PUBLIC MEETING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 778, 16 March 1877, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

- 0— A meeting of gentlemen was held in the Commercial Room of Baines’ Dnnstan Hotel, Clyde, to oonsi ler the action of the residents in the Cromwell portion of the District in presenting Vincent Fyke, Esq., member of the (douse of Representatives for the Dnnstan District, with a requisition calling upon him to resign. MrJ. U. Cambridge who occupied the Chair explained briefly the object of the meeting, and called upon some 'one better posted up than himself to state what was suggested to be done. Mr Fache said the requisition calling upon Mr Fyke to resign, he had not the slightest doubt in bis mind, and still less hesitation in saying, was merely the outcome of the disappointment felt at Cromwell not being the meeting place of the Council, and had nothing whatever to do with Mr Fyke’s political opinions or career. Such being the case, he held that it was as much a duty to themselves as to Mr Fyke to make patent to the world this fact, and the simplest plan of doing so, he looked upon, was to present air Fyke with a requisition expressive of confidence, and asking him to retain his seat. Mr Eames said the requisition calling upon Mr Fyke to resign had .‘IIG signatures attached. From what he could understand it had m signatures from the lower end of the District, in fact below Cromwell Bridge, and only two from the Nevis, therefore it was not from the Dnnstan District, but merely a small corner of it, with Cromwell as its head. He also understood that a groat many of the signatures were those of residents outside the County, and consequently not entitled to a voice in the question, Mr Forrest said though he did not agree with Mr Fyke in all of his political views, he thought the action of the Cromwell people was inconsistent; he, consequently, was opposed to them. It was not many months since tho residents of the extreme portion of the district, differing in opinion from Mr Fyke, appealed to tho Cromwell .portion of the District, then they were perfectly satisfied and refused. No political puostion has since then cropped up; it is therefore evident to him tho whole thing hinges on tho County Town question. Mr Little said any movement counter to that from Cromwell ho was sure would be supported to a man at the Nevis. Tho following requisition was, after some furtherdiscussion, adopted, and a committee consisting of Messrs B. Naylor, Parks, Cox, Eames, Holt, Welsford and Feraud were appointed arrange to gotiug copies of tho reguisition circulated throughout the district for signature.

REQUISITION. To Vincent Pmle, Esq., Member of the House of Representatives of the Dunstan District. We, the undersigned Electors of and Residents in the Dunstan District, learning through the Press that some of the Electors and Residents in the Cromwell and Bannockburn portions of the said District have called upon you to resign your seat in the House of Representatives, now most earnestly re.qu.wt that you will not accede to any such call. We will not commit ourselves further than to characterise the proceeding of the Cromwell and Bannockburn requisitionists ns an unwarrantable liberty ; and the arrogating to themselves a power that in no sense belongs to them. From what we can learn, the head and front of your offending is that you did not give your vote and support to Cromwell being the meeting-place of the Vincent County Council- Had you done so wo assume no such step would have boon taken, To our minds the location of the County Council has nothing whatever to do with your duties in Parliament; wo therefore disagree with and deprecate the conduct of the aforesaid requisitionists. Since you have been our Member we can conscientiously say that yon have not forfeited our confidence ; on the contrary, wo have felt promt of yon as our Member, and we feci assured that at the conclusion of the existing Parliament you will receive a confirmation of the Vote of Confidence this requisition implies by a general request to again represent the Dunstan District. We remain, Your supporters. Resolved—That copies of the requisition be sent to all the lea-ling men throughout the District, accompanied with a letter* requesting them to obtain signatures to same. A vote of thanks to the Chair concluded the meeting.