MEETING AT THE KAIKORAI.

Evening Star, Issue 3761, 13 March 1875, Page 2

MEETING AT THE KAIKORAI.

A meeting of the electors of the Kaikorai district was called last night at the drill-shed for the purpose of getting up a petition to Mr Roberts, member for the district in the Provincial Council, asking that gentleman to resign his seat before leaving em his intended visit to England. Mr Roberts had held a meeting at Green Island on Wednesday night and there intimated bis vvish that he might retain his seat daring his absence, but some of the Kaikorai electors appear to have felt slighted at a meeting not being held in their part, hence last night’s iiftair. At the appointed time some thirty or forty people mustered in the shed, aacl waited for about three-quarters of an hour for some one to take tha initiative, it being intimated that the leaders of the movement were up at the hotel. At last—

A Voice ; We must break the ice someIt’s a piece of tomfoolery for those that called the meeting not to express themselves. Lot them stand forward and say something. Mr Parley ; I propose that Mr Mahone take the chair, —(Applause ) Mr Mahone (taking the chair): I don’t know what this meeting is called for. I’ve heard it was to discuss political matters; but I think the best thing will be to turn it into a concert, so propose that Mr Cowdery give the first song.—(Loud applause.) Mr Cowdery .• We have been made fools ot • but before having a concert we had better ascertain who ordered the room, or else we shall, her let in for expenses -and that would be singing to some tune.—(Loud cries of A song, a song”), Mr Grey : The best thing we can do is to slide borne again. Mr Farley : I can assure Mr Flexman that Mr Cunningham will not be here tonight, if they’re waiting for him. I propose that we adjourn to the hotel and have a drink.—(A voice : Will you shout for the crowd ?)

A round of applause here announced fresh arrivals from the hotel. These entered, and breathless silence for five, minutes ensued. Then there were propositions aud counterpropositions of chairmen, Mr Farley naming several. , 8

Mr Newman ; Mr Farley is in a great hurry to get on with the business ; I propose him as chairman..

Mr Farley gracefully’declined, and in turn proposed Mr Newman. Mr Newman ; My vote is as good as yours; I voted for your master 1 , anyhow. Mr Farley ; I think you would make a very good chairman. _Mr Newman (with ponderous sarcasm): Much obliged to you for your High opinion ; but soft soap won’t <ip with me. Mr Carradus then took the chair, and said: This meeting has been called to ask Mr Roberta to resign bis seat in the Council, and to get the residents of the district to' sign a petition asking him..to do so.' We have bo objection, to Mr Roberts as our member, but we want the place represented while lie is away.

Mr Farley : Who called the me» f ’ Are they electors of the district? * ? names on the roll ? ‘* re Mr Carradur: Yes.

Mr Farley ; Are they bo; na , „ Did David Thom.«n Mgr. hi, SeWmS; Mr C arradus j This meeting ig r.n,ii e( i for the purpose I have stated. * 011 d A Stentorian Voice : And j M an elector, write my name d-y* n to ’iT m. cottr%ter:h Bn^'rrailtic «*

i ™ etfc moved Aw following reso* lution : That, as Mr John Roberts, the member for Kaikorai in the Provincial Council, is on the eve of leaving the Colony for the Home, country, and this important district at the present state of affairs requires that its representative should be present during the coming session of the Council, in order to watch over and protect the interests of the district, this meetmg is of opinion that he be called upon to resign his seat.” r

Mr Newman ; I second the motion I was under the impression that when we elect a member we elect him to act for us when the Council meets. We don’t want Mr Roberta to sport his card in England with M.P.C. on [it. May be that is his object, but mine is to be represented. 'lf ho had resigned aud on returning had put np for re-election, that would have been gentlemanly. _Filey ; 1 move as an amendm t Mr Roberta retain his seat. ” Mr J. Gardner ; I second that. J senwiok5 enwiok •• As for that M.P.C. on his card, Mr Roberts is more of a gentleman. He has not behaved in a bouncing way. Lhxs meeting has been made a humbug of, and we have been left sitting here like mummies. He shall keep his seat. Mr Chairman, I consider that fellow has insulted the meeting,—(Loud cheers and uproar.) Mr Flexman ; I think that Mr Roberts has treated the Kaikorai electors with discourtesy. We worked hard for him at bis election and put him in,, and now he has never asked or consulted us as to keeping his seat. As to what Mr Henwiok says— : that Mr Roberts shall keep his seat—perhaps he may not. I consider that we have been treated with contempt and laughed at, and I feel very sorry for myself, for I worked hard to get him returned. Had he con. suited ns, I would have said, “Take your seat Home with you ” 1 hear also that at the Green Island meeting the Kaikorai electors were not allowed to speak jit all Mr Farley ; Ag an .elector, may I ask —(uproar)—may any person who is not on the roll vote or ask questions ?—(“ No, no.”) My name is not on the roll—(“ Sit down •” “shut up;” “turn him out.”) ’ . Mr : Gilmour; I wish to disabuse the meeting of one idea. Mr Flexman says that the Kaikorai people were not allowed to ask questions at Green Island. Now, I asked some, and had time to ask a dozen. There was lots of time for anyone, but nobody asked any. Mr Roberts explained that no discourtesy was intended, but that bis time was too short, and his private business prevented his holding a meeting at Kaikorai. Mr Flexman : A very lame excuse! A Voice : Mr Flexman, did you receive L 3 from Mr Roberts for champagne’—(Lead yells, and cries of “Don’t answer him ” “ Turn him out.”) Mr Flexman: I spent L 7 over Mr Roberts’s election, and said to him, “Never mind about what I have spent.” My clerk was drunk for two days, and it cost me altogether Ll2. How about the L 3 now?—(Loud cheers.)

Mr Gilmour : Will the petition be sent round to the electors ?

Mr Flexman : That will be a matter for us to consider.—(Cheers.) Mr Newman ; Perhaps that gentleman wril sign it to-uight.—(Laughter.) The amendment w«s then put, and after about a score of attempts the Chairman gave the result as 16 for it, and 18 for. the motion The latter was therefore declared carried, amidst cheers, and the meeting summarily broke up. The opposition, or Green Island faction, made out that 22 voted for their amendment, and only 14 for the motion • but, so far as we could tell, the first figures were correct. °