PUBLIC MEETING, OPHIR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 966, 22 October 1880, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING, OPHIR.

A public meeting, convened by advertisement, was held at (Javan's hotel, Ophir on Monday evening last the ISth instant, to consider an I discuss the action nt the Goverument in throwing the Blacks portion of tlie Dunstau district into the Naseby district.

Mr John Pitches, M.C.C. for Manuhorikia riding was voted to the Chair, and on rising said--the object of the meeting, and the question to be discussed was of far gieater importance to the district, and to each individual in it, than at first blush appeared and he was gratified to see so many in attendance to take part in the evenings proceedings. The action of the Government in cutting them old from the other part of the Dunstau District, with which they are and have been doing business for years past was to say the least inconsiderate, and he was of the opinion that before tbo change was fully effected and the various officers had dropped into their allotted places the people of this district should give an expression of their opinion. To throw us into Naseby—(A voice : We had better be scut to Dunedin,)—was a most unwise step. Under the old rule, which was bad enough, the people had to journey 20 miles to to do any busi ness between Court days with the District Land Officer, Warden, or U.M., but under this new idea we shall have to journey 50 miles to Naseby. It is for tbo meeting to consider what is best to bo done. The member for the district, Mr Pyke, who is present, will perhaps give his views. Mr Pyke said his duty was as their representative to hear the expressions of opinion of the people, and not in a matter of this kind to take a part. If after the meeting he could bo of service ho would be happy to assist them. Mr J. C. Chappie said he did not agree with the Government in making the change, and maintained that the inhabitants of the district should have been consulted before it was made. Tbo district was of too much importance to bo treated in so off-hand a manner. Tbo district was growing daily, and if the land, in accordance with requirements, was thrown open, it would continue to grow. It was of no coustquence to the district who the gentleman was that officiated as 11. M. and Warden, but it was of the utmost importance that they should not be severed from Clydcand thrown intoNaaoby. He proposed —That this meeting views with alarm tho proposal to sever lllacks district from the

Duns tan Mining and Land district and attach it to to the Maniototo. Mr Fitzgerald said as the meeting was called to discuss the question, he thought others should express their opinion before any resolutions wore carried. He should be in favour of tho pistrict being consUtuted a sub-land district, with a resident officer.

Mr Harrington said all would agree with the former spealer, but thought it very unlikely just yet to have them. He was yet of opinion that with a little agitation the proposed change, which would be most ruinous, might be altered, and tho district allowed to conduct its business with thu Clyde Court. To ask the people of this district to travel to Naseby instead of to Clyde to transact what business they might have «as unreasonable. He had pleasure in seconding the proposition. Mr Chappie said before tho proposition was put to the meeting he desired to supplement his remarks, while agreeing with Mr Fitzgerald, he thought the present was no time to ask for such a thing. The object of the Government is to reduce the staff of officers, and not to increase it. By and bye the time would be more favourable; at present we should bo satisfied with tho visits of the Gold Ueceiver from Clyde every fortnight or so. He was sanguine of the district, with its gold and its land combined, making its mark. The request to remain as a part of the Clyde division of the Dunstan district was reasonable, and should meet with success. Should it not, we must meet again and agitate till wo are successful.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

2nd, —Proposed by Mr Harrington, seconded by 7 Mr W. Leask and carried: - “ That this meeting feels certain that such partition of the district will bo productive of great inconvenience to persons having Mining, Land or Judicial business to transact at the local Court.” He said bo could but repeat what he had previously said, or follow other speakers. He would allow the motion to speak for itself, Mr W. Leask seconded. Carried unanimously.

Mr Flannery said the proposed arrangement would prove extremely inconvenient to the section of the community he was a member of, namely, the farmers. He would propose.—That a more satisfactory arrange ment would be for the present Clerk—A. D. Harvey—to continue to transact the business at the Court at Ophir as heretofore.”

Mr M. G a van seconded, fully endorsing what had fallen from previous speakers. Mr J. C. Chappie had great pleasure in supporting the proposition. The motion was carried unanimously. 4'h.- Proposed by Mr Jones, seconded by Mr Chappie and carried “That this foregoing llesohitions be entrusted to our representative V. Pyke, Esq., asking him to transmit the same to the Government with his recommendations." Mr Jones said it was needless for him to speak at length after what had been already said, yet the whole question was one of the utmost importance to every man in the district and every legitimate effort should lie made to obtain a reversion of thn decision arrived at by the Government to throw this portion of the Dunsfan District into that of Xasehy. It was scarcely to ho expected just yet to got a resident officer. M r Pyke said that now the meeting ha I expressed their wishes lie would endeavour to impress on the G ivernmeut the desirability of giving effect to them. He was convinced that the proposed severance of lllacks district from Duostaii was a lingo mistake the interests of hot hj being closelv hound up ; and the absurdity of supposing that the icsidciits preferred a journey of forty miles to one of IS Hides showed than their welfare had not been considered in the proposed arrangements. With regard to what had been said about a resident officer lie entirely and thoroughly emeurret with it. Hacks was 010 of the in >st progressive districts in Vincent Comity, and would become a very important commercial centre. Rut in these days of ultrarigid economy there was little hope of getting a nsi lent officer. F.veryJiing 'canto to those who could wait, at the present time the question was narrowed down to whether they preferred transacting their business at Clyde or Xasehy, and his advice was to lie content in the meantime to keep things as they were, and endeavour to got more in future. He would do his best to assist them, and he hoped to have the power to do so. The Cliaiiman said as this part of tho business was over lie thought it an opportune time to mention the Late alteration of telegraph rates, by the charging one shilling and sixpense for ten words to and from tho blacks office, he could not but characterize it a short sighted piece of policy as with the increased rate he felt sure the returns would be smaller, this matter might also be placed in tho bauds of the Member of the district.

Mr Pyke wag understood to say that ho already hail the question in hand. Votes of thanks to the Chairman and Mr Pyke were carried with acclamation and the meeting broke up.