GREAT SEPARATION MEETING AT GREYMOUTH.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 100, 20 August 1867, Page 3

GREAT SEPARATION MEETING AT GREYMOUTH.

[Abridged from the Greg Elver Argus, August 15.] A public meeting of tlie residents in the Greyiiiouth district was held la3t evening in Kilgou/s Union Theatre, to receive and decide upon certain resolutions which would be placed before them by ' the coinmittfc elected at a recent public meeting. The large hall was crowded to excess, and on the platform were Messrs. Masters, Harrison, Wickes, Iferon, Dale, Fox, Hosie, and others. Mr. D.3 Costa was called to the chair. The Ciuirha?.', after sonic preliminary remarks, refuted the statements which had appeared, in the Hokitika papers relative to the present movement. In speaking of the Canterbury Government, he said it was a known fact that only a few years ago the Canterbury Government was offering a large reward for the discovery of gold-fields in the province ; and they got them in their immediate neighbourhood. They wanted population, and they got it ; and a liner body of men they could not have got than they have. [Applause.] He would leave the ladies out of the present question. [Laughter.] The merchants on the East side of the province desired new fields for the extension of their commerce, and they got them, but failed to take advantage of the opportunities. [Hear, hear.] We were living in a very small town, it was true, but we were Burrounded by miles of land known to be auriferous ; we had magnificent coal mines, but for all this the Grey district was felt to be on tho wane. What was the cause of all this ? It was traceable entirely to the management of tho Canterbury Government. [Hear, hear.] In reply to a call made upon him, Mr. AVhall, the representative of the district, gave a full statement of what had taken place in the Canterbury Council, during the last session, relative to the alfairs of Westland, and which had led to the present movement for separation. Mr. Dale spoke strongly in favour of separating from Canterbury, referring to the statements made by Mr. Whall to show the necessity of the proceeding. He moved :—": — " 1. That, in the opinion of this meeting, the separation of the Grey district from the Province of Canterbury is necessary and desirable." Mr. E. B. Fox said that, on behalf of the miners of the Arnold district, whom he had been specially deputed to represent at that meeting, he wished to express their heartfelt sympathy in the movement for annexation to Nelson. [Loud applause.] There was not a miner in the entire Arnold district who did not feel deeply and sincerely on this subject, and who desired, with all his heart, to have this portion of the province annexed to Nelson. He drew a parallel between the treatment the miners received on the Canterbury and Nelson sides of the Grey. When the diggings up the river first broke out, Superintendent Saunders, of Nelson, was on the ground, and on the wants of the miners being made known to him, the same afternoon ordered the tracks to be cut in order to allow the diggers to penetrate into the country, and in a short time, by his representations to the General Government, had a Postoffice established. [Applause.] He believed the Arnold district was the best on this side tho Teremakau, and did not believe in seeing that district shelved, as was done by the Canterbury Government. He wanted to know what was done with the revenues which, ho might say, were dragged from them. The Canterbury Government had alienated tho feelings of the inhabitants of the district. For the two years he had been in the district nothing had been done, except a raid instituted against sly grog-selling. The Dobson tragedy had not yet passed ovi>r, and yet they had no police protection, no Post-office, no visiting Magistrate or Warden — nothing, but a track that ■was a disgrace to the community, and the occasional visit of a policeman to see if their buisness licenses had not expired. In the name of the miners he thanked Mr. Whall for his endeavours to get a road made to the district, b,ut even the money which had been voted for that had been frittered away until it was inadequate for the purpose. Ho again assured the meeting of the heartfelt sympathy of the miners of the Arnold district. [Loud cheers.] An amendment, "That separation is unadvisable," found only an inebriated digger to second it, and the original motion was carried unanimously, with great applause. Mr. Haueison, who rose to move the second resolution, stated at length his reasons for seeking annexation to Nelson, rather than joining with the Hokitika Separation League in asking thn t Westland might be made a separate province. The one he considered as quite a practicable measure, the other an impracticable one. He said it wa3 almost needless for him to draw a comparison of the character of the administration of the respective Governments of Nelson and Canterbury. The difference was too obvious to every inhabitant of the Greydistricttoneed much comment from him. [Hear, hear.] Although the system in each case was the same, there was a vast difference in the manner in which that system had been carried out. The Nelson Government, with a wise foresight, had not only placed large and almost unlimited power in the hands of its Commissioner, but had also given him to know that it was prepared to indorse all his acts that were consistent with the most liberal encouragement of the population to develop the resources of the country. [Hear, 1 hear.] Whilst in the case of Canterbury, the country had languished for the want of tho most urgent requirements, in Nelson the Government had always been ready to meet exigencies as they arose, and to provide every possible facility for the operations of private and public enterprise. [Hear, hear.] Tho consequences had been, that whilst the Canterbury portion of Westland had lost a large proportion of its population, and had suffered serious depression in every branch of trade and industry, the gold-fields of Nelson had been developed to a wonderful extent, and the population was contented and loyal. [Hear, hear.] Ho thought that the evidences they had of the policy of the Nelson Government during the past, afforded a strong guarantee for the future. And he had no doubt that, under such an administration, the Grey district would speedily assume the position which its undoubted resources entitled it to occupy. [Loud cheers.] He need hardly refer to the intimate commercial relations that existed between this district and the Nelson gold-fields. Although the Grey district was commercially connected with Nelson, it was still more so in sympathy, and he had every confidence that the resolution he was about to propose would be unanimously carried. He wished to refer to the fact that Nelson was in a favourable position for assuming whatever liabilities might attach to this district. The public debt of Nelson was almost extinguished, and he was sure it could easily raise a loan, if necessary, for the purpose of defraying the legitimate liabilities of the Grey district. He begged to move, "2. That, in the opinion of this meeting, the inhabitants of the Grey district should take steps to secure the annexation of the territory from the Teremakau to the river Grey to the Province of Nelson." [Loud cheers.] The motion was seconded by Mr. J. Hehon, and carried unanimously. Mr. Whai.l said that whilst coinciding with, the resolution, which indicated the course he had long advocated, ho was surprised that the Committee who had a33umed the leadership of the movement were not in a position to state what were the intentions of the Nelson Government. Mr. Harrison had simply given it as his opinion that there was no reason to doubt the ability and willingness of the Nelson Government to assume the liabilities of this district. He feared that the cautiou3 people of Nelson, who had managed to keep out of debt whilst every other province had become involved, would hesitate to take the responsibility of that share of the Canterbury debt which might be apportioned to tho Grey district. Mr. Hahhison wished to reply to some of the remarks that Mr. Whall had just made. That gentleman had insinuated that the Committee should first have ascertained the sentiments of the Nelson Government before asking the public to pass tho resolution in favour of annexation. As a member of the Committee he (Mr. Harrison) wished to say that they thought the proper course was first to ascertain whether the proposal was acceptable to

the public, and then, if the public agreed to it, to make overtures to the Nelson Government. [Applause.] It was only consulting the dignity of the Nelson Government that it should not be asked to compromise itself by responding to a merely popular cry. [Hear.] The Committee felt that the proper course to pursue was first to get an unmistakeable expression of public opinion, and then to endeavour logically to give effect to it. [Applause.] He might state, however, that he had every reason to believe that now that the movement in favour of 'annexation had assumed a practical shape, the Nelson Government would give it moral and material support. [Loud applause.] Last year he had a conversation with tho late Superintendent, Mr. Saunders, on the subject, and that gentleman, who he • believed fully commanded the confidence of the Nelson people, told him that if the agitation for annexation should assume such a form that the Nelson Government could with dignity take cognizance of it, it would receive the support of the Government. [Cheers.] He (Mr. Harrison) wished to remark that Mr. Whall was wrong in assuming that there was any fixed legal liability of the Grey district for the public debt of Canterbury. Of course it was only fair and reasonable that the district should recognise its proper liability, but he might say that if the General Assembly should sanction the proposed annexation, the allocation of the debt would be referred to the decision of a Commission, which would apportion the liability according to the proportion of the loan or loans expended in the district. That was the course pursued when Southland separated from Otago, and. would doubtless be followed in this instance. He had no doubt that undei* such an arrangement the proportion of the Canterbury debt that could legitimately be attached to the Grey district would be so insignificant as to obviate any difficulty in Nelson assuming its responsibility. [Hear, hear.] He moved — 3. " That a Committee be appointed to give effect to the resolution, and to take such steps as they might deem necessary to carry out the same. " This resolution was seconded and carried, and the following gentlemon were nominated and elected, with power to add to their number : — Messrs. Harrison, Heron, Whall, Masters, Dale, Wickes, Procter, Coates, De Costa, Joyce, Macfarlane, Maclean, G. Taylor, Davies, Southern, D. Girdwood, Smith, Pox, Kilgour, Hosie, Thomas Kennedy. The usual vote of thanks to the chair concluded this, one of the most numerously attended and certainly the most enthusiastic meeting ever held in Greymouth, shortly before midnight. House of Representatives.— Mr. John Eerr has been returned without opposition for the Pensioner Settlements, to supply the vacancy caused by the resignation of Colonel Do Quincey. Mr. Kenis well known in Nelson, as he resided here a short time ago. The Late Gale. — The Patea correspondent of the Wangamd Times, gives the following account of the late gale :—": — " On the 31st July, there was a high wind with rather heavy rain, which, about 4, p.m., that day, set in more furiously, accompanied by heavy slept. The sea dashed against tho cliffs, and both sea and spray were driven high into the air by the fury of tho tempest. About midnight the. wind rose still higher, and the sheets of iron began to be stripped off the huts. The vacant one in which had been placed the mortal remains of poor LanceCorporal Jones, late Orderly-room clerk, was hurled to the ground by a gust of wind. This being at dead of night, and the sheets of iron sent flying about the camp like so many chips of wood, the body was with some difficulty, and no slight danger, removed from beneath the ruin, and placed in another house. The men dare not go to sleep, as the huts were being stript right and left, and in most cases carried away bodily, roofs and sides. It was dangerous to cross the square, as the large sheets of iron were being hurled hundreds of yards, and in many cases before they touched the ground. One building, about 68 feet x. 30 feet, formerly the hospital of the 18th Eoyal Irish, was moved, or pushed bodily by the wind, more than thirteen feet from off the studs, and, had it not been of extra strength, would have been blown to bits. The Commissariat store-houses were beginning to share the fate of other buildings, but by the exertions of the officers and men, were placed in a comparatively safe state. The officers' tents were nearly all unroofed, and the Colonel and Adjutant were at last driven from their quarters to seek shelter elsewhere. The camp presented the appearance of a wreck, as building after building went down with a crash. The sand, though wet and heavy, was driven about in flakes. The V. M. horses broke out of their stables, and were at once in full retreat for Kakaramea, where, no doubt, they expected to find shelter. Everything is in an uproar, and I wish it was over. The occupants of all the houses are flooded out with heavy rain, and the floods in the Patea river exceeded anything ever known in the memory of ' the oldest inhabitant.' The men's huts were moved below the hill, until the wind had somewhat abated. On Thui'sday, the Ist, there was a slight lull, but a large piece of cliff — during the previous night — tumbled into the sea with a tremendous noise and crush, that shook the camp. The appearance of the coast next morning was very grand, or rather picturesquely so. Heavy seas were being rolled up on the cliffs, and old Neptune seemed determined to wage war upon us. Poor Jones' funeral took place to-day, and was attended by all hands. Everyone is now busy in gathering the fragments of wreck, but it is impossible to say what amount of damage ha 3 been done." The Gold-Fields at Rockiiamptoit, Queensland. — The MocTchamplon Bulletin, of July 9th, says :—": — " Tho various arrivals at Eockhampton bring very favourable news from the gold-fields recently discovered, and the quantity of gold indicates a very steady increase in the yield. The steamer James Paterson took down 1,024 ozs. of gold, of which 900 ozs. were consigned to the Bank of New South Wales, 212 ozs. to the Australian Joint Stock Bank, and 12 ozs. to the Union Bank. A correspondent of the Rosewood diggings writes as follows : — ' These diggings have been progressing but slowly. The diggers have confined themselves to ravines and flats, without good results, only in a few instances— which have disheartened many, who could not stand it any longer — until within the last *ten days, that Mr. Brady has opened up one of the richest fields, so far as prospects for one week have gone, that has ever been opened up in Queensland. In the creek, close to where he picked up the half-pound nugget from the surface, I saw him wash two ounces this morning from six buckets of dirt, taken six inches from the surface — a very beautiful sample of very coarse gold ; also, a. party of three young men, on the prospectors' boundary, washed out seven and a-half ounces in three daj's; also, three of another party, in four days, made four and a-half ounces ; the largest nugget weighing two and a half ounces. This is far the best show of gold that I have seen since I left Ballarat, and Mr. Brady is of opinion that the whole of the creek for miles is exceedingly rich, particularly in the bars, of which there are thousands, the creek being a very long one, say fifteen miles. A number of claims have been opened, and the prospects have been very encouraging j also many ravines leading into it are being worked with good results, and from what I saw during my visit there, I am of the opinion that a summer will soon open as the swallows are very fast making their appearance there in quick succession, and the half-pound nugget is being backed-up by a hundred of smaller ones. Already stores, butchers' shops, and other places are upon the ground ; there 13 also an auriferous quartz ridge in close proximity to the diggings, which may be turned to good account very soon. The storekeepers and diggers feel the loss of the blacks' services in getting bark, &c. I wa3 told by a squatter, a week or so since, that he gives the native police two shillings and sixpence for every man they can shoot, and one shilling for every woman, because the sight of them ia the bush frightens his cattle, and they don't fatten so quick. We cannot blame the troopers for this, for they are only removed one step from the position of their unfortunate countrymen, and are acting under the orders of white men, who have hired themselves to the Government for the purpose ; but ' I'd rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of a dungeon,' than hire myself for such a purpose, unleßS in the case of murders by the blacks."