MOA FLAT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 263, 10 May 1867, Page 2

MOA FLAT.

TUBLIC MEETING. (COMMUNICATED.) An indignation meeting, which was very numerously attended, was held at the Camp Hotel, Moa Flat, on Thursday evening, the 2nfl inst,, to consider the unjustifiable action taken "Tjy the General Government in withholding from the Superintendent of Otago the powers delegated by the Goldfields Act, 18GG. The meeting was presided over by Mr. George M'Kay. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, called attention to the importance of the subject, and trusted that the miners and other sections of the community would lake a warm interest in it, for they might rest assured that, unloss they did so, they would never meet with success. Tha Chairman having animadvert d hi a lengthy speech upon the illegality of tho action taken by the General Government, called upon Mr. C. Nicholson to addrcts the meetingMr. Nicholson said what tiny had undertaken was not to aoolish Provincial Government, but to extend and make it mora powerful and useful than it now was. (Hear ) He hoped Vae day wsys not fsr distant when the provineca of the Middle Island would be united a.-; a whole under one government. If the recent action of the General Government was intended ! to crush our struggling provincial institutions i it was high time that ttie miners of Otago and ] the pr .vincia . o immnity generally took action I unitedly in counteracting the bonetul intentions ; of the wily politicians of the northern island. j (Hear.) Mow-that we have a mini at the-head : o~ atiairs who can guide the helm of the produce politically to o.;r advantage, we are is duty bound to supper: hiinaud Li* Government lat all hazards:. ;Chetrs.) The new change in the of Otago was looked forI ward to with hopeful anticipations by ail who ■ha 1 the interests of the province at heart. It \\a.-j indeed very gratifying to his political I notions, and it must alro be to to the gi Id producing industry of Otago generally, that tin: | Pro/meial Council had been purged of men v lei, in their inflated ignorance, were principally instrumental iu bringing about the present change in the management of the golaiicldii. Mr. Nicholson, who spoke at great length, practically weighed provincialism against centralism, and c included by urg'ng not only those whom he aeldresseel there that evening, but upon the miners of Otago generally, the necessity of taki'g a decided stand against the unjustifiable act •. f die General Government. Let our motto be action, If put to the test they would rind him politically and otherwise all there. (Cheers) Mr. Nichols., n then proposed the following resolution* That this meeting views with alarm ami ilistrust the recent action taken by the General Government in witholdhig from James Maeandrew, Esq., Superintendent of Otago, the elelcgation conferrcel by the Goldfields Act of 18G6. Mr. K. M'Leod seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Ms. Nicholson agaiu came forward, and said that in justice to his own personal feelings reporting the unjustly abmpt actii n of the Gene - ral Government, which he was fully prepared to practically repel a L . any nionvn'' if called up<-u to do so, and in order to test the feelings of the miners ger.c ally respecting it, he would propose That should the General Government persist in withholding from the Superintendent the powers delegated by the Goldfields Act, this meeting pledges itsdf to support the Superintendent hj 1 the Provincial Government at nil 1 atirds. seconded by Mr. Beaton, and ca:ried uuanimonsly. Proposed by Mr. Sinclair, seconded by Mr. Hammond, and carried unanimously, That this meeting is of opinion that the Provincial Government ought to take immediate.steps tow; r Is the administrr ton of justice on the roldficlds, now impaired bv the defection of the Wardens. Three cheers for Mr. Nicholson and a vote of thanks to the chair brought the proceedings to a termination.