Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser (Vic. : 1842 - 1876)(about) |
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Monday 24 June 1861
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SEPARATION MEETING AT HAMILTON (From the Hamilton Spectator.) The most influential meeting, perhaps, that ever took place in "'The Grange" was upon Wednesday last at the Concert-room adjoining the Victoria Hotel, to consider the propriety of the Western District being constituted an independent colony ; Alex. Learmonth, Esq , in the chair. After reading the requisition convening the meeting,the Chairman briefly explained the circumstances which led to the later hour than that advertised-namely, the General Sessions being held on the same day. The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by observing that the proportion of wealth derived from the Western district, com pared with that expended upon it, exhibited a woeful disparity. In fact, the wealth of the district was expended beautifying Melbourne ; but it was to be hoped that the money derived from our resources would not flow into the treasury of that city, as it had hitherto done, from the Western district. He had lately had the pleasure of attending a most enthusiastic meeting in Portland and with the exception of the Chronicle which appeared to believe in Separation in theory, but not in practice, the feeling was unanimous upon the sub- ject. It was the most unanimous meeting he ever saw in his life, and the effects of that meeting he imagined Melbourne would not easily get over. To be sure, a few rampant men, who could not see beyond their noses, and who did not study the future of the districtmight sneer and snivel at the idea of separation, but this be could coascientiously assert that many of their most imprtant men, who, not long ago, were rather apathetic in the cause, were so completely convinced by the facts and figures placed before them, that the Western District will never have anything like justice done to it until a complete severance from Victoria took place. The speaker next alluded to the League which had been established in Portland, by which every member paying the trifling sum of one shilling was duly enrolled a member of the Seperation League. Another thing, and he was proud to say it, all the towns and townships in the locality appeared to be perfectly decided upon one point, namely, that Hamilton, from its perculiar postition the security it affords from that very position for the safety of public documents and other valubles in the event of any con- tingency that may arise, must be the capital of the Western District, and that it will be so he felt assured of. (Loud cheers.)Before he sat down, he would read them an interesting statement of the revenue, expenditure, imports, and exports of this district, which we thought must convince any antiseparationist, who would do well to study it:- PORTLAND Revenue ... ... £219,231 13 10 Land purchases paid in Melbourne ... ... 46,283 3 0 - goods costing ... 31,146 9 3 £296, 663 6 7 Expenditure .. ... 107.000 0 0 Imports .. ... 445, 374 0 0 Exports .. 536,000 0 0 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Imports ... ... £197,638 0 0 Exports ... ... 93,395 0 0 Mr Learmonth concludes amid great applause. Mr. John McPHERSON moved the first resolution, which was :-
"That it is the opinion of this meeting that the Western District has not been fairly dealt with by the Parliament of Victoria, and from last experience we are lead to believe that no Parliament under the present Con tititution will do justice to this portion of the colony" In moving the resolution, he did not wish, and be thought his wish was central enough to be governed by a lot of in- solvent barbers and such like who were trying to be at the top of the tree. Fr0m such men, and from such democrats, this district had nothing to hope for. This was just now a Conservative district, and as such be wished it to preserve their revenue to their own benefit, instead of wasting it to gratify democratic tendencies and tempers in Melbourne. Mr. Mc'KELLAR, in seconding the resolution, after remarking how much of the district revenue was expended in Mel- bourne, and how little here, observed what a pity it was that this, the very finest portion of Victoria, in an agricul - tural and pastoral point of view, should be so badly represented, and find :t-e f in the position it was at present. Separation appeared to be folly to some, but we must have it. The diggings community and the pastoral community could never agree. Their interests were peculiarly different. He believed, from what he knew of the anonymity of feeling existing between the various localities in the district, that when they attained their object, it would be the richest colony in Australia. (Load cheer- ing.) The resolution was past and carried unanimously. Dr. STEVENSON moved, and Mr. SKENE seconded the second resolution : " That the extent and natural resources of this district are such as would ensure it, success as a separate colony." Dr. STEVENSON, after apologising for not having had time to arrange his ideas, expa- tiated upon the beauties of the district, its resources and capabilities, and said he might mention one fact about resources, - that the revenue derived from the Western District exceeded that derived from Victoria previous to its separation from New South Wales, and its present revenue equalled that of South Australia. The doctor inveighed in strong terms against being governed by a Melbourne mob, or, at last, a Government influenced by a Melbourne mob; -a Gov- ernment who had not courage to resist that mob, and who appeared to have no interest whatever in this district. He then went into the question of wages, and the supply of and demand of labour, attributing all the existing disorganization in that social ques- tion to the blighting influence of the mob- ocracy of the capital. The resolution was put and carried unani- mously. Mr. ALFRED ARDEN moved, an Dr. GOVETT seconded the third resolution:- "That, in the opinion of this meeting, it would be greatly to the advantage., of the Western Districts to be separated from Victoria and erected into an independent colony." Mr ARDEN acknowledgde himself a demo- crat, but, notwithstanding that, he had made up his mind for separation. At all events, if not entire separation, at least separation in a financial point of view. The advantages of separation would be, that our funds, would be employed in the formation of such roads. as would most materially decrease the ex- pense of transit of such goods as wool, wheat, . He compared the squatter to the goose with the golden egg, If you destroy the squatter, you destroy the life- blood of the colony. He (the speaker) did not say that as a squatter, being himself what is commonoly denominated "a cockatoo" lie wt.+-t , :ir,". r, a viuc te in:tii.gri tion r,- -x, extt--:, e stele, which wou1tt not .l, t. iijr c--t? L. b. ohf gre-it bi~te t:o.-2 c'-a- = in the comi-, unity. iThe la-t jbtj -.: . ctm;-l I toach upin wan us one olf it-il imp r ýr.ca, rnm.dl i he woul- insist upn i, I, .:Liic Pal, r no;i . I he speake ·-j :hh+ po lnt it - one tirt l'i;, un-I qruteul iDr. Franklir, ii -topport of inn, .-. i,-olutiin c- rril-d unanimnouI.h. .rI. M'1K.i.LAxa tove.!, and M.Ir. Jolis 1 ,'ran-os - curtied tie ni xt re-ol-ftion: " Tl. at it I -the? ,p ,ii o oi f t i-. nellltiin a l.ci-l c. .,t,..-,- be- fr.rn.J fur th,. i'urpo.+: ut e lie?'t:n: r..en-. -.try eat-t i un ud a iil'iristiir to Ci r .:pn t1 ' " tz e Pa u orti>alu: Coirt riite, aid that t_ Cr r.in? IeI pow. r to cu11l pu lie turc:i:ls n re :i:t. t to r, p i t pro?-r., tl- the "id Coli Ilr-.- TIh.r-ns 31M'Klier, \Vin ke , ti. \W. larr+, l-unal.1 CaI?i.ro.n, lian d I?.ni il w, A. E. 3 1 Iu_.' , . 1ih- i. ri, J ohu .'I't r.n; Joh. Tliisi, F. Fr.end, It. Cox, .ini . Nu n, ain 1 'f intouter sug..psting that funds be rai-ed to prsi ie for ia .?cietary, to curre,- leon,d t ith otii,.r oli tingsil, and per-ons cotn Iptent to take the soeoi of ti e district upon0 th sui j-et. i tion arridn carriol unanrimously. Mr. ?core, of' Pl'rtland, btci, herc called upon,re.mcnrked that haviting for some days 1)at-t blj.ee absent fromn Portland, he ti- not wicre -, .xce 1 lt .r .ill the s t._ itelri .it iof t.he Chliirman, wliet hai paIicl at tihe iPrtlmid iiis-tinig. lIe had little to ean, the hireviil?u -iiakers having .iaid all fir him. .11r. Scott, howevir, denuariied iil iiiiseinirel teiiins the f,,lly if being unohlr th, ,lhnomiiatiiin ol the .iob-G,,ewirn?,i.t tol .helhiiurii-, aond eiit--rel iiiti intrestiiig tiarticulirs u, to the " Job bery" tiult .locking neglect as regards the Portlani tiratiii mlV. It huiteitig ba-c pr inopowd anid seconded " that thu i h:iirtnam do Iiave the chair,"' to which Councillor Cox was voted, a vote el tlia ks a ui ziloeed to Alm-. L'arautll I E-J"., for his conduct in the chair, and car ti,'a o iiilt great aililause. ,Mr. Liarmouth ri-turred thanks ini a nteet Sat i-ffIctive mtpchi, aud the tiiectiimg :tieii diemlved.