REMOVAL OF THE CAMP TO FRANKTON.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 10, 3 June 1863, Page 4

REMOVAL OF THE CAMP TO FRANKTON.

PUBLIC MEETING.

A meeting was held on Monday evening last, at Bracken's Hotel, for the purpose of taking into consideration the removal of the Camp from Queenstown to Frankton. R. Harris, Esq., having been voted to the chair, said they had met there that evening to discuss the late absurd movement of the Government in removing the court and camp from this place to Frankton, and the unjust manner in which they had been treated by the Government, who had not the slightest knowledge of their wants or wishes; their policy and conduct had been bad to them from the beginning. It was now their duty to use every exertion in their power to remedy these standing evils and to request the Government to take immediate cognizance of them. He trusted every speaker would be listened to attentively, and that each would obtain an impartial hearing. \ Mr. Cameron, in moving tne first resolution, said he nener heard anything like these Government arrangements. He thought it was not necessary for him to add to or explain the general indignation that was felt in Queenstown at the way they had been treated; it was most infamous, and decidedly unjust and uncalled for—it was a perfect climax:— / That this meeting again renew the various protests and remonstrances that have been made, against the removal of the Warden and Resident Magistrate's Court, together with the office of the Gold Receiver to Frankton; and that the most important town in the Lake country being without the means of protecting the interests and progress of the district, and rights of its residents, betrays on the part of the Government an ignorance of our mining and commercial pursuits unparalleled in the management of* the Goldfields, * \

Mr. Cassius, in supporting the resolution, said he did not know what to say, but they must have their interests attended to, and something must be done promptly. The camp had been removed, and for what purpose nobody on earth knew, except a few stray storekeepers who wondered how they got there. He did not know how to restrain himself when he thought of how they were treated. Their interests were all forgotten, and everything else, by the Government. They were deeply involved in that matter. The Government seemed to think that because they were not near Dunedin, they

could afford to treat them so. He hoped they all agreed with him, and would support with all their might that resolution, and give their assistance, and as much of their purse as they could. They must enforce their views on the Government in some way—fair if they could. They had better be under the Government of Russia, and he did not believe such mismanagement could happen even there. Seconded by Mr. Bruce.

Mr. Brown said the miners had nothing to do with, nor did they want, a Commissioner to sit all day either at Frankton or Queenstown. The miners wanted a man, as in Victoria, that could go to men's claims, and adjudicate ; not to squat at home or in the Court all day. A Commissioner ought to travel round and through the diggings, and make himself thoroughly acquainted with the locality—not have a radius of 40 or 50 miles to superintend, and then sit at home and do it. In reference to Queenstown the miners were not interested at all in the matter. What they wanted was to get as much gold as they could and clear out, but perhaps the other gentlemen wanted to stop in it. The way things were managed was quite scandalous; he never saw any thing like it in Victoria. Men came from long distances to see the Warden ; perhaps he was busy or out; then they might take a nobbier or two and get drunk, and then God knows what became of them.

The Chairman—Really Mr Brown, you are rambling from our subject altogether. It may be necessary to have an itinerant Commissioner, but that's not the subject. Mr. J. De Courcy Young proposed the second resolution: —

That as Queenstown is the most important township in the Lake district, raised into importance and certainty at a time when doubt and uncertainty (in consequence of want of precision on the part of the late Government) prevailed in the minds of the residents as to where the Government purposed establishing the head- < quarters of the, Camp and officials, we, the inhabitants of the district therefore beg most respectfully but earnestly, to impress upon the Government the necessity of having a Gold Receiver, Warden and Resident Magistrate ( established at Queenstown, to protect Otago's interests. The holding of the Court at Frankton only, where a few tents compose the town, is * unnecessary and unjust to the residents of , Queenstown, the miners of Arthur's Point, and the Shotover river generally, the 12-Mile, 25- ' Mile, and Bucklerburn, 45-Mile, and other centres of mining operations up the Lake and above Queenstown.

That resolution did not want any remark from him, it commended itself at once to their notine and judgment. The conduct of the Government in reference to this township generally was without a parallel. It ought to have been their first care to foster and protect life and property, but here by their late movements they perfectly ignored both. They had a large population—they had large properties—that required protection, and yet the Government seemed in no way to recognise either. Frankton was neither convenient for miners or merchants, and yet in spite of all their petitions to the contrary the Government were determined it should remain there. Such despotism was disgusting to every Englishman, and he could only suppose theif wise Government imagined that, as Peter of Russia turned a swamp into a city, they could do the same. There was no life or property to be protected at Frankton. Mr. Cass said it appeared there was some mistake in seconding that resolution. He thought they might soon bring this affair to a satisfactory summing up. A lot of gentlemen's sons were brought together by Government interest, and this little arrangement formed what -was called a camp, and those same gentlemen often arrogated to themselves a power they only possessed in their own imagination. Queenstown was the centre of a large mining community, and what the Government meant by withdrawing their officers he was at a loss to conceive, and they ought to try and find out by every possible means. In conclusion they must have the protection for which they paid so heavily. He would second the resolution.

i Carried unanimously. Mr. Brown proposed the thirdresolution: — That this meeting is of opinion, that not only j should a Warden he stationed at Frankton or at ' Queenstown, but in addition a Warden should be provided, who shall travel from oae end to the other of the various gold-workings, whose duty shall be to decide disputes between miners on the spot where the same occurs. They could all talk a great deal, but let them act. If 2s. 6d, an ounce was'nt sufficient, let them pay 3s. 6d., but let them have something for it. That was his resolution, and let any man second it that liked. Seconded by Mr. Luscombe, who said he thought the resolution a very good and useful one. Carried. Mr. Gordon moved the fourth resolution: This meeting pledges itself to use every effort to induce the Government to proceed at once

with the formation of a dray-road, both from Queeustown to Frankton, and from Queenstown to Arthar's Point, Shotover River—the latter especially being of vital importance to the welfare of this town, and believe it may be formed for £7OO, the distance being only four miles. He considered this the most important resolution of the lot. What was Frankton to Queenstown? Nothing in comparison. A Government official told them all that this was to be the township—he pledged his word to it that man was the great Mr. St. John Branigan. They must have a road, at all events to Frankton, and one that would meet the Arrow road, and thus do good to all. The reporter for the «« Otago Daily Times" had done more to injure this place than any other man, filling up his reports by a lot of stuff, about agricultural land and market gardens. (Cheers and Laughter.) Mr. Cameron, in seconding this resolution, said he should like to offer a few remarks in reference to this township. Mr. St. John Branigan gave the speaker his word faithfully that this was to be the place, when he came here with him some months since, at the time he took his licence out. They both went to Frankton and looked over it, and St. John Branigan settled on this place. Mr. Thatcher at this juncture became the general object of attention, amid cries of "Speak up, Thatcher!" The Chairman—lf those gentlemen who are so anxious to hear Mr. Thatcher will go round to the Royal Hotel, I'm sure that gentleman will there amuse them to their heart's content. Mr. Cass proposed the fifth resolution : That this meeting is of opinion, that this im- ' portant district has been seriously neglected by the Government, and for the purpose of properly forwarding its interests, propose that two delegates be now appointed, who shall wait upon the present Government, and lay before them the grievances under which the residents labor. Since he had the temerity to come forward he had another duty thrust upon him. " Money makes the mare to go," and probably a little of the same would make the men go too. He thought £BO would be enough Mr. Gordon, in seconding the resolution fcaid he thought £BO too much. The coach there and back was £l6, and he did not see what they wanted with £24 more. Mr. Bracken proposed Messrs. Gordon and Bradshaw as a deputation to wait upon the Government; which, after a little discussion, ' was carried unanimously. Mr. Cassius proposed, and Mr. Marks seconded the sixth resolution, which was earned:

• ** v That a Committee be now formed of those „ who shall have control of the funds to be raised for the payment of delegates, and to direct them in their duties, consisting of the following gentlemen—Messrs. Bracken, Holmes, Powell, and the mover.

A subscription list was then opened and handed round; and after a vote of thanks had been passed to the chair, the meeting, which had throughout been of the most orderly and unanimous character, broke up.