LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 15 August 1861, Page 3

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Meeting of Working Men.—At a Meeting held at the “ Settlers Hotel,” on the 10th inst., by the Working Men of Napier, to take into consideration the answer of the Superintendent to a Deputation which waited upon his honor relative to the state of the Public Works.—Mr. Peter Searles, in the Chair. The Chairman read to the Meeting the official answer he had received from his Honor, which was as follows:— Superintendent’s Office, Napier, August Bth, 1861. y Gentlemen, —With reference to the subject for which you waited on me on Tuesday last, by the desire of the working men of Napier, I am soray to inform you that I cannot comply with their wishes, in consequence of there not being any public works I could for some time commeuce upon, owing ro the season of the year, as well as the psesent state of the Provincial funds, there being but merely sufficient to meet the expenses for those public works, now in progress. I may as well mention that the Provincial Council are desirous that all public works proceeded with, should be executed, when possible, by contract, and not by day labour, which I believe it is the desire of the working men of Napier to obtain at present. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, J. C. Laxibton Carter, Superintendent. Messrs P. Searles, T. Lound, andW. Robinson, Napier. After commenting at some length, and in rather strong terms upon the unsatisfactory nature of his Honor’s reply to the Deputation, the Chairman proceeded to ask what good end could be answered by votes of money , for purposes which it did not appear there was any intention of carrying out—notwithstanding there were, at present a great number of men without r.gular employment. A resolution was next proposed -by Mr. Lound, and seconded by Mr. Charles Greenside, —that a letter written by Mr. Lound to Major Douglas in reference to the employment of soldiers in various occupations to the exclusion of settlers, who of course depend entirely upon their industry for the support of their wives and families, should he forwarded to that gentleman. A resolution was next proposed by James Hi vans; auu seconded by Hubert Hollis; — That this meeting stand adjourned to Saturday, the 6th of October. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated in the most orderly and peaceable planner, the resolutions being carried unanimously in a well filled room, and we are happy to add that the mode in which the business of the meeting was transacted did great credit to the working men of Napier.