PUBLIC MEETING December 6.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XX, Issue 2305, 9 December 1864, Page 5

PUBLIC MEETING December 6.

On this (Tuesday) afternoon a meeting was convened for the purpose of enabling the digger", and otheis nfFected by the 1 eduction of wages on these fields, to give expression to their opinions on tlic measiii o, lo embody these opinions in the foim of 1 evolutions, and to come to some aiiangement what would bo the better courso to pursue. The meeting, whi-m was a veiy full one, look place at the stores of the Messis. W.ird and Wood, Driving Cicek, — Mr. Andrew McLanglin in the chair. The Churvas, in using, said: I 1 egret, my friends, the reason that lias called us together to-day, but the state of things tvt present in Cotoinaudel compelled us to meet together to take what seems to us the best mexus to meet the urspney of the case ; had it nob been for ciicumstances, the import of which 3 ou are fully aware of ; as. indeed, eveiyono in Coromandel -T would not now be in th« l*»ng room of an hotel. Our position much reminds me of the sword of Damocles, which was suspended, as you have read, by a thread over his head ; tli.it thread is, as it were, broken. "We have been badly treated by the directors ; with tins you \uU all agieo. I will now move the following resolution : — "That, in tlie opinion of tin-, meeting, the rate of wagoi as now pioposed to us i-> iiiMiHkient to maintain our«eU r es and families in this locality ; that, from constant exposure, we are liable fco become rheumatic, and our health likely to be impaire 1 by leason of the damp ; and, lastly, for almost, any other work we could obtain wages in execs of Ss. per diem ; and we would, therefore, submit that we considei it injudicious on the part of the directors reducing^ the wages, at this season mote pirticularly, tiKing into consideration the high rate that inovisionb aie proem able at." Seconded by Mr. Fekcuson, and cairicd nem. cou Mr. Doviiß wished to know what about the new corner,, or, as he designated them, "haymakers." The Churma.;* suggested that they should be spoUcu to as leasouable men. Upon which Mr Doyle said : But supposing they ate not reasonable men ? Mr. Tunny, in ieplj, said that he thought that the following would meet the case, and pioposed ''That a deputation, to consist of Messrs Palmer, Mills, CiuUliliy, Strong, Claim, and the mover do w.xitupcm the 'new hands,' and those of the old who may continue to work, and explain how m itters staud, and reason with them theieupon." The speaker went on to say that should any, seeing the force of the aiguinents livid, wish to leturn but not be possessed of the tunds to do so, he would advise that they be piovMed with such funds He had no doubt but that when evuiy thing w.u fully explained, and also the natuie of the wore, thatt'iese new cornels would not go to woi k. Mi Mills stated that lie hid just letiuned fiom Mel bom nc, and had been on other diggings, and he vas aware that at Woll's P>>mt the miners received £3 10s per week, and that th-y coald live and board foi 'lo*. to *)0« p<;i week, and, if ihey lived in a place of their own, for very much \csv. The Cii mum pointed out to the meeting that the Auckland people only thought of their own pockets, and expect 'd an immediate letmn, but they thought nothing of the hudwoikinqiucn in Coiomandel. tie could, however, ivm nd the meeting that, the resolntion with reg.ud to the deputation had not been finished with Mr. Si'ROVO Slid that he objected to the old hands being also waited on, as it would be productive of no eai thly good. After some discussion, the motion iv its cntiiety was earned, a'icl the pioceeiliii"^ teiminated.