PUBLIC MEETING AT QUEENSTOWN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 853, 15 September 1864, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING AT QUEENSTOWN.

(PKOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Tuesday, dfch September

G. Brodie, Esq., M.P.C, M.L.A., met his constituents on Tuesday afc Bracken's Hotel. Nearly 300 persons were present, comprising the leading residents ia the town.

Mr Reuben Harris having been called to the chair, said that the meeting ha:l boen called for the purpose of welcoming Mr J3ro:lie, one of the Gold Fields members, who had paid a visit to Queenstown in order to give an account of his stewardship. He would not detain the meeting with any preliminary remarks, but at cnca introduce Mr Brodie.

Mr Brodie: In appearing before you here, I must say that the present communication between this constituency and their representatives hns bseix m?re honored in the breach than the observance. Many reasons have conduced to this. As ths Provincial Council ii about to meet, I feel it my duty to ace you ond learn from your own lips what your pecuiar grievances are of whioh 1 have heard so much. I would wish in the fii-ffc place briefly to explain to you what has beeu done since" 1 have had the honor to be your representative. You mu:jt, however, fully understand my position ; that I do not represent Qaeimstown or the Lake district, but the Go dtields of Otago. I, myself, and jmy colleagues have had great difficult es to contend with, and from fche peculiar nature of (be class representation, under which we hold our seats, have not been able satisfactorily to carry out. our du.ies. '"»he Old identities did not and do not like the mining population. You may tell them they are benefitted by tho G Mfields; they say they are disturbed. In vain I pressed the claims ot a. mining population of some 20,000 to have a be:ter representation and a fairer share of political privileges. We are looked upon as a class and a daug'rous class. 1 assure you that as a mining member I was at first comidered as a strange animal or specimen of the ferae natures, whose habits require careful iuves ■ 'ligation, f will endeavor now to lay before you 3 what has been done in the Provincial Council and General Assembly since I have had a seat in tho«eHHoars.s rs. I/i the October sessioi of the Provincial Council, seeing plainly no chnee of doing spy goo.l, I said I would lie upon my oars acd w*it th?. . tide of events. On going to Auckland the first; thing wbich iovced itself upon my attention .was fche very inadequate representation of yonr interest?, owicg to the inn elitnents thrown in the way of obtaining the franchise. I was enabled, with the assistance of my. colleagues, to have the miners Act amended, and in consequence every miner who has h Id a right for six months is entitled to a vote, and the same privilege is extended to the holders of business licenses. We were unsuccessful in our endeavour to obtain an amendment; of the Customs Act, although ifc presses hard upon fche population of the mining districts. Mr Wood admitted we were right, but, on behalf ot the Government, argued thafc fche great expenses of the Maori war prevented any interference for tha present with the sources of revenue upon which the Oology had to depend. Mr Wood, however, promised that the subject should receive consideration afc the next session. I may remark that, on taking my ssat in the Genera! Assembly, I found that the address to the Grown contained no ref'erencs whatever to the Gold Fields. I immediately put a motion on tha paper thafc tbe Governor. shouli be at once requested to cull the attention of the Home Government to Otago, and the opportunities for colonization and settlement afforded by that Province, and I am able to inform you thafc a despatch has been forwarded to Mr Cardwell, embo lying the views set forward anl ray resolution. So that intending emigrants will ia all probability now have an opportunity of obtaining credible information on all subjects connected with the richest province of New Zealand. With regard to the nsw Gold Fields Act, it apoears that a new act certainly was prepared by the Gold Fields Secretary, but forwarded to thy Legislative Assembly without the knowledge of the Gold Fields members, and wUhoat any consultation with them. When spoken to about it, I could only say_ that uot bavins: b?en charged with the care of it, eleven had the draft submitted to rae, I could only judge by its mci its should it be brought forward 'by the Government. I found'also that Capt Baldwin knew nothing abou:-.the Bill, aad we therefore felt compelled to decline to take charge of it. We di J, however, manage to pass through the House a short amendment of tie Gold Fields Act of 1882, which provides for a greafc_ extension of the right of appeal, aad readers claims find property li -Id under business licenses amenable to writ; of ft. fa. I must express my obligations to Mr 'Gillies, the Postmaster-General, for helping us to cany through the Amendment Ac. It wns aloigethpr a satisfactory compromise, as the new Gold Fields Act would have remodelled the whole system, and would necevrariiy, ev-'-n under favorable circumstances, hay*; occupied considerable !ime in passing through the House. Another point we have gained is fc! >o appointinaafc of a Distriot Judge, aud you will agree with me that a thorough good man has been selected in" Mv Wilson Gray. (Applause.) I may again repeat that all matters of domestic legislationhhrare been neglected, owing to the Maori war. You are paying now two-thirds of the expense of trying to subdue these mea. _ Ifc is necessary you should understand jour position as to Separation. The North I stand has a fancy for fighting the Maori, the Middle Island has to pay the piper. What has ben the result of these wars? only to extend thi frontier of Auckland We derive, and cm derive no possible adv.uitoge. I object to your contributing so largely to these ex.-eases and the increased expenditure which is imminent. Five-eighths of tin Oustoras of Ofcasro are now absorbed by the Northern Island, theother three-eighths will soon follow ; and I trust indeed that when you send in a mem bar for the Gold Fields or ths district, you will pledge th.it msn to advocate Reparation. The last session of # tbe Provincial Council was almost entirely occuoisd by ths consideration of the financial difficulties of fche Province, caused by the reckless extravagance of fche Dick Ministry.' The aspect of the market at Home would have induced men of ordinary prudence to have paused before incurring e-iormous responsibilities, on the prospect of probable loans; but, hoping against hope, the Dickites went oa in their usual care?r, aatil the receipt of bad news i from Home caused a sudden collapse, and aa immediate cassation of all Government; works. The question of general reduction of expenditure will come on at the next session ot fche Provincial Council. I am not ia favor of decreasing the salaries of Government officials, their expe-naes are, especially on ths goldfields, very heavy j the reduction if any, must ba iv the number of gentlemen employed. I come now to another matter v/hich I am aware is rather a sore point with you, nsroely, my vote against kr Vogel's motion for' giving a member to Qaeenytown, the Dunstan and Tuapeka, I felt it my duty to take the course I did because I aaw t! at the proposition was a mere compromise, and would, if carried, proved a serious impediment to the more liberal legislation I hope to see next session. You would really not have been at all benefitted, for the balance of representation would still have been unadjusted. The2;t,ooo votes ofthe three pronosed constituencies would bave been counterbalanced by the thrqe in-mbers tor the Lindis, Manuherikia, and Wakatip, who have the honor to represent altogether some twenty-eight individuals. _ Having thus given you, as far as I can, a brict f-ketch cf what has been done since I have hacl th-3 honor to be your representative, I would state that I am now h?re on the eve oi another i meeting ofthe Provincial Council; and I would wish to know what yoa want, and if there is any 1 raafcfer on which I can do you a service. But you must always recollect that myself and colleagues represent not a particular district but the G-Jld Fields as a whole ; and that I am bound to consider the interests of the greatest number of niy constituents, I shall be happy to afiord any

; xplanation that may be required, or answer ai y questions as to my political conduct, which yo ray honor me by a:dressing. Mr Manders observe! that though present as a reporter, he must break through the ordinary rule and say a few words to the hon. member. His explanation had bien candid certainly, bufc nnfc satisfactory. It was a pity he had not come up here before. He has been the member fw tho Dunstan nofc the Wakatip. He should hava supported Mr Vogel's Electoral ilill, which would liave given Queenstown a member, and he coulil not understand hi* explanation for not doing so. As to fche proceedings of the Legislative Assembly lasfc session, the interests'! of the Gold Fields were evidently burked, and the silence of the press as to any|procsediags on the subject was very remarkable.

Mr Gordon - We are glad to see oar member; hut he comes afc fche last day, when I suppose he expects an explanation. I should like to know what he has done for U3. h e votes against our having a special member, and says we are merely a distriat.

Mr Brodie: I beg yonr pardon, I said no such thing. You entii-i iy misunderstood me. And as to wh'.t you have said about my not visiting ycu until on fche eve of an election, I may tell you there will nofc bs an election for four years, and that I have no personal object whatever iv coming before y on.

Mr Gordon : It is all very well, but this district has been neglected. The roads and tracks are ar. bnd as ever. There is not a road which can cany a dray into Que.in>town. We do nofc get tho same consideration as other districts. If we had a man for Queenstown, he would go ia for Queenstown. Mr Brodie may talk as he likes, he is very plausible, bufc iacts "is" hard tilings to diget-t.

Mr Brodie: I positively deny ihst any aftioa taken by me has caused public money to be spent in or about ths Durban district. Tha want of success with regard to the negotiation of the Joans has been tbe reason why tbe roads and other works hive not been continued. Roads to all tie (Sod Fields have been determined upon, and want of funds atone has prevented or rather postponed their completion. Mr Gordon would rsk if the hon. member could give any information as to why the agricultural land in the district was cut up into such, small areas, five and ten acres.

Mr Brodie: The idea originally was that fa the immediate neighborhood ot the Gold Fitlds, ifc was more expedient to lease than to sell land, as, should ifc turn out to be auriferous, considerable difficulties would arise. I do not know oa whafc principle the size of allotments is regulated. Probab'y the small plots are intended to afford, opportunities for miners to farm on a sm-iil scale in tbeir leisure hours. There is. however, a doubt on this subject • a eonfliction between the Waste Lands Board and the Geld Fields Department, and surveyors seem to be sent recklessly to survey anything us l°ng as they do survey. Witness the Ferry h ill and other perfectly useless areas lately marked out by Mr Barr.

Mr Carey would call Mr Brodie's attention tb tha present terms of rental.. Five shilpng* an acre was too much-a larger area should ba allowed afc a - reduced rent. The gentlemen surveying are not competent to lay off land on a gold field; this should be left to the Mining Surveyors.

Mr Brodie: I believe lam correct in statingthat proper precautions have now been taken, and that all leases have to be referred to the Wardens of the Districts, who m-iy consult the Miivng Surveyors, and great care is taken that leases of auriferous lands be not granted for agriculture Mr Gordoa: Will Mr Brodie support some of our local matters ?; For instance, the purchase of the bridge at Arthur's Point; the const; uefcion of a jetty; the road to Frankton, round the Lake, and other urgent wanfc>. As to tho land, 5s an acre was too much, and ought to be reduced at once, and larger areas granted.

Mr Brodie : I should, as I have said before, ho glad to see the rent reduced. As regards roada to Queenstown or elsewhere, I can only say that any measures tending towards opening up the interior shall have my warmest support; bufc want of funis rausfc, for the preseut, cripple the exertions of the Government. As to special matters, such as the purchase ot the Arthur's Point Bridge, &c., I e-in give no pledge until I a*e thafc the general body of miners will be benefitted.

Mr Pro-ser would ask whether Mr Brodia knew anything about the District Gaol and the Sss-ions.

Mr Brodie: lam not. ia a position to say what has been done. It wiil b; my duty to urge thafc ths District C :urt be hsM in such convenient place as may suit the main body cf the miners, and cause the least expense to the suitors generally. Mr Prosper would like a more decided answer-

Mr Brodie: I do not care myself where tho Courtis held, but shall certainly recommend the locality most central for ?ho whole mining population. At present the Dunstan certainly occupies this position. If you can show rae thafc Queenstown is the centre of the Gold Fields of ths Province, I will support the holding ot the Court here.

Mi- Shepherd thought that a Circuit Court must be held afc Qjeenstowu as well as at the Dunstan—it would be a-great convenience inmany ways. Mr Brodie: Certainly..

Mr Morris: Sir, with regard to public money voted to hospitals and other institutions,-cm yon tell us why it has not been paid; where are the subsidies; why does not the Government pay them 1

Mr Brodie: There is only one explanation— ths absence of the ready.

Mr Webster: WiU the honorable member support us iv asking for a sura of money towards making a track to fche West; Coast'? Mr Brodie: In the absence of any definite information on thi* subject I cannot pledge myself, but if ifc can ba shown me afc any time that country really auriferous has been discovered, you may depend upon my using my utmost endeavors to assist in opening ifc oufc. Mr Maunders asked Mr Brodie's opinion as ta 'be desirability of the appointment of a responsible Minister of Mines.

Mr Brodie considered that under the presenS sysfcemof Provincial Government such an appointment would be worse than useless. He hoped, however, before long to see a Mining Minister in tha Legislative Assembly at Auckland. Mr Carey wished to know if Mr Brodie was. aware why the LIOO voted towards a fire engine for Queenstown had not been paid. Mr Brodie : You ought to have had ifc long ago. Write again and press the matter. Mr Gordon : Don't you think wholesale lieanses ought to be reducei'? "Here we have publicanslicenses T/20, aud much too low—but never mind. Wholesale licenses should be lowered in proportion. LlO is quite enough. Mr Brodie; Most certainly I quite agree v»ith_ Mr Gordon, and have reason to think such a reduction i 3 contemplated. • Mr Ciirey moved a vote of thanks to Mr Brodie. He had corns to svetbera and say whafc had oeen done, and expressed nimseif ready to atfc-nd to any suggestions offjred to him, which he could carry out consistently wifch bis position as Member fci- the Gold Fields. Mr Gordon, in a few words, seCvUdon the Mr Brodie responded, briefly, thanking the meetin"- for the attention he had received, and assuring them that his services were always ni tlieir disposal whenever they had :ny reasonable request to urge, . With a vote of thanks to th 3 Chair the proceedings terminated.