PUBLIC MEETING AT BANNOCK BURN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 784, 27 April 1877, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT BANNOCK BURN.

: [Communicated.] —o — Nomination of 'Councillor for Nevis Riding, Vincent County. There was a pretty good muster in the Bannockburn School-house on Monday evening, the 23rd instant, to consider What steps the Kawarau Riding 'would tike in regard to the Nevis election, amongst whom were Messrs Colclough, Grant, Marsh, and MacKellar, from 'Cromwell. After several gentlemen were proposed, and refused tho honor. Mr Owen O’Neil took the chair, and Mr W. P. Jones was appointed secretary. Tho Chairman then called upon those who had convened the meeting, but there being no response, Mr Grant, from Cromwell, came to the front and stated that he was out on Saturday night and spoke to a good few about the Nevis election, (or as he put it, the present political crisis), and they thought it would be best to hold a meeting. He also said it would never do to allow Mr Stewart to go in. but 'that he had no vote himself ; he would do anything so far as lending a horse to any one to go over and vote for a man that would represent the northern part of this County. Mr M'Kersie was asked to give his version : He stated that he was a Nevis miner, and would have stood but that there was a legal technicality that compelled him from being a candidate, but he distinctly stated he would not have (even if he could)'if any men went from the Kawarau Riding to vote, as :t was not only unfair the way they did last time, but a piece of impertinence to go and dictate to the Nevis men who they should have. M r Ray proposed the following resolution: That the electors of this Riding refuse to interfere one way or another with the election of councillors for the Nevis Riding. In doing so he said that we should do to them as we would have them do unto 'ns, and that we would hardly like any one to come and dictate to us who we should have as ■ councillor, Mr M Kersie seconded the motion, and laid great stress upon the unfairness of the last election. Mr Frank Lyons strongly supported the 'motion, but did not think it went far enough, and that there should ben rider added to it-apologising to the Nevis men for the shabby way we treated them last time. Mr Colclough said the motion was very good in'the abstract, but that we must look after oui own interests, and that if the Nevis men tried to put in a man opposed to ■our interests we most teach them better, though ic was not a p'easant duty to perform ; ho also said Mr Stewart was entirely ■oppose Ito this end of the district. In fact he showed all the disadvantages we should 'labor under it he was elected. Mr Young also spoke against the motion. Mr James Taylor, late of Cromwell, ■spoke strongly against tho motion, and thought it out of place. Mr Marsh said he would not have been there only he had seen a Mr M'Ginnis at Butcher’s Gully lately, and he had told him 'about tlfe unfairness of the Earnscleugh Riding, people being brought from other 'ridings, &c., to vote. He had also found, •after twenty-three years 'experience on the goldliehls, that and miners ■could never get on together as their interests were antagonistic. Mr MacKellar said Mr Ray seemed to be going on principle, but that he would show 'that he was not. He also 'instanced that the law seemed strongly dwelt on by one or two, but that if a fire broke oat it was lawful to pull down another man’s house to stop it from going farther, and that this Riding must'not'look to itself but to the good of tho County, as wo were in danger of a conflagration. Mr O’Neil left the Chair to make a tew remarks, which were, that wo should correspond with the Nevis minors on the subject. Mr Colclough suggested (as itwas not his place to propose) that we nominate some one from here, and in the event of the Nevis nominating one of the right sort, this nomination to be withdrawn. After several were proposed, it was eventually proposed by Mr Bruce, That Mr James Taylor be nominated. On his asking What support he could get from here, was told that that was an after consideration, hot that there would bo plenty to put him'in. On the amendment being put, nearly all voted for it, and for Mr Ray’s motion only ■two bands were held up, so that the amendment was carried almost unanimously. After some routine business was done the meeting broke up.