THE "FENIAN" EXCITEMENT AT WESTPORT.

Grey River Argus, Volume V, Issue 354, 21 April 1868, Page 2

THE "FENIAN" EXCITEMENT AT WESTPORT.

Our readers are already aware that the constabulary sent up from Hokitika to the Buller were politely sent back by Mr Commissioner Kynnersley, f«. r reasons which appear to have been anything but satisfactory to a portion of the Westport public. We clip from the Westport Tii&is the following portion of a report of a public meeting convened for the purpose of inducing Mr Kynnersley to retain the troops : — - Pursuant to the resolution the gentlemen appointed waited -upon Mr Kynnersley, and urged upon him the necessity there existed for retaining the armed constabulary here, and at eight o'clock a public meeting was held in the Assembly Rooms, at which Mr Harry Pitt took the chair. He stated that although he and the other gentlemen of the committee, had waited upon the Commissioner he had given his unequivocal denial to their application, and ordered the troops bacjt to Hokitika. Mr Pitt stated that the matter was urged upon the Commissioner with all the force possible, but with no. effect. A voice : Let Mr Kynnersley go with the troops. Cheers. Mr Hildreth, one of the deputation, stated that on their calling on Mr Kynnersley, he had assured them that all was quiet at Addison's, and read certain resolutions passed at a public meeting at Addison's to the deputation in support of this assertion. Mr Kynnersley told them that although he had been frequently to Addison's he had never been insulted, and that everything is quiet; and he had come to the conclusion that no armed force was necessary, and that if people would thrust themselves upon the Go vernment, assisted by the press, they were the only disturbers of the peace and not the Addison's Flat men. He stated that no Femanism existed." But this, gentlemen, is in the face of the fact that the crown and standard were trampled on. (Cheers.) r Mr Munro, another of the deputation, said— "Before I went I thought the errand would be a fruitless one. On our bomg introduced to Mr Kynnersley he

took exception to the part of the address, where you affirm that the people of Addir son's are riotously inclined. (A voice—: He is one of them.) Mr Kynnersley told them that no reason existed for the force to be retained. He (Mr Kynnersley) told them that he, had been better received at Addison's than at W§stport, and if any disaffection existed it was ia Westport, and if constabulary wer§ wanted, it would be here. Mr Kynnersley stated that the. men at Addisou's were, " a quiet, peaceable, right-minded, inoffensive and honor, able body of mgu, and he. had no fear of any revolutiqpary action, but he repeated he would not be answerable ; if people, and press, indulged in inflammatory speeches and leaders, for the men at Addison's would have cq,use to revolt. Mr Kynnersley concluded by saying, that the word "loyalty" stu.nk in his nostrils. I hope if Mr Kynnersley is consistent, he will arrest the proprietors and editors and also the speakers who spoke so warmly on the third of April. (Cheers.) (Three groans for Mr Kyunersley mosfc heartily given.) Mr Pitt, chairman, tried to keep order, Mr Munro continued by saying he hoped the Volunteers, would keep their arms and attend to their drill. Commenting on the above, the editor of the Westpart Tims, says :-=-Mr Commissioner Kynnersley, in the course of his remarks to the deputation who waited upon him yesterday afternoon, requesting him to allow the body of armed constabut lary to remain for a time longer in Westport, took occasion to reprobate the tone adopted by the press of Westport in dealing with the subject of Fenian disaffection in the, district, and his (the Com mis, sioner s) action, or rather inaction, in the matter. The Commissioner ig said to have stated that if any disturbance arose he wou}d attribute it mainly to theinflam* matory sentiments expressed by the press. In reply to our share, of the accusation, we. only deem it necessary to remark, that had the Commissioner done his duty, and adopted such a course as his position of chief Magistrate demanded, the language which (naturally enough) he regards°4 offensive, would never have been made use of, and we fearlessly assert, that should any future disturbance take place the blame will rest entirely at the door or" the Commissioner, who has adapted bo snpine and pandering a policy. The only charitable, view we can take of Mr Kynnersley's conduct is, that it is attributable* to a constitutional indecision and vaccila^ tion..