PROSPECTING THE GORGE.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 82, 10 February 1864, Page 3

PROSPECTING THE GORGE.

A public meeting was held at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best measures to be adopted to prospect the Gorge between Queenstown and Arthur's Point. This subject having been before the public for some time, they are doubtless aware that his Honor the Superintendent, during his late visit to this town, promised a subsidy of an amount not exceeding £250, to a corresponding amount that might be collected in the district. Mr George, chemist, having been voted to the chair, opened the meeting by briefly stating its object. He read an advertisement that appeared in that day's Mail, and called on Mr Manders to read the letter from his Honor to Mr Johnson. Mr Manders did so, and made a few remarks on the necessity of collecting the amount required as soon as possible. Chairman —Having heard the remarks of Mr Manders, I am now prepared to receive any proposition from the meeting. Mr Manders read over the names of those parties who had already subscribed, or who had promised to, and the sum total amounted to £202, which he considered a very satisfactory basis to work upon, and that it remained with themselves (the meeting) to set the machine going. Chairman—l think the next thing to be done is to elect a permanent committee to carry out the resolutions of this meeting. I will therefore thank you for nominations. Mr Paterson—l move that the committee shall consist of not more than seven, large committees being invariably unworkable. Carried. Ten gentlemen were then nominated, which being three more than was necessary, Captain Budd and Mr Cass were appointed scrutineers and a show of hands for each man having been called for, Messrs. Stewart, Prince, Shaw, Cochrane, Harris, Manders, and Moles, were declared to be duly elected. Mr Manders—lt now rests with the meet-

ing to decide what the power of the committee shall be, whether they shall act vigorously at once or merely draw out a plan of the line of action they intended to adopt, and lay it before another meeting for approval. Mr "Paterson moved, and Mr Townsend seconded the following resolution—" That the committee be requested to prepare and lay before a public meeting this night week, a constitution of a Prospecting Association, so that the public may see what likelihood there is of a successful Association being formed, and thereby be induced to come forward in large numbers to sign the subscription list." Mr Cass, as an amendment proposed the following, which was seconded by Mr Managers—"That a meeting of subscribers be called by the committee this night week, for the purpose of presenting to such subscribers the amount of subscriptions actually paid, and for receiving instructions as to its outlay." The Chairman having put it to the meeting, the resolution was carried by an overwhelming majority. The meeting here began to be rather stormy, Mr Cass maintaining that none but subscribers should have a voice in the matter, Mr Paterson asserting with equal vehemence that the public should be consulted. Mr Cass was supported by Mr Manders, Webster, and several others; the body of the meeting were, however, with Mr Paterson. Mr Cass then moved—" That the committee be requested to get in subscriptions, and report thereon at the next meeting of subscribers, such committee now to have executive power, but to submit their resolutions to a general meeting of subscribers." Seconded by Mr Johnson. Another stormy discussion was the result, when as an amendment, Mr Paterson moved the word " subscribers" be left out, and the word "public" inserted instead. Carried unanimously. A vote of thanks being awarded to the chairman, the meeting separated, to resume the discussion outside of subscribers versus public.