COMPENSATION MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 72, 23 July 1873, Page 2

COMPENSATION MEETING.

Pursuant to advertisement a meeting of those interested was held at the Argyll Hotel on Saturday afternoon last for the purpose of framing a Petition to the House of Representatives on the subject of compensation to be granted to sufferers from Native Outrages in Poverty Bay. There was a good attendance of country settlers; among whom was Mr. W. S. Greene who said that as the Chairman of the former meeting held for the same purpose as this one he had requeste d the attendance of as many as possible to complete the business already entered upon, and moved that as it was necessary to have a d’senterested person to preside over the meeting he would move that Mr. Webb do take the chair, which was agreed to. The Chairman read th® advertisment convening the meeting and called on Mr. Greene to address

Mr. Greene, in continuation of his former remarks, briefly urged the desirableness of petitioning the House of Representatives on the subject of their grievances as it had been shown by letters received from the Under Secretary that the Government had no sympathy with them : indeed, it is only fair inference, which Mr. Cooper’s letters Allowed them to draw, that the Petition had never been seen by the Governor at all. The Under Secretary wrote as follows : — “ Colonial Secretary’s Office, “ Wellington, 14th February, 1873. “ Sir,— Adverting to my letter, No. 50, of the 3rd inst., on the subject of the Petition from sufferers, through the late native disturbances on the East Coast, for Compensation for losses sus. tained by them, I have now the honor to inform you that the House of Representation deliberately decided, in 1867, against granting Compensation in such cases.

“ I have the honor to be, Sir, “ Your most obedient servant, “ G. S. Cooper, “ Under Secretary.” —Mr. Kelly, M.H.R., had promised to use his influence; Mr. Williamson also had much sympathy with the prayer of the Petitioners; and he (Mr. Greene) had received abundant evidences of support to the petition in the House if brought before it. The cause was

a just one; and he considered that, side by side with the fact of the Government having granted Compensation to other settlers, and had set apart a block of land to requite natives who had always received a better service pay, independently of race or color, they, the sufferers, had a good claim upon the favorable consideration of the House.

Mr. Wyllie proposed: “ That a memorial be sent to the House of Representatives praying that Compensation be granted to the sufferers by native outrages in Poverty Bay.”—Seconded by Mr. G. Goldsmith, and agreed to. The Chaibman read the Petition as amended : whereon

Mr. Wyllie proposed: “That the Petition, as read, be adopted, and forwarded to Mr. Williamson, M.H.R.; to be presented to the House of Representatives.”—Seconded by Mr. Espie, and agreed to. Mr. Gbebne proposed that the Petition, as amended, be published once in the Poverty Bay Standard, as some of the exchanges of that paper may take favorable notice of the matter.”— Seconded by Mr. Goldsmith, and agreed to. Mr. Wyllie moved : “ That as Mr. Greene has been at considerable expense in this matter, each one interested should contribute to a fund to meet expenses necessary in forwarding the object of the Petition.”—Seconded by Mr. Ferguson, and agreed to. Major Westrup proposed: “That the Chairman (Mr. Webb) do act as Treasurer.”—Seconded by Mr. Parker, and agreed to. Mr. Greenb moved : “ That the memorial be placed in the hands of some competent person to draw up on parchment for signature.” —Seconded by Mr. Wyllie, and agreed to. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business.