PUBLIC MEETING.

Western Star, Issue 99, 2 October 1875, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING.

The meeting convened by his Worship the Mayor, in accordance with a resolution passed at the last sitting of the Town Council, for the purpose of taking into consideration the advisability of ap-. pointing a Resident Magistrate for the district of Riverton, was held in the

Court-house on Thursday evening last. There was but a very small attendance, the number of persons present at any time during the meeting not amounting to a dozen.

His Worship the Mayor, who presided, said he was sorry to see so little interest taken in such an. important matter. He thought that' they would all agree with him that the district was getting of sufficient importance to entitle it to a Resident Magistrate. He felt convinced that it was the general opinion of the inhabitants that such an officer should be appointed, and he thought the first thing to he done was for the meeting to pass a resolution showing the expediency for such an appointment, and ■afterwards draft a petition, embodying such resolution, to the Government, praying that a Resident Magistrate be at once appointed. Mr Read© quite agreed with the chairman as to the necessity for getting a Resident Magistrate appointed for the district. He thought it was a great disgrace to Riverton that such an officer should not have been appointed before.. The town he had lately oome from —Qamaru —had a Resident Magistrate, who held sittings of the Court twice aweek. However, he would not compare Oamaru with Riverton, as the former was considered the second town of the province, but would simply mention the town of Hampden, about twenty-four miles from Oamaru, with a population only amounting to half that of Riverton, where the Resident Magistrate from Oamaru visited once a week, whilst this town, which only received a monthly visit from the Resident Magistrate, was far behind in that respect. The last time the Resident Magistrate was at Riverton, the work he had to get through was very great, and as far as he (Mr Reade) could see, a similar dose was awaiting him far his next visit. He thought there would be no difficulty in getting a petition well signed, recommending that a Resident Magis’rate bo appointed. He moved-—“ That a petition be drawn up and signed, respectfully requesting the Minister of Justice to recommend to his Excellency the Go\ernar ihe advi ability af making the appointment of a Resident Magistrate for Riverton and district.”

The resolution was seconded by Mr Port, and carried. I) 1 ’ Monckton and Mr Peade were deputed by the meeting to draw up the petition, and send copies of it round the district for signature.

Mr Mackintosh said that before the meeting was another important ’matter he would like to bring forward—-viz.., the necessity of filling the vacancy made in the Upper House by the death of the late Hon. J. P. Taylor. Many important measures had been carried through the influence of their representatives in the Upper House, and he thought they should at once take steps to get the vacancy' filled,, and have the district properly represented in that House. Hr Monckton was very happy to support the suggestion made by MrMackintosh, and place the political influence of the district on its old footing. The late Mr Taylor when in health had been anything but a silent member, and had exerted a powerful influence in the Legislative Council for the good of the dis-. trict. He thought a memorial should be prepared, and sent round for signature along with that for the Eesident Magistrate, requesting the Government to appoint a gentleman from this district to fill the vacancy immediately. Mr Mackintosh moved, and Mr Port seconded —“ That a memorial be presented to the Government, requesting that his Excellency be advised to nominate a member for the Upper House from this district, in place of the late Hon. J. P. Taylor."

The resolution was put, aud carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.