A LIVELY MEETING.

Thames Star, Volume XXXX, Issue 10500, 22 November 1902, Page 6

A LIVELY MEETING.

THE FUTURE:' OF THAMES. • THE BORING PROPOSALS. THE MINERS REPRESENTATIVES PROTEST AND' WITHDRAW. A special meeting of the Goldfie!ds' Improvement Committee was held at the Borough, Council Chambeiis> last night, when there were present': His Worship thie Mayor (Mr F. Trem-- . bath), and Messrs T. Radfotrd, M. Paul, J. IStevenson, J. McEnteer, J. .Muir, G. Pep'oe, J. Seymour, and T. Crawford. Mir Albert Bruce (the honorary secretary) was also in attendance. . Mr J. Stevenson, of the, Kuranui— «Qa;l;edjoinii(ani Compamy, wais, on the motion of the Mayor,^eleeted a member of the committee. Mr Stevenson mad©- a few remarks regarding the boring proposals, which' -were included in a letter—already published in our columns and read at last night's meeting. He suggested that a deputation, s'hioiuld wait on the ■ t Minister for Mines, to ascertain if the I Goverment would subsidise the bor- , ing scheme, and' if so to what extent. After a discussion it was decided j to appoint a committee, consisting of the Mayor, Messrs Paul, Dunlop, Radford, and Seymour to wait on Mr. Adams to ascertain if he would hand the Moanataiari North ground to the - Committee' -unreservedly so that it could be inciludefl in the general boring scheme. In the course of the discussion it was stated) that thel object of the boring was to endeavou,r..to prospect the field cheaply, and this methodl was to be preferred to sinking costly shafts. It was proposed that a. deputation should wait on the Hon. Mr McGowan to lay details of the boring proposals before him, and ascertain, if te would be favourable to the granting of a substantiall Govemmeniti subsidy toh wards the scheme. The motion was proposed by Mr Stevenson and seconded by Mr Paul. Messrs Seymour and Peploe* objeced to such a motion being passed on the eve of an; election. There was no necessity for suoh haste, and it wasnot fair to Mr Lucas that one candidate should be approached. The matter should be held over until the election was decided on. If such a ques-" tion was to be put at all it should be put to both, condidatei*. It was pointed out that the matter had nothing to dor with the election, and that it was merely proposed to approach, the Hon. J. MeGowan* as Minister for Mines—a, department over which he at present had control. . Mr McE'nteer said that politics ; should not ,be introduced into 1 the discussion ait this stage—it was ' too nea,r the election, and if one .candi-; Gate was to be approached the other : should be approached in' a simifiar manner. .Mr Stevensoni said he had so idea, of introducing political matters wfien he' mad© the suggestion. Mr Seymour said that as politics had been introduced into the discussion he did not intend: to take further part in the. deliberations of that night's meeting. Mr Seymour then withdrew from the meeting. ; • The motion' was then put to* the meeting and "carried, Messrs McEtoteer and Peploe voting against thie

motion. .. „..."■ When the motion, was passed Mr McEnteer said that in fairness .to Mr Lucas (who was a candidate for the ■ seat) the same* -question, .shou'd be put to him. . It: appeared to him'that those present, were endeavouring to i work a. point. (Cries, of - "No,: no"). I Well it seemed to the speaker that j this was the game, and he took the occasion to rai-e his ■ protest against such a proceeding. • Tlie Chairman a.nd others said that |'the motion had been passed, and that the minority should'bow" to the deoi sion of the majority. Messrs McEnteer and Peplo© repeat ed t'hiat the matter .should not have : been introduced at thi? stage —on the eve df! ainj eilecibian. They declined, to take further part in the deliberations of the committee, and retired from the room. I The Chairman _said he'■■-■ regretted | that the miners' representatives had j seen fit act as they did. j Subsequently it was decided t'hiat i the sub-committee,, as previously appointed, should draw up a prospectus after .interviewiiur Mr Adams and the Minister for Mines. The meeting then terminated with a/ vote of thanks to the chair.