PUBLIC MEETINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20, 7 December 1861, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Owing to some unfortunate mistake, two meetings were called by advertise merit at the Provincial Hotel, for eight o'clock on Thursday evening, for the very different purposes of forming a Fire Brigade and a Jockey dub. Both parties seemed to be quite unaware of the fact, that two meetings had been called, and about half-past eight a gentleman who had come? to. attend the Sporting m°eti ; ig,. proposed Mr. Sibbald as chairman, which being agreed to, The Chairman made a few observations with regard to the object of the meeting, but he was immediately interrupted by loud cries of " Fire Brigade." After some confusion, the sporting portion of the meeting" withdrew their pretensions, and Mr. Harnett was chosen chairman of the Fire meeting. | The Chairman, after a few words, called on the originators of the meeting to bring forward the business, —but there was none proposed, no one seemed to know exactly what they came there for, and a scene of indescribable confusion ensued—every one talking*, proposing motions, and making amendments at once, something after this style : "I propose"— •''My amendment is— ■"— "-Sit down"—"'A Volunteer Fire Brigade"— " Order, chair"—"Take ths names" — "Put the motion"—"No—its earned"—

"Turn him out!"—" Mr. Chairman," &c. A vain [attempt to reduce this chaos to order was made by Mr. Hardy, of Tokomairiro, but without effect, until every one was tired of shouting1, when the names ox those willing1 to form a Brigade" were taken down, and a motion that they meet again in the Town Hall on Saturday evening, at seven o'clock, wan carried; and, after the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting broke up. John Hardy, Esq., M.P.C., was then^ called to take the chair of the Race meeting, and after some very appropriate remarks from him on the subject under consideration, —the formation of an Otago Jockey Club, the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to : — Proposed by K. Julius, Esq., seconded by Sydney James, Esq.—" That in the opinion of thi3 meeting it is desirable that a Club be established, to be called the'Otago Jockey Club, for the purpose of establishing races in this Province." Proposed by H. Walker, Esq., seconded by C. Cooper, Esq.—"That Mr. John Stevenson be Hon. Sec. pro tern., for the purpose-of receiving this evening the names of gentlemen willing to become members of the Otago Jockey Ciu'o." Proposed by R. Julius, Esq., seconded by J. Murison, Esq.— "That a subscription-fee of one guinea be paid annually by each member of the Club."

A large number of gentlemen then gave in their names as members of the Club, and subscriptions to the race fund poured rapidly in. A moat hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings, which, from the orderly manner in which they we're conducted, presented a strong contrast to those of the previous meeting.