Public Meeting.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3606, 17 July 1880, Page 2

Public Meeting.

A public meeting was held last evening in the Theatre Royal. for the purpose of considering the petition now before the •House praying for the removal of Mr Kenriok, EM. The spacious building was crammed in every part, and all classes were represented.

On the motion of Mr J. W. Walker, Dt Kilgour was voted to the Chair. The Chairman read the advertisement convening the meeting. He said he was honored by being selected as Chairman of such a large and influential meeting, which represented , the public of the Thames. Opportunity would be given to everyone wishing to speak to do «0,-pro-vided they conformed to the regulations by which a meeting should ba conducted, and came on to the platform and spoke. The object..of the meeting was to consider the petitions sent down to Parliament, and no doubt a good many questions would be asked on. the Subject The, issue the meeting, had to decide was whether the meeting would uphold honesty, integrity, and independence in the seat, of justice... It was not only in the chief, but also concerned the integrity of the whole members of the Magistracy. He would not occupy the time of the meeting further, but would call upon Mr . Carpenter to address the meeting. Mr Carpenter, on coming to the front, was greeted with a mixture of applause and derisive cheers. He said that as all knew three petitions for the removal of the S.M. had. been sent down to Wellington. There was one purporting to I come, from the public of the Thames, signed by 98 individuals; the second was from Mr Brassey; and the third from Annie Boberfcs. He did not. dispute the right of anyone to petition Parliament, if they had sustained a grievance. It was a constitutional privilege, and therefore the forwarders of the petition were quite justified in doing so. (Hear, hear.) - But it' was, not right of them to endeavor to inflict injury on the whole Thames by so doing. A meeting had already been held at which a resolution ot confidence in the' it.M. had been passed, but it was thought that at a public meeting a more, complete approval of the actions of the B.M. would I>e given. He said he would deal with the petitions in order. The first signed by 98 individuals had been signed by t'lem some, not knowing what they were, effixing .their naras to, others signing the petition in tKJHbelief that they were signing something else, and .others signing while feeling] resentment. He was sure there were very few who knew what they were about , when they' signed it. ' This precious document, among other charges, stated that "in consequence of the course of action adopted by ftfr J£enriek it was likely to cnuse ill feeling, and asked that he be removed and a professional geqtle* man be appointed- in his stead. He asked the meeting if they considered, the manner in which Mr Kenriok had conducted bis business was likely to cause ill feeling in the district? (No, no.) Was the administration of equal justice likely to

cause a spread of ill feeling P He thought the meeting were at one with him wheu he said that this charge was wholly unfounded. (Applause.) Many of the men who signed the petition were those who had lost oases in Court, and they now bitterly repented their action. There were people; he did not know whether they were present at the meeting,, who had signed the petitions who had no idea that it wag praying for the removal of the R.M. Two gentleman present, Messrs A. Hutchinson and ChristieTbefore the meeting had told him this was the case. He appealed to them if it was not the case ft (Perfectly correct.) (Roars.) He had been told that the R.M. had violated the law in regard to the question of Miners' Rights, and that many who had been compelled to take out rights had signed tne petition.' However, the R.M. had only carried out the law, and he appealed to the honesty which permeated the meeting, whether he could hare done otherwise,than carry out the law ? The payment of Miner's Rights was a most obnoxious one, but it rested with the meeting to see the law altered, They acknowledged that the law was an oppressive one, and yet they turned round and blamed the Magistrate for carrying it out after having sworn to do so when appointed. The people mttst get the law altered.- There were other matters which were very similar. He was was one of those unfortunate individuals who had suffered from the dog tax. Sergeant . Mulville had summoned him for not i having a dog collar, and he naturally felt irritated at the time, but after considering the question he came to the conclusion that Mulville was quite right: Yet he did not petition Parliament to have Mulville dismissed the service. (Applause) The second petition was! from Mr Brassey,- who said "That in consequence of the conduct and feeling displayed towards him, he would be compelled to cease practising his profession as a solicitor in the district of Hauraki unless Mr, Kenrick was removed from the district." This' meant that! either Brassey or Kenriek must leave the Thames. (Roars of laughter.) The first petition had been signed by men whom he had always thought were endowed with more than ordinary common sense,, but he was sorry his conjectures were not correct. The third petition he would not comment on, bnt.it was clear that all three petitions had emanated from the same person. He would move—"That this 1 meeting has entire confidence in Mr Kenrick as Resident Magistrate and Warden for this district, and desires to testify to the. strict impartiality which has distinguished bis judicial proeefdiofiß-" „(Loud cheer*, ing!) ; . I The Rev. Si J. Neill. seconded. He did so in the interests of honesty, and* justice.s • If the-present RIM. were removed, the Magistrates who followed would be ruled by terrorism. Mr Kenrick had so far as he knew endca-, voured to do right. It was possible that; he bad committed errors, bat everyonel was liable to do so. The petitioners; had been endeavouring to do what; was a most serious offence, that of. embracery, by trying to influence the mind of justice from being fearlessly unbiassed. He did not second the, resolution through' any personal feelings, but did ie through a love of right and. justice. (Applause.) ; The Chairman asked if any one wished: to speak to the motion. ..■'■■- , • < A voice: " Where are you, Brassey ? " ; The Chairman: '. Af no. o,ne seems in- - clined to speak, I will put the resolution. , Mr Mcllhone (emerging from the < crowd)* "stay.a minute." -„ >

Mr Mcllhone said he Was not going to speak to the resolution, but was going to Eropose an amendment. He had: never efore mounted a public platform to speak 1 on a subject of this kind: As all''knew, he was one of the gentlemen wh<? signed the petition referred to ia such angr,y terms by the Chairman and Mr Carpenter, and he had good cause. He dijCfered with the previous speakers a« to. the principles involved, and did not think it a question of whether Brassey or Kenrick remained on the Thames. He had signed the" petition, and he thoroughly -be Keyed in it. (Applause.) He-was, as the meeting - were aware, formerly Inspector^ of Miners' Rights,'but he did not want the' meeting to express an opinion as to the manner ia which he had performed his' duties., The fact of the petition in, his behalf with -900 names affixed was somewhat in his favor.' He bad been on the field twelve years, and if Kenrick 'was right with 1 regard ;to the question of discretionary power; all pre« rious Wardens must' hare been wrong. He did not think it right of Mr Kenrick to interfere, with his drfties, so- long as he was employed by the natives. He was not paid by the Government, and not Is he received was public money. As he said, things went on, well during the first part of his appointment, and then a petition was got up by certain Earopeans and natives (at the instigation of the former) containing charges against him. The first count, to which he pleaded not guilty, was v that he favored his own countrymen and members of his own religion in the taking out of Miners' Rights.'* The second, to which he pleaded guilty, was to .the effect " that he allowed several men to iwork without rights* < thus defrauding the' natives.;' There were many people who, as the meeting were aware, were not in ai position to take out rights, and' he appealed to the meeting whether he-should have:been right in enforcing payment from them. (Cries of " Name.") There was a man on the hill whb! was working without a right, whose house he visited, and he found the" children half clothed and half fed. (Applause;) As a new broom he swept clean for* mx months, and the result was that a petition was sent to Gillies stating that he (the speaker) had been too severe, and he was then asked by the Superintendent to use a i discretionary power. He considered the Miner's, Right tot severe onmeq forking for companies. ' (So.it is!) It wai'a'Taet that the natives' on certain land were receiving far more than, ever the Agree;' ment intended. The Caledonian mine was an example. This was six,men's ground, and there had been 80 men working in it, each of whom had .to; take out rights., If he saw that one of the men could nbt take it out he winked at it, (Applause.) With regard to the petition charging him, he was noticed by Mr Eenriok of a day' when he would attend to receive h\s defence. When he went.to the office he found besides Mr Kenrick several in* terested natives and Mr Campbell present. He declined to make a defenoe unless Mr £enriok allowed him to do three things. (X.) That he should take the evidence for the defence on path, (3.) That Mr Kenrick should allow him to be represent ted by a soiioitor. (3.) That the representatives of the Press should be present.

lue ii.M. refused to comply with these requests—was that justice? (No, no.) Mr Kenrick however agreed to send his evidence to Wellington, and this he was compelled to accept as it was all he could get. He had to go to Auckland on business with the Native Minister (Mr Bryce) aud was prevented from giving his evidence. When he returned he went to Mr Kenrick who told him that his report had been sent to Wellington and that it was too late. Mr Kenrick however agreed to send the evidence—which, he did." The reason Mr Kenrick assigned for not waiting for the evidence before sending his report, was that he understood that he (Mr Mcllhone) had gone to Wellington. He should think that Mr Kenrick could hare easily ascertained that he had not done ao. He did not think it right of .Mr Kenriqk to take his bread and butter oat of* .his mouth in the way he bad done, lie wished to know if any such fuss as this was made when he. was deprived of the office of Inspector of Miners' Eights? He did not think that the meeting were right in passing the resolution, as the Government was at present consideritfe the petition. .He would, therefore* move —" That inasmuch as the petition relative to the removal of; the B.M. is now before the House,' and contains oharges whioh the petitioners allege they can sob-. stantiate, this .meeting declines % to take any action With reference thereto 1, bending an inquiry into such charges." (Cheers.) Mr Greenville 1 seconded the amendment. He had watched the course taken by the 8.M., and had found him wanting (laughter), and he considered thatjas Warden he was not fitted to filU the situation. He had been 26 years oirtae goiafield (applause); lm& had, leen'tfce public suffer by his decisions, given?ln ignorance. (No, no.) He had interftrfbd with the miners in making then* ttfttfce out rights. (It's not his fault). He* Mid to pay £36 a year to the natives, but Tie grumbled that the battery hands *T*old have to pay. (Cries of "Not his fault," "Getout," "Kenrickdid not maW-the law," R ro.ni, hisw ß , etc.) I say iff ft his fault. As the.meeting would not hear him, h« would not say any mere, but would merely'second the amendment. Mr Braisey (who was. received with derisive cheers and .hisses) said oat he considered himself as much reapeeted on the field as ,the R,M r He Jud, nager taken, any action"in 1 which..he .waslnterested without hitting itiflfoit jfrtsA fts shonlder. (Oppositio>,cb^.> jffl^e &.M. was not capable m ffMfgttfMM deoision everyone knew. ( H No?* .a£«i#a of' Miller don't say so "). Mflletfafy go to' If the meeting snttiwtirt

him with a «ase and ifrwarloct thfsjMh the E.MYlaek of legal knowledge wwU it not bi hit duty toatkfortaieiDqftirT into the matter? (A rdm'h afiJTow about goats having coUanfifti .^A 'caW-' c«mie before ■ the Watdib T- of Campbell t. . Keillj,, in wWA/' fee R.M. wid be bad written to WellingWn to depnre Mcllhooe of th^iwre. tionary*. power. Since the* titiibktif pnp 150 persons liad been compettj* & ta|e out Miners' Bights, and Httr had caused,great hardship. He eouJd* mention some who were eompmleoV: to do so, who ' made their., bread from bran., . (Ifame one.) , (No, iW|.Jk _ .Had these gentlemen who wiled the nattinf a right to call those men who signed the petition; blackly*. (Yes.) V They wen ms much' respected as Mr ifcehni*. ■ The analogy mentioned between this h||mj ease in^whiph,Mr^San^aei;9oOTbe^ir»J mixed, »p woold(*4£4o,C ('tsM're' ao legal •uthority anyhow, Bnuuev." Roars.) Ho did not exptoet that Dr El- ' rout, whom he had always partievlarly supported, would hare taketttheietion he had 'done. (Liugbteri) The«; wm» something more. aY the bot^in of this )han nrtoiQus in^ignati^ Jifi^jpttbe peti^ipners.; Mr, uarperitQr' ww-4 liid> QrdofMrKenrwk anditVa^ec^sary that he should keep on good tfCOMU . (Shut op.) He had, gnat pleajprf in supporting the ameadmant. fc,,, Ji: r iJfrj OMc Dt*by eseayed to spstk* bal wm obliged to desist after seTeral iiiffimtoiii efforts, through the hubknb which ensued, the uproar being uidttribibl>.it Mr Farwll also endeaTotr*4 to obtain • hearing, but was compelled to desist* and retired ruefully Bcratohmf Kit cranium. 1 \ '*' ■', iJ''-L '^'\ '">< •;' The amendment was then pat to the meeting and lost by a large majority. The resolatioo was then put and earned. ,*■/ t< „.,. ."-_,;,"' '/, '•;;, The Re*. MrLaishlev piroposeoV V That the Chairman forward by telegran^ ti|. th« < Minister of Justice, .'and to Sir George; Grey, the resolution'just pasied by thii meeting." He,,jthought tno fj^oetinf a most roewssf^i; o^e, 4 bnt ih'ought^ that they should hare listened to some of the speakers'. The resolution just pasted would strengthen thfl position, tot only of the Besideht Magistrate, but would hare great weight with the Gorernment. He thought honor was due to ICtJteaf^ok, and to 1»m it should be giteii. '■>■"*■ * lJ* Mr Wood secon4ed.-.Garried. Mr Carpenter 'mored a rote of thanks to the Chair, whieh-was carried with acclamation^ and, the meeting, jbcoke pp. j-