SEPARATION COMMITTEE.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 497, 29 April 1869, Page 2

SEPARATION COMMITTEE.

This Committee met at the Postoffice Hotel on Tuesday evening. The members present were Messrs Tyler (in the chair,) Humphrey, O'Conor, Milne, Whyte, Pitt, Lloyd, and Bullen. There was some conversation as to the steps which had been, and are being, taken at Charleston to procure signatures to the petition for the Separation of the district from Nelson ; arid it was ultimately agreed that Mr Pitt and Mr Munro, who were expected to visit Charleston this week, should place themselves in communication with the members of the Committee there, and report the result of their interview at the next meeting. It was remarked by several of the members that it was highly essential to have the petition numerously signed, it being their belief, from such information as had been received, that if it were numerously signed it would be successful.

It was reported by the Secretary (Mr Bullen) that Mr Haskins had already obtained 850 signatures in the Addison's and Caledonian districts, and that Mr Adam Porter had sent down from the Inanguhua, before leaving for the Grey Valley, 320 signatures. Messrs Southern, Eeiu, and Milne, had obtained signatures to the petition in town, but the greater part of the town still remained to be visited.

Messrs Whyte, Powell, and Munro were requested to resume the Work of obtaining signatures in the town ; and it was explained by the Chairman that it was desirable that all the available signatures should be obtained as early as possible.

The Chairman suggested that a copy of the petition should be forwarded to_ Mr Stafford, accompanied by the intimation that the Committee would be glad to forward any information with regard to the district that might be required. He thought the suggestions made by the local paper, with regard to the basis upon which it was desirable the proposed County should be established, were worthy of consideration.

Mr Pitt thought the suggestions of the paper might well be made their text. A sub-committee might be appointed to consider details, and their recommendations might, after discussion, be adopted as the basis of the scheme to be carried out in the Bill, which would probably be prepared by the law officers at Wellington. It was necessary that a definite scheme should, at least, be indicated, and they were better able to do so here than have it done otherwise. If left to be done in Wellington, they might have but a crude and unsatisfactory result. Mr O'Conor took it for granted that any recommendations made in that way would not commit the people of the district as to any matters of principle, such as the mode of electing a Chairman.

Mr Whtte thought that all things affecting the petition in any way might legitimately be considered by the sub-committee, whose report could afterwards be dealt with as might seem best. In any recommendations that might be made it was desirable to assimilate as far as possible any County Bills which might be passed by the Legislature. The Ciiaiejian- referred to the establishment of road districts as one subject which might fairly be considered. Under the "Westland Act they were compulsory, but they might be proclaimed where they were thought desirable, and that would remove the only objection which was made at Charleston—increased taxation.

It was agreed that a copy of the petition and a letter, as suggested, should be sent to Mr Stafford; and Messrs Tyler, Pitt, O'Conor, and Whyte, with the Secretary, were appointed a sub-committee to indicate the form which the proposed County Council should assume, its number of members, and the plan best calculated to ensure the appointment of an efficient person as its Chairman. It was further agreed that, in intimating to Mr Stafford the willingness of the Committee to furnish all necessary information, he should be formally requested to take charge of the petition, and to take steps to introduce a Bill. It was arranged also that a copy of the petition should be sent to the Legislative Council, and that a copy should be sent specially to Mr Bonar, Hokitika. The meeting was then adjourned until Friday.