MEETING AT MALVERN.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2664, 13 November 1871, Page 3

MEETING AT MALVERN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PBESS. SIR, — I have an aversion to attempt to correct mistakes, on public matters especially, when they occur in reports of public meetings. But one so obvious &s the following I think requires correction :—"The meeting, which was attended by some thirteen or fourteen persons, including two representatives of the press and the keeper of the accommodation house, and others employed in the place." I enclose a list of twenty-six names of pertons who were present at the said meeting,and there were a number more present whose names I do not know. List—Messrs John Jebson, W. Waddington, R. Jebson, James P. Pole. James Wright, sen., George Withs, sen., E. Watkins, S. Flight, John M. Dalby, R. Colthart, S. Denis, C. Dennis, Liberty Leigh, D. Jebson, T. Atkinson, Henry Wright, G. R. Withs, jun.. T. Askew, Joseph Jebson, W. Prior, James Wright, sen., W. Ephraim, John Jebson. jun., Charles Wheeler, Representatives of the Press : Mr Grey, Mr Hart. I beg to say there are no employes at the accommodation-house ; only Cobb and Co.'s groom. Surely over thirty persons at a meeting called on short notice will compare favorably in a thinly populated outlying district with a meeting in Christchurch of 150 persons in a city of about 12,000 inhabitants —tame, even to insipidity, if report is to be believed ? Is it to be understood that numbers are the test of the soundness of principles advocated at public meetings ? if so, without the multitude an expression of opinion by the few goes for nothing. Reverse this order, and the meeting at Jlalvern being unanimous, is a truer index of the opinion of residents in the outlying districts generally than any expression of opinion in Christchurch could possibly be : also, a fairer representation of the feeling of all such parties on the subjects the meeting was called to consider is undeniable. That the number of speakers were so few is much to be regretted, but is not the fault of those who took part in the meeting. There was no restriction, but the fault of those present who refrained from speaking, and indicates that the indulgence of the press is rather to be expected towards those on whom falls the difficult and onerous task of becoming the exponents of the views of an audi« ence perhaps better informed than the speakers, instead of the covert sneer which is so patent. I am, &c, John Jebsox, Malrern. November 8, 1870.