PUBLIC MEETING AT WAITAHUNA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 242, 29 September 1862, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING AT WAITAHUNA.

A meeting of the Committee appointed to look after the interests of the Mining Board for the Waitahuna and Woolshed District, took place here on Thursday evening last at the Miners' Arms Hotel. The following gentlemen attended Dr. Samuels, the Chairman; Messrs. John M'Gregor, Joseph Lazarus, Williams, and Summers, and a great many qtliers. The meeting met for the purpose of hearing "Captain Baldwin's reply to the late deputation which waited oa him. A communication received from the Commissioner, aud directed to the Chairman, was then handed to Mr. Thomas R. Ahem, the Honorary Secretary, who read it out to the meeting:— Commissioner's Office, Waitahuna, 15tb Sept, 1882. Gentlemen,--With reference to the election of a Mining Board for the Waitahuna and Woolshed District, I have the honor to state for yoar Information, and the information of the miners generally, that, in consequence of an error in the proclamation, such election cannot take place on the 25th and 2'Jth of September, the days appointed in the proclamation, nor for some time to come.

I am unable at present to mention the exact date when the election will take place, but will give due tootiee thereof; and io the meantime sliall be happy to give you any further information in my power. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, William BjUDwrw, CommUsiouer. To Dr. Samuels, Messrs. John M'Gregor, J. Larazus, Summers, Williams, and the jr^ntlemen forming the Committee at Waitahuna.

The Chairman then showed the Government Gazette, in which the proclamation was issued. It bears date Wednesday, 27th of August, 1862, so accordingly would not give the time required by law, if the election was to take place on the 25th and 26th of September. This was less than a month, and it gave the Retunu'ug Officer no time.

The Chairman stated that the meeting must now see the fault did not lay at Captain Baldwin's door ; it lay further away, and he trusted that they would remove it from their minds, that the Commissioner for a moment neglected their interests.

Mr. John Bradly : It is now quite plain where this neglect occurred. The Government did not publish the proclamation many sort of duo time. Mr. John Summers : It is my opinion that they never intended the election to go on at all, and therefore they were careless about when the proclamation was issued, but that shall not be the case tvhilgt we can lay our grievances before Sir George Grey, the Governor. There is not the slightest use in applying to the Provincial Government; they are too slow, and make so many promises that they never perform. The remains of the old identity is not wholly erased yet. They have had a mining board ia Tuapeka for a long time past, and is riot Waitahuna as much entitled to any privileges that may be in the. hands of the Government, as Tuapeka. I do not envy them in Tuapeka because they have a mining board, but I look for the rights and privileges which are due to a golddigger.*' We have no protection ; we have none to look to but the Government; and if they want to deny us of that protection which they are bound to give us, why let them, and the sooner we leave the Province of Otago the better. The winter is now over here, and some hundreds, aye, some thousands, rushing towards tho New Zealand shores. What protection have the diggers who stormed out a rigorous winter on those bleak hills ? *. None. Water will be getting scarce, the resources of the country will be opening up more and more every day, and there are no bye-laws or mining regulations formed except what has been in force this past twelve months. Let any man remember last summer, an<i he will remember all the petty brawls and squabbles that were on those diggings arising out of mining affairs., -■ A Voice ; I got a pair of black eyes from a Cousin Jack for demanding my share of water last January. . ■•>• Mr. Summers : .Well, I say that we must have the Mining Board. „ Mr. M-'Gregor: Oh, I dare say that a fresh proclamation will be issued giving plenty of time. •"'..■■ ; •. •. . ■■:■:'■: : .-■/■■■ ■■ - ■'■-.'"■' ' "'■ .-""''■'.'

Chairman : Well, I think so; we mast only wait a little until we see whether the-Government will take any further steps. A Voice: We ought to take our own steps and memorialise the Governor. Chairman: We roust be a little patient and not be too rash, ] r • - '■'■'

A Voice : The Victorian diggers are no chickens to be humbugged.

Chairman : Well, gentlemen, Ido not see that there is any more to. be done to-night, and I think we ahull adjourn. A vote of thanks was moved to the Chairman by Mr. Lazarus, and seconded by Mr. Brown from the Woolahed. * B '

The meeting then dispersed.