ADDISON'S FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 509, 27 May 1869, Page 2

ADDISON'S FLAT.

MR GALLAGHER'S MEETING.

(from: our ows correspondent.) Mat 26. On Tuesday" a large meeting assembled in the Australasian Hotel, Addison's Flat, to hear Mr Gallagher's address to his constituents, and, as the hour appointed for the opening of the meeting approached, quite a crowd was to be seeu gathered in the street of our town. The room was quickly filled ; but there was a manifest hesitation in taking the chair by many qualified for the office, so Mr M. O'Connell proposed that Mr M. M. Carmocly should take the chair. This appearing to be the general desire of the meeting, Mr Carmody, with apparent reluctance, undertook the office ; and with a few remarks, brief and appropriate, introduced our representative. Mr Gallagher said lie was surprised and gratified at seeing such a large assemblage. It was thought by many outside of us that Addison's Plat was sleeping in political life, but this crowded bouse was sufficient proof of our vitality. Peterring to his past neglect in not giving an account of his stewardship after the last session, he said that if he had addressed his constituents on Addison's a desire to be similarly treated would have emanated from Charleston and other districts comprised in his large constituency. It was not ingratitude for tho honor conferred, but his many business arrangements, which precluded him from acceding to a request often made. He said bis reasons for voting almost invariably with the Ministry on anyleading question last session, were because of the independent and just measures which characterized tho Stafford Ministry. The Opposition, on the contrary, were composed of Superintendents and others having a strong interest in the perpetuation of Provincialism, and would stick at no means by which they could oust the present Ministry. Then again, the expense of Provincial Governments was something enoimious, and retrenchment would speedily follow the success of centralism. During the whole of last session, he believed there was scarce an independent member but himself, and he would ever be a free lance. The question of Separation from Nelson was now agitating the political mind in this district, and he believed the movement's success would herald future prosperity to this district, and before the mectiug closed he would like to elicit the opinions of the miners upon this subject. Por he would support the County Bill in the next session, provided the Nelson South-west Goldfields comprised but one county. Iu the event of another county being formed, with Greyinouth for its head-quarters, he would oppose the county system altogether. For it would never do for us to procure a fresh miner's right or business license &c., every time we crossed the boundary of an adjacent county. To elicit the opinion of the assembly upon the Separation question,

Mr "W". P. Duffy came forward and said that, looking in the Hokitika papers the other day, he saw that the Westland County Council meditated bringing in a large water race from the Kanieri lake to facilitate mining operations. This was an undertaking no private company would attempt, by reason of its magnitude. He looked upon such an attention to mining interests as worthy the miners' good will. But should we remain under Nelson misrule a like undertaking would never be attempted. He believed that good would result from Separation, and would therefore move, " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable Mr Gallagher should use his influence in securing the passing of the County Bill next session." The vote of the meeting in favor of this resolution was unanimous.

Mr P. then proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Gallagher, expressing a belief in his fitness to be our representative. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr Gallagher, the meeting closed.