LIVINGSTONE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 811, 18 November 1878, Page 2

LIVINGSTONE.

fraoji our own* > November 15. j .At last- Livingstone was appointed a I polling place, the matter being only decided ;■ twenty hour* before opening Ihe poll, and ! consequently many did not actually know i they could record their vote except at ] Otekaikc : and as no official public notice reached the district until noon on the day of ! polling, it looks soim-thing like a "hole and \ corner" election. A remarkable discovery: ii\ connection with the election, 1 am hi- j formed, is likely -soon to be heard of, and ! some think the election decidedly informal, j The R.M. Court and the Act, however, must ! decide if such is the ease. 1 am informed ' that the L'pper Waitaki people want the | lion's share of appropriation from the Council i for their roads, and would like a local man j j returned—l suppose it means one they can j I manipulate. ! j A meeting of the Committee of the Miners' I 1 Association was held in the school-house on i I the 14th inst. Present—Mr. Roberts, Presi- ] ! dent (in the chair), and Messrs. Farquharsun, \ I Neale, Kermode. Gallagher, Prater, '{Jotting, j I ami Smith. The minutes of the previous | ! meeting were read and confirmed. The I 1 Chairman read a letter from Warden Robin- ' I son, stating that he had been instructed to | j report 011 the memorial re the land sales, and j also to gather information relative to the j construction of a water-race to convey water I from Maerewhenna River for the purpose of j supplying reparian proprietors with clear j water for domestic and other purposes, as j well as to ascertain to what extent the j miners would assist in conferring this boon j upon the said proprietors. He (the warden) I would the7-cfore meet a. deputation of miners i for this purpose on Friday, 15th inst., at I 10 a.m. Mr. Smith referred to the fact that I the miners did not seem to appreciate the services of the Committee in watching their interests, and personally ho objected to represent them on the Committee, unless they were prepared to give it their support. This sentiment was generally endorsed by the members, and their belief in the necessity for united action was expressed. Mr. Frater j considered the Committee had done its duty, j and worked assidiously in the interests of the i district generally. The Chairman thought | j the subject of the water -.vice had very much. j i the appearance of a joke. Mr. 'Frater J deemed it best to advise the Government to j give the proprietors the race, and to place 1 at their disposal the practical experience of the miners in carrying out the project. It I was then resolved "That the report of the j Goldfields Committee re water races along i the banks of the Mnerewh<inua River meets j with the approval of tiie , mimittee." The j Chairman said the next thing to consider 1 was the question of the election. He '■. thought some letter of explanation was due j to Mr. Sumpter in consideration of the rc- ! suit of the poll. Mr. Frater thought the Chairman should be requested to -write such a letter. Tt appeared that Mr. Favquliarsou, the Secretary, had written to Mr. Smn»t"r j a-s a private individual, independently of the i Committee, asking him if he would stand and had received his consent. He then expressed his opinion as to the fitness of that gentleman for the oflice of Councillor to members of Committee, and they had at a meeting endorsed his action. " It was now rumored that Mr. Farquharson was the nominator of Mr. Sutherland, and lie therer fore considered he had deceived the Committoe. Mr. F.-vqnharson, boiling with indignation at being openly accused of duplex 1 action, proceeded somewhat as follows : "I ask your authority; I will have your ' authority now. I don't care for rumor.

She is a manj--tongued liar. T am Too , much of a roan to tell you who I voted for. j I would advise yon to" he very careful what ! you say. Do vow know what you r.ro doing ? j You are accusing your Returning Oirieer ! of " Here Mr. Farquharson suddenly \ stopped. Mr. Frater, in reply, said I am - prepared, in consideration of the matter, to ' move a vote of no confidence in the Secre- i tary of the Association. .Mr. Farqiiharson then rose, and with the remark, " Here are your books, I will save yem the trouble/' abruptly left the meeting. «The following ] resolution -was then unanimously l ■ —" That the Chairman he requested to write ' to Mr. Sumpter expressing regret at the result of the election, at the same lime giving it as the opinion of the Committee that , it was in a great measure due to the j action taken by the gentleman who • first asked him if he would stand." ' It had J een distinctly stated that the Secre- ■ tary*s name appearing on the nomination ! paper referred to seemed to indicate that the -I Committee were divided, and from his official \ position carried great weight. It was men- , tinned that Mr. Sutherland had intimated \ his willingness on some future occasion to i address a public meeting of his constituents, i In the course of conversation, a contrast was i drawn between the rival candidates, and a . high compliment paid to Mr. Sumpter as a \ gentleman of administrative ability and sterling intelligence : while this could not be ih<; cause of his opponents rot urn. Several , members of Committee having expressed their intention to resign if Mr. Farquharson remained as Secretary, it was resolve:!. "That in consequence of facts known to the Committee, proving the inconsisti-nt action of the Secretary in connection with the election, the Committee have lost all confidence in - him, and therefore, request him to resign." A copy of this was ordered to bo transmitted to Mr. Farquharsor, ; 1 I'-" 1 - ! The Warden is now interviewing a deputation of miners re matters mentioned above. There is a good attendance of others not on the deputation, and Messrs. M'Master and ■ f '.irdiner are present to watch the interests of ihe ruuholdors. The memorial relates to ' the exchange of land, acre for acre, and 1 other matter. Mr. Koherts pointed out that Mien- was no wish to include land fenced and cultivated, the plans, however, being not very distinct upon the boundaries of \ various (properties. The Warden explained tli.it he had been obliged to make his own tracing in great haste yesterday, and could ] only iiote'general particulars." Some discussion arose upon tiie peculiarities of outlet . in Pringle's Cully : also on the exact position of long Cullv. Attention was drawn to the fact that it" was the gullies that were I n-allv wanted, and pai ticularly for purposes of outlet. Loft sitting. Fuller details tomorrow. ' A gale of considerable force is now raging. .