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THE HARBOCR TP.rsr MIEEIflG AT THE
THEATR~E.
In eonplanc~ ~i-~ih a sry r.eroutiy ?rgned
requznr" Lion ¶V~)rhip tV~ Mnnrr convened
~uN noli ert; , wn~c it r:te appointed time
W2S p~er ar-~C~~~ttond&, to con'idcr
upon the imPortantr sobjct ci ar Harbor Trus~t,
to pmrovxd accetrnod ti'~a ampla tr, the izreas
~Ocmrct~e Ge ei~Tcmun
of Commerce, members of the Corporation,
requisitionists, and others wto had gt up the
meeting. The pit of the Theatre s filled
with an attentive atditorv, and the bohes were
rowded.
His Worship the Mayor, in risin. alluded to
the domestti calamitv which had befallen MIr
A. Gibh, which occasioned the ahbenee of that
gentlemaw, and would deprive the reeting of
much important information open the subject
which they were met to disesu He would
read the requisition, and trusted that a right
understsndtng would be arrived at upon the
question, the importance of which admitted of
no dissent. For many years Geelong had la
boured under many diffienlties; and one of the
greatest was inadequate whfuae arcrmmoda
tion. Applications hadh been ,ade to the Go
rammeat on various occasions, for increosedfa
rilities; but those applirationa ha] been met br
evazions, and the government han provide] a
few wharves fitted onut for the aemcmmoda ion
of the smalles: craft; and there was not then
acommodation for intercolouial traders, which
were ob:iged to law off incurrins great eupense
and delar. It was needless for him to adeert
to more than the necessity of the measure so
important to the mercantile class, and the pre
sent government wished that the matter should
emanate from the people, and the people were
now met to devise a schemeto meet the govern
ment approval. The Chamber of Commerce
and the Corporation had initiited the measore;
but it had been thought that the measure onght
to emanate from the peopleand then trt the ap
proad of those two bodies; bht he trusted that,
independent of any feeling whateve: esokel, by
what hadocnr:ede sevbara, instead ofqaurreil
ingaboutthe matter, all wouldjoinharmoniotzly
to get from the Gorernment ample wharfage
accommodation and an effective Harbor Trust.
Alderman Bright proposed the ffirt resolu
tion as fellows:
"That it is crpediene, forthe better foriation of
publie decks, wharves, and warehouses. and the
mpeov"mnret general of t e Port and Harbor of
Geetoeg that a Harbor Trust be established for
efecting ssme"
Mfr Ad!erman Bright observed that it would
be needless to hare to call attention to the fact
that they wanted wharfate and harbor improve
ments adequate to the acesminodation of the
inereased trade of this port. The only questino
that they had to diseuss was--" How ths liar
bor Trust was to be forined ?" He had taken
'anactive part in this matter, and hawusof
oninion that it oucht not to be lefa to ans rne
body, however en nent, or reputable--bu that
ir: should rest with the people of Geelong. A
few weeks ago be had the honor ofbeing at the
opening of Fyrn's Ford Bridge, on which occa
sion he alluded to the public works of Geelong
and amongst o'ther obeerva~ions, he said that he
thought it was necessary for the burgeeses of
Geelong to forn a Harbor Trust, and that the
power should rest exclusively in the bur'esses.
It was now proused that nch power should
rest with two ptblic bodies of Geelong, of with
ofwhich he had the honour to be a member;
but for himsdelt he repudiated the ides. He
considered the subject before the meeting as
uone of the most important undertakings that
the people of Geelong could be enga-ed in; and
it reste entirely ith the commumnty whether
Geelong should make progress or be retarded.
His own experience in the old country showed
tha the system there provided was an entire
failure, for the members of Harbor Trusts there
looked only to the funds of that trust, and not
to the interests of the public connected with
them. lHe would refer to Bristol., the second
port of England, where by a close Harbor
Trust ther annihilated the trade of Bristol (o!.
no! there is no close Harbor Trust there, it is a
public company.) Well then, it was a publie
company. and he knew that there might be a
great distinction madewithout much difference,
and he believed that if the people here aIowed
any company to form a Harbcr Trnst ther
would givre to them the same advantages tht
the Bristol eompanyposesed, which had rained
the tradeof BristoL Corio Bay belonged to the
people of the Western District, and as the go
vernment were merely acting as public servants
for the public weal, hey had judidciously stated
that different localities should manage their own
affairs. He believed that to be the right senti
ment, and thought that the people of Geeloug
were competent to manage their own business,
and therefore he stood forth to urge them not
to be indifferet to their own interests, and
there was not a man, woman, or child that was
not interested in this matter. The beautiful
Bay of Geelang is the high road of all their
wealth, for they m-ust remetber that what
makes a country rich is what they send of that
country of what they do not want to exchange
with other countries for what ther do want,
and the bay is the greati hai~gh road Dong which
our riches must pass, and it was important that
ther shold do all that they could to improve that
hig way at theleast possile expense. He wo?la
have no nomineeism. He believed that it woanId
be imperative upon them to admita small quan
tity of nominees, but let thre be as small a
dose as possibIe of it-a hommopathi- element
of that principle. They must admit a govern
ment nominee, but he would have every other
commisioner of the Harbor Trust elected by
the people of Geelong, for if they admitted the
principle of nomineeism they admitted a great
e?il, andhe hoped that the meetin; would de
side that the element of nomineeosm shoule be
an small as possible, - not more than two to
represent the government. He would not
allow his Worship the 3fayor, nor the Chairman
of the Chamber of Commerce as exi-otcio mem
bers to enter that trust, for he thought that
one nominee was sufficient He hoped that the
abmmisaioners that would be aFpointed wcuald
see that they did not want to extract a large
revenue. They were in a poition to borrow ati
the money they required, and it would be
cheaper to borrow that money in Europe than
to expend their own. SupepoIg they required
a million to csrry out this object, he had no
doubt but they would be able to borrow it at six
per cent, whilst the revenue of that Harbor
Trust would amounnt to more than double the
interest upon that sum, and it must be clear
therefore that they would be atle to pay the
interest with the greatest regularity, and
gradually wipe off the principal, and he looked
forwanrd to the great rejoiing when ther should
-assemble and could say that Geelong was a free
port. He looked for, in the formation of a
Harbor Trust, the making accomrodrtlon for
the great trade coming here, which, when paid
for, every ship could come in withoro payinga
farthing. He would object to any bonuoses
would have rates Sxed, and the epital paid off
at stated times.'-With those rediarkst he wold
coocInde as theweosre asgreat number of
speakers who would address the meeting that
evenong.
fr Wood h g reat pleasure in seconding the
resolution, and as the prinoiple for their guid
ance had been laid down, he hoped that they
were prepared to hear of their practical opera
tion. The requisitdonuists must bave felt very
sure of the somadoness of the principles contained
inthe resolution before them in submitting it
tohim. He thought the principle a good one;
but he would not attempt to go into detail of all
that that principle involved, as it woul be im
pene~ ent upon his part. It wasathing tohbe
believed not to be proved. But how was it thea
that nothing had been done? that was traceable
to the fact that Geelong was a favorite child of
a benificent parent, enjoying what was giren
spontaneously, but waiting energy and enter
rise to put forth its hand and improve what it
adgot. Had Geelcng been situated on asonme
wild spot--n some inhospitable region-ina
stead of being so advantageously situated for
commerce, backed up by wide agricultural
fields, and blessed with golden means, he would
hold that such positian woud have created a
greater amount of wharfge accommodation
than they had a Ceslong,-for neceasity was
the sern mother of aInvention. But if, wth all
the adrantages tht Geelong prossesses, her in
habitants had done nothing to improve them
that was the very reason now that they shonold
do some hinbg. For an example of what could
be done, look at Liverpool;-why it is not more
than a century and a half ago that it was called
the liulecreekof Chester. It was a smaller
plc sue2 Ju Sh Geolcg cwe bpes th pIldr
fields; but look now at the nob!e specnimens of
naval architecture coming thence, challeging
our approbation, whilrst her mrchbsuts and
traders are aongst the hnonrable of the land.
There were citizens in Glasgow who remem
-ered when only herring trawls cold c~o to the
Brois.elaw: bat now there were fare3sts of
masts, and imports of:the varied prodluee of
every chtm; and what Liverpool did with the
Merser and Glasgow with the Clyde, shewed
what Geelong might attain by adopting proper
means -whilst the banks of the Thames above
bridge, by the filth and squalor exhibited
and the total absence of accommodation
for the public, presented a contrast,-the
result of a want of proper system. Rn
garding the snboject in i:s nautical and
commercial .aspects he wold instance
the ca'e of a captain of a ressel who had en
tered, and anchored;,when he thought that his
di-iculties were over, hult although the captain
anchored on a Monday be conuld not com
municate with shore until Wednesday. Here
so!ved to come in through the channel cut
aceross the Bar. He did so. and then was delayed
twelvre days. He considered that as he had
some large cases in the hatchway that he could
lift with,chain and tackle, but the commercial
town of Geelong had no crane. He then said
that he had a lot of malt and other perishable
articles aboard, which he wished to land, but
there was no coveredal shed to put them in, or
deiirery yard. He then said th-at he had a lot
of cals in the fore hatch, and he must have
them weighed where discharged, bat there was
no weighing machine; and he went down to the
wharf to see some eases from felbourne marked
" this side uppermost with care," man handled,
spike handiel, and amnshed. Well. twelve days
elapsed before he got a berth alongside the
whbarf, and then he thought that his troub!es
were over; buht unfortunately it was the Cstom
HIouse Wharf, where only three vessels can dis
charge at the came time, upon a miserable path
way to which access is prohibited, and confusion
created, and everyinconvenience fostered. How
ever, he gets rid of his cargo. and gets out his
ballasting board; but either from the extreme
buoya~ncy of the salt water in Corio Bay, or the
pec-liar lightne~s of its sand, he required nearly
double as much to ballast his vessel as he did at
S:oukholm, where all those operations would
have been gone throuzh in four orfive instead of
thirty days. Without considering the amount
spoken of for demurrage, such waas the aecom
modation of the port of Geelong. It seemd to
him that the tailors of Tooley-street were alive
again, representing in themselves the people of
Geeong. First, there was the Chamberof Com
merce, who had done their duty in bringing for
ward the subject of the Harbor Trust, but they
had spoilt it all by their recommendation. If
they lived in the days of the Duke of Newesstle
it could not be worse. Then there was the Cor
pration of Gee!ong; but in the presenee of his
Worship he muis' be careful what he said; but it
appears to him thattheywanted tomakealittle
muanicipal capital out of the Trusr, to aliment
the h_-s sums already in its posse-sion. And
next after them came the men of Ashby, who
commenced their career with a very modest pro
ject, but lately they had swollen to that-degree
that like the frog in the fable they burst, and
now required two wardls to contain their frag
ments. And since these parties chose to per
form the tragedy of the Kilkenny cats, the
people were ready to come in and profit by the
dismembermenft, if there were the remnant of a
tail left. In eonclusion, he would warn those
who might be elected that they were entering
upon a thorny path, and would have to grapple
with public and private interests, and he hoped
that the election would fall on those men whoe
antecedents proved them to be worthy of the
important trust reposed in them.
Mr A. Fyfe, 3.L.C., supported the resola
tion, and was of opinion that the principle of it
shoul be ecaried cet everywhere. Neither the
Chamber of Commerce nor the Corporation
should nominate the Harbor Trust. He fet
assured that the peopie would exercise disi
mination, and possessed qualifications for tnrus
tees as well as for membership of the Corpora
tion. It was not for the Corporation or the
Chamber of Commerce to nominate, and the
publie would be wanting in douty to itself if it
permitted them. He was in favour of the
people's voice being heard, and the people only,
for they were the parties interested.
Mr Bichardsn proposed tho second resolution
as follows:
"That in the esoblishmect of a Harbor Trust
for the Port and Harbor of Geelog, the bur
gesses alone hare the power to select such trustees
from among themseis, in such manner as may
hercaiter be dermined upon."
fr RBichardson felt proud in taking part in
such an important snbject, and thanked the
Geelong Corporation for convering the meeting.
The Chamber of Commerce deserved mucheredit
for bringing the subject forward, but they were
not the only parties, as was presumed. There
was Mr A. Gibb, who, nine days before
the promulgation of the scheme of the Chamber
of Commerce published a tangible plan for
a Harbor Trust in the Geelong Advertiser, and
be (MIr Richardson) had published one of a
similar nature in the same journal; but he had
observed, during a residence of five or six years
in Geelong, a desire among indivilsal to snub
men who would be useful members of the com
munity. He thought that the time of the
Mayor of Geelong was two much oecupied by
mnanicipal badsiness, and his fonctions of chief
magistrate to allow of further dnties being im
posed uponhim. Some reasonsmight be arged
in favor of the chairman of the Chamber of
Commerce, bat he woas decidedly in favor that
the burgesses Ehonuld elect the body. it had
been urged that incompetent persons would be
elected-be ito; but who would dare stand up In1
plead that againsta people's right IfGeelong
flomrish it will be by her maritine transactions
if Geelong fall it will be becanme of the neglect
ofnatnral ardvantages, and an apathetic dis
regard of favorable opportunities offered.
MIr Dalton came forwarLdi to second the reso
lntion, which he said had only been pat into
his hanit a very ahort time previously. The
resolution afirmed that the people of Geelong
should themselves nominate the commissioners
of the Harbor Trnst, and this nwas the viewe of
the question, which he had uroged suce thema
ter wra firet brought forward, If they were to
choose the men for this purpose, they should
choose them from amongst rhemelve. They
had quite suffeicent intelligence to manage their
own afirs, and need not take men from any
partiEnlar circle, but from amongst themselvres.
It was not' neceassary that a party should be
eleefed to the chairmanship of the Chamber of
Commerce, or the Corporation to qualifr him
for the position of a commissioner of the
Harbor Trust If they limited themselves to
these bodie, dI they know how loang the men
whom they appointed wold continnea in them ?
They were about to make a Iw by which they
wonuld be bound in after years, and which they
could not revoke, and they should now consider
whlat would be its efiet in year to
come. There ware two or three schemes
before them some of which he agreed in, and
some in which he did not. One of these pro
posed that the 3ayor, Mr Guthrie, and the
Chairman of the Chamber of Commerve should
beex ofieio member of theTrust Theargo
ment which he had already adduced held good
with regard to them. They knew whomthey
had in these positions now, but they did not
know who mi~?ght be in them in two or three
years. The proper mode theerefore was to elect
men; they would then see who and what a man
was, and know wht h could do. If they found
a man who was suited to their purpose, let them
elect him whether he was a Mayor or a bullock
driver. (Cheersad laghter.) He had now
givens them his opinion on this subject, and
would go on to another matter. The men of
Ashby had been alluded to, andl he had the
honor to possess some influence amongost them;
al he believed there were some of them who
thought that he as one of them had their in
terests t heart. When he heard heir name
introdIuced, he felt that he wasr called 'upon
to say something in reply; and he had been
nominarted to seonsd the resolation, in
order that he msight here the oppnucnitjof
drycgrtino the gighti of the ages $ Iry.
Ther hai b-et tld :at th-nem·n of AShby had
brst themselves (~unater). and -ht oa. w.?dr
was nolonzer ab'e to contain them. For his part
ho clzried in the fact (cheers). He felt the
greatest pleasure in the fact that they had
grown s. lage that one ward euld not contain
themn, an he hal no doubt that in a few weets
one ward would not contain themn (cheera). He
remembered when Ahby consisted of but two
dwelling, and now it was filled withmerchants'
stores, shops, and dwellings, which would do
credit to the best portion of Geelong. It con
tained three tites as many rreepay?s as Bel
erine Ward, an.l chay had therefore a right to
demand, not to ask but to demand, that they
should be formed into an independent ward.
(Some eries of question). He knew the time
of the meeting was -ecions, and he would not
harve deviared from the question if another
s~peaker had not deriated from it befor,.
him; and he knew that aien this had
been allowel ther wonld do jastice
to all portie~s, an heir what h had
to .say in cepl. He had shown that the people
of Ashbv had not burst themielvesa, and :hat
they were still suficienly united to work with
them (the meeting) as long as they worked for
the general interests of Geelong. The people
of Ashby had already done an invaluab:e ser
rice t:o the people of Geelong. They hod go:
up a petition, which was signed by 600) persons,
recommeading he esta~biishment of a whorf at
Ashby, and ther had transmitted this petition to
hisExcelleney tneGovernor. Hi Exselleneyhad
neglected to answer the petition, and he (Hr
Dalton) os Chairman of the Committee, wrote to
enqire whe:h.r his Excelleacy had thought
oerthe matter. He wornid now rezd :o the
meeting the reply which he received to this
letter. The speaker the real the reply, as
follows:
" Colonial. S?e·e s Oice.
" 3Melboaurn~e, 13th Septenbor, 185l
"Srn,-I am directed by His Excellency the
Lieuteant-Govermor to acl?owledge the receipt
of your letr of the 7th intan,. and am com
manded by His Excellency to inform you that the
ns t?on of wherrs is now before the people of
e og.and that on learning their views Govern
ment will decide what is to be done
" I have the hoosnr to be. Sir,
"L our most obedient servant,
"J. 1M*ORE, A.C.S.
"ir W. H. Dalto??c,
SChairman. of Ashby Wharf Conmittee,
"Geelong"
They had now the fa·ts before them relative to
the share which the people of Ashbly had taken
in this matter. The governor had recognrised
the people of Geelong as the men who had a
right to lay down a scheme for this object.
There wa?, however. one other matter which he
would recommend to their notice; and that was
with respect to the parties who shonld be chosen
as commissioners. They should elect none hut
the very best men for this purpoe; men who
woaud do full and equal ju'tice to all parties.
For although they ewould be engaged in effect
iog great good for the people of Geelong, ther
must of necessity injare private interests in
doing so. The levels of the bay frontages
shboud be a'tered, and this would of ourse
affect the value of some properties. They shonld
therefore look for men who, while doing a great
national good, vill do no more injury to private
property than was quite unar iiab!e. Tne
speaker resumed his seat amiLds loud cheering.
The Chairman called upon Mr J. R. Bailey to
snpport the resolution.
Mr Bailey said, that before doing so he would
prefer ha?rin the report of the Chamber of Com
mere rea~d to the meeting.
The Chairman was not certain thea such a
course would be strictly in order.
Ir A'eeander Fyfe, 3LLC., seconrled Mr
Bailey's proponisino. He thoaght the reming
of the report wou!d throw soane additional light
upon the subject.
Mr W. . 3I'Kear said, if it wan the wish
of the meeting that the Chamber of Commeree
should be represented in the matter, he, as
chair-man of that b)ly, wasK willing to appear
on ther part.
The Choirman said, the matter was in the
hands of the meetin. He thought ita would be
well for them to har 3Ir SPKellar.
MIr ". C. Riddle s.ai, that on the previous
evening there had been a meeting of the Cham
her of Commerce in connection with the subject
now under consideration, ad the membeos of
that body had been invited to attend the present
meeting. He thought it world showa great dis
respect and dis?artesy after invitng those
gentlemen to attend not to he-r anythnz they
might have to say on the subject.
Mr 3'Kellar then -came forward to altress
the meeting. He said he felt gre' sa.tifaetion
in srparine on that occasionas the represena
tive of the Chamber of Commeree, more espe
ially as an impression seemed to hare gone
abr-oad hat the Chamber of Comnme-ce were
hostile ro the publie interess. To that assertion
he gave his most distinct and onqoalified denial.
He would give the meeting a brief sketch of
what the Chamnber of Commerce had already
done for Geelons. When the Cha'ber of Com
merce was first established, it wos agreed that
the members should meet once a week to discuss
and adapt measures calculated to promote thq
interews of the port and harbor of Geelong;
and he had no hesitationin saying that dring
the time it had been in operation the Chamber
of Cmnmerce hoad accomnplsed a great deal.
In the first instance they had secmed the deep
ening the chanfel into the Itner harbor; and in
a short time large ressels whuld be enabled to
cmeright upto the wharves. In the second
place the Chamber of Commerce had originated
aond earride on an extensive correspondence,
respecti3ng the I~adingofthe mails at Shortlnd's
Bilun&f They had corresponded not only with
the captains of ships a to feasbiltty of landing
the mails, but they had also been in constant
communiealion with head-quarters at Melbourne
on the subject The result was, that notwith
s~t?nding the report of the Legisative Council, the
mails were through their (the Chamber of Coa
merce) interference landed at the Heads yet.
They were now trying to have a flataff
erected, wuitha time-bill, which would be a
great convenience ot only to the people of
Geelong but to the residents at the Barrabool
Hills. They were also taking measures to se
care the early extension of the electric telegraph
to the Heads, in order that they might receive
instant intimation - of the arfiral of all vessels
there. The Chamber of Commerce had
alsom had the good fortune to secure
the completion of the powder-ma"azine;
and they hoped shortly to obtain an
enlargement of the Post Ofee andml the Custom
Homse. With respect to the Harbor rmst, the
Chamber of Commerce had long since come to
the conclusion that imamediate steps shoald be
taken to se?re greater wharfage accommoda
tion; and some ten months ago he hadbeen one
of a deputation to the late governor, MIr La
Trobe, to ask wherther ewold give his sanction
to the establishment of a Harbor Trust. His
uanswer was that they should send in a detailed
plan for this purpose; and a similar reply was
given to the Chamber of Commerce in 3Iel
boorne. They then resolved to et with the
Chamberin Melbourne in order to aree upon a
suitable measure. Since Sir Charles Hotham
arrived the committee had to go, to work again,
and they were now aeased of endeavonr.-inug to
arrogate the entire management bf the matter to
thems.elves. This accusnation he (Mr M'Kellar)
istinctly contradicted All the Chamber of
Commere wanted was fair play. There was not
a single member of that body who wouldl do any
thing to promote hisown interest at the expense
of the public. Het would now read the
report, but befoare doing so he would remark
that all the gentlemen who had spoken on the
question that night were members of the cham
ber of commerce with the excep:ion of Mr Fyfe.
(Mr Fyfe here explained that he also was a
embeer.) He would not press sayting upon
the meeting, but woo!d l-ave it to themelve-,
t• adopt whatever course they thought proper
to pursuz ot the subject. Mr 3I'KeIllar then
real the report which appeard in Sotorday's
Alret~tiser Such. continued the Speaker, was
the report if the Chamber of Commerce. They
wish-Ie to slopt- the cohre mostbeneficial to the
intere..- of Geelorg. It renmained toddetermine
whether the plan of action the proposed would
beprocictad winb. He 1 would BW o6l9py t
the meetine that :hEr shoul1 he earsh 'in the
selaetion of met to carry out this imnpos?:t ob
jeer. They shsul. take care that psrty feeling
did nov smr the metbers of the Canmissoon.
Thengshoc!d lo·k ve!! tht ther dii not s-e to
seomplisa mire thin they could do. They
should not think of forming jetties to Point
ienro and the Bird Rock. but eC ine therm
selves to prictirable objeu:s. so -s to arc nm
tli-h a re.t and estis beecilt to th tw o~ an
harbor of Gteeoaz. (Cheers.)
Mir J. R. Bailer tkooghi the meetine wnoll
concur in the propriety it l4i jr.,trsa caliing
for th: reading o' the report of ite Cbs slir o!
Comnmerce. He hal made that proposal becoa'e
in impression had Lme xabtoai that they
wiahe to arrerate to themselves the richt to
dictate to the peonle the cotrse they shioll
alopt. Thee sahot d he etuIiit in tthis anatrr,
beesoe the Chitmber of C 'otmerce. if properlv
managed, would be a useful bole; and it was
for this- reasn hb wi'hei fir a er-di e 'cplass
tisn of whi: they 5h4 'l*ir Tn' repo- of t.h'
commihtee hod 'een smerlnIe sni was no: the
same report ehi'h had been ssoeiioost by the
Chamber itself, and whieh hal heen reid to the
meeting. For the gentlemen sho were m'emero
of the cohmittee he had the highest esteeoo and
respect; but he osaud not sliow them to assume
the right to nominate the portles who hoould
hold offices of trust on behalf of the p-tp'e.
The people. from whomn slole all poser
praing, alone had the right to say who
should govern them. That was the question
which they had met to speak on that night. They
had nct came to speak 0o the details of the
Harbor Trust, but to decide that the commis
sioners should be elected by the people them
sieses. It was said, he knew not how justly,
that the people of Geeloog might elect a chimoer
sweep or a bullock driver to be a memberof the
Harbor Trust; bat if they elected a wrong per
son thor themselves would be the sufferers, and
experience, which wso the best guide, woald
teach them to do right on a future occasion.
But if they delegated their power to o:hers they
would not be able to retrieve the error. He far
one coIuld not admit that the power to dispose
of the lands along the frontage of the boy should
be given to any private body of individuals not
elected b thepeople Thefwec'etold that there
was not a member of the Chamber of C'm
merce who would try to advance his own
interests at the expense of the public, but when
some yerss had psased by there may be persons
who woulddoso. They knew what existed on
the banks of the Yarn; and let them take core
that they had not aspecimen of the same system
on the r-oank of Corio Bay. This was a matter
upon which he felt strongly, acd he wished the
public opinion to be clearly expressed upon it.
A great deal had been said about coming to
bosiness, bet they hai not come there to go
into the minutioi of a Harbor Trust. They
had met there simDly to say that the people of
Geelono were best competent to mnage their
ownaffairn; and hai an unaoubted right to the
control and regulation of their Harbor Trust
They should bear this point in mind, that they
hod now to expreos their determination whether
ornot the privilege of electing the Commis
sioners of the Harbor Trust shoold be reserved
to the people themselves.
Mr Strachan, 31.L.C., said, he could not coin
eide in the resolutions which had been brought
forward; and he thocld be allowed to say one
word respecting the Chamber of Commerce
after the latitude which had been given to other
speakers, as he hal been the chairman of the
select committee of that body. He must say
that so far as he wos concernedhe had heard
no argument addneed which shook his original
opinions. It had been otoposed br that com
mittee that theitrborTrcstsbould consistof the
Collector of Customs, the Mayor, and the Chair
man of the Chamber of Commerce as es-otfcio
members, and that the Town Conortil shonld elect
two and then the Charbarof Commerce twoother
members. (Cries of "No") A gentleman cried
"So"; and he (MIr Strachan) was glad to heir
the peosle hod an opinion of their own; and he
hoped they would come orward with a better
scheme. The Town Council we-e a represen
tative body, they were elected by the people,
and they sehold have eprespentatives in the
iarbor Trust. If the ceople coold not em
power them to elect two members in addition to
the 'isyor, theyonghtnot to have a Corporation
at all. Where would ther find better men to
represent their interests in *he Harbor Trust
than in the Council. He n.w cast- to the
Chamber of Comnrer.e and he was sorry the
impression had gone abroad 'hat they wasted to
obtain exclusive powers. They wanted no each
thing. The chairman was in communication
with the Government nearly twelve moths'
am on the subject of a iarbor Trust, and if
the Chamber of Commerce had done nothing in
the matter they would never have hard of th5
Harbor Tust at all. It -an barense thes
Chamber of Commerce hai pree-n'as a netitien
to the Government that 'her now haid this
meeting. The Chamber of Commerce haIl nos
about 120 members, and as they were moe
directly connected with commerce than noy
other parties, it was but fair that they iheald
have a voice in the muer. The merchants
would have to pay for the whole of the wharves
(Cries of "No, the consumer.") He repeated
that the merchants would have to pay fwr them,
The cost of the tharves would not be more
than j per cent on the costof the imports of
the colony, and the merchant cas! not put this
small per centage on the consumer; if it were
5 or 10 per cent ha would charge the eoneumer
with it. If they left the matter alto'ether in
the hands of the boriteeses they might exclude
the whole of the Corporation, and also of the
Chamberof Commerce, the two bodies who.:ere
most entitled tobeina Harbor Trust. He
still thought the trust should consist of the
Mayor, who was elected for one year; the Chair
man of the Chamber of Commerce, who was
elected for one yeart the Collecor of Customs,
as a government offier; and six elective men
bers,as to the modeof whose eleetion he did not
offer anyopioan He would suggest, however,
that they shold be an fer aspissible; for the
smaller the number the greater the resaonsi
blity', ant Lhe more work would be done. He
wa more as an amendment that the Harbor
Trust consist of the Collector of Customs, the
Mfayor, the Chambar of Cemmeree, and sia
elecive members.
Mr Stereos seconded the amendment.
MIr 3t'eO. M.LLC., thought the original pro
position before the meeting, and the amendment
by MIr Straahsan, were so nearly identical
(Langhter and interruption)-the cosuteraction
against popular election was so small that it
could not effect its object. (Renewed interrup
tion.) The object in haiing nominee members
was to counteract popular feeling, but the
number of nominees was not suffcient to prove
a serious coanternation, as the elective members
would be 6s against 3. There might be excep
tions taken aginst both the propositions before
them. Fop-cscelection was not thebest means
of decding these matters; what he meant to
say was, that some other body thon the mere
rate-payers. (Great interruption.) Re was as
great an advocate of popular election as any
body, bet the ratepayers, as at present coasti
toted, were not the exaet persons to eleet com
misioners for a Harbor Trust. (Hero the inter
raption became so great that the speaker could
not proceed further and he accordingly re
sumed his eat.)
hr. AlexOder Pyffe said, it was notthe gui
litcsation of the burgesses to select proper par
ties, but their right to elect whomsoever they
chose, which was t be discussed.
Mr. Boyce proposed the next resolution.
"That a Commitee be sppotote4 for thepu
pose of cazivig out the eieas of this meeting, by
correspondence with the Gorcenment, and with
such jiuslic bodies as they may deem expedient,
asid the matmiog of s pins to be hereafter sub
mined for the proper coanaitution of the Harbor
Trst, of of t lh e liehm o of the
Chmnber of Conmere. the Collector of Customs,
Mr Fyfe. M1r Stracans, Mr Wood. Mr ibbonson,
31r Baird, 31 Gibhi, Mr C. hr. Theme, Mr J.
Richards, Mfr Burow. Mt Blrigt, Mr J. G.
Csrr Jfr Ogilvie, Mr Borce, .-b Dalcsn, Mr C.
Reed. Mr Mtestin, Mfr RildIle, MrJ. i. Bailey'
1r heppand."
Me. Boaxd seosude4 the mesololj, zP4 (gL
doing so he would caution thema to be careful
, what they nere ahout to do. They should choose
ten who would act holcsty .ar them, or the1
won4 find themselves subject to taxation which
ther would have no means of conetrollino
There was a aare list now before them. andil he
hIl no doubt thegentlemen i?clude] in it wold
prove usful .nd vra?lble. They co'ld jauge
of-'hen for thems-'ves: they hati kiowen them
I mu, ant cauld. therefsre. ijage wheth*- thee
w--re St avl prop-r persons to represent their
interests. To il .hat hai b-en said in farer of
the Chamber of GCmnerce, he wmunl sar A?a !
Thb inbcnvenietcrs which they now sought to
remove were very. eosr , t?d there wos no means
of retaoring there disinlt;ies bnu. by sneleeting
men who cot! genpole with tch difficnulties.
The narrie~i whon they shoull apoint wrou!d
fiBnl intere?ts whiea clshe- wi.th the interests of
the reop!e. They wouid h-ve to correspond with
the rovernsent, anI to prepae the outline of a
plat t- ec'tr or, th' ohjer they had in view;
trar s1 teas rare te- wat!l so'·'etmte. who were
eqtnl to the wors, however great or comprehen
sire it mighe .. He soul-ie cyhtle byh .ving
th ?t he cordi?liy snupport~al he resolution.
Mr. Rildle spoke bri.efy m farvouor of the re
solatio-. and IMr. Shephrd in fvour of the
amendment.
MIr. Strachan said he had misaunderstood the
object of the mee?:in. The qunistin now seemed.
to b., wr.e the whole of the meronera of the
aem:nission to he eledred from the people at
large. There werere few men who had workiel
more for the H.rbor Trnet than he had done;
and there was no one who was more peensred
to go heart and sl into it. If he now differel
with the meeting in their riew of the subject,
let them not blame him. He was still orepared
to advocate the views which he origisrlly held,
bemuse he had heard no argument brought for
word against them. 'They had canm to a reso
lation that the whole of the commission should
be chocen from the people at large, and
in order that there should be no mis
-ppreheoaion on the subject, he might
sa as 3fr Ibh?o~on had said that he was a
member of the committee of the Chamber of
Commerce, and that he could not, after the re
solution which had been adopted, be a member
of the committee appointed by the meeting.
The members of the Chamber of Co3nmerce
werean es-eential eemnt to a Harbor Trust.
If suceh a body were ctosee from the people at
lrge. itr was poasible that neither members of
the Town Council, nor of the Chamber of Com
merce might be included in it; and if no: it
would not be saoieent for its object. If they
thought the 3Iayor of Geelong the head of the
electoral body, the ehairm2n of the Chamber of
Commerce, and the collector of cnstoms were
too many ex oicio members, let them put on
sil or twenty eleetoral members if they chose;
but these parties were an essential element in a
Harbor Trust, and withont then it could never
work well. He regretted that he could not be
a member of the committee to carry out the
resolutions of the meeing.
A party in the boxeshere inquired whether
Mr-Strachan was prepared to advocate the
measure in the Conneil.
Mr. Straehan. sld, he had never advocatel
any canose in the Co?ncil which he did not be
lie e to be for the beneft, of the people If the
Harbor Trus-t were bro?aght on in the mode
which this meeting had adoptel, he wos:id write
his views upon the snbject, and express them in
the house. He waus prepared to bow to the
opinion of the people, but he must have an
opinion.of his own. This he had already ex
pressed on the present subject, and he held the
some opin;on still. He still held the principle
that the Corporation and the Chamber of Com
merce should be reoresented in the Harbor
Trust, and he would continue to hold that opi
nion cr.ti! same strong argument was brought
forwardi to convince him to the contrary.
3Mes?r. Ibboe:son, M'KeIIar, and Shephard
also withdrew from thecommittee. His Wor
ship the Mayor was then moved from the chair,
and MIr. M'Ke!!larwas proposed and seconded to
take it. He, however, declaed on the ground
that the motion was not p?a'ed nonimnr-ly,
and Mr. Woot subeequently declined also. The
chair was then taken by MIr. A. Fyfe, 3.L.C,
ad a vote of thanaks havi?rg been passed to his
Worship, the meet:ing separated.
$