his department, and during tho coming session of Council, contemplated making a material change. It seems most unfortunate that there should be a possibility of Mr Pyke possessing larger powers than previously, and therefore desirable to make even a sacrifico for tbcpirpose of restraining him. On the other hand, it would have been infinitely mischievkraa to the whole | service to have overlooked Mr Fyke's conduct to i tho Provincial Government. Whatever doubt • there might be in other cases, there < ould be no

doubt that Mr Pyke had for years baen in tho j employment of tlio Provincial Government, and had received tho utmost consideration. His appcintment as Warden was a mere accident, "arising out of the Hindon nub. In the whole service there was no officer from whom the Provincial Government was entitled to'look for more consideration and gratitude than from Mr Fyke, ami yet he had left it at tho first inducement. The Treasurer and the other gentlemen came to tho conclusion that even expediency did not warrant the Provincial Government in receiving Mr Pyke back again, and that no overlures should bo made to him. A little later in the day, a similar scene was enacted at Waitahuna to that at Tuopeka. Major Croker and Mr Pyke again attempted to gain admission to the Provincial Government building, and again were refused ; the offer being made to give up Magistrates' property, but in this case not taken advantage of. The Treasurer then informed tho miners, who had assembled in large numbers, that instead of Mr Pyke, Mr Mollisonand Mr Hughes had been appointed, in conjunction with Mr Brown, to consider the policy of granting the leases applied for. He also explained that a misapprehension existed as to the nature of the hearing. Neither Mr Pyke, nor any one else, could grant the applications, as had be pretended to bo done the previous day. All that could bo done, was to hear the applications and objections, and to re. peri upon them, and this, Messrs Browr, Hughes, and Moliisou would do. These gentlemen proceeded to hold the inquiry, and will, doubtless, duly report the result. At the request of tho' miners, the Treasurer, both at Waitahuna and Tuapeka, explained to large meetings the actual'poaition of affairs, and, in both cases, the Provincial Government was enthusiastically supported, and an intense objection expressed to the control of the Goldfields being left to the Genera! Government. The Treasurer authorised Messrs Brown and Hughes to go round the Goldfields, and whore necessary, to take possession of Provincial Government property ; also, to make arrangements with such officers as were disposed to continue true to the Government which had supported them for years, and to which they owed the positions they occupied. Mr Moliisou ami tho Treasurer returned to town to-day. The Treasurer ventures to recommend to His Honor to telegraph without delay to His Excellency the Governor, asking him either to interfere and reinstate matters as they were previously to Mr Bradshaw's appointment, until the meeting of the Assembly, or to call tho Assembly together immediately. The emergency fully wrrrants it. Ifj would lie mischievous in the extreme to allow Mr Pjke to continue to exercise virtually irresponsible powers, to be endorsed by Mr Bradshaw, who appears to do j whatever Mr Pyke desires. The Goldficld's ; Act, in fact, docs not make constitutional provision for any other delegation than to the Superintendent. If it be granted to the latter, tho o.'ith clause of the Goldfields Act provides that the Provincial Council be associated with him, and thus the moneys expended be constitutionally voted. But ii tiie delegation be not to the Superintendent, the moneys would have to be spent without voting, either by Assembly or Council, a course the Assembly could not contemplate. Again there arc so many Provincial interests, mixed up with the Goldfields, thai were a separate control possible, which the Treasurer doubts, it would have to be provided for by a most elaborate Act. Without adequate provisions being made by Act, tho Treasurer cannot advise that the Province should relinquish control over Provincial interests on the Goldfields. Provincial Treasurer's Gfuce, Dunedin, 27th April, ISi:7.