DUNSTAN. January 9th, 1865.

Otago Witness, Issue 685, 14 January 1865, Page 21

DUNSTAN. January 9th, 1865.

The meeting called on Friday night last at the Union Hotel, by the Clyde Improvement Committee, for the purpose of submitting to the public an exposition of their doings since elected to office, was ezceeiingly well attended, both by the representatives of the mining and business communities Mr George Brodie, M. H.U , occupied the chair. After explaining the object of the meeting briefly, he remarked that, he was glad that the people of the Dunstan had at last taken upon themselves the duties of looking after their own interests, and now possessed a recognised body in whom they could" place confidence, so that their affairs would he properly looked after. It appeared to him that the members o» . the Committee deserved their hearty approbation for the steps taken in redressing grievances and procuring sundry reforms of existing evils, considered they merited great credit for so doing, and if the people would only second the efforts made on their behalf by the Committee, they would have no cause to regrat the confidence imposed in them The Secretary, Mr H. Staite, read the report. Proposed hy Mr Auckland, seconded by Mr Grindlo.y, " That the report be adoptel" Carried unanimously. Mr Simon Isaac, Chairman of the Improvement Committee, said that since their election the'members had endeavoured to do their best for the inteiests of the people. It gave him great pjt a-ure to find that their efforts were appreciated, and it only needed the hearty cooperation of \be public to enable the committee to carry out the work they had in hand. When any difficulty presented itself, they had done their he st to obtain its redress. They had memorialised the Government to secure to the town a permanent wat^r supply ; also to enlighten them with respect to the tsoablishment of a Supreme Court, aud the building: of a G-aol, together with the necessity of making a cart track to the Nevis. With respect to the erection of a pound, no sooner did they observe the advertisement in the public papers than they despatched that very night a memorial remonstrating agdost it. (Cheer? ) Proposed by Mr Rewley — < That this meeting ■has every confidence in the Clyde Improvement Committee, "who have done all in their power •towards the procuring of reforms and rtdressing grievances." Mr Rowley said that the Government were going to try to put "the screw on the miners. Onre before they were about forcing a pound •down our throats, but we would not have it— no r •will we now. Everybody present was ton well aware of the baneful effects of tbe impounding syst-ruin Vic'oria, to wish for its introduction here. Thelpresent Government were coug>O3ed of -quatters and the families of squat.teis, whose chief bu-iness it was to look after squatting interests. v*ome two or tnree weeks a^o, two m?sterious personnels pa-sed through this township, and who would not give us an opportunity to -find out who they weie, bet it subsequently turned out that they were the Provincial Treasurer and Acting Provincial Secretary ; and, being in •company with a squatter, no doubt but that they were looking out for a site for a pound. Believed that the settlers bad made up their minds to have a pound and we must make up our minds to the reverse. Mr Cope supported_ the resolution, which was seconded by Mr Grindley, and carried unanimously. Proposed by Mr Hnz'etr, seconded by Mr Pole, "That in the opinion of this meeting, the establishment of a Pound on any gold field won d toe alike detrimental to the interests of the mining and trading communities."' Carried. Proposed by Mr Pole, '• That the Clyde Im provem^nt Committee be empowered to collect funds for the purpose of carrying out oVjects o\ local importß'ice ; and that the Government be applied to to subsidise moneys collected." Seconded by Mr Rowley, and carried It beiug necesary to elect a member of committee in lieu of Mr Samuel, resigned, Mr James Hnzlett wa^ unanimously elected. Proposed by Mr Rowley,— "That'as the Govermnent have not vouchsafed to answer any of the comißunications forwarded by tiie Committee, that this meeting: record a vote of cen«ure on such conduct " ■ Seconded from the body of the meeting, and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the preceding. Mr Mining Surveyor Coates has presented the Exhibition Committee -with a fine collection ■of stalactite*, which will he forwarded to Dunedin this day. They were all obtained from caves ■between the Kawarau Gorge and Keithburn. On -Saturday evening last a large and influential meeting of the inhabitants of Manuherikia <was held at the Aldinga Hotel, Alexandra, to protest against the removal of the "Warden from the District. Mr John Jick occupied the chair. A Eumber of speakers addressed the meeting, all unanimously condemning the course taken by the Goeernment. It wa3 carrie 1 with universal acclamation that a memorial setting forth the views of the meeting on the subject, be drawn up and presented by a deputation consisting of Messrs J. Jsck, Delane, Finlay, and Brown, to His Honor the Superintendent. The Cxomwell people have warmly taken up the pound question, and the following memorial, having a%out 150 signatures attached, has been forwarded to town. " To his Honor John Hyde Harris, Superintendent of Ota?o. ' Sir— This Memorial of the inhabitants of Cromwell, humbly shew^th — *' That your memorialists have learned with much alarm that it is the intention of the Government to erect a pouud near the township of. Clyie, such being in the immediate neighborhood. " Your memorialists are of opinion that the erecjioa of a pound on the gold fields would be a most anwise step on the part of the Government, -especicliy in a district such, as this, where the mining community are compelled to keep horses to carry their provisions over an exceedingly moue+aineus country. " We humbly trust that your Honor will see the non-advisability of such <t stop being taken, as it would prove at serious injury to the mining I population and other inhabitants generally. "-We therefore humbly beg your Honor will think favorably ot this memoria 1 , and lend your aid in preventing -auch a gross injustice being done to the gold fields .community. And your meapnaUfiis, as i» dju.ty sttpand, will ever pray."