PUBLIC MEETING AT SOUTH MOLYNEUX. MOLYNEUX.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 649, 16 January 1864, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING AT SOUTH MOLYNEUX.

MOLYNEUX.

A public meeting was hold at South. Molyiseux township, oil Wednesday, the 13th, for the purpose of discussing a tew subjects con-eriiiog the geueral welfare of the MoJy-ieux district. The residents iv the vic-i ity of i.lutha ferry were conveyed on board the steamer Tu.ipeka, which had been kindly provided for the occasion by Captain Murray, leaving the ferry ut 10 a.m., calling for the residents of Inch C utlta at their vaiious landings, reaching the lower to-ynshin about 12, where another large company had arrived overland from <he sou'h an-> west Tin joint rompany soon uke-- as-einbled in the large room of the Alexnndr* Hotel, v/hich was filled to oveiflowing, and was called to or<ier by John Shepherd, Ksq., who moved, and Mr Petcbeil, spn.. spponded—'• That Major Kicbardsoa take the chair." The Major expressed Ins sincere pleasure in responding to the invitation. He rejoiced tint the p oplfi of the district were awaking from «he letiiavcv into wliiell thy had falle■■, in regard to local improvements, especially concerning ce'taisi public wo rks which were <>f vital importance, which had long been contemplate'!, bat which had hitherto been neglected. Hi 3 attention h*l been directed to a statement lat< ly made in the Legislative Assembly by the Monitor for the Otasro Gold Fields, that tun Provincial Government proposed an c-xprnditnre of about a quarter of a million et-r'imr. in constructing a iew miles of road in the Wakat'p district; and he <elt that w'u'e the Provincial G>vernm nfc had derived comparatively an enormous revenue from this large and fertile Molyneux districl, tlie expendi tnre within it was very greatly disproportion^ This was n^t a political mee'irjg, and ha had no intent;on of niaki'g a political speech, or to say anything ' -Jsparaging to the Gov rnment, and hhn'ne' that th^e gentlemen present would not offer any opposition to the G rvernnvnt while it whs honesty and fa thfnlly administered; bu f that they woul I candidly consider the su'j°cts to be brought before t.tipm. and only ask t at their rights should receive from th" Government a due considerat'on. The business for whic:i they were convened bavins been called for, Wji. Fergutson, itq., moved' the following resolution:— •' rh,ts .this meeting is of opinion tlm the attention of His Honor the Superintendent should be solicited to pressing forward the execution of wo-k* /or which appropriations have b^n made, in order that the tocpeniiture on account of the S'lne 'nay fairly f>ill within the period embraced by the "Appropriation Act.'' whi.'h expires on th? 31st of Mar.'b next, morn particularly with reference to tlie coaxal steamer, t!ie h!astin<r of the rocks at the mouth of the river, the laying down o'moorings, and the extension of the Mjlyneux Jetty to deeo witer." HeMtmnch pleasure in moving the resolution, though he regretted, on account < f its I importance that it had not been pla ed in other hands. It was evident to everyone present, that somethinsr should be done, and done immediately, not merely to advance the interests of the district, hut even to re'ain what was already ci joyed, as public works were being prosecuted in other quarters which would tend to divert much of ths present traffic. It wa highly necessary that the harbor should he rendered capable of admitfi»g vessels of he <vy tonnage, with original cariroes; that the chief obstruction was a few rocks at the mouth of the river, which, he was informed by ■•■■vmnetent judges could be easil.y removed' by blasting. The extension of the jetty, and the laying down of moorings, w^re nls> very d?siialite; but the removal of the rocks he considered to be of the first and last importance. In connection with tbe want of a coastal steamer, he al uded 'to the enterprise of Captain Murray, in placing the fine steamer Tuapeka on the river, which though most successful, so far as the navigation of the river was concerned, was unremunerative to the proprietors, who were suffering gr*at injustice from t'<c want of necessary connections, and facilities for receiving and iliscbarging cargo, indispensable »o the safe' aud profitable co duct of the river traffic. Mr Pexchell (sen.)' seconded the resolution, vtft'ch was carried unanimously. W. A. Bews, Esq., moved the second resolution— " That in view of the large sura about to be raised of half a million, on the credit of the Provincial revenue, it is but fair that the outlay should be raainlv dire*t art to those lands, by the sale of which the revenue of the Province will be materially benefited." Seconded by John Shaw, Esq., and carried unanimously J«m cs Holland, Eg., J.P., moved the third resolution — " That the greater portion of th Q agricultural land of the rountry lying in the netghbo hoo'l of r,he Olufha River, which thus hecimes the highway for the trade to the interior, andthe supply if the mining population in its proximity, it is expedient more particu'arly in orler to retain the Customs revenue fr<">m being diverted to Southland, that'every pxertion should be mide to improve the navigation of the river, and that the Marine Surveyor should be instructed to report on its state, and the impr vements which may he >fi cted, with a view to an appropriation at the next session of the Provincial Council, to effectuate the same " Mr Petchkli, seconded. Carried unanimously. Mr Thompson moved the 4th rpsoluiion - •• Tint it is desirable, in order to preserve the township from being flooded, and to open out a *ommunication wi^h the oil town that a road he Tor^ed/alone; the banks of the river skirting the iew township aad a portion of section 3, say 17 jhains " Seconded by Mr A. C. Bego, and carried unanimously. E. Bowler, Epq., moved the sth wsolution— " That this meetimris of opinion that in order that the navisratiin of the ri*er should be rendered safe, it is necessary that a deputy harbor-master be appointed, whose duty it shall be to take a general supervision of the river." Seconded by Mr Bbagh. and carried. R. L. Begg. Esq , moved the 6th resolution— "That a memorial be drawn up to hU fJonor the Superintendent, urging the claims of the district " Carried unanimously. Mr Lrvison moved th n 7lb resolution— " Th"'t a committee be formed composed of the following gvmtlemen:— Mr Kollanl. Mr Shaw, Mr Bews, Mr Anderson, ivTigor Richardson. Mr A.yson, with nower to ad to th-ir numbsr, for the purpo«e of advancing th" rightful clßims ol the district bordering on the Clutha River/ Carrie'l unanimousk. A memorial to his Honor the Superintendent. in accordance with the 6th re«-o'ution, was handed to the Chnirnnan. and read and caried clause by clause, snl afterwards as a_ whole, which conclud d the business of t'^e meeting. A. vote of tha-k" by Mr Thompson to the Cha'rmin was carried by acc'amadon. The Chairman congratulated the gentlenipn present upon the ve<- y large and re«pectabh atten-lance. and the ze'nl nnd unanimity manifpstei, which he trusted would have a salutary effect. The memorial was laid upon the table for signature, and before the meeting separate', nearly 70 names wers" attached, of t.ho-~e who were residents, and the greater portion proprietors in the district. This wai the first call for- a general mepfmc at the southern township, and it woul I be difficult to conceive any object which could call forth the same general response, as nearly every household within a circuit of thirty miles were represented.' A message was received from Captain MfKenzie, regretting his inability to attend At 4 o'clock the shrill whistle was heard, warning the Tuapeka passengers to be on board. Soon after l°aving the township, and wtih only afewyarHs of open space intervening hptwen the steamer a»:d the open s<>a. a rno<t terrific hail storm was encounted, which lastPd only a few minutes, but-left a.deposit on the promenade deck, sufficient to afford the passengers a fair opportunity to indulge in the luxury of " snowballing." It was a matter of surprise with many how any vessel, with only a few iuchfs hold in the wat^r and with so much surface exposed by standing so j h'gh above it, could withstand the fury of such v gale It is not surprising tlrt the captain should receive congratulations upon all sides upon his success in accomplishing what but a few months ago wai considered a presumptuous undertaking ; by piloting his steamer some 50 miles into the interior through the tortuous channel of the Mohneux. Aside from the actual business of the day, the steamer has afforded an opportunity'for a most agreeable social gathering, favored ns the company was by th.p pre-ence of a goodly number of the ladies of Inchclufhv who contributed greatly to the general fund of enjoyments and by their presence sanctioned the main objects of the excursion. But compliments and congratulations, however inspiriting.-are not in themselves substantial, and it is hoped that the captain will soon h«ve facilities granted which will enable him to secure for himself a more substantial return, which his spirit of enterprise deserves.

A Frenchman, was recently bargaining for half-a-dozen sheep. 'What are'you about?' snid a friend. ' I have heard say,' replied monsieur, 'that if you waut to make money, you must buy sheep and. sell deer. I shall buy de sheep and sail deveaisoß.'