MEETING AT MARSDEN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1370, 19 December 1872, Page 2

MEETING AT MARSDEN.

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) A public meeting, was held at Marsden on Tuesday for the purpose of allowing Mr Cooper to interview the electors. Mr W. Tornbull was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced Mr Cooper, who .said, that he had: called the meeting for the purpose :of .stating his opinion on 'the subjects that would, no doubt, come before the County Council at the next sitting. He first of all, however/explained how he came to be elected, and the circumstances connected with it. He had already held a meeting at the Greenstone, and he found . the meeting unanimously in favor' of Mr Dungan, and if the present meeting came to the same conclusion, and ! he found on arriving in Greymouth that there was time for a fresh election, 'and " for the new _ member to take his seat at the opening of the Council he would resign, but he did not think it would be right for him to do so if there was not time — he did not thing the, district should be unrepresented. He then rof erred to the financial position of the Council. No doubt the question of land would crop up during the next session, and he' should be induced to offer every facility for men with small means to settle on the land. He would reduce the price to 10s an acre, and introduce the same system as they have in Victoria— deferred payment of 2s 6d per year for four year, with the proviso that the settler resided on the land and cultivated it. He thought all land should be taxed alike, and that the poor man should not be taxed more for his land, which he had improved by his labar, than the millionaire who bought land for speculative purposes and allowed it to lie idle. The question of Road Boards might oome on for discussion, and he would first

like to know what they Had done and the money they had cost, with a view to see if they coujd be rendered more efficient. Referring to the Mining Regulations, he ; thought they were liberal, but if there could be any improvements effected for the benefit of the miner, he certainly would do his utmost to have them carried out, andhe should :only.:bfl.too.glad to render: any assistance. whenever required to do so. He.considered it the duty of the Government to foster large water-races, and he. believed the ; time^ was coining 'wheii" a larger supply of waterwpuld be necessary for this district. ..." ; In answer to: questions^ ;Mr, ,Cooper ; said that he did hot think it desirable to> reduce the duty , on gold, as the oircum? stances of , the Counlywouid riot permit it to be done. He did, not. apply to the Returning Qfficer for the seat. He met him in the Court House/ when the conversation about the seat .took place. Mr Dungan said he had been called on to explain himself' respecting the Paroa election, it gave him special gratification to do. so. He would apeak his; mind . as an honesli man. . .. Men . of, more ; acute than himself had. : made greater mistakes than he had done. He had special privilege to take thirty days according to the Gold Fields Act, He paid his money on the 14th October^ and his miner's right was dated the 22nd. He considered a great abuse had been perpetrated by taking his money, on the T4th and dating it the 22ndl ' Mr Cooper had said that he knew, of his disqualification, the night previous,. but he was qualified' now, and there should be a fresh election, and not have it' called^ asit would -be, a farce, from one end of the County to the other. , ,He spoke as an, elector .that there fc ought to be a fresh" electibnl. * ]g£'w,ag'. free to leave the contest, but Mr Cooper could not as an honorable man keep his seat.- Mr Hamilton's name-had been freely made use of j and he (Mr Hamilton)^ had come forward honorably to serve him.: He looked on Mr Hamilton as an honest man, and hedid not believe that he (Mr Hamilton) did go and, inform him. that he was ' disqualified. He read a letter sent by Mr Hamilton iothe Returning Officer that no, article ;• for contracting had : been signed yet. , So much for Mr Hamilton's disqualification. Mr Cooper had ; said that he would resign, if there was time for a fresh election. This was only the lyth day.pf December,; and the new pouncil would' rioit meet till the Bth or 10th of, January,; theiefore there wasplenty of time, and the constituency: Ought to have the opportunity of choosing a member of their own. He had very }ittle;more to. sayj on public grounds he ivas there to speak his; mind, .and he distinctly said again The was only an elector, and he contended that there; ought to be a fre3h election. Mr Hamilton had. acted as a gentleman, but he would leave it -for the meeting to say what were Mr Cooper's acts. -He would be in Greymouth tomprrow,; and; he would see if Mr Cooper would act as he had prpmised. In answer to a question, he" (Mr Dungan) said the Council voted LSOO for educational purposes, and handed 1 it over to the Board pf Education to lay out. ; ' •■. ■ ! , • Mr ; CobpEß said that what Mr Dungan ,iad. stated was substantially correct, but fhat he had" said he should consult his friends in Greymbuth before he decided, providing this meeting came to t ne s ame conclusion as . the Qreenstone had done, I -<>l < » < .tiQri,_he resign. Mr Dungan had said there : was time, and there the matter rested. ; Mr John \Bain mpyed,. and^ Mr Poljcqck : seconded- -" That' this meeting request of Mr Cpopertp-resign his assumed position of a seat in the. County Council for this district, and it is -further of opinion that, the people of this portion of the district can only •be satisfied by a fresh election, that their right;and voices may be exercised in the choice -of their representative." Carried uuanimously. i Mr Cooper thanked the electors for their courteous treatment during the evening, although an adverse judgment had baen given against him. He moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman. j MivDungan seconded it, and the.meeting dispersed.