GOLD FIELDS REPRESENTATION IN THE EXECUTIVE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 644, 5 March 1870, Page 2

GOLD FIELDS REPRESENTATION IN THE EXECUTIVE.

♦ [WESTPORT TIMES.] A meeting was held in the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening, Feb. 26, -for the purpose of considering the advisability of petitioning the Superintendent to give effect to the motion passed by the Provincial Council on the 25th May, 1869, viz., that his Honor should appoint a member of the Provincial Executive for the West Coast." There were about sixty persons preseut. Mr John Munro, who was requested to preside, stated the object of the meeting. He anticipated no diversity of feeling with regard to that object. All might consistently join in thinking that theie should be an Executive officer representing the gold fields. It would be more desirable if the Executive were, a one, but he saw no reason why they should not now select one person, trusting to the Ordinance being amended, so that that responsibility might be secured. He considered that Mr Kynnersley would be more desirable as a responsible officer than with absolute power. ■ Mr E. J. O'Conor proposed the first resolution: — "That a memorial be presented to his Honor the. Superintendent reppectfully requesting that the motion passed in the Provincial Council on the 25th day of May, 1869, be carried into effect, viz., that his Honor the Superintendent should appoint a member of the Provincial Executivefor the West Coast." He placed no faith in their achieving any. thing by petition to the Nelson Government. Still he thought they were right in supporting the Provincial Council's recommendation that the gold fields should be repre|piied in the Executive. It would be more desirable to have the Executive constituted otherwise, and he hoped that during the next sitting of the Council a measure by which this would be attained would' be passed, but it was better to nave some form of representation than none, at all. The Nelson Government, unpopular in Nelson itself, were certainly so here, and if they wished to regain their popularity they would require to place on %he West Coast some person more luminous than themselves.. As an illustration of the neglect of West Coast affairs, he referred to a reply which had been received to a petition forwarded on the subject of river protection. This reply stated that, goiug by the District Engineer's estimate, the Government did not feel justified in undertaking the only advisable works, which would cost L2OOO, and beportitn only of a vast scheme. This was the only ' public work asked for, yet such was the answer of a Government which paid here as salaries LIOO per week. In fact it required all the money they could get to feed the wolves and worms fastenened to to their train. Mr W. N. Franklyn seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr Franklyn, who was received with applause, proposed — "That an opportunity now presents itself by the return of Mr Kynuersley to this Province to appoint a gentleman who has the entire confidence of the inhabitants of the Nelson South-west Gold Fields, and that his Honor the Superintendent be respectfully requested to carry into effect the wishes of the: Provincial: Council as expressed in the motion referred to in the first resolution, by appointing Mr Kynnersley as our representative in the Provincial Executive." He said — I am happy in having this opportunity of speaking upon a subject which has always been advocated by myself, and one which I think conducive to the proper administration of affairs on the West Coast. The appointment of a member of the Provincial Executive to -represent U3 was what I told the miners of the Grey Valley last November that I should use my most strenuous endeavors to obtain, and from day to day since that time, when I see the dilapidated state of trade on the gold fields, and the utter unconcern with which the Nelson Executive look down upon our troubles, I feel convinced that if some one in whom we have confidence does not shortly step into the breach, the people on the Coast will soon be in open rebellion, and will in self-defence unite as one man to throw off a yoke that has galled them so long. — (Applause.) But, gentlemen, after all, if we look dispassionately upon the question, are we not partly to blame for this evident apathy on the part of the Nelson Executive, for have we in any public manner before this present meeting was convened, made known to the proper quarter that so much dissatisfaction was felt by the majority of the miners as to the inequality of their representation in the Executive of the Province ? Should>however, these resolutions, if passed, receive the confidence of the miners, and result, in their largely signing a memorial to the Superintendent to grant what I and all of us contend is so much required on the Coast — that of having a say in the management of our own affairs — I am confident Mr Curtis will see the necessity of at least granting us any reasonable and sensible request we may make of him, . and, seeing, this, he will not refuse' what we are now submitting has become- an actual necessity to the well-being of the community.— (Applause.) Gentleman, I was proud and rejoiced to hear that the mere mention of the name of our old friend Mr Kynnersley was greeted with applause,- and if he were here now, I know he would look upon, this gathering in his cause, and the flattering manner in which you have received the news of only a prospect of his return to us, as one of the greatest, because sincere, compliments that was ever paid to him in his lifetime. It has been stated by one or two exceptionals in this town— but thank God they are few — that you cannot get Mr Kennersley back, without injuring some one else. This. I deny. I say that everything may be so arranged as to be thoroughly honorable and satisfactory to all parties ; and this I will endeavor to explain. Mr Kinnersley, we are told, has taken the appointment of Warden at the Wangapeka. Nowj with due diference to the Nelson people, we all know the Wangapeka to be as nearly as possible a myth, and a diggings, that -after the preliminaries are settled, will hot require muck legislation, and will, m t at any any rate require more than periodical visits from Mr Kynnersley. Let - Mr Kynuersley, therefore, if he likes, reside in Nelson, but be a member of the Executive specially representing the interests of the South-west ■ Gold Fields; and visit the Coast as often as he can spare time. By constant visits amongst us Mr Kynnersley will be able to know our wants, from th.c best of all sources^ personal pb«

serration, and, having aseat and influence in the Executive, will bo able to represent, these in such a manner as will ensure, if nol; immediate relief, at least consideration.—(Applause.) Contrast the position of the gold fields now, and at the time Mr Kynnevsley had charge uf, them. At the present time, wherever one travels, from north to south, expressed dissatisfaction with the Nelson Executive is in every one's mouth.— (Hear, hear.) Now there must be a reason for this, for it is simply absurd to think that every one could complain without reason. A few certainly might, but when a thoroughly unanimous feeling exists, one can only belie \<e that the sense of injustice done us, is universal, and that there are grounds for this feeling.— (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, since Mr Kynuersley left the Coast an entire cessation of public works has taken place both in the Grey Valley, Charleston and here. What has been the consequence '? Our p p ilation has dwindie lin proportion, for wnat option had a miner who had spent his all in prospecting but to leave a district wherein his misfortunes, a helping hand was not stretched out to assist him. How many men have thus been driven away, who had faith in our future and who would gladly have remained? This is a bitter truth, but felt, and known too well, by every miner and storekeeper on the Coast. But the cry to this is, that money is wanting. Well, all I. have to say to this is, that we are tired of that cry, and if the Nolson Government are really, as they say, without funds, the sooner they borrow some the better for themselves and the Province. Contrast these times, I say, with those when we had Mr Kynnersley at the head of affairs. Then things wore a smiling appearance. We knew we had '^ac amongst us whose heart and soul were bound up in the iuterest and welfare of the Coast. We had one amongst us who was the idol of the miner, the friend of every working-man. — {Applause.) It is a pleasure to contemplate the return of such a man to us, and to think thtit prosperous • days may again dawn upon us. Let us then at once respectfully and quietly tellthe Superintendent that we are determined to be represented in the Executive Council of the Province by some one who ; . has local knowledge and experience of our wants, and that we submit that Mr .■>■■■ Kynnersley is that man. lam happy to find, f«om the large number here this evening, that the good people of the Buller" are beginning to awaken to a knowledge of their own wants, and that the old spirit that was formerly manifest „ <■. amongt them — that of wishing to have a say in the management of affairs — is at last breaking into flame. - Well, I shall not rest, and there are others here present who will not rest until, if we cannot get our reasonable and just requests attended .to, that flame will be fanned into a blaze. —{Loud applause.) Mr James Milne seconded the motion, which was carried with similar unanimity. ■Mr John Hughes proposed the third : resolution — ' ' That a com mittee consisting of Messrs O'Conor, Munro, Franklyn, Falla, and the mover be appointed to - . draw up a memorial in accordance with the resolutions passed, to obtain, signatures thereto, and to forward the same to bis Honor the Superintendent." Mr Samuel West seconded the motion, which was also c-rried, and the meeting, v Which had frequently applauded the seve- : ral speakers, separated after a vote of thanks to the Chairman, who congratulated it upon its wonderful and exceptional unanimity.