PUBLIC MEETING AT MAORI GULLY, ARNOLD.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1190, 22 May 1872, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT MAORI GULLY, ARNOLD.

On Saturday evening, 18 th inst, Mr Dungan, M.C.C., according . to i, public notice, met his constituents at Mr Costigan's Hotel, Maori Gully, Arnold; to give an account of his stewardship. It was one of the largest and most influential meetings yet held on these gold fields. The proceedings were characterised by an entire unanimity between the speaker and his hearers. Mr J. Duffy having been called to the chair, introduced Mr Dungan to the meeting, who was warmly received. He said he had met the inhabitants as their representative to give them some account of what had been done for the district and County generally. It came to his knowledge, through the Maori Gully School Committee that complaints had been made against the Education Board, with reference to letters written touching the subsidy to be distributed. Mr Dungan stated that he had been in correspondence with the Chairman of the Board, and that he had : received a letter, which he read to the meeting, exonerating the Board from blame, statiug that the money voted by the Council, when available, would be distributed without delay. The speaker next alluded to the proposed works and essential wants of the district, namely, track from Maori Gully via Italians to New River, a track nearly completed, and a great boon to the district. He next spoke of a most desirable track from Maori Creek to German Gully, a want felt in the district for years, to avoid the dangerous thoroughfare of the New River. A recognition of this important work he secured through a vote of the Council last session —the cost of its construction to be defrayed by a grant of land in any part of the county, but he (Mr Dtingan) was forced to inform the meeting that nothing . had been done in regard to it. He referred also to wire bridges for passenger traffic across the Greenstone Creek near Teramakau, and New lliver near Cock-a-Bulla Creek, payment for same to be taken in land ; there not being at the disposal of the County Government money for the purpose. He need not acquaint the meeting of the great want of works of this nature, as miners knew only too well in a practical sense what he meant, and it was useless for him to dilate upon it in theory. Mr Dungan brought under the notice of the meeting the shifting of the Greenstone township, and of the differences which existed between the miners working in some of the claims on the Duke of Edinburgh terrace and the holders of business places in a part of the township. He thought that a satisfactory arrangement had been arrived at in the selection of a new site for another township, .a short distance from the old one. However this much he could state, that he, and the committee he had the honor of acting with in the matter j had done their utmost to bring

everything to an impartial conclusion,; and he further hoped that those" in: whose hands its final settlement was leffwbuld also do their duty. (Applause.) He' next alluded to the fencing of the cemeteries in the district, and the whole of Westland, stating that a sum of money was voted •by the* Council for this really. , Christian . and praiseworthy purpose, 1 and -lie trusted that they would see the money expended for that laudable $rid; He also spoke of the matter of "the" intended sale of the tbwnship'of Marsden, ihsA having been recommended by a vote of the Council, and without doubt; its realisation to the residents and pro I-perty-holders in the town would be a great acquisition, and a wise provision if carried out, aa it enabled 1 them to become Jjermanent settlers in the country. He stated, also, that the Chairman of the County Council had subsidised the' ferry at the New River, which was really a great want well attended to, as the risk and danger of floods in that river rendered it of most essential service. As to the proposed Court House in Maori Gully — a want long felt in the place— he was compelled to admit that a vote in a former session had lapsed, but its construction was provided for by a vote of the Council last session, and he thought the work would now actually be carried out. Mr Dungan then particularly touched upon the subject of the track to the Still water Creek from Maori Gully. Public feeling was strong in its favor,; as a large increase of the population will eventually be settled there, many water-races he had been informed being taken into the locality. He further acquainted the meeting, that lie presented the petition to the Council from the inhabitants of the "district on the great want' of a track :to the neighborhood in ques-' tion, that the matter was referred to the Roads and Tracks Committee, and that, the Committee recommended the County Engineer to visit the district and report upon the same. He could assure those present that he would not lose sight of the matter, but would do his best to have so desirable a work recognised. As the fencing of the Maori Gully Cemetery had' been prominently 1 brought under his notice, he would simply advise that a small sum' be raised through private con/ tributions, and then apply to the County Chairman for a subsidy, and he had no doubt that it. would be granted. Perhaps, said Mr Dungan, after taking up the time of the meeting so long with the affairs and the requirements of the district, that he might be considered selfish in a sense, but he found other members of the Council possessing perhaps the same pardonable weakness, and if it were to remain an incurable complaint with him he would/not have many regrets. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Passing from local affairs to a more general view of ■ ; the County, he pointed out other beneßcial works undertaken by the County Government, instancing the Waimea district, and also that of Okarito, making special reference to the new road at present in course of construction to the - Kokataki, a splendid agricultural country bordering on the Hokitika river. As to hospital matters, he touched upon the discussion in the Council in regard to that institution, in Hokitika, the Council recognising by vote the right and justice of the country districts to a share in its management. It was also resolved that a new hospital building be erected on the north end of the town of Hokitika. The removal from its present situation on the south side of the river to a more central and' easily accessible site will render the cost of its maintenance considerably less, arid the saying thus effected, it is thought, will eventually repay the expenses incurred in erecting the new buildings. He might also add that the Government subsidy was still L 2 to each LI collected by pri- , vate contributions ; and, while dealing with this business, he '' could not help alluding to comments that had frequently been made by people regarding the late inquiries touching the; Hokitika Hospital. He thought a good deal had been done to remedy the abuses complained of, and particulai'ly to point out the uncompromising spirit of determination displayed by the West Coast Times in sifting everything to the bottom for public view and satisfaction' and the admirable spirit of determination shewnjby that journal when threatened with a prosecution for doing so. Mr Dungan then said that the meeting had heard some account of County matters, and the manner in which his humble abilities had been exercised in regard to them, and that he had no personal ambition to gratify as their representative, but would only hold that position as long as he retained the confidence and support of his constituents. When they found a better aud abler man for the post, he *would resign in his favor. (Applause.) He would now answer any questions that might be put to him by the meeting.'" The Chairman (Mr Duffy) then asked if any person had any question to put to the speaker, but receiving no reply he (the Chairman) wished to know Mr Dungan's opinions on the question of annexation to Nelson. > Mr Dcngan said he would give a very decided answer. . Look to the display of ignorance, inconipetency, and arbitrary power lately made manifest by the :Executive of the Nelson Provincial Council in -dealing with miniug matters at Reef ton. He said ; emphatically — N.o ! ; and that the Westland Government, with all its faults, was far superior to it. (Applause.) And, continued Mr Dungan, you shall know my mind, further that I am no advocate for County or Provincial Governments. The time has come when under one General Government the Gold Fields of the West Coast could be more liberally, more comprehensively, and less expensively managed than under thepresent regime. (Loiid applause.) $ aslc you, as miners and others, who have a valuable stake in the country, can: you not from your knowledge and experience verify the opinion I have given, and fully agree with the statement I have made. (Applause./ Mr Dungan resumed his seat amid loud and continued applause. Mr Enright proposed and Mr Reynolds seconded, a vote of confidence in Mr Dungan as our member, which was carried unanimously, and a vote 'of thanks to Mr Duffy> for his 'able conduct in the chair, brought to a termination the largest and one of ihe most, respectable meetings ever held in the Arnold District.