MR. BUTTON'S MEETING.

West Coast Times, Issue 644, 17 October 1867, Page 3

MR. BUTTON'S MEETING.

Mr BtJTTOIf addressed a very large and influential meeting of citizens last evening, at the Prince of Wale 3 Opera House. Mr Bartlett being voted to the chair, stated that he was one of Mr Button's Tvarmest supporters, and should leave no stone unturned to promote his election. Some aspersions had bee» cast upon Mr Button in consequence of that gentleman having failed to attend a special meeting of the newlyelected Municipal councillors, which had been held that afternoon. Mr Button was there to explain the reason of this apparent neglect, and he (the chairman) felt sure that his excuses would be accepted by the meeting as satisfactory. Mr Button, in coming forward, said that he should at once plunge into the subject alluded to by his friend Mr Bartlett. It appeared that a special meeting [of the Council was convened for that afternoon, at three o'clock, and written notices to that effect sent to the several councillors. One was left at his office, but by some mischance he did not receive it until five o'clock, when he, for the first time, was made aware that a meeting had been called. He sincerely regretted having been thus prevented from attending it, for he considered that no subject of greater importance could occupy the Council's attention that of beach protection. At the same time, he held that the meeting was called irregularly, inasmuch as a clause of the Municipal By-laws distinctly set forth that all meetings should be convened by circular, one day previous to the appointed time. His absence on the above occasion had given his opponents an opportunity to make a little political capital which they were not slow to avail themselves of, but he could assure the meeting it was not true that professional business had kept him from the meeting, but simply that he was in total ignorance such a meeting had been convened. Mr Button also flatly contradicted a report which had been industriously circulated to the effect that he had been heard to say he would not sit in the Counsil except as mayor. This was simply a malicious statement, and he there and then pledged himself to work hard for the public, and, under any circumstances which would find him a member of the Council. It was also said that he was not fitted to occupy the Mayor's chair, as he held no property qualiHcation, or, in other words, that he had no utake in the town. He was certainly not a rich man, but, at the same time, the little all he happened to possess was contained in Hokitika, and that little he accordingly pledged ; what more could be expected from him ? In allusion to good works and past services which had been used by the other candidates as an argument in favor why public support should be accorded them, Mr Button said that his career in Hokitika had not been altogether a profitless one to his fellow-citizens, as witness the endowment of the literary society which, established by the Eev. Mr ? £• °^ itß after advancement chiefly •^ S <* c • p 2 kert > efforts - The remainder of Mr Button's address was » mew

repetition of the views he had expressed at former meetings, and which we have already published. Ho was very well received by the meeting, which, on the motion of Mr M'Beth, accorded him a hearty vote of confidence.