Public Meeting at Birmingham.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 59, 7 September 1893, Page 2

Public Meeting at Birmingham.

[from our own correspondent.] A largely attended meeting was held in the Birmingham schoolhouse last evening, to consider the appointment of Justices of tbe Peace, and other matters. Mr H. Mclntyre was voted to the chair and Mr J. H. Richardson was appointed secretary for the meeting. The nomination of gentlemen for the position of J.P. was proceeded with first, and tbe following names proposed: — Messrs G. Anyon, H. Tolley (junr.), C. Lindsay, Bathe, Gurke, R. Burne, W.* Morton, and Ashton. A discussion arose as to whether the appointment of gentlemen should be confined to the residents in the Birmingham Block, and also that all in and around the Block should take part in the proceedings. Eventually it was resolved that all present at the meeting could take part. Mr T. A. Bryce said tbat two names had been suggested to tbe Minister of Justice, at tbe instance of a meeting held before Parliament met, and one of them, Mr Hodge, was almost certain to be appointed to tbe Commission. If it was thought necessary, another name could be suggested to the Minister of Justice, but the people could not appoint Justices. Mr Stokes thought there hud been some hole and corner business, and thought Mr Hodge's name should be submitted to ballot at this meeting. Mr Bryce explained that he had no hand in sending the names to Wellington. If the meeting had any objection to Mr Hodge, they should pass a resolution to that effect. Mr Tolley (junr), had no objection to Mr Hodge, but though proper notice of the previous meeting should have been given. It was resolved that only two names be submitted for appointment and a ballot was taken, the names of Messrs G. Anyon and W. Morton being the ones selected. Messrs McNair and Simpson acted as scrutineers. The polling was as follows : — G. Anyon, HO; W. Morton, 17; R. Burne, 15; W. Ashton, 12; H. Tolley (junr), 6 ; Mr Bathe, 5 ; Mr Guirke, 1. Kesolyed, That the names selected be sent to the Minister of Justice through the Member for the district for appointment. Tho next business dealt with was the question of appointing a Registrar of births, marriages, and deaths, Mr Lowes proposed, and Mr Birch seconded, that a registrar or deputy registrar of births, marriages and deaths, be appointed at once. Mr Tolley (junr). proposed as an amendment, and Mr Stokos seconded, that the advisableness be urged on the Gov. eminent of oreciin;,- a post office in Birmingham and appointing a Government official to act as postmaster, and who would also be registrar of births, mar* riagos, and deaths ; failing that, a registrar be appointed at once. In speaking to the amendment Mr Tolly, Junr., pointed out the great inconvenience people were put to, and thought there was sufficient business to warrant the bnilding of a post office. Mr Stokes did not approve of the present method of working the post office, and advocated the appointment of an official who would not be in business, as at present they had to wait too long when they went to the office to do business. Mr Stokes said that it was customary for some persons to go behind tlie counter and help themselves. Mr Ashton, the deputy postmaster, who was present, explained that the incident complained of by Mr Stokes was while he was sending a wire away, which was more important than attending to those who bad come for letters, and denied that anyone had touched letters in his presence. Mr Tolley's amendment was carried. The question of changing the name of the post office from Fowlers was considered. Mr H. Tolley (junr.) proposed, and Mr R. Burne seconded, That the Government be asked to call the post office Oroua. Mr Tolley said the Postmaster-General had definitely declined to name the place Birmingham, and pointed out the , absurdity of calling the place Birmingham, | as letters and parcels often went to Birmingham, England. Mr Tolley in. stanced a 'case where a person lost £50 , through the place having two names. Mr Anyon said that a parcel addressed | to him from Auckland had gone to England, and eventually came to him after nine months, marked " Can't be found." Mr T. A. Bryce would like to see some Maori name chosen, as they were very suitable, and in time to come would be valuable. Mr Bryce suggested tbat the name chosen be Waitapu. Mr Tolley's motion was carried on being put to the meeting. This being all the business a vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting- ,