QUEENSTOWN IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 82, 10 February 1864, Page 4

QUEENSTOWN IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE.

A public meeting took place at Bracken's Hotel on Monday evening, for the purpose of considering the advisability of forming a municipality for Qucenstown, and to elect three members of committee in the place of Messrs. Willis, M'Gaw, and Cass, resigned. When the proceedings commenced, there was but a very small attendance, but ultimately the room became well-filled. Mr Harris was voted to the chair, and stated the object for which they assembled, claiming for all a fair and impartial hearing. Mr Manders, in moving the first resolution, said that municipal councils were objected to on the Victorian goldfields, as they taxed mining property; but there was no fear of that in Queenstown, as it was too far removed from the actual scene of mining operations, while the benefits such a step would entail would be of very great importance. In addition to raising Queenstown in the estimation of those at a dis- i tance, it would give stability to the town, enhance the value of property, and would assist in the formation of roads, tracks, and other public works necessary to our prosperity. The Government had drawn a large revenue from the district, and should a municipality be formed, a considerable portion would be returned in the shape of a grant in aid. The townspeople had voluntarily taxed themselves at the rate of about £4 per man per annum, while an equitable tax would not amount to more than as many shillings. The speaker, after detailing at some length the advantages that would be derived from such a course, read the following resolution :--" That this meeting is of opinion that it would be advantageous to the freeholders and residents of Queenstown if municipal powers were granted to them." Seconded by Mr Bracken, and carried. Mr Healey moved—" That this meeting empowers the Improvement Committee to carry out the preceding resolution." Seconded by Dr. Croft, and carried. Captain Budd, who had been hitherto hovering about the chair, endeavouring to attract the chairman's attentiott to his written notice of resignation, here proposed that the old committee be immediately dissolved, and that " anew regime be commenced entirely;" enunciating the novel idea that, as they were elected by the kindness of the people, they were no longer a body. (Laughter and applause). He had given in his resignation, and wished to see others go in. After a few toggy remarks, he moved— u That a new Town Board he formed." The Chairman —We have no power to form a town board : the meeting was called for a specific purpose. Mr Manders —I have moved that steps be taken to form a municipal council. As a member of the present Improvement Committee, the pro- j poser of the last resolution ought to know j better : the resolution is out of order, and I hope : we have not met here to be made fools of.

Captain Budd (gravely and seriously)—3t' was not without some care and deliberation that I came to the decision that an infusion of new blood is necessary. I have no wish again to put myself in such a position as I have occupied; but I can say [tearfuily] that I have done my best, as one of the committee for the benefit of this place. But it appears that when you are placed in a new position you have no power whatever. (Laughter and applause) When vou are visited with municipal honors [crescendo] it is very necessary you should have right men in the right place. The Chairman, after vain attempts to make himself heard amid the tumultuous applause and laughter—Captain Budd, you are out of order; will you withdraw your resolution ? Captain Budd [excitedly]— Will I? No sir j by , the old skipper, sir— Mr Carey—As one of the members of the committee, I may state for them as well as for myself, that we have no wish to retain our seats against the desire of the public. We have done our best for the interests of the public, and if we have not pleased all, that is no fault of ours. The resolution moved by Mr Manders quite meets the case, and it is very evident we can't have both a municipal council and a town board too. Mr Webster—l was not here at the commencement of this meeting, but I think it quite time the committee should be done away with. The land sale has given me a sickener. (Hear, hear, and laughter). They have had thirteen bob out of me, but won't get another, I'll bet. (Roars of laughter). Do away with 'em. (All this took place amid considerable confusion, assisted by the voices of the oipolloi packed closely together at the lower end of the room, and who indulged in audible speculations as to the probability of Mr Webster's 13s having been expended in the purchase of nobMers for the committee.) The Chairman—lt is only out of respect for Captain Budd that I put his resolution, which is quite out of order.

(Confusion:—Captain Budd—" By , sir, I demand it; none of your hanky-panky tricks with me. I demand it." Applause; the meeting gradually warming up, and chairman ditto, who calls for silence, which, according to the precedent established in Queenstown, is disregarded, as likewise a touching appeal to the feelings of the meeting. Mr Bracken threatens to turn Captain Budd out, which is met by a loud chuckle of derision, and different expressions of feeling. The Chairman then in a stentorian voice, which rises above the confusion r calls for nominations for the vacancies in the town board. Several gentlemen were named, but few seemed to be possessed of the requisite amount of patriotism ; and as one after the other declined, the popular delight increased in proportion. Captain Budd insisted upon an election for four taking place, shoving his resignation into the hand of anyone who would tak? it. After a proposal from a gentleman in a remote corner that the election should be in globo, which witticism was followed by a hoarse roar of delight, the following gentlemen's names were read by the chairman as received:— Messrs. Lofty, Gash, Croft, Cochrane, Babbit, Campbell, K. Louttit, J. George, A. Louttit. Mr Manders moved—"That the election of three members for the Improvement Committee be taken by ballot on Thursday, between the hours of 12 and 4." He coutended that as the other members had been elected by ballot, it would be altering the constitution of the board, were they to fill the present vacancies by show of hands. Seconded by Mr Horn. Mr Carnegie moved as aii amendment—" That the ballot take place immediately." (Applause and confusion ) The Chairman—We have no balloting papers. Mr Webster—l move that Captain Budd's resignation be not accepted. Mr Powell—l'll secono* that. A series of motions were here made one after the other with astonishing rapidity, a general hurly-burly taking place, in which the only sounds that could be traced as bearing resemblance to those of human utterance being "I move." A second appeal to the meeting met with no better success than the first. At last, the chairman roared out that he would put the question to the meeting, and immediately everybody's hand and arm waved frantically in mid air, leaving the chairman in a state bordering on frenzy, for it was utterly impossible to judge on which side the voting was. He sat down to recover breath and wipe the perspiration off his brow, and a slight lull occurred. The Chairman (recovering himself) —As there seems to be some misapprehension existing, I will put the amendment to the meeting again. Mind, this is for the amendment. The confusion and noise at this declaration was something terrifying; but, nothing daunted the chairman scanned the varied specimens of human " paws" displayed to view, and declared the amendment lost. As rapidly, amidst a perfect tempest of unearthly sounds, he proclaimed the original motion carried, and vacated the chair, before a motion for a vote of thanks had half left the lips of a gentleman near, who, with a few others, wished to close this disgraceful scene of rowdyism. But their wishes were doomed to disappointment. The yells, hooting, hisses, and catcalls increased every moment in intensity, and an advance was made up the hall, Captain Budd haranguing the mob with an eloquence and vigor that might have been appreciated had his speech been audible. He was voted to the chair with acclamations, but had no sooner seated himself than Mr Bracken made a descent, and bundling him into the arms of the crowd, threw the chair away. It is not to be supposed this quieted the clamor; the skipper "shaped" at his assailant

with his left arm (the only one available) and was immediately pounced upon, and, to quote the remark of a gentleman in a blue shirt standing by, was u skull-dragged" from the room by the back-door and expelled from the house. The noise that now prevailed exceeded any that Queenstown has yet been favored with. A rush took place after the ejector and ejectee, and the door was speedily blocked up; men were rushing along the table, trampling pens, ink, and paper beneath their feet, while others raised themselves on the forms and chairs, or " stowed away" in corners. It was mere like an antipodean Donnybrook than anything else we have seen. Suddenly a loud cheer from the front of the hall rung out, the crowd divided, and up rolled the skipper in a high state of indignation and dust, in a frantic search for his hat, which was " somehow" missing. The cheering was intense, while "three groans for Bracken" resounded with sepulchral vigor through the hall; in the midst of which the poor little skipper, his bald pate shining like a full moon through a plate-glass window, was gesticulating, stamping, and haranguing. While the din was at its highest, in stalked a constable, to whom Captain Budd was given in charge bv Mr Bracken, and immediately hustled out, followed by the whole human contents of the room. Outside the house the noise and excitement continued, and Captain Budd being released, drew a crowd about him, whom he again favored with an incoherent speech. Groans for Mr Bracken, and cheers for the captain resounded again and again, and it was with difficulty the crowd could be prevailed on to refrain from " chairing" the latter round the town. This state of things continued for about half an hour, after which they gradually dispersed.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

A committee meeting was held on Monday evening. Present —Mr. Gash (chairman), Messrs. Manders, Turner, Welsh, and Campbell " A letter from Mr. Worthington was read, tendering his resignation as a member of the committee, in consequence of his conduct in carrying out the wishes of the Committee, on the subject of letting the seats, having been censured by another member at the bar of a public tavern. Proposed by Mr. Turner, seconded by Mr. Welsh, and carried:—"That Mr. Worthington's resignation be not accepted." A letter was read from the Secretary of the Education Committee, requesting to be informed whether the Committee would allow the Church to be used as a public school on secular days. Proposed by Mr. Manders, seconded by Mr. Welsh, and carried:—"That the Secretory forward a reply, stating that they consider the Church too small for a school referred to, especially as it is now fitted with pews." • Sundry accounts were then ordered to be paid, and the Committee adjourned to Tuesday, the 16th inst

REMOVAL OF MR. WARDEN BEETHAM.

MEETING AT ARTHUR'S POINT. Pursuant to notice, a large open-air meeting was held on Monday evening, in front of the Criterion Hotel, to take into consideration the report now in circulation respecting the removal of Mr. Warden Beetham from the district. Mr. Sankey was called to the chair, and in opening the proceedings, said a report was very generally circulated in the locality, which materially affected their interests—viz., the removal of their respected Warden from the district. At first, it was ascribed to idle rumor, but since, they had good grounds for supposing that unless some steps were taken by them, it might turn out to be true. He thought it was needless for him to act as Mr. Beetham's eulogist; but he had, to say the least,. been most impartial and careful in all cases brought before him, and which had won for him the good opinion manifested by their prompt attendance on that occasion. Proposed by Mr Martin, seconded by Mr Arthur, and carried unanimously—" That this meeting receives with great apprehension the report that Mr Warden Beetham is to be removed from this district. It wishes to express the opinion that should such an event occur, disastrous results would accrue to the mining interest. It is also desirous of giving utterance to its feeling of respect for, and confidence in, Mr Warden Beetham." Mr. Gillespie submitted the following memorial : To His Honor John Hyde Harris, Superintendent of the Province of Otago. The memorial of the undersigned residents of Arthur's Point, and Big Beach, Shotover River, Humbly sheweth— That your memorialists beg to draw your Honor's attention to a rumor which prevails in this district, to the effect that Mr Warden Beetham is to be removed to a distant goldfield. Your mf morialUts are not aware what influence may have been Drought to bear on the Government to induce it to determine on such a step. They would be indeed grieved, and painfully anxious for the future welfare of this district, if what is at present only a rumor, should eventually prove to be founded on fact.

} Your memorialists beg further to solicit your ' Honor's consideration of the following, viz: That for the most part they are miners. That they are in a great many instances ! holders of river claims. That numbers of them have with infinite labor I constructed costly works in connection with I their claims. That the said claims are believed to be very valuable properties. That the boundaries, and in some cases peculiar tenures of said claims are fully understood by Mr Warden Beetham. Your memorialists are extremely apprehensive j that in the event of the appointment of any geni tleman other than the present incumbent to the ! office of Warden of this district, much inconvenience and loss in shape of litigation and 1 delays would be entailed upon them. It is with great pleasure that your memorialists avail themselves of this opportunity of assuring your Honor that tliey entertain the highest | respect and regard for Mr Warden Beetham. That his uniform courtesy, strict integrity, ■ impartial administration of the goldfields regu- | lations, and his clear insight into mining affairs, j have won for him this expression of the confi- ! dence of your memorialists. | Your memorialists in conclusion most humbly beseech that your Honor will be pleased favorably to consider the prayer of this memorial. I And your memorialists will ever pray. He said—Do I err in saying that this paper i embodies without limitation your sentiments i towards the present Warden of tbe district ? j When we consider the painstaking manner and the assiduity which he has shown in his j endeavors to carry out efficiently the task ) allotted to him by the Government, his remoj val at the present time would be most prejudiI cial to our interests. Unfortunately, all mani kind, and especially mining communities, are I prone to litigation, and in the decision of | cases of dispute much benefit will accrue to us by the services of the present Warden, I whose local knowledge is of paramount importance, and cannot be readily acquired by any gentleman newly-appointed to this disj trict, no matter how talented he might be. No one has said or written more than myself relative to the appointment of wardens, and j the systematic way in which the Government i ignore the wishes of the mining community 'in this respect; and you well know I had just cause in the pa*t for so doing; but I j would take this opportunity of stating that I at no time or place would I wish any reflecI tions or imputation of mine to refer in any ! way to Mr Beetham, who has satisfactorily ; carried on the important duties required of him. I fully believe, from tbe interest shown by his Honor the Superintendent on the occasion of his late visit, that when the memorial is presented to him, that if he ever did entertain the thought of removing our warden, he will pause and in all probability be pleased to grant our request. Pie would move the following resolution : "That a memorial setting forth the wishes of this meeting, be forwarded to the Superintendent by the chairman of this meeting, and that the memorial submitted be so forwarded." i Mr. Hyde said that he found himself that evening and on that subject placed in a somewhat delicate position. It had come to his knowledge that charges had been made to the Superintendent of partiality having been shown by the warden to them. Did the meeting believe these charges ? (Cries of No, no.) He was sure then that they would receive the statement which he now volunteered on behalf of the warden and himself, to the effect that so far as he knew that gentleman, and if he knew himself, they could both very j well afford to treat with silent scorn the contemptible calumnies of interested detractors. He did not think that the government had determined on removing Mr. Beetham in consequence of the charges which had been made. It was possible that it had decided on the step in good faith, with a view to benefiting the district. The business of this meeting was to undeceive the Government. He thought it had adopted the right course, and believing so, he most cordially seconded the resolution. Carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting, three cheers being heartily given for Mr Beetham.