PUBLIC MEETING AT ETTRICK.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 393, 23 September 1874, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT ETTRICK.

BEATON AND LANCASTER'S APPLICATION. {From a Correspondent) On the evening of Thursday, the 17th inst., a crowded meeting was held to consider the application of Messrs. Beaton and Lancaster for the formation of a new line of road on the east bank o£ the Molyneux.

Mr. William Scott opened the meeting by stating the case a^jinst the proposed new road. He said that a new bridge was just on the eve of completion at the Beaumont, in which certain parties, including a number of Blue Spur miners, had invessted a large amount of capital. Wow, the owners of the punt were endeavoring to perpetuate th» injurious monopoly they had so long enjoyed by diverting the traffic from the bridge, and they had obtained signatures to their pet project : but he had no doubt, as soon as the real facts were stated, that everyone would unreservedly "withdraw their names from snch a document. Nor were the interests of those who had been induced to invest their capital in the bridge only to be considered. All along the road industrious settlers — (hear, hear) — had invested capital in-*"" forming homes on the faith of the present road line continuing to pass their doors. To these parties the formation of the new road would simply mean ruin. Must we not indignantly protest against a return to the vile system we have come 16,000 miles to escape subjection to — the lords of many acres — in this case to the Victorian millionare, whose ambition is to possess the Molyneux and Pomahaka as his boundaries, with no road lines through his property. He called upon all honest and fearless men for their support, and did not fear their verdict. — (Loud and continued applause.) He could substantiate everything he had stated, while the assertions of the other party were built solely on fabrication, and forcibly reminded them that any quiesence on their part (in which their interests are so much at stake) would be a lasting discredit to them.

The following resolutions were put to the meeting and unanimously carried :—": — " That in the opinion of this meeting the signatures to the petition of the proposed new road have been obtained in a clandestine manner and through misrepresentation, and that they were intended for the interests of a would ba monopoly. — That the formation of fch« proposed road would be a gross breach of faith to those persons who have invested a large amount of capital in bridgiug the Molyneux and an act of injustice to the numerous settlers along the old line of road. — That a committee consisting of Messrs M'Kay, Beighton,., M'Gregor, Tubman, and Wescott be appointed to co-operate with the Beaumont committee.

The following address was unanimously agreed to : — •' To the Chief Commissioner of Waste Lands and members of Waste Lands Board. — Gentlemen, — I have the honor to enclose for your consideration copy of resolutions passed and unanimously carried at a large and influential meeting held at Ettrick, on Thursday 17th inst. — I hare the honor to be, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, W. Scott.

A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.