PUBLIC MEETING AT RIVERTON.

Southland Times, Issue 1086, 8 January 1869, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING AT RIVERTON.

A public meeting of the Orepuki and Longwood diggers was held on Saturday, the 2nd January, 18G9, at lie Marine Hotel, for the purpose of calling the attention of the Government to certain grievances which they desired to be redressed. There were present besides some 100 miners, most of the chiet residents in Riverton, amongst others, Messrs Daniels, M.P.C., Whittin»hom, and Instone, of Whittinghain Bros., Surman, MDonald, Lyons, &c. Mr W. H. Pearson, Commissioner of Croivn Lands, was also present by request. MiTaylor one of the oldest Orepuki minors, occupied the chair. The following resolutions were proposed :— Proposed by Mr Watson, and seconded by Mr Armstrong—" That the diggers be allowed to purchase land on the goldfields | in blocks ranging from five to twenty j acres, the same to be paid by annual instalments, so as to induce the permanent settlement of the same. Carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr John Horr, and seconded by Mr Jobn Dawson, "That the rate per sluice head of forty inches water, for sluicing purposes, be reduced from £1 to ss. Carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr F. Rachiel, and seconded by Mr Jobn Thomson—" That the miners' alluvial claims be extended from 45 x 45 frontage, to 200 ft. frontage x 200 long on the run of the gold, ordinary claims. Prospecting claims to be double the size of ordinary claims, to be pegged out in any way the prospectors may think proper; prospecting quartz reef claims 300 yards in length x 150 ft. on each side of reef." To this the following amendment was proposed, but not seconded :—- --" That in the opinion of this meeting ordinary claims should be regulated according to the outlay, and should not be less than 5,000 square feet, nor more than 12,000 square feet for^ every hundred pounds expended on it." The original motion was lost on a division. Proposed by Mr Edward Bruce and geconded by Mr John Fox—" That the export duty on gold ba reduced from 2s 6d per ounce to Is Gd per ounce." Carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr James Parsons and seconded by Mr John Smith— " That Registration Fees as charged at "Warden's Office be abolished." Carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr Henry Ferguson, and seconded by Mr John Smith— "That the ordinary claims be extended from 45 x 45 to 100 x45 feet, and 50ft. per man be allowed for every £100 expended. Prospecting claims 200 x 45 feet, alluvial.' Carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr John Horr, seconded by Mr James Watson— "That in the opinion of this meeting, acreage claims should not be granted in gullies where other claims are being worked in ordinary sized claims." Carried unanimously. After the resolutions had been proposed and spoken to — ' Mr Pearson, who was received with applause, said —Mr Chairman and gentlemen, the usual stereotyped form on such an occasion as the present is to commence by informing you that I have much pleasure in meeting you ; and I have much pleasure, but let us understand one another at starting. I have not come out here popularity hunting ; I don'tcare twopence for any of you individually, and you don't care twopence for me individually, so we start fair. I may be wrong in saying I don't care for any of you individually ; there may be some one one in the room from whom I have received half a pipe full of tobacco, and if so, he has a claim on me in my individual capacity. In my public capacity, I come here because it is right that I should meet you, (applause) ; right, because you are a hard working, sober, industrious, peaceable, producing body of men ; you are of benefit to the Province, and consequently you have a claim on my utmost attention ; so here I am, and now we go in for straight running, (applause.) I will proceed to answer your resolutions seriatim. As to the purchase of land on the goldfield, I don't know whether you ever get or read the papers ; if you do, you will see that I have been doing everything in my power lately to obtain population, encourage permanent and pofitable settlement. Population we must have ; you may rest assured, therefore, that I will do my b6Bt tO aSSiSt yOU in What will prove ofsuch lasting benefit to the Province. How it is to be done I cannot say at present, for I have been so busy lately that I had not time to acquaint myself with matters more intimately connected with the goldfields before I came to meet you. But immediately on my return I will look up the subject. As to the reduction in water rental for sluicing, I found on enquiry, before leaving Invercargill, that the Warden has recommended the adoption of the Otago new Goldfields Begulations, in which the price is fixed at 5s ,per head, instead of a pound ; the question is under the consideration of the Government, and there is every probability of the regulations being adopted. The third resolution it is unnecessary to notice as it was not carried. The fourth, desiring the reduction of the export duty on gold, is a matter for the General Assembly to deal with ; the local Government can only forward your desires to .the General Government and acquaint our members in the Assembly in regard ;, to. your wishes. Ido not know sufficient of the subject to say whether the reduction is either practicable or desirable. I am inclined to think the latter is. MtDaitiels here asked Mr Pearson ."whether- a motion to that effect had not . been made and rejected at the last session of the Assembly. Mr Peabson— Yes, but that is no reason Why it should not be brought for-

ward again. If a thing is right there is nothing like stickiug io it. Fifth, to abolish Kcgistration Fees at Warden's Courls; that I cannot promise, and u/---less I am sure of being able to perform 1 never promise. This I will enquire into, and if it ri^iifc that they should be aboli-fifil. t'i'.'v .shall bo if 1 can accomplish it ; it' i! i* not, it will not be right to do s->. n r can you expejt it. Sixth, as to extended claims. Under tha 12th clause of the Goldfields Act the Governor has the power to grant such, which authority is delegated to the Superintendent, aud L have no doubt will be exercised where requisite, and the adoption of the Otago (new) Goldfield .Regulations will also meet this. Those special claim.* already applied for have been considered and ; s sented to, and the Warden will be in receipt of instructions to that effect by 1 this date, amongst them those or' ( Howard and party, and Fitzgerald and party, which were in dispute, the objections not being considered valid, and the Government being anxious to afford every encouragement to industry aud enterprise. Seventh, I will bring under the attention of the Government and let you know the result. I have now to complain a little of the course you adopt in sending petitions direct to the Superintendent, which gives a great deal of unnecessary trouble, as they must be sent to the Warden for his report. If they were sent through him in the first instance it would save trouble to the Government, aud delay to yourselves. The Warden must, in execution of his duty, forward them, and if he fails in this respect he will be dismissed. For the future, therefore, send all petitions through him. Some time ago Mr Daniels sent me a petition from you for a postal service between liiverton and Orepuki. This I forwarded to the Chief Postmaster, Mr Butts, in a letter which I dare say you have seen in the Southland Times. I am happy to say a telegram has been received by Mr Butts, from the Postmaster-General, to the effect that the Government is prepared to allow a yearly expenditure of £50 for this service, (applause.) Thus you see I am prepared to assist you in all legitimate requests. I don't know whether you participate in the general depression which appears to exist, not merely in this Province, but throughout New Zealand, I hope not; under any circumstances keep up your spirits — you recollect the story in ancient history, where, at the battle of Salamis, when the Persians were bolting, an old Spartan ran into the sea and held on to one of their boats which was being pushed off from shore. They cut his hands off ; he then held on with his teeth, when they cut his head off, and thei'e wus an end of the matter. Now I believe in that old fellow. Hold on in life till you lose the ; run of your heads ; you can't help your- , self then, but till then stick to it. Never < say die while you have a kick left. I heard once of a man in South America, a Yankee, who having been attacked with yellow fever, was supposed to be dead ; the undertaker came to measure his body for a coffin ; when he got the Upe line to his toes, the seemingly dead man concentrated all his energies aud gave a feeble kick at him ; that kick saved his life. Never cave in w ile you have a kick left in you. lam convinced we have the best goldfield in New Zealand, deep sinking, and it will yet be found. It is only a question of time ; I am going.to find it shortly ; at any rate, I am prepared to drop money on it, aud so are others, or else develop one, (applause.) In conclusion I can only say that the Government is ready and willing to assist you in any reasonable demand to its utmost capacity. But do not expect too much ; help yourselves. A brave man always fights it out without singing out for aid, unless he is daaii-be.it. So far as lam individually concerned, I have already shown you that I mean business as regards yourselves. I will help you to obtain what is just, right, but I will not assist you in any unfair or frivolous demand. If your applecart gets bogged, don't be in too great a hurry to call out to Jupiter ; put your shoulder to the wheel. Recollect " that right is right, and wrong is no man's right." Mr Pearson sat down amidst continued applause. The thanks of the diggers were proposed to Messrs Daniel and Pearson for the interest they had shown in all mining affairs. The Chairman having called on t_ c diggers to receive this proposition in true diggers Style, three heartj cheeks were given. Mr Dauiel (who was received with applause), stated that he had tried to do everything in his power to assist in developing what he considered a very promising goldfield, but disclaimed applause, on the ground that his friend, Mr Pearson, had taken the chief trouble in any matters connected with their affairs, he (Mr Daniel) haviug only forwarded their requests to him. Mr Pearson (who on rising,* was received with applause), stated he was much obliged to them for the hearty, cordial manner in which they had received him ; it did them credit, as it showed they could appreciate the exertions of any one who would assist them in obtaining any just demands j he assured them he would keep his eye on them, and called to their attention the poet Longfellow's words — " Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for every fate, Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait." — (Applause.) The meeting broke up and proceeded to refresh. Mr Pearson's health was drunk with three times three, and he was informed that he was a jolly good fellow in the words of the song to that effect.