SEPARATION.

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

SEPARATION.

Advantage was taken of the presence in town on Monday last of many inland settlers and others interested, to ventilate the question of either separation from the province of Auckland, or to obtain a form of local Government adapted to the growing importance and present requirements of the District. The lateness of the hour in the evening, and the wildness of the weather combined, acted rather as an adverse cause to thin a meeting which, under more favorable circumstances, would have been the largest and most influential ever held in Gisborne. There was no lack of enthusiasm, or earnestness however, in the doing of what was to be done, and of which we append the substance. J. B. Poynter Esq., was voted to the Chair. Major Westrup gave his views in favor of the object for which the meeting had been convened. He stated that as against £3OO or £350 received by this district from the Provincial Government, it has paid in the shape of Revenue some £2OOO into the Provincial Chest, and proposed that a committee be appointed to gather all information regarding receipts and expenditure that may affect this district.

Some considerable, and, perhaps, pardonable desultory conversation took place upon the subject, which was ultimately ended by Mr. Johnston, and Mr. Skeet, amalgamating their propositions in the following form : —“ That a committee be at once formed, consisting of Messrs. Johnston, Hardy, Poynter, Westrup, Webb, Skeet, Cuff, Graham, Hall, Greene, and Steuart, five to form a quorum, to gather statistics to lay before a public meeting to be held on Monday next; and that a petition be prepared to be signed at the meeting, praying for separation from the Province of Auckland, and another praying for a constitution similar to the Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works.” This was ultimately carried, and the committee agreed to meet in the Road Board room this day at 3 o’clock. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business.