ELECTION OF A PROGRESS COMMITTEE IN WESTPORT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 375, 13 October 1868, Page 2

ELECTION OF A PROGRESS COMMITTEE IN WESTPORT.

Last evening according to announcement, a meeting was held at the Drill Room at Emanuel's Little Grey Hotel, for the purpose, as the advertisement stated, of considering the advisability of electing a Progress Committee in Westport. At the hour appointed a very fair muster were present, but before the proceedings commenced the room was crowded, andamongst those present nearly every business man of standing in Westport. The greatest unanimity prevailed, and the proceedings were characterised by the utmost order, and the project was enthusiastically received.

On the motion of Mr Humphrey, seconded by Mr J. P. Martin, Mr W. Pitt was unanimously voted, to the chair.

The Chairman in opening proceedings said, that he had been asked to take the chair at the meeting, and in doing so, it was not at all necessary for him to take up the time of the time of the meeting, in impressing upon those present, the importance of the subject they had met to consider. The meeting had been called by advertisement, and though the objects were not definitely indicated, yet it was quite easy to understand why it was so. They had then only met to discuss the advisablity of forming a Progress Committee or some other similar body. At the same time he confessed that he would prefer seeing a body constituted, having a more definite or rather legal existence than a Progress Committee, as a Municipal Council He could quite see that the time had arrived when something should be done to organise a representative body in the place. Up to the present time there had been a Commissioner, who had done all that was necessary in the expenditure of funds voted for the Coast, but the Commissioner had now resigned, and no one had been appointed in his stead. If he, as chairman, might be allowed to express an opinion, he thought that the Government had done wisely in not appointing another Commissioner, for everything now was well organised, aud the heads of departments were all men well able to perform the duties allotted to them. He proceeded to speak favorably of the establishment of a Progress Committee, as preparing the way for the introduction of Municipal institutions. Durin«his recent stay in Nelson, he had found that the former ideas prevalent in that place as to the West Coast being rather a drag than a help, were being rapidly dissipated, and the Coast was now beginning to be estimated at its true value, though at the same time he thought for some time the authorities there had been very slack in stays in giving money to develop its mining resources. If the meeting resolved on the establishment of either a Progress Committee or a Municipal Council, he thought it would have a good effect both on the Provincial and on the General G-overnments, as tending to show that the public here were alive to their own interests. He hoped, therefore, that night that they would adopt some principle of self-govern-ment of one kind or other before they separated. He concluded by trusting that the proceedings would be conducted in an orderly manner, and called upon those present to move any resolutions that they thought proper. Mr J. P. Martin came forward to propose the first resolution " That in the opinion of this meeting ifc is desirable that a Progress Committee should be established in "Westport." In coming forward, he felt a natural amount of modesty, as there were so many grave and reverend seigneurs

round him far better qualified to take the position. Others rather should have come forward, but, in their absence, at the last moment he had come for- , ward to do so. He had however, been on the Coast for some time, and during that time had had opportunities of seeing the benefit that Progress Committees were in places where they diligently and honestly did their work. At Hokitika, at Grreymouth, and more recently at Charleston, this had been shown, and all residents in either of these places could testify to the great advantages that these institutions had conferred. Under their superintendence public works had been completed that would not have been commenced and others that might have waited but for their intervention. He referred to the recent stoppage of Government works here, and the benefits that would arise from the formation of a committee of the kind in bringing the circumstances fully under the notice of the Provincial Government, and impressing them with the importance of completing some works that were now suspended. He concluded by saying that he was perfectly certain that every one in the town and district must see the advantages of such an institution, if only as a means of urging the Government to execute necessary public works. (Cheers.) Mr Morrison, who was received with loud applause, came forward to second the resolution, and commenced his address by an appropriate quotation, delivered with dramatic effect. He called on all those who had an interest in the place to exercise it. If they did not carry the object of the meeting out properly, it would have been better if the meeting had not been called at all. He looked forward with satisfaction to the Progress Committee as being the nucleus of self-government, and he adverted to the fact of the Nelson folks just now becoming conscious of the value of the Coast, as a proof of the necessity there was for the inhabitants here to look after their own interests, and not leave thementirelyin the hands of people at a distance. The subject had been so well ventilated in the newspapers that it was almost unnecessary to enlarge further on it, but he hoped that they would no t separate without having done something definite towards progress. (Applause.) The Chairman then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr O'Conor moved the next resolution, " that a committee of nine members be appointed to act as a Progress Committee for Westport." He felt diffident in bringing the subject forward, knowing how a similar proposal was received on a former occasion. At the same time, he felt that if a Progress Committee, or some other kind of body was not elected, their interests would, be totally neglected. Other powerful interests would be brought against them, and if people who possessed property, and stakes in the town did not exert themselves, they themselves would suffer. He proceeded to urge on the business men of the town, the necessity there was for exerting themselves and leaving their shops and counters for a time to look after public affairs, from which all would reap benefit. With reference to the undeveloped resources of the district it was not necessary to say one word, but the appointment of such a committee would, he hoped, be the means of developing them. Mr Alcorn seconded the resolution, though he would have preferred to see a municipality established at once. He was however content with this as a stepping stone to the former. A few months ago he was opposed to a municipality, but things were different now to then. They then had a Commissioner representing the Government, under whose supervision public money was expended, but they had none now, nor any one to whom they could represent their wants. Moreover, now, all public works were stopped and as a consequence, all expenditure, and a necessity had arisen that did not then exist for some local Belf-governing power. He therefore had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. The motion on being put, was carried unanimously. Mr. A. B. Bain proposed, " That a public meeting be again held on Thursday evening next for the purpose of nominating and electing candidates for the Progress Committee ; and that if a poll is demanded by any candidates it shall be taken on the following evening at the same place and time. Mr. Humphrey seconded the resolution.

Mr. Morison thought that procrastination was indeed the thief of time, and thought that they should not lose time, but proceed with the election at once. He therefore moved an amendment, " That the meeting proceed at once with the nomination of householders, leaseholders, and sectionholders

to serve as members on the Progress Committee and that all householders, leaseholders, and section-holders be entitled to vote, and that in the event of a poll being demanded by any candidate the same shall take place between the hours of 12 and 4 p.m. on Saturday next, at the Court-house. Mr. Munro seconded the amendment as he considered if, through any delay, the present enthusiasm was allowed to subside, it would endanger the principle affirmed by the meeting. Mr Bain, as mover of the resolution, explained that his only motive in wishing to call another meeting was to prevent if being said that that meeting had rushed the measure through without consulting the outside public. He quite agreed with the previous speakers as to taking time by the forelock, but he would press his motion in order to take the opinion of the meeting, and if it decided against him, he would willingly submit. Mr O'Conor thought it very necessary that the qualification to vote should be clearly defined, and in consequence the amendment was altered from as it originally stood, Mr.Bain stating that he would be willing to incorporate the same provision for qualification in his motion.

The amendment was then put, and carried by a large majority. The Chairman said that aa these preliminaries had been settled, he would take nominations in the usual form.

The following gentlemen were then proposed and seconded : Messrs Muuro, Powell, Field, O'Conor, Hughes, Humphrey, Bain, Simpson, Alcorn, Smyth, Somner, Milne, R. C. Reid, D. Leslie, J. P. Martin, and Morrison.

Messrs Simpson, Munro, Read and Smyth declined, and the names of Messrs Martin and Somner, were withdrawn by their proposer, thus leaving nine, the exact number to be elected on the list, viz., Messrs Powell, Field, O'Conor, Hughes, Humphrey, Bain, Alcorn, Milne, and Leslie. Mr Lloyd after this had been arranged, pointed out that a very large majority of the number lived on the east side of G-ladstone street, and he thought that in order to give the public a chance of nominating their candidates, the list should be left open till twelve o'clock on Wednesday. The back streets that had the greatest occasion to complain of neglect at the hands of the Government, were entirely unrepresented. He did not think -that fair and moved, " That the list be leftopen untilnoonon Wednesdteynext, and that any who wish to serve, may leave their names with the chairman of that meeting, and that the election take place on Saturday next. Mr Ranson seconded the resolution. Mr Munro submitted that the motion was out of order, and should have been brought forward at an earlier stage of the proceedings. The election* was virtually concluded as there were only nine candidates on the list, the number that it had been decided to elect.

The Chairman on being appealed to said he thought Mr Munro was right, but if the meeting wished to reverse their former decision, he was quite in their hands.

Mr Munro then moved as an amendto Mr Lloyd's motion that the nine names read by the Chairman be the Progress Committee of Westport. Dr Thorpe seconded the amendment, which on being put to the meeting was carried almost unanimously, only three hands being held up in opposition. A vote of thanks to the Chair, moved by Mr Bain, and seconded by Mr Humphrey, was carried unanimously, after which the proceedings terminated.