ANNEXATION OF WESTLAND TO OTAGO.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 703, 27 August 1870, Page 2

ANNEXATION OF WESTLAND TO OTAGO.

A public meeting was held at Hokitika on Wednesday to consider the desirability of annexing Westland to Otago. Mr Button moved the first resolution, " That this meeting considers it advisable that the County of Westland should seek to be annexed to the Province of Otago, in the event of that portion of the County, north of the Teremakau, being annexed to Nelson, and the General Government refusing to give us such assistance as will enable us to carry out the functions of government. Mr Cassius seconded the motion. Mr Harvey opposed the motion and in referring to the petition seeking annexation of the district north of the Teremakau, stated that "he knew that nearly all the diggers had signed the petition without knowing what they were about. Ho had heard what Mr Button had said about the conduct of Nelson to the South-West Groldfields, and he (Mr Harvey) would endorse it. He had recently been at Charleston and Westport, and he had seen what Nelson had done for those goldfields. At the Buller the wharf had been allowed to go away piecemeal, in fact, the only wharf there, was built by a private individual. The Nelson style was to take all and give nothing. At Westport they had not even a Borough Council. Under ail these circumstances the people at these places were surprised that Westland North wished to go in with Nelson, and thought people there had gone stark mad. Messrs Higgin and Cross supported the motion. Mr Tait said he would propose an amendment—" That the further consideration of the matter should be held over for a week." He made this proproposition in order that the people might have time to think over the matter. The amendment was seconded by Mr Harvey, and supported by Messrs Macfarlane and Gibson. The motion was carried by a large majority. Mr Carreras proposed the second resolutien, " That the petition read bo adopted, and the Committee of the Westland and Otago Annexation League be empowered to get the same signed and forwarded forthwith to the General Assembly for presentation." , Mr Sheppard seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.