PUBLIC MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1348, 28 August 1883, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

4 NATIVE LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL, i The meetisii convened by his Worship the i Mayor, at the earnest request of several i petitioners, for the purpose of considering I the above Bill, otherwise known as “Bryce’s I Rill ’’ took place on Saturday night last in Messrs. Painell & Boylan’s Hall. The attendance was large. His Worship the Mayor took the chair about 8 40 and opened the meeting by reading the advertisement convening it, and also a Bill. The Chairman then called on any gentleman, who had heard the foregoing read, to come forward and stare their views on it, but no one responded. He then called on Mr Hees, (great hooting and cries,) Mr E. P. Joyce moVed s and Mr Hardy seconded, that the gentlemen who had signed • the petition cthne arid speak. A i great disturbance lieie tout; and a ■ general cry arose for “ Tiitchct! ” tpd the I “ Cockatoo,” with loud screeches and cries, his name appearing first on the requisition j list. ■ The Chairman here called on Sergeant [ Bullen to turn the boys out who were in the ■ gallery making an unnecessary noise, which was accordingly done, Cries for “ Cockatoo ” for “ for the next man on the list,” and (ironically) for M'Donald’s speech. The Chairman rose and s+id that Mr Baldwin had just informed him that clause 6 and other clause* in the Bill had been struck

out, and various amendments made. Voice, “ And so has the fourteenth.” ' Mr Thtt’-att, “ That’s not til? question for which the meeting is convened. Call the • next name on the requisition list.” i The Chairman then called out the names ; of each of the remaining requisitionists as I follows :—James Brown. j Voices, “ ?peak up Snyder.” “ Gone to j have a Beer,” and great confusion generally. I Thomas Chrisp. : Cries of “ Sarah, Sarah,” “ Now then old Gal,” and loud uproar and hisses. Carlaw Smith and T. J. Dickson. General and hearty applause. James Brown. Voice, “ Something gone wrong with the engine, Gone to see about it.” F. Dufaur. Voice, “ Gone down to the wharf to sec the Snark.” G. Matthewson, J Townl«y, and D. Page, were called amongst cries of ” Gone out,” “ Gone for a walk, &c.” These were all the names of those who had put their signatures to the requisition asking that the meeting he called, and only two of whom put in an appearance. The Chairman asked if any one else had any comments to make, if not he would close the meeting. Mr Tharatt said he considered this one of the greatest insults that could be given to the Burgesses, a number of persons had requisitioned this meeting, and not one of them had appeared to state why it had been called. He would move “ That the meeting be closed and that the Burgesses consider themselves grossly insulted, and a vote of censure be passed on those who had called the meeting.” Mr J. Baldwin seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. Mr Ward proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman. Voice, “ I propose yon sit down.” Mr E. P. Joy re said that the Burgesses ought not to pay the expenses incurred by the meeting, that the men who luid called it should be made to do so, as thry had not come forward and spoken on the subject whether for or against, a# it was their duty to do. A vote of thanks to the Chairman termimated the proceediegs.

The Duke of Edinburgh is emt»4 a. knight of St, John of Russia. The Duchess of Sutherland has become a convert to Canon Wilberforce in his temper' ance views, and now wears the blue ribbon, The Trustees, Sir Stafford Northeote and Lord Salisbury, of the Beaconsfield Club, were entertained by the members at a banquet, on the 9th of May, when the bust of Lord Beaconsfield, executed by Count Gleichen, was unveiled. About 300 members were present. “ Citizen.” in the New Nealand “ Times,” writes as follows j—“ The Dunedin Corporation received last month no less than £1760 for 44 bottle licenses at £4O each. Christchurch received nt7, Wellington ni7, Taranaki nJ, and Auckland nil ; and for the simple reason that these licenses are only in operation in Otago and Nelson. Now, Mr Editor, T submit that, if the bottle license is the correct thing, then the City Corporation of Wellington will not, lam sure, object to receive about £l5OO annually from that source.” The celebrated orator. Father Tom Burke, is dead. There is a hitch in the purchase o£ Sir Philip Miles’ picture gallery by the New York millionaire, Vanderbilt. Meantime connoisseurs are urging the Government to buy the celebrated Raphaels and Claudes in the gallery. Correspondents are determined that Mr. Gladstone shall retire from the Ministry. Nearly every week it is asserted that an opening is made for his graceful retirement, but he still remains Prime Minister.