THE MINERS INDIGNANT.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2133, 28 August 1875, Page 3

THE MINERS INDIGNANT.

ABOLITION MEETING AT TAIRUA. The first public meeting that was ever held on tho new goldfields took placo on Thursday afternoon, and, considering the Bhort notice that was given, in conjunction with the unfavourable state of the weathor, tho attendance -was very large. The locale of the meeting was in tho shell of Sully and Gillett's new hotel, and immediately after proceedings commenced it iwas well filled, the miners rolling up in largo numbers. Notice had been sent during the day to most of the claims', and with scarcely an exception, tho storekeepers and various mining- companies wero largely represented. The proceedings occupied only a short time, ns a piercing wind penetrated through the building, and all the movers and seconders of resolutions spoke very briefly, fully believing and acting up to the .maxim of " brevity is the soul of wit." • Mr Sully was called to the chair by acclamation, and iiva few words pointed out that tho district was languishing for want of roads, &c. It wanted fostering by tho Provincial Govornmont, who might possibly bo anxious to do something for the district, yet by. the paltry tfrant by th'e Provincial Council of JBS|OO for a main road they wero really not able to do anything. It therefore behoved the district to look beyond provincialism to the General Govommcnt for assistance. At the present time it required tho support of all honest men in their efforts to abolish a system that was found totally unsuitable for the colony. Ho would call upon some gentleman to move a resolution.

Mr J. B. Beeoho said he had great plcasure.iu moving the following resolu-tion:-"That ihis meeting views with alarm and indignation the great indifference shown by the Provincial Government towards the welfare of this goldfield, and is of opinion that the time has arrived when the effete system of provincialism should be abolished."

Mr Daykin briefly seconded the mo' Hod.

Mr W. Xogan said he would propose an amendment to the following effect :— " That this meeting is .satisfied that the Provincial Government are doing all they can to assist in road making and otherwise facilitating the' prosperity of this goldfield." He said he did so because the resolution just. proposed cast reflections upon* Sir Georgo Grey, who was nobly doing his duty in opening up the country. The meeting here disavowed any reflection upon tir GeorgoGrey who, they believed, was honest in his intentions. It was the Bystem he represented they aimed the blow at.

Mr Scott Hunter seconded the amendment, which was then put to the meeting, and only four hands held up in favour of it. The original resolution proposed by Mr Beeche was then put and cirried, a forest of hands being held up in favour of it.

Mr Bichard Spratt then came forward and said he had a resolution to propose, which he would read to the meeting, as follows:-"This meeting earnestly requests the General Government to carry out their Abolition scheme before the dissolution of the Assembly, and at the same timo would urge upon them to place a sufficient sum on the estimates to .construct a good road from the Tairua river to Shortland." He contended that so many governments were not required to administer the affairs of 300,000 or 400,000 people, and the sooner they got rid of the dual system the better would it be for the out-districts. The cily of Auckland was, no doubt, anxious to retain the present systcmof provincialism, for it was she who gained solely by it, and the outlying, districts paid the piper. Under ; the scheme brought forward .by the General Government, we should come in for our fair share of the expenditure. Therefore he hcarlily supported the Government Bill. With regard to the road mentioned in the resolution, it was ono urgently required, and would cost but a small sum in comparison to.roads constiucted in other districts. Until a road was made there would bo no. inducement to capitalists to bring up machinery, as they could not afford to make the roads themselves to enablo this to be done. To make a truljk road was the duty of the Government, and not of private individuals.

Mr Bicbard had great pleasure in seconding the motion.

; There, being no .amendment, the chairman put the resolution to the meeting, and it was carried unanimously. Mr John Arthur said ho coincided with he views of the previous' speakers, and

also with the resolutions.that had been passed'by the meeting; He would propose "That copies of the foregoing resolutions be telegraphed to Mr O'Neill and tho Government by the chairman of this meeting." .-,".' ■' Mr Burdettisccqnded the motion, which: was carried unanimously. -v v-. ; .;.• The usual voto of thanks was then, on tho motion ,of Mr Gdrde,tondored to. tho chairmen; after which, to tho call of Mr W. Jackson, three hearty cheers' were given for the prosperity of the now goldfields. Every one was highly pleased at our inauguration of a public meeting, and it is hoped that wo may live loug enough in the district to havo many and, much larger meetings to discuss topics not only pertaining to tho field, but; al'so to the country at large.—[Correspondent]