PUBLIC MEETING.

West Coast Times, Issue 47, 21 September 1865, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting was hold last night at the Harp of Erin Hotel, for tho purposo of considering the solo of town allotmonts. Mr. Hawkos was voted to tho chair.

A largo number of persons attended, comprising all the principal business mon of tho town.

Tho chairman, after reading tho advertisement calling tho mooting, oxplainod at length tho object for which tho mooting was called. He oxplaiuod tho difficulties now attendant on tho salo of tho lands, and suggostcd that it would bo advisable to at onco petition the General Govornmont to mako an alteration in tho Land Regulations, which wotdd allow sections to bo sold to thoir holders at an upsot price, instead of, as now, having thorn submitted to public auction. Mr. Prosser proposed tho first resolution ; but, before domg j so, road tho petition sent to tho Suporintondont, praying for tho salo of tho different sections at an xipsot price to occupiors, by tho Improvement Committoo. To this tho Government sent a roply stating that tho Govornmont would tako tho memorial into consideration. Ho did not consider this curt roply was satisfactory, for thoy did not oven state that thoy would take tho matter in to thoir favorablo consideration. Undor these circumstances ho thought that it was necessary to tako further stops, and wonld move — ''That, as tho roply of tho Provincial Secretary to tho memorial of tho Improvement Committco, regarding tho salo of town sections in Hokitika, is vory unsatisfactory, inasmuch as it gives no idea as to what tho intentions of tho Government aro on this subject, this mooting protosts against tho sale by public auction of allotments already occupied." Mr. Munro pointed out that through tho cnorgy and money spent by tho original inhabitants horo tho township had boon mado what it is, and thought it vory hard if their allotments should bo sold ovor their heads. Ho drew attontion to tho largo amount that had boon oxpondod by tho peoplo hero out of thoir privato pockets, and donounced tho conduct of tho Canterbury Govornmont in making roads, &c, solely for thoir own bonofit. Ho concluded by seconding tho resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr Reeves proposed tho socond rosolution — " That a memorial bo drawn up and presontod to tho Suporintondont, praying that if tho town auotmonts cannot bo legally sold at tho upsot prico to tho occupioi'B, this mooting would urge upon tho Govornmont tho necessity of deferring tho land salo (if decided upon) until an act is passed to moot tho wishes of tho peoplo. lie did not consider that by allowing a valuation tho Govornmont did justico to tho soction-holdors, for if thoy woro obliged to sell they would havo in a great many instances to soil thoir business and destroy thoir different trades.

Mr Palmer briefly seconded the resolution, which was also carried unanimously. Mr J. R. Anderson proposed the third resolution as follows :—": — " That a committeo bo appointed by tho meeting for tho purposo of drawing up a momorinl embodying tho foregoing resolution and forwarding tho same to tho Provincial Government." Mr. Bracken seconded tho resolutions. Mr Shophord supported tho resolution, and gave some particulars relative to the Victorian land system in early times. Ho did not think that tho difficulties contomplaled in reference to an alteration in the land act would bo mot with, though it was quito truo that as the Canterbury regulations stood, all sections must bo submitted for sale by auction. Ho quoted tho regulations in quostion. Ho also showed that tho only doposit required was ten per cent, but that would enable any speculator to compote with holders of sections. Ho referred to clause 4of tho Wasto Lands Act of 1858, by which tho Governor had power to establish now rules, and allow holders to purchaso thoir sections at an upset price. Tho Chairman thought tho speaker was mistakon in this idea, and if an act was passed, and disallowed eventually at home, tho section-holder would be in a still worse position. Mr Shepherd argued that this could not bo tho caso, as tho General Assembly had full power to mako tho concession required, and could mako tho alteration in a month or six weeks. Ho wont on to speak in anything but complimentary terms of tho Canterbury Government, and recommended thoso present to tako caro who they returned when tho West Coast wes represented in tho Provincial Council. Tho Chairman repeated his statement that it was impossible to make any alteration in the law without tho bill in question going homo for Her Majesty's assent. Ho thought that tho previous spoakor had been guilty of some most unwarrantable statements in roforonce to tho Govornmont, and defended thoir conduct generally, saying that they had takon all stops possiblo to bonofit this place. Tho next session of tho Provincial Council would take place next month, and ho thought that after that public opinion would bo greatly changed. At the same time, as a mombor, ho pledged himself to tho utmost of his power to support tho interests of Hokitika.

Tho resolution was then put and carried, and tho following committee oloctcd : Messrs Shophord, Munro, ltopor,llawkes, Pringlo, Bracken, Denslow. It was arranged that tho first mooting of tho committeo should bo hold at Bracken's Hotel, on Friday evening next. A voto of thanks to tho Chairman concluded tho proceedings, and tho meeting separated.