REMOVAL OF MR. BEETHAM.

Lake County Press, Issue 51, 24 May 1872, Page 2

REMOVAL OF MR. BEETHAM.

PUBLIC MEETING.

In accordance with advertisement to that effect, a public meeting was held in the Library Hull, Arrowtowo, "To take an expression of public opinion as to the Chinese petition for the removal of Mr, Warden Beetham." The hall was crowded to the door shortly after the hour of meeting—in fact, this was the largest gathering we have ever seen on the Arrow. W. Paterson, Esq., J.P., was voted to the chair. Having read the advertisement calling the meeting, and explained its object, Mr Robert M'Dougall, merchant, said that in rising to propose the first resolution he had a few remarks to make. He had not seen the Chinese petition, but he believed it accused Mr Beetham of being incapable of doing justice to the petitioners. As far as he (the speaker) knew, that gentleman had acted justly and impartially with all.— (Cheers.) He himself had disagreed with Mr Beetham, but not on those grounds. Ou the Bench that gentleman had an authoritative manner, which some people did not like; but this was his composition, and natural to the man. For himself, he preferred Mr Beetham almost before any other Warden he had lived under on the Goldfields, and that for the reason that he dealt out justice to every man, no matter what his color or country. He therefore proposed the following resolution— That this meeting is of opinion that the Chin se petition for the removal of Mr Warden Beetham should be thrown out by the Provincial Council; believing, as it does, that it has originated more from personal animosity on the part of a few towards Mr Beetham than from any just or legitimate cause. Seconded by Mr R. Ferguson, miner, and carried unanim usly. Mr John A. Miller, miner, begged to propose That the miners of Arrow River have no confidence in Air Beetham as their Warden. Seconded by Mr Ben. Walker, miner. The proposer of the resolution said he must confess he spoke with some degree of prejudice against the Warden as he conceived he had been most unjustly treated by Air Beetham on more than one occasion. (The speaker here went on to particularise personal cases in which he thought the Warden had acted unjustly ; but as they are not of public interest it is unnecessary to report them—and besides they would trench too much upon our space). MiMiller continued lie thought Mr Beetham was no gentleman, for the reason that because his salary was re duced some time ago he cut down his subscription to the local hospital. (Mr Beetham's remarks at hospital meeting read.) Again, some ten mouths ago Mr Beetham had been indisposed for six weeks, and had not the courtesy or gentlemanly feeling to sen i word he was unable to attend at Arrowtown, although he must have been aware that miners were put to great inconvenience thereby. The speaker then cited the case of a miner at the Upper Shotover named Wm. Tracey Palmer as another instance of Mr Beetham's injustice, and read from the Wakatip Mail a mass of correspondence on the subject. (MiMiller here made statements of such a libellous character that wo refrain from publishing them.) In reference to the Chinese petition, he did not approve of the principle on which it had been got up, but considered that if the Chinese thought Mr Beetham could not do them justice they had a right to express themselves. If the Warden could not afford justice to the Chinese, neither could he to the Europeans. After a lengthy address.of which above were the main points, Mr Miller came to a conclusion by expressing his opinion that. in Mr Beetham's bosom " there glowed not a spark of sympathetic feeling for the working man." Mr Lewis Harris, miner, proposed as an amendment on Mr Miller's motion—

That this meeting has every confidence in the integrity and justice of .Mr Beetham in his capacity of arden and Resident Magistrate.

Seconded by Mr H. J. Cope, farmer. Mr James Miller, miner, thought this a most inopportune time for Mr J. A. Miller's motion, for if a resolution was carried condemning Mr Beetham, it would practica.ly amount to handing over the reins of our government to the Chinese. It was an insult to the district for such a petition to have emanated from it. Mr J. A. Miller siiould have made known his grievances before the present juncture.

Mr Lewis Harris made an address of some length, in which he vindicated Mr Beetham's character from the aspersions of Mr J. A. Miller—especially regarding the case of Mr Tracy Palmer. The

speaker considerec 1 Mr Miller's remari were dictated by a deep-rooted feelii of ill-will.

The motion and amendment were the put, and the latter carried by a larg majority. - [Some disturbance was here create by the unseemly conduct of Mr Job Shepherd, but w»s quickly put an en to by the chairman calling on | police.] Mr Satnl. Symonds, miner, in pn posing the next resolution, to the effei That this meeting deprecates ma strongly the secret manner in which tl Chin.se petition has bttu brought ft ward, as no opportunity was afforded tl residents of this district of expressing e opinion upon it before it was submitted the Provincial Council.

said he would like to ask if suri charges as those contained in the peti tion were to be taken solely on th word of the Chinese ? It was wl known they did not exercise their o\ti individual judgment like European! but were led like sheep by those j authority. Indeed, it was an ope question whether the Chinese wishfl for the removal of the Warden at all It was impossible for a Warden to hj in a district a number of years withoij some one feeling sore against him. Mr W. Fletcher seconded, with afei well chosen remarks.

Mr Hildreth, miner, also spoke support of the resolution, and wou! ask the meeting what they thought ( men who, four months ago, deprecate the introduction of Chinese now makin use of them to do their dirty work This was only the thin end of ihe wedg and European miners should be o their guard.

Mr Owen Maekin, Cardrona, desire to say a few words before the resoluti« was put. The petition it was said ha been secretly circulated, and his nam had been made use of in conneciio with it The Arrow Observer ha pointed to him as the promoter of tl petition. His name had also bee bruited about by Mr L. Harris as havin to do with the peiition, aiid he (th speaker) had CJtne to vindicate himsel He would only say that anyone who sail either publicly or privately, that he ha had anything whatever to do with th Chinese petition he would brand a slanderers and liars. Many a true ma had been driven to open rebellion b being made a suspect and hounded. Resolution put, and carried unaa mously.

Mr Hildreth proposed That ciiis meeting request the Aria Miners Association to co-operate wit them in opposing the petition of I Chinese tor the lvmovul of Mr iieetham and that in the event of the A-s.ciatio tailing to carry out the wishes of th meeting, the public take immediate acti.n Seconded by Mr Ferguson, and ca; ried. After a few remarks from Mr Job Turner, Three cheers were given for Ji Beethara, and the meeting dispersed.