PUBLIC MEETING AT ADDISON'S FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 704, 30 August 1870, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT ADDISON'S FLAT.

On Saturday evening a public meeting was held in the Hibernian Society's Hall, Addison'd Flat, to take into consideration a letter, lately received from T. A. Sneyd Kynnersley, Esq., M.M.K., respecting water supply for the district. The meeting was well attended and Mr T. Gallagher was called to the chair. The chairman, after explaining the object of the ineetiug, called upon Mr E. Lush, who, in moving the first resolution, explained that he and a few others had conversed on the subject for some time during the passing of the Immigration and Public Works Act—that they had apprehended the great importance of the matter to the well-being of the district —and that it was ultimately agreed that he (Mr Lush) should write to Mr Kynnersley for information on the subject, which he did on the 2nd inst, the burden of his letter being summed up in the following propositions or questions : —" Ist. Is it certain that the Government will carry out their plan of furnishing the goldfields of the colony with water? 2nd. When is it probable the works will be commenced, or the funds be made available ? 3rd. What would be the proper course to adopt in order to obtain a portion of the funds for any particular district ?" To this letter he had received the following answer : " House of Representatives,

" August 17th. "Srn, —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 2nd inst, on the subject of water supply to the goldfields. " The Act (Immigration and Public Works Act) ha 3 not yet passed through both houses but tew, if any, further .alterations will be made in it It provides that £300,000 of the loan is to be expended on the construction of water-works on goldfields; the works to be carried out by the department of the Minister of Public works at the request of the Superintendent and Provincial Council of any Province. So that you will observe that the Provincial authorities are the first who have to take action in.the matter, and the proper course for the inhabitants of any district wishing to be supplied with water will be to petition the Superintendent of their province, giving, of course such information on the subject as it is in their power to supply, and showing that their is a fair prospect of the de°sired outlay being reproductive. I fear, however, that nothing will be done iu the matter for many months, for, in the first place, the money has to be raised—an operation which will in itself occupy no small time. It will, however, be well to be early in the field as I have no doubt that there will be applications from all parts of the Colony for a far larger sum than that devoted to the purpose. I am by no means satisfied with the provisions of the Act, and should much have preferred to have seen the works carried out by the General Government without the interposition of the Provincial authorities, but too much opposition was dangerous and might have jeopardised the fate of the water-supply clauses altogether. " Pray excuse this hasty scrawl, and believe me to remain, sir, your obedient servant, T. A. Siteyd Kys-werslkt." The Speaker, after a few remarks, moved the following resolution :

That the thanks of this meeting' are clue to T. A. Sneyd Kynnersley, Esq., M.H.K.,t'or the promptness with which he answered the letter addressed to him on the subject of water supply, and for the valuable information contained in his letter, now read to this meetiug. The above resolution was seconded by Mr M. Carmody, who dwelt at some length on the interest Mr Kynnersley had uniformly taken in mining matters, and the high estimation in which he was deservedly held by the miners generally. The motion was carried unanimously. It was then moved by Mr Maurice Foley, aud seconded by Mr John Cole:— That this meeting recognises the importance of au abundant supply of water to this district, and believes it to be necessary to the permanent prosperity of the mining interests. Both the mover and seconder spoke to the resolution, but acknowledged that the truisims contained in it were so palpable that these spoke for themselves. Mr John Dudgeon moved : That in accordance with the advise given in Mr Kynnersley's letter, a petition be at once prepared and signed to the Superintendent of the Province, praying him to request that an adequate sum of money from the loan to be raised under the " Immigration and Public Works Act," be devoted to the supply of water to the district of Addison's, for mining purposes. The speaker made a few pertinent remarks on tho importance of the matter before the meeting.

Mr John Cole seconded this resolution, but expressed his doubts as to whether the district would get a sufficient sutn to meet its wants.

Several others spoke to this motion, some on the best plan of furnishing water, and others on the desirability of first procuring the money, and leaving the means of supply to the District Engineer. On the motion being put, it was carried.

It was then moved by Mr M. Carmody, and seconded by Mr James "Willoughby:— That the thanks of this meeting are due to Mr E. Lush for the action he has taken in this matter, and expresses it 3 approbation of the same.

This being also carried unanimously, the following Committee was appointed to ascertain the best mode of bringing in a sufficient supply of water, and the probable cost thereof, and to forward the object generally:— Messrs John Cole, M. Carmody, O. O'Neil, M. Eoley, J. M'Guire, P. Horan, M. Neylon, J. Wall, P. M'Enroe, E. Haylock, J. O'Brien. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings at a late hour.