PUBLIC MEETING.

North Otago Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 7 April 1864, Page 4

PUBLIC MEETING.

In accordance with a notice previously given, a public meeting "was held at the Northern Hotel, on Monday evening last, the 4th instant, to meet H. J. Miller, Esq., M.P.C., the representative of the district, and discuss the best means of urging upon the Government the necessity of improving the Roadstead of Oamaru. There were over two hundred people present. On the platform there were Messrs Miller, M.P.C., F. Walker, M.P C. (member for the Lindiss), Williams, Julius, J. Ashcroft, Sewell, Brooking, and Spencer. Mr Henry France being moved into the chair, stated that it was unlikely that anyone present was uninformed as to the objects of the meeting ; it was unnecessary for him to dwell at length upon the business tbat bad brought them together. And since Mr Miller, the representative of the district, was present, he would therefore call upon him first to address the meeting. Mr Miller then, in addressing the meeting, snid he was glad to have the opportunity of disoussing the requirements of Oamaru and surrounding district before the next session of Council. He thought the next sitting of Council in many respects an important one. This district now holds a very different position to what it formerly did, and as its representative he duly felt his responsibility. The Government had held it incumbent to open up the gjld-fields, owing to efforts made by •uhe Government of a neighboring Province to attract the commerce of our gold-fields to it.

r\nd we have to some extent suffered thereby. Hut it is only fair to say that, notwithstandag this, a large Bum of money has been expended in the district in the formation of the Ireat Northern road, which has opened up a lirect line of communication with the metropolis. We have, however, arrived at the time irhen we ought to look to the improvement of »ur Harbor. This is a heavy and important mestion, and ought to be considered with rreat deliberation. . A Breakwater is what we yant, and nothing short of that will prove jffioient. He had it on reliable authority that he formation of the Roadstead was such that here would be no great imaginary difficulty n carrying cut such a work. He thought, lowever, that it would be well for the resiients in the district to memorialize the Goernment to appoint a Commission to decide ,n the best means to be adopted for the lm)rovement of the Harbor of Oamaru. No Jommission got up by private parties would lave any effect— it must be one publicly appointed by the Government. The Marine surveyor must now be in a position to form a lear idea of the capabilities and requirements >f the Harbor, and able to render material Hsistance to such a Commission in deciding he matter. He thought the General Government might be induced to take the matter up, iad render some assistance with a view to tiake it a Harbor of refuge. But before sking for any further grants, or bringing any other question of the district before the founcil, he would be glad if some member of Hie Town Board would come forward and give pome account of what had been done with the money voted by the Council last session, lor his part, he was prepared to second any demands the people of the district might feel inclined to make; and he felt certain that his friend, Mr Walker, the representative of the I.indiss, would support him. Captain Sewell next addressed the meeting, and said that he had not made any survey ot the Roadstead, and denied his ability to form a correct estimate of the cost of a Breakwater. He had, however, no doubt of the practicability of constructing such a work. The great utility of a Breakwater would be in breaking the heavy swell caused by the south-west wind. In his opinion this could be made one of the safest harbors in New Zealand, from the facility with which vessels of the largest tonnage could enter and depart in all s eathers. Here Mr Miller again asked if any member of the Town Board would inform the meeting *hat had been done with the money voted for the district at the last session of Council. Mr Palkner volunteered to do so, and stated that the four hundred pounds voted for the fencing of the Esplanade, had been expended, iad that it would take two hundred more to .oraplete it. The thousand pounds voted for ftie erection of a sewer, and the taking of the ,*vels of the town, had also been expended. Ihe sewer was now almost completed ; tut, so far as he knew, the levels of the town were far from being taken. The thousand pounds, however, would be sufficient to complete the contracts now in hand. Put there is another matter to which he uould direct the attention of Mr. Miller, ramely, the metaling of Severn-street. It is a i. ork that ought to have been completed long n|o. There is a good deal of property on f lat line of street, and the owners of it have ■' right to have a road made through it. Mr F. Walker, M.P.0., was then invited to !><ldress the meeting. He said he had the adi ancement of Oatnaru at heart, although he was the representative of another district ; for the invests of the district he has the honor to repre«»nt are closely allied with Oamaru. He would, however, beg to point out to the constituents the necessity of memorializing the Government themselves when they had any great demand to mate, and not to wait, or even look, for the promise of >he members to advocate their requirements, for they would do that at any rate. He would be most willing to strengthen Mr Miller's hands in the carrying out of any measure likely to benefit the district. He knew that the Government was obliged to expend large sums of money in extending lines of communication from Dunedin to the pold-fields, owing to the measures Southland adopted to take away the traffic ; but, in spite of all this, or anything, this district has not been eglected. Mr Miller again asked if the levels of the town 1 ad been taken. Mr Surveyor Brooking replied that about twot birds of the out-door work had been got through, but no office work had yet been done, the Town Hoard not having provided him with an office. Here the meeting became a little noisy, and speech-making gave place to desultory remarks f-om all parts of the building. Mr Shrimski reqtiested that Mr Miller would nsk the Government to place on the table of the Council returns showing the amount of money 'rawn from the district for the sale of lands, &c. , •md the amount returned to it for making imurovements. He thought that the Government had not given that attention to the district its importance demanded. Many improvements vere absolutely required besides a Breakwater. Pieces of road here and there over the country i required making. Bridges required to be thrown ! over creeks in many places. And while believing i that it waß better to ask much from the Government in order to get; something, he would move " That a Committee be appointed to draw up a .memorial to the Provincial Council, representing ihe requirements of the town and district of Oamaru and the approaches thereto, and the claimß of such district to a grant towards the carrying out of the necessary works. Mr Julius seconded the motion. Mr. Aschroft, not being an elector, requested permission to make a few remarks before the motion was put to the meeting. He ( Mr. j, A-uhcroft ) fully agreed with the remarks of fcho [ Vepresent&tiv* 6f th« dißterie tand thought tKftt^

we ought to be very careful in deciding on what we ought to ask for from the Council, and that anything we asked for ought to be put in a Tory specific manner. He fully concurred in the idea of appointing a Commission, and believed that it ought to be appointed by the Government, to report on the Harbor only. Mr Julius was sorry to interrupt the speaker, but must beg to differ with him. The object of this meeting would be lost if the Commission were appointed to report on the Harbor only. We could now bring ships to the port and ship our wool direct, but we could not get our stores away at all times, owing to the Btate of the roads. The Government had an idea of undertaking great things, but they generally managed to do a little at both ends, leaving the middle untouched. A few hundred pounds would go a long way in improving the roads through the district, but it would take a great many thousands to make a Breakwater. He perfectly agreed with the resolution, and would therefore support it. Mr Shrimski's resolution waß then put to the meeting and carried. Mr Ishcroft moved, " That the Committee be further requested to draw up a petition to the Council to appoint a Commission to consider and decide on the best means to be adopted for the improvement of the Harbor of Oamaru." Seconded by Dr Williams, and carried. j The following gentlemen were then appointed as a Committee to carry out the foregoing resolutions, namely, Messrs Ashcroft, Shrimski, France, Sewell, Sumpter, Thomas, and Thompson. Votes of thanks being then awarded to Messrs Miller and Walker for attending the meeting, to Mr Prance for ably presiding over it, and to Meßsrs F. Pinkerton and Co. and the Editor ot the Oamauu Times for their trouble and expense in convening the meeting, it separated.