SOUTHLAND ESCORT TO LAKE WAKATIP DIGGINGS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 11, 16 December 1862, Page 2

SOUTHLAND ESCORT TO LAKE WAKATIP DIGGINGS.

On Friday evening last, a meeting was held in the school house for the purpose of eliciting public opinion, and presenting a memorial to His Honor the Superintendent, praying that an escort might be at once despatched to the new goldfields at Lake Wakatip. There was a numerous and influential attendance.

Mr. W. H. Calder, on being called to the chair, said that he believed the Government had anticipated the wishes of the meeting, and had already consented to send up an escort to the diggings immedi-tely. (Applause.) He believed this was only partially known that afternoon, but it was deemed advisable, seeing that the meeting had been coivened, to allow it to proceed in order that public opinion might be fully manifested. He would be happy to hear any gentleman who had information to impart on the subject.

Mr. J. H. Stirling was glad to see that the Government were taking the proper course in sending an escort. He suffered personally from the want of an escort. His son, a lad of 15, was obliged to bring down 4lbs. weight of gold, which was not a safe thing to do, and there was still a large quantity of his (Mr. Stirling's) gold waiting for a.v escort from the new diggings.

Mr. Homer believed that the meeting had been called for the purpose of ascertaining public opinion on the desirability of having an escort sent up to the recently discovered diggings, and hoped that the memorial which lie now hel I in his hand would be as numerously signed as possible. The speaker then read the following memorial, and moved its adoption : — To his Honor the Superintendent of Southland. We, tlie undersigned, merchants, bankers, and others, inhabitants of Inveroargill, beg to lay before your Honor our position relative to the goldfields lately discovered in the Province of Otago, on the borders of this Province, and in particular with the field on the Shotover River. These diggings, as your Honor is aware, mainly depend upon this town for supplies of merchandise, which are easily forwarded ; but in payment for the same the diggers have only gold in its natural state. This gold (in the absence of an useort by the Otago authorities) must cither remain on the field, insecure, or be brought down at the owner's risk, unprotected. We would, therefore, pray your Honor to cause mounted troopers, under command of a sergeant, to proceed to the boundary of this Province, and into the Province of Otago if requisite, with the view of affording that protection which every British subject is entitled to expect from its Government — to individuals desirous of bringing down gold. Invercargill, 13th December 18G2. Mr. Whitton seconded the adoption. The Chairman thought it wbs the general wish hat Mr. Fitz Gerald should address the meeting. Mr FitzGerald, in prefacing a few remarks, stated that the object f the meeting had been forestalled, the chairman having stated that the Government were prep ired to place the escort on the road, and consequently any other remarks were superfluous. ( l'ho Chairman he<e requested the speaker to give some account of the state of the road, &c.) Mr. FitzGerald said that the road was good, and that the escort could follow the government north road survey line, there being only one place that presented any serious obstacle to a horseman, between Invercargill and Mr. M'Lean's, from thence the natural road was excellent to the foot of the Lake. (The meeting appeared disappointed at the brevity of the speaker's remarks.) Mr. Stirling said that the public should have a guarantee, or else no man would entrust his gold to the care of an escort.

The Chairman said there was no liability incurred. It was optional who entrusted their gold to the escort. In answer to a question from Mr. FitzGerald.

The Chairman, in reply, said that although he had no personal communication with the Superintendent, yet he believed that the Executive intended that the escort should proreed, at the expense of the Government, to the borders of Southland ; and then, if necessary, it would go on to the diggingsin the character of a private escort.

Mr. Von Hammer said the best guarantee the public could have would be an efficient escort. He was an old soldier, and acquainted with those kind of things. Though a foreigner, he had been in the British colonies for upwards of sixteen years. Unless the horses were properly trained to sand fire, and their riders used to the " smell of powder," there would be a repetition of Gardiner's Australian "sticking-up." It was not silver lace that made a good escort officer ; it was necessary to have a thoroughly efficient man in command. He concluded by expressing his conviction " that if there is no head, there can be no tail."

The chairman then put the motion, which was unanimously carried, and those present began to sign the memorial. The meeting separated.