PUBLIO MEETING AT PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4163, 22 June 1875, Page 3

PUBLIO MEETING AT PORT CHALMERS.

The .-sudden and unexpected cessation of • operations in connection with Messrs Strachan . and Co.'s contract for the construction of that section of the Dunedin and Moeraki Railway between Port Chalmers and Deborah Bay tunuel threw a large number of men out of • employment, all of whom were creditors, in a greater or less degree, of the contractors. Since the stoppage occurred the men have been patiently waiting iv hopes that in accordance -.with certain rumoured representations the contractors would tide over their difficulties and .-pay their debts. The prospect of such a consummation becoming, however, more and more rvague, the workmen, sub-contractors, and • others waited on the Port Chalmers Resident Magistrate to ask for advice how to proceed, .and also stated their intention of holding a meeting. Tn reply to them, he advised them to -make out a statement of their accounts and fiubmititto him, and he would forward it to -the proper quarter. He hoped that the meeting -would be conducted with due order and deco.rrum. The meeting was held yesterday afternoon 311 Dodson's Bond, and was numerously attended, quite 150 persons being present. It was orderly throughout. Mr Quiim was voted ;to the chair. He briefly stated that the meeting had been convened for the purpose of taking steps to, if possible, recover the money .due by the contractors to the workmen. He ■called upon anyone having anything to say to :state their views to the meeting.

Mr Symo>> s*k >uolit it would be advisable for the meeting to mll'e'0 1 a definite arrangement a< to what w-w X done, aud he should propose that a depu fatio" be. »l>l'ointed to wait upon the Resident M.'f' ,st, r!lt, c aU(I lay a cl? ar statement of the case, a.." 1 *« moneys owing to the workmen, before hiu '• He that each man should mak.' ™\ tu' \ n order that the Goveniment mig- lt; be Ml- r iul' vised as to ho* the case stood. ~ A Workman, in the body of the uk"""".-"''" Iderstood that tlie object in view wa.s to 1IlUl! ce all those to whom the contractors weu* ,'"" debted to make out a statement to be forwan. t>(' to the Government. * The Chairman assented, and recommended that the men should come forward and give in their names, and state the amount owing to each. Upon this there was a general movement towards the chair, and the following list was compiled : — Sub-contractors : Un Sen She (Chinaman), LSO 10s (id: Syiuons aud Jordan, L2SO: All Chee, 1.40; H. "Thomson and Co., LS2 lis Sd: Williams and party, Lo!); John Hutton, L!)o: H. Jenkins,' Ll'.IO: John Haniien. L2O: Thonibv and Griffiths, L 75-; Angus M'Kay, hi. 17s lid : Joseph Pole, LSO ; James Middleton. L 52 10s : Foster aud M'Cormick, L2O: Thomas Crisp, L 75. Day Labourers: Henry Stevens, LG; William Young. L 0 Gs; John Thomas, Lli Is Cd; Donald M'Seine. L 4 10s: James Far-rill, Lli Is Od : Walter Thomas, L 5 14s ; Mathew Matthiesou, L 5 Ss-, James Sanson, L 7: John Peters, L 7; George Sanson, L 7; William Sanson, Ii.") 10s : John Bavrv (carter). 1/22 ; William White, La ISs : "George- Wright (carter), LIS 12s: William Sloane. Ll 7s: Charles Finch, Lli Is Od : AVilliam Pollock. L 2 Ss: John Anderson' (blacksmith), Li> 12s: Daniel M'lntosh, Lo 13s: F. Turner. LO ls lid: William Roworth, L 5 12s: Ah Low, Lo ; Thomas Harvey, L 3 lis : Thomas Sullivan. LO 7s (id: Gasper Antonio, LH; Robert Hoskins, L 7 ; Sam Perry, carter, L!* liis ; Chinamen as per number —No 7, L 4 ISs ; Xo. 50, 1.4 15s ; Xo. 4, L 4 Iss : No. (>, L 4 0s Od : Xo. S. L 3 10s ; No. 31, L 4 7s 0d ; Xo. 51, LS 13s : Xo. SO, L3los ; Xo. 104, L 4 0s lid ; Xr. 105, L47s : No. ICHi, L 4 0s 0,1. Totals, sub-con-tractors, LllO't 13s Sd ; lavlabonreis, L22S l.v; grand total, LI33S 0s Sd. " It was proposed by Mr SymoXs that Messrs Thovnby, Quiun, M'Kay, and the Mover should be appointed a deputation to wait upon tlie Resident MagistrateMr Fru.Klt seconded the resolution, and it was carried nt-i/i. eon. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.