THE SWAMPERS' DEBATING SOCIETY.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 858, 15 December 1877, Page 2

THE SWAMPERS' DEBATING SOCIETY.

On Thursday evening; the.*6th December, a meeting was held m the large whare, by the men employed by Mr Roycroft, on No. 1 contract, Manga warra, for the purpose of forming a Debating Society. On. the " motion of Mr Roy croft, Mir ■ Williamson was unanimously electee!" to. the chair, and it was then decided that the society should be named an above. An extraoidinary hitch then took place id the proceedings. , The Cuairinan sat silent tor several minutes, with a look of paiueii anxiety on his countenance, whcif suddenly, a gentleman from Italy hurried up.to.liim and remarked iv tones of agitation, "arrah, gib o it, you spalpeen, ye risitnble a ground ho.r set upon a stump." At these ratal words, the, Chairman hurriediv evacuated his exalted . position. After the disorder which ensued had subsiled, Mr Roycroft was chosen as president of the Society, and Mi; Balfonr as Secretary. r . : The President . then put the following question, to the meeting, " whether Sir Julius Yogel was right m selling the Piako Swamp to its present owners,' or whether it would have been better for the country if Sir Geo. Grey's proposal tp^ cut it up into small; farms ludiieeu carried ou'." • ?^- t ;Vlr Murphy s ii.l : " I think Sir Taiius Vogel's Government were ri^ht, as it aflVd.s pleuty of employm*ut lo the working man, which, «, however, a matter of indifference to me, as 1 have turned pastry* cok." : A maraher hailiig from America s id, "I guess Sir George Grey's is the correct ticket, . I reckon the swamp should be cat tip into farms of 160 acres, and that the Govern•uent should have made the main drains aud advancpd dollars to the settlers. I calculateevery additional settler is worth £500 to a new c untry. 1 knew 100 Scotchmen, who were called lazy m their own conntry, and came to St. Johns (ST.B., on the same lay) with only UlO among the crowd, and now, Lhey have all.made their pile, and' I guess the same can be done here." Mr Koycroft said,' "I think a man of small capital of no ose m a swamp. My opinion is iliat a man should have from to £30Q0 to settle m a place like the Piako." Mr Balfren said : "I think the Swamp is being worked m the way which is best for the country, and which will be for the benefit of the small settlers m the long run, and T expect to see a remarkable change for the better m a very few years, m. this part of. the country, through the works which are now going." Mi* Hnrnp'ou said : " And sure, .Vl r Oh lirmau, 1 cons der the awnmp works done a deal of good to the country It was a good job that they were sold as th.*y were, md, faith, mm dear, they are a great rele* to the po<»r eaii^rdut, whe.i he cimes to New Z^alund with a taw sixpences. in hid pook-t, an-1 when he can hnrdly ge. hia gnib iv Aucdand, comes to the sw.itnp, where ho finds plenty of vyok and irood Wiigea. I seen these moti come into tiie swairjp with hardly a r*g to their backs and with their m;-.\ ' watertight boots, giud m a few mouths sending it to blazes, with

blieip pockota full of money and with spring-side boots on." Mr Martin said: "For three pears and oix months I have been travelling the Piako swamp, from Hamilton to Taupiri, up to %rf vvaisfc m water. I have seen goW| times and bad jjjmes-- also,,^woS. ! times when th^roat caj^»,S« sometimes, whffljliave WM> 'but? of a morning m wlngg ; l htefoMl ray trousars f cozyagktiff, Ban^^ b)lt upright as iflf;' was m 'thStffi likewise my boots, and I have, been put to considerable- inconvenience fe^og. itelS. - ?£&. '~Jgv |te; . same time; I do aot coin|»l'airi, : :&£i' &>*& made any amount of money, and have plenty for a rainy day. I tfu^t^my^feilol^wim^eri^r^i^ ll^ same ;m o-.y! qou(li tion." , „ .<: • « * M!r, Bjyd; said 3 : '"«'Och,! Iju^ t^swamp is quare and unhi^hy. I |?e;u it murtheritwo o¥ the^bidys- m. -years, )ind I sedft ihe^V u§w qhumsbarriyin ,;in^ the •sWantp^ifh . .their red and ro3y"cheeks"and,?be fr e mWf &Pf n aj:|Ucir| t^|i& .pAle as a fife ahijet or a dead man." f[ The President said : "I think the appearance of Mr (| ar complete refutation of tlie unhealthy ness of the swamp.'*' i3 *' v Mi , saidl- " Sir, ,a very, -sad afFiir occurred this evening. j£* •Jpb broke out m the camp, and j*nd nearly destroyed my future travelling, bag, which he V>ad not -taken to the bank for over twomontha. I am,:ver.y muol^r obliged to the Yogel Governrae i^ for selling the" swamp ' to ca'pitalists,to whom I wish prosperity; also, fohe giod,- kind gentleman' who-'has, given ma work, as I am a poor man with a large family of small children." The President then put the question to the meeting, , and it was unanimously decide i by a show of hands : « That Sir J. Vogel's scheme,, waa'the best for the country," A vote of thanks to the President terminated the proceedings. ' Communicated.