BANNOCKBURN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 795, 13 July 1877, Page 3

BANNOCKBURN.

(from a courespondent.) A well attended public meeting was held at the Schoole-house here on the 25th ult., for the purpose of electing a Prngi ess Coramittee to act in and watch over the interests of the Riding, and to say through whom the public feeling of the district will in future be represented. A Committee of eight was elected, of Whom MrJ. M'Kersio was voted to the Chair, and Mr D. M‘Gregor Secretary. Mr C. Ray said as the Committee was now elected it was the duty of the meeting to instruct them through whom any Parliamentary correspondence should be done. He had’a raotion to place before the meeting in'consequenco of a previous meeting carrying a motion that their business should be done through-Mr. Stout, M.H.R. At that meeting a reporter from the Argus and a goodly sprinkling of the Cromwell citizens attended ; among the latter Mr MaoKellar, Mr Colclough, and Mr Grant were notable for their lengthy speeches. Ho (Mr Ray) hid since that meeting changed his mind, and would propose, That all business be done through our member, V, Pyke, Esq, M.H.R. Mr M'Gregor in seconding was glad to see Mr Ray fall into his views, as ho had proposed the same resolution at a former meeting which was then lost, Ho said the Cromwell folks had said very hard things of him on that account, and concluded with saying ho would trust to the good sense of the meeting to sustain his views, on the matter. ~ ' , r Most of the meeting spoke to the motion. Mr M ‘Kcrsie left the Chair by leave of theracetiog, and spoke very strongly against. Mr O’Neill rebutted Mr M'Kcrsie’s remarks, and said that in consequence of what had transpired in connection with the Cromwell folks, that they wero justified in altering their views ; indeed a short time ago when Mr M'Kersio was nominated to visit the Nevis on political business his expenses wore promised, and when the model Mayor of Cromwell was applied to, ho Mu m’d and lin'd” and gave 2s Cd. Ho

thought they could look after themselves iu future, without tho assistance of outsiders, 1 An amendment was proposed and lost after tellers were twice appointed, Mr O'Neill said Bo had a motion to propose which would bo more productive of good to the settlers of tho district than any that had yet neon placed before tho Bannockburn public. He would propose, That the Secretary 0f tho Progress Committee obtain a- copy of a prospectus of a cooperative store, with tho view of floating a company to trade on tho Bannockburn. Ho Said a miner had promised to take up L2OO worth of scrip. (1 have since ascertained the gentleman’s name is Mr James Johnston, which is sufficient in itself to bo relied on.) Mr O’Neill said ho would tako LIOO worth himself, and concluded with saying he thought there would be no trouble in raising the necessary capital in tho district. This was seebnded by Mr W, B. Young, who very ably showed the saving it would bo to the district to have a store of our own, and break down the present high rate of prices. —Carried. ' . My reason for reporting so long after the meeting is passed is in consequence of it not having been published in the Cromwell Argus. I hold, apart from individual feeling, it is the duty of men who undertake the secretaryship of public meetings to bow to any decision that may be arrived at.