ADJOURNED MEETING.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 24, 22 July 1863, Page 4

ADJOURNED MEETING.

The meeting adjourned from Saturday last was held at Bracken's hotel on Monday evening—Mr. Cass in the chair. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting, which was to take into consideration the establishment of a Court of Mines; and in the course of his remarks showed the desirability of having a Town Board, Municipal Council, or some similar body to watch over the interests of the town and its residents—a body of thirteen, five to form a quorum, and a meeting of which [should be held weekly. If they could get the sanction of the Government, all the better; but with-

out it, they would be able to confer a great benefit on the town. He would give notice of motion to that effect for next Monday. Mr. Walker said that as there was some dissatisfaction about money matters with the late delegates to Dunedin, he should move that the money given to Mr. Bradshaw be handed over to the chairman of the committee.

The Chairman said that that question had been settled at the last meeting, and they were then going on to the question of the Court of Mines, but adjourned on account of the lateness of the hour. They had the word of Mr. Bradshaw that he was willing to abide by the decision of the committee, and they could desire nothing more than that. It was not desirable to re-open the discussion —it rested now with the committee.

Mr. Walker wished them to appoint a time for the meeting of the committee. The Chairman said their chairman had that power. Mr. Harris declined. The committee had been ignored from first to last, and he would do nothing until the money was placed in his hands. A Gentleman here asked who had called the meeting. It was very awkward to come there night after night, and find no resolutions prepared. Mr. Bracken said that Mr. Bergen had—it was purely for the miners. Mr. Gash stated that Mr. Bergen's partner had been drowned, and he was therefore compelled to go up the Shotover. The meeting must exonerate him.

A Gentleman asked whether Mr. Bergen had been deputed by the miners. The Chairman could not say positively. A meeting had been held up on the Shotover, and it was there decided that it was desirable to establish a Court of Mines. With regard to the remarks made by Mr. Walker, Mr. Bradshaw had stated at the previous meeting that he would hand over the money to whom soever the meeting might appoint. Nothing more was necessary, therefore, than to appoint a person to receive the money. Mr. Walker proposed the following resolution : " As some dissatisfaction has arisen from the manner in which the money collected for the Dunedin deputation has been disposed of, that Mr. Bradshaw be requested to hand the same to the Chairman of the Committee, with a view to its more satisfactory distribution." Mr. Gash seconded.

The Chairman—ls there any amendment to this resolution. (A Voice—" Yes, I move it be burnt." Laughter.) Before putting it to the meeting, I wish to point out to you an error, viz., that the resolution speaks of the money as having been disposed of, and then proposes that it be re-disposed of. Mr. Harris—You are exceeding your duty, Mr. Chairman. Put the motion to the meeting, without making any comments. The Chairman—No matter how absurd it may be. Mr. Harris—Yes, no matter how absurd it may be—that is your duty. Mr. Powell moved as an amendment:—

" That the money received by Mr. Bradshaw be handed over to the Chairman of this meeting." Mr. Smyth seconded, saying that he had attended many meetings, but never one like that. He was at the meeting at which it was decided to send down the deputation. They gave power to the committee, and it was the duty of that committee to see that the money was expended in a proper manner, and not now endeavor to make two wrongs one right, by undoing what the committee had done. Mr. Bradshaw had offered to hand it over, and he (the speaker) thought the committee had not done their duty in paying the money away without knowing what they were paying it for.

Mr. Harris stated that he should be most happy to support the amendment, which was nothing more than a covert attack on himself.

The Chairman said that it was his own idea, so as to settle the question with as little delay as possible, as there seemed to be some ill-feeling about the matter. Mr. Harris—Mr. Powell says that I have not done my duty. I think he should have looked into his own conduct before accusing me. Whatever influence I possess, I have always exercised for the benefit of the residents of this tewnship; and my purse, to the best of my ability, has never been closed when occasion demanded a subscription. Let the public judge: Reuben Harris gave £1 towards sending down the deputation to Dunedin, while Mr. Powell did not subscribe one single sixpence. (Cheers and uproar.) The amendment is a foolish and ridiculous one, and means nothing. Mr. Gash moved that Mr. Harris was the proper person to receive the money. Mr. Powell—With regard to the statement of Mr. Harris that I subscribed nothing, I and Mr. Bracken collected the whole of the money in about four hours—the day on which Mr.

Bradshaw started for town. The committee had done nothing towards it—and when the money was given over, it was within a few minutes of the boat starting. We could not go running after Mr. Harris to get his sanction. Mr. Gordon had started before, and he had stated that he would go for nothing, as he was going to town on business of his own. (Mr. Gordon—"Question.") We collected the money at the different hotels and shanties, and it cost us £5 between us, beside our time, to get the money, and I thought that was sufficient.

Mr. Gordon denied having said he would go down for nothing. It was proposed that £BO should be given to the delegates, which he opposed, as being far too much, thinking that if they got their bare expenses, it ought to be sufficient, as they had all a stake in the town, he (the speaker) with the rest. He claimed half of the money collected, not for himself, as he would not touch a sixpence of it—let it go to the Hospital—but it was unfair for one to have all the money, and another none. Mr. Powell said he had given a day; he (the speaker) had given his time, and a pound too! (Cheers.) A little battle here took place between Messrs. Powell and Harris, which continued for some time, in spite of the Chairman's recommendation to " draw it mild," when Mr. MGaw objected to the personal tone the meeting was assuming, and supported the placing of the money in the hands of some disinterested party; adding that the money would no doubt be returned all the more readily if there were no threat implied. He would move the following amendment:— " That the money received by Mr. Bradshaw from the committee be handed over to the Chairman of this meeting (Mr. Cass), to be held by hini until the decision of the committee be arrived at; and if any of the delegates object to this decision, that it be referred to another public meeting called for the occasion." Mr. Powell having withdrawn his amendment in favor of that of Mr. M'Gaw, the latter was put and declared carried, the motion of Mr. Walker being lost. Mr. Harris stated that as it was the wish of the meeting to leave it to the decision of the committee, he had no option, and would endeavor to bring this affair to a satisfactory conclusion.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting, which, even more than its predecessor, was marked throughout with a strong personal feeling, and a slight tendency to noise. The champions of the ring were without doubt Mr. Powell and Mr. Harris, whose elegant sparring hugely delighted their respective partisans.