THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 81, 6 February 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE ARROW.

Thursday, Feb. 4. His Honor the Superintendent haying accepted an invitation from the inhabitants of Arrow to a public dinner, a numerous body of our townsmen and miners met on Monday last, to welcome him as their guest. The affiiir came off at Richmond's New Orleans Hotel, and was, in every respect, a decided success. The banquet was spread in the new concert hall, which was most elaborately decorated for the occasion, the walls of the building being draped with glowing colors and wreaths of evergreens and bright flowers, —on the stage, the flags of all nations, the crown of old England, floral decorations and tasteful devices, blended harmoniously together formed an artistic and appropriate ta-

bleau; the viands were faultless and the ar-

rangements perfect, reflecting infinite credit on the host, the decorators, and the artistes of the cuisine.

The chair was taken by Dr. Douglas, supported on his right by his Honor, and on the left by St. John Branigan, Esq.,and L. Broad, Esq., R.M. Mr Paterson and Mr R. Ecclesfield officiated as vice-chairman and croupier. After the good things provided had been amply discussed, the Chairman proposed the usual loyal toasts of "The Queen," "The Prince and Princess of Wales and members of the Royal Family," and " The Governor of New Zealand." The Chairman, in next proposing the health of his Honor the Superintendent, remarked, that all present would doubtless agree with him that the Government of a Province like Otago required as its chief a man of great and varied talent, possessed of special abilities for upholding the dignity of his position, as the public affairs of a new colony were widely different from that of more settled countries. Otago, a short time since comparatively an insignificant Province, had suddenly rushed into notoriety. The developement of its auriferous productions caused a rush of population to its shores, the country had been taken by storm, and communities, scattered throughout the length and breadth of the land, had formed settlements and built towns with a rapidity before unheard-of. Urgent demands were soon made upon the Government for assistance . to form roads and tracks, and to meet the thousand other wants of the people, which quickly exhausting all the ordinary resources of the revenue, gave the Government no alternative but to leave many demands unattended to, and apparently wilfully neglected. This naturally gave rise to intense dissatisfaction in the minds of many; but he (the chairman) was sure that all thinking men would agree with him that grumbling was in many instances uncalled for. The Otago Government had done its best, and since the opening of its goldfields had even done more than the Victorian Government ever did in the same space of time, and had also avoided the gross mismanagement witnessed in the earlier days of Victorian legislation. Roads were in course of formation, a police force had been organized second to none in the world, an efficient staff established for the proper management of the goldfields, and the general business of the colony carried on with an earnest wish to please all classes. For this the thanks of the people of the colony were most particularly due to the honored guest of the evening, who had ever been untiring in his efforts to promote the welfare of the province. There were many zealous officers holding Government appointments, but none so good a man as the Superintendent. It was true that our local requirements had not met with much attention, but he (the chairman) felt convinced that they were not overlooked, but delayed only on account of the magnitude of the various undertakings required for the good of the province generally; we should get all we required in good time, especially now his Honor had come amongst us to practically study our wishes. He begged to thank his Honor on behalf of the company for his visit, and the earnest desire he had shewn to further the interests of the mining communities. (Cheers.) His Honor said, in rising to thank the company for the honor of being their guest that evening, he might be pardoned in expressing some pride as well as satisfaction at the friendly reception accorded him; which was the more gratifying because it was unexpected. He had been led to believe through the statements of the press, that the miners were dissatisfied and disgusted with the treatment they had received from the Government, in fact, he imagined that the miners in the Lake districts were in a state of open rebellion. He felt that they had just cause for complaint, although the sudden demands on the revenue, and the peculiar circumstances of the colony so justly alluded to by the chairman rendered it impossible that the Government could fulfil all its promises. He was glad to find, however, that the miners were not so bad as they had been represented; during his visit amongst them they had been most reasonable in the expression of their

wants, and he trusted that they would now find their wishes fully complied with. The formation of the Main Trunk Road would, of

course, have precedence of all other works, and he hoped in another twelvemonths a coach and four might be driven from Dunedin to the Arrow. (Cheers) A line of telegraph would also be formed, connecting the Lake districts with Dunedin, the seat of Government, and all the other provinces of New Zealand. This visit should have been at a much earlier date, but he was delayed solely by the important demands of his many other duties. He hoped that it might not be unproductive of good results, both to the Government and to the miners; the previous knowledge he possessed of the wants of the goldfields was derived only from official reports which, however correct, could not contain all the requisite information. He had now seen things in a practical light, and it would be his duty if possible to visit the goldfields twice a year, to become acquainted with their requirements. It was necessary that the Provincial Government should vote the monies required for carrying out the various public works, and they did not meet until March next, but he had seen that some local works should be commenced at once. A track to the Twelve-Mile was absolutely necessary, and he had given instructions today, to the mining surveyor of the district, to take the necessary steps, preparatory to the immediate construction of that track. (Hear, hear) The forming of pack tracks to the Shotover river would also have immediate attention, and the interests generally of the district should not be longer neglected. His Honor concluded by expressing his earnest desire to devote his best energies to the interest of the Province generally, and proposed the toast of "Prosperity to the Arrow district." (Cheers and musical honors.)

Song—Mr Mclndoe. Mr Paterson next proposed the " Army and Navy," to which St. John Branigan, Esq., replied. Song—Mr Spensely: " Rule Britannia." Mr Ecclesfield next proposed the health of the "Wardens of the district" and spoke in eulogistic terms of the general satisfaction given by these gentlemen in the performance of their important duties. Lowther Broad, Esq., R.M. responded, and expressed the pleasure he felt in being appointed to reside amongst the order-loving people of the Arrow. Song—Mr Garforth. Mr White proposed the health of the " Commissioner of the Otago Police Force," which Commissioner St. John Branigan acknowledged, and expressed his gratification at again meeting the residents of the Arrow—a district with which he had been intimately connected in the earlier days of the gold discoveries, and expressed a hope that his services, if perhaps not altogether appreciated at that time, had generally met with public approval. Song—Mr Mendershausen. Mr Schau, gold-receiver, proposed the " mining and commercial interests of the Province."

Mr McDougall, replying on behalf of the mining interest, said that the favourable statement made by his Honor as to the intentions of his Government to really promote the interests of the miners would be received with joy by all, as the mining interest was closely connected with the interests of the whole community of the Province, and on his return to the Twelve-Mile, he felt assured that his neigbours would express their gratitude at receiving the welcome intelligence that their own special wants were deemed worthy of consideration. Mr Basil Rout, on behalf of the trading interests, said that the Provincial Government, in studying the wishes of the Arrow district, were but consulting the interests of the whole province; the development of the resources of this district being as yet only in its infancy, and depending much upon the means of communication afforded to the miner with the port of Otago. Miners required cheap food and the means of speedily obtaining machinery and other necessaries, to assist their labors. If they obtained this they would make the Arrow a permanent goldfield, adding to the riches of the province, and firmly establishing the prosperity of the district. Song —L. Broad, Esq. Mr Williamson proposed the health of the " Ladies."

Responded to by Mr M'lndoe and Mr Bishop. Song—St. John Branigan, Esq. His Honor then said, in his previous remarks that evening he had refrained from any expression of political views, thinking it would be hardly expected on the present festive occasion, but it had been intimated to him that a little information on one or two points connected with the relations of this province with the General Government would be not unwelcome. One of the chief difficulties of the Provincial Government in meeting

! the demands made on them from the various districts arose from a want of funds. It might be thought by some, taking into consideration t he revenue received from the various districts, that the Provincial Government should have ample means to meet all requirements; but it must be remembered that it was necessary first to devote the funds at their disposal to works of the greatest importance to the whole of the province, and further that they had not the absolute disposal of all the revenue received from the province, a proportion of the money being appropriated by the General Government for the requirements of the whole country. This gave rise to many grievances, which he hoped would eventually be rectified. Referring to other grievances under which the province suffered, his Honor said that, at present Otago possessed two-fifths of the European population of New Zealand, but was represented in the General Assembly only in proportion to one seventh of the whole; and consequently did not possess the influence to which it was entitled. Referring to the appropriation of the revenues of the colony, his Honor quoted a few statistics, shewing that the General Government absorbed five-eighths of the gross revenue levied in this province, thus leaving very little to be spent in the province itself; although, from the statement of the Colonial Treasurer in the last session of the General Assembly, it appeared that the province of Otago contributed more to the general revenue than all the rest of the provinces in the Middle Island, or in the North Island. In continuation, his Honor said if we had at our disposal the whole of our own revenue he thought it would be found sufficient to meet all requirements, and prevent any just cause for complaints, and the province would be saved the necessity of resorting to loans. At the last General Assembly resolutions were passed in favor of the removal of the seat of Government from Auckland to Cook's Straits; but it was for the people of Otago to consider whether the alteration would be of any material advantage to themselves. His own views on the subject were that the mere removal of the seat of government would be of little use to the colony. It was necessary to consider the primary interests of Otago, and nothing else would do for the province but the establishment of two distinct governments, one for the North and one for the Middle Island. Petitions were in course of signature for the establishment of the seat of government at Wellington, and if the mining population were in favor of a distinct government for this province they should at once send in strong petitions, to counteract the one now in circulation. It remained with the people of Otago to say whether it should be carried into effect or not. If the township committee deem it requisite to take any action in the matter he should be most happy to communicate with them as to the steps now being taken in Dunedin. Song—Mr Scanlon.

Mr Paterson said it would be doubtless a source of gratification to all present if his Honor would oblige them with his personal opinion on the subject of the main trunk road —a poirt on which all present were deeply interested. His Honor said before he came into this district he had a very vague idea of the country, as a personal inspection was necessary to gain a correct knowledge of the subject. He noT imagined that the route to be followed from Dunstan to the Roaring Meg was very clearly defined; but it became more difficult to define the best route from thence to Queenstown. It must be borne in mind that the government had engaged the services of scientific and practical men to carry out the public works of the province, and it was essential that the opinion of those gentlemen should be accepted as the best authority in the matter. An eminent surveyor had been engaged in surveying the line of road, whose final report had not yet been received. His Honor's own opinion was that the portion of the main road in this neighborhood should be made by way of the Arrow and Arthur's Point, even if it was afterwards found necessary to construct a branch road from Queenstown to Frankton. The route via Arthur's Point would undoubtedly open up an extent of country available for settlement, and he looked upon the agricultural and mining interests as closely connected with each other. His Honor then referred to a letter he had received, signed " A working man," in which the writer complained of the want of a school in this district. He explained the regulations under which the inhabitants could obtain pecuniary assistance from Government equal to the amount of subscriptions locally subscribed, and suggested that the township committee should, if the inhabitants wished it, take action in the matter. He was always most happy to receive communications from the district committees, and considered such bodies, in the absence of municipal boards, of great use to the community and useful also to the government in informing them of the requirements of the localities they represented.

At the conclusion of his Honor's speech three hearty cheers were given him, followed by the National Anthem; after which his Honor retired. Many of the company, however, remained, and with merry song and jest prolonged the festivities until a very late hour.