DEPUTATION.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 168, 7 December 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

DEPUTATION.

The following is the conclusion of our report, left over from last issue, of the interview between J. Cargill and H. Clapcott, Esqs., and a deputation from the Queenstown Improvement Committee : Mr Cargill said that their member for the Wakatip had almost exhausted the subject, and made the business of his reply to the deputation a light one. He was very glad he had visited them, and had no occasion to regret the expedition, as he had seen some extensive works and passed through a fine country. It gave them a better, indeed, a different idea of the miners as a class, and of the works they executed. He was surprised at some of these, and the more so when he was informed they were carried out solely by themselves and without professional aid. He had been told since he had been here that those down the country were slight in comparison with some of the undertakings up the Shotover,and he regretted his inability on this occasion to visit them. One thing had given him more pleasure still, and that was to see that they were actively alive to their own interests. The manner in which they had brought before him their requirements showed, to use a homely phrase, that " Jack was alive to his wants " As an old inhabitant he had seen a good deal of apathy, and it was one of the worst things to contend against. He was therefore glad to see pablic spirit aroused, and that they had taken a legitimate course. He was opposed to any system of monopoly; and their claims would receive a fair consideration. (Cheers.) Going to details he had only to confirm what Mr Clapcott had said about the Main Line of Road. He thooght they had a right to go as direct as possible from point to point, and, especially so, when in this case a fine country would be opened out. No doabt branch roads would have to be constructed, one to the Arrow, and one to the Shotover. (Hear, hear.) It was a mistake, he thought, to make the roads at one end only, and that the country was more rapidly opened up by roads commenced at both ends. (Hear.) At present the roads often left off where there was no use for them; but by making a portion at both ends the country between two places was at once made available. As to the bridle track to Skipper's, he thought it was a fair request; and from his experience last evening in coming over the hill called, he believed, "Gentle Annie," he would be glad to support the expenditure. Mr Cargill spoke of the outlay of a couple of hundred pounds on this track, but lie said tliey must not expect any expensive works at the present period (hear, hear); although the miners, for the energy they had shown, aid certainly deserve bridle tracks of this kind, as it would tend to make them, as settlers, more permanent. (Cheers.) Something would be done for the cemetery as soon as they obtained a definite reply from the Laud Office regarding a site ; and he was very glad to hear they desired to fence and lay it out. One of the most melancholy signs he thought, was to see the burial plac of a community neglected. Two bills had been introduced for the purpose of erecting municipalities; but one of these had been referred to a select committee. He thought the bill for Dunedin should have been separate, and n simple act for towns such as Port Chalmers, Oamaru, and their town provided. However, under the bill that had been passed, they would have powers given them as soon as possible to erect their town into a municipality. (Cheers.) The licensing system affecting the goldfields had been disarranged by the action taken in exempting towns for sale on the goldfields from the operations of the goldfields act; and, consequently, this town though in the goldfields, was outside them, in one sense. The extinction of the act had only been applied for to permit the sale of lands, and not as applying to privileges given underthat act. Sincetheadjournment of the Council they had looked into the matter, and had dt tcrmined to take steps to assimilate the licenses on the goldfields towns to those on the goldfields; and instead of the increased rate they would stand at £3O, as heretofore. (Cheers.) He quite agreed with the remarks that had been made about the Supreme Court being at such a distance, and that it was practically a denial of justice under the circumstances. Mr Cargill then explained some of the diiDuultics iliey labored under from centralization in this resper.t, and went on to say that the judges were very hard worked They would soon have a fine road, and with the ; splendid climate they possessed, he should strongly recommend a court and sittings here, as a trip up ' would be the means of setting the judges up i again for more work. (Cheers and laughter.) A Supreme Court was also a very desirable insti- j tution to introduce amongst a community. It .; gave to the people an opportunity of witnessing how carefully the liberties of Englishmen were : guarded, and the bulwarks presented for main- I taining their liberties, and free political rights; ; besides which, it exercised upon the minds of jury- j. men and others an unseen training of a respectful j ( and settled order. (Hear, hear.) The idea of , District Crown Lands Offices was an old one of J his ; but a press of business and a conflict of I interests since the goldfields opened had prevented j him being able to do much for their establish- 1 ment. But now he anticipated a commencement. ' (Hear, hear.) He considered that all lands j should' be sold in the district in which they were situated, and that application should be lodged at : the office in the division, without people being < compelled to gotoDunedin. (Hear.) He hoped to carry out the system more fully at the next sitting of the Council. Before concluding lm had to thank them for the information they had given him, and hoped the knowledge gained would prove beneficial both to the Goveanment

j and to the goldfields. He should be glad to j visit them again, and see them as prosperous. (Cheers.) i After some consultation and the discussion of 1 ; two or three matters, Mr Shepherd returned the ■ ! thanks of the deputation for the kind and able • ' reception they had been favored with. The j Ministry had been laboring under a mistaken • idea, which had now been removed. He might say there was not to be found a more loyal set of people than those of this district, and that the • subject of annexation with Southland was a mis- [ ! representation. They had all along asked for a i closer union, and he hoped they would not forget , | this, and trusted that day might be said to be ; the commencement of a new era among us. ■ (Hear, hear.) i | Mr Pi o-ser begged to support the resolution, ; and would mention that amongst some a desire to annex to Southland did once exist, because they had been treated in a most disgraceful way and neglected by the late Government—the Dick , Ministry. He thought that they had now finally ! extinguished any such thoughts by the liberal manner in which they had treated them this morning, and hoped the promises made would soon be carried out. (Hear.) He desired to mention that at the last election the selection of polling places quite disfranchised working men on the diggings. At £1 a-day wages, it was not likely they would leave their work to travel a long distance and then perhaps be unable to poll through bad arrangements even if they did so. [A long discussion then ensued upon these matters.] Mr Cargill referred to the recent enfranchisement of the town, and the opportunity that would soon be presented to them of electing a member. It had been contended they were not entitled to a member; but they thought it more desirable to give the goldfields towns of Lawrence, Clyde and Queenstown a member each. This liad been opposed on the grounds that they had no electors. (Mr Manders—loo on the roll.) They had heard, no doubt, a great deal of " Old Identities" and "New Identities," and must , remember that those at present in possession j always looked with the strongest suspicion on those who claimed to share their privileges. He would illustrate this. They might have ob- [ served how two or three persons seated in a rail- [ way carriage, would look upon the fresh arrival as he entered, with almost a scowl, and view him narrowly. But the last arrival, as soon as he had settled down, properly joined the previous parties in viewing with suspicion the next person : who entered the compartment. He had thus made common cause with the others. However ; natural this feeling might be amongst animals, it was time to do away with it in the Province. ■ The two must amalgamate in one common interest. They had certain rights under the Constitu- j tion Act of the Colony, and they had shared them with the goldfields towns. The interests of all parts of the Province should be common oms, and he hoped a more liberal feeling would prevail. (Cheers.) He hoped as the three towns he had named had entered into the benefits arising from the Constitution Act and self-government, ! that the other portions of the goldfields would be j absorbed into the general system by a division info districts, and the peculiar franchise of a ' miner's right pass away. At present, where- j ever the mass of the mining population was | concentrated, they had only to do as they did j in Amoiion—raise a platform and elect a tic- ; ket; and the Dunstan or any other district; where the miners might be, could return the members in the same manner, and become the i place of importance. (Iloar, hear.) It was de- j sirable therefore that everyone should become ' possessed of the legitimate suffrage under the j New Zealand Constitution Act, not as miners but ! as residents; and as the least calico tent was - worth £o per annum, parties could qualify them- ' selves. He did not give this advice to keep back | the goldfields, but rather to see those living on j them become freeholders and leaseholders, and I they were already householders and entitled to a vote. (Cheers.) By incorporating the miners , in the suffrage, by removing the special bans j that divide them from other classes, by dni.ig j away with class legislation, such as the miner's | right. The terms of " Old Identity," and \ "New Identity" would pass away, and a bond | of common interest unite all to the advantage of j the colony and the Province. (Loud cheers.) The question of the delay arising in publish- ! ing the rolls for the Wakatip District and the | County of Hampden was then mooted, and | finally, at tho suggestion of Mr Manders, the sub- | ject was remitted to the care of Mr Clapcott, 1 the member of the district. j

Mr Bracken in a neat speech proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Clapcott, which was ably seconded by Mr A. Louttit, and carried unanimously. Mr Clapcott duly responded, repeatingsome of his previous remarks, and trusting the feeling between the member and his constituents would become for the future firmer and more interesting.

What is that useful article of commerce which nobody wishes to produce, which, however, everybody produces, and which is produced in large quantities ?—The Rag. Government Inspector, examining a school not many miles from Canterbury. Question by Inspector : " Who was David?" Boy: "The son of Jessie, and King of Israel." Inspector: "Who was Jessie ?" Boy : " The flower of Dumblane.'' It is a remarkable fact that, although common sheep delight in verdant fields, religious flocks are not anxious for green pastors.

Cornish Proverbs on Love, Wedlock, &c. —l. Where cobwebs are plenty, kisses are scarce. 2. Kissing will never be out of fashion till furze is out of bloom. 3. My —if.-. Joan is a good contriver, and a good contiv. ; hotter than a little eater.