PUBLIC MEETING. PRESENTATION TO MR BRODIO.

Otago Witness, Issue 621, 24 October 1863, Page 6

PUBLIC MEETING. PRESENTATION TO MR BRODIO.

A meeting was held at Kilgour's Union ELtel, on Thursday last, for the purpose of presenting to Mr Georga Drodie, M.P.C., ondM.H.A, the testimonial consisting of a pur.se containing 157 sovereigns, which had been subscribed by the inhabitants of ttii-5 di tri"f, in consideration of his exertion 9 far its welfare during the late session of the Provincial Council.

Mr D. K. Campbell who presented the testimonial, and who occupied the chair upon the occasion^said : Sir,— lt ia with feelings of considerable pleasure that I find myself deputed by the contributors to this testimonial, which I have the honor this evening to present to yourself, and which I trust you will reciive as a mark of esteem from your constituents testifying their appreciation of your conduct iv the Provincial Council, as -well as for the manly and straightforward manner in which you have advocated our interests, and carried out all our behests and other matters committed to your care. And that when in the North Island, you wilt show the same undsviaticg zeal forour welfare, and that your actions there, as here, will devolve upon yourself aud us the came amonnt of credit. In the name of the subscribers to this purse, I beg to haDd it to you as a mark of our appreciation of your worth, and upon your return from Auckland we hope to be enabled to confer upon you in a still more suitable manner the sense of our gratitude. (Cheers.) Captain Anderson rose and said that while in Duneiin. he had watchoi Mr Brod.e very narrowly a:ul always found him ready at his post. Upou committee meetings his attendance was unceasing; in fact that part of the business appeared to him (Captain Anderson) to devolve mostly upon the country members, the town ones did not appear to like quitting their warehouses and shops for that kind of busin°ss, and he could testify to the meeting the untiring efforts of Mr Brodie for the welfare of the Dunslan (Applause). Mr Q-. Brodie, in reply, said : I can but return you my sincere thanks for the benefits you have conferred upon me, and accept this as a sp ntaneou? donation from you all. ft is extremely gratifying to me to find that you appreciate the little exertions I have made on your behalf, also, that I have been mainly successful in the cause I advocated. Many a man has toiled on in the dark, and his exertions have never been recognised, but s.-Ch, I am proud to say, has not beeu my case. It will always be my endeavour to advocate to the be»tofmy ability the cause of my constituents, no other idea animates me, find I trust that you will have no cause to repent electing me aa your representative to Parliament. (Applau:e.) After a vote of thanks to the Chairmau, the meeting dispersed.

The people of the Dumtan, Black I',1 ', and Mount Ila, are shortly, viz , on the ninth of November next, to be treated to a Grand \3ala D^y, to be hoklen at Omakao— Hlactis, on tli3 anniversary of the Hirth of h ; s_Eoyal Highness the Pi-mce of Wales. To carry out which the huge sum of 1200 has aheady been subscribed, and no doubt moie will be addeJ. Tha pronranime consists of no less than five races, one of which will be a hurdle race. The prizos are very high, bsing from 1,20 to L7O, which will be an inducement to bring some first-class hor*c3 upon the ground. Afterwards, the ewi 1 tii a variety of shorts, including Highland Games, such as putting the stone, throwing the 1 ammer, dancing the Highland Flinff, and other feats of an athletic character. Then there w'Al be foot race?, j .mping in sacks, and an old woman's race for a quai tir-chest of the best black Congou tea : and. to crown all, there will he a munificent' gilt of the Mes ra N. an.l CF. Black, consisting of a fat bullock, which will he roasted whole, besides a cask of ale to wash if do. vn with, and every thing will be done to make it one of the most successful gathering of the people tint, has ever taken place in this Province, or rather in New Zealand. Centrally situate as is Omakao, being within r.n easy distance of ahno>t all the gold &cUs, and not an unrea«sonable Ion? journey fiom Dunedin, tl^e attendance will undoubtedly ba very huge ; and a> the whole affair i* under tlv 1 direct management ot mo3t of tiie leaJing settlers for mmy miles around, there is n sufficient guarantee that Ih9 sports will, in e\ery shape, be first-class.