DRURY.

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2278, 18 November 1864, Page 5

DRURY.

Drury, Hunua, Rama Rama, and Great

South Road Compensation Meeting. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) November 17. A numerous meeting of the settlers iu th« above districts, who have been sufferers by the war, met at Raven’s South Road Hotel on Wednesday evening, when Mr. Crispe was called upon to take the chair. The Chairman, after explaining the object of the meeting, stated that it gave him great pleasure to report, that at all the meetings which he had attended, and wherever he had been, he found but one feeling, and that was a desire to be moderate in the estimate of their losses and anything was found, but a grasping desire to get all that could possibly be got, except in some few instances, and these would frustrate themselves. The settlers merely wish to be enabled to return to their farms in such a state that they might have some chance by honest industry of pulling up lee-way. Mr. Kerr moved the first resolution, namely :—“ That we will do our utmost to assist the Government to come to a just estimate of the losses sustained during the war, and we agree ourselves to claim compensation for actual losses sustained, and those at as moderate a scale as possible, to reinstate us on our farms,” and fully agreed with the import of the resolution which he was about to propose. He desired that they should merely seek what was honorable, just, and due to them, and he could not see how this could be withheld. . Mr. J. Hill seconded this resolution with a few brief remarks.

The second resolution was moved by Mr. Runciman and seconded by Mr. Copley ; “Thata speedy adjustment of claims will greatly enhance the value of the award by enabling settlers to return to their farms, and thus re commence their industrial pursuits.”

The third resolution :—“ That the memorial now brought forward be adopted,” was moved by Mr. S. Hall, seconded by Mr. Sutton, and carried. Mr. Dean made a few remarks, stating that he considered the Government already committed to compensation, when the war was over.

The Chairman said he did not see how they could do otherwise, for be it remembered that whoa the various members of the Assembly were shipwrecked in going to aud from the meeting of the Assembly, then held at Wellington, one of the first matters brought before the House was “ Compensation to the members for the losses they had each sustained in consequence of the shipwreck of the ‘ Lord Worsley ’ aud the ‘ White Swan,’ and this was granted pretty speedily. Now, to use a homely phrase, “ Surely what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.” Some parties had also received compensation in one way or another for losses sustained already. A vot§ of thanks was then passed by acclamation ti the Chairman, for the trouble he was taking in this matter. The meeting was of a thoroughly business nature, and a very good one.

Medical appointments in the Waikato Regiments appear far from popular, and I fancy much of this unpopularity arises from the despotic ignorance of the Defence Minister or more properly speaking, I presume, the late Defence Minister, who to the last appears determined to keep tight hold of every appointment he can, and give it away utterly regardless of either fitness or claims ; but that he will do as he pleases and take the responsibility. We have within the last few mouths had no fewer than three medical appointments thrown up : J. Giles, Esq., Surgeon of the Ist Waikato, W. E. B. Nicholson, Esq., Senior Assistant Surgeon of the Ist Waikato, audJ. T. Cobb, Esq., Second Assistant-Surgeon of the 2nd Waikato. These gentlemen have been replaced by others, more or less qualified, but with extraordinarily little regard to the proper course of promotion or merit ; the guiding principle being merely the whim and caprice of the Defence Minister.