THE HOKITIKA MEETING.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 4618, 13 June 1883, Page 2

THE HOKITIKA MEETING.

» [to the editok.] Sir, — I dare say you ; have, had enough of the education meeting here, but I would ask you t<- accord me a small portion of your valuable space to an audaciously un- | truthful and wilfully distorted account of the meeting, sent by Mr Petrie to a print at Greymouth, and copied this day by the West Coast Times. I will place Mr Petrie's fictions and the real facts side by side, if you "will permit me : — MB. PETRIE'S ETC- THE PACTS. TIONS. There was no or : Mr Petrie says ganised band, and "he had no sooner almost every male commenced than resident of Hokithe hooting was tika was present. I commenced by an never rose from my organised band, and seat except once, to whenever he speak ; Mr Jack did touched on any not do so ; and Mr figures, Rae, Jack, Nicholson rose only and Nicholson, after Mr Petrie was jumped to their feet finished, to ask him and invited forth a question, uproar." Mr Petrie says Every word Of ' ' he told them they this is a pure invenwere afraid of hear- tion. Nothing of ing the truth, and the kind occurred, challenged them to No one yelled out hear and then refute, any such words as Jack and Rae Petrie says Jack yelled out, 'We and Rae did ; no don't want anything one threatened Pefrom Greymouth trie ; no one sughere, clear out ;' gestedthatheshould :.ind one enthusiastic be put out, and Pe- 1 supporter suggested trie did not there-

throwingPetrie out. fore say he was preMr Petrie said he pared for the " conwas not going to be tingency." frightened by such idle threats as that, and was quite prepared for that con- '~ '' tingency (sic). . - -_ Mr Petrie says Every word ..of "when he wished this is absolutely to read the letters of untrue. As I said Messrs Rae and before, Messrs Jack" Jack, those two and Rae rose from jumped to their feet their seats only to and got the noise speak, and at no renewed," time did we get noise'commeneedTorr renewed. '■ ' } Mr Petrie says The first person "at this stage many to leave;: the Hall: of the thinking and was Mr Petrie himrespectable people self, and as he releft the hall in dis- tired before anyone " gnst. " else did, he cannot tell who' left the Hallp or who remained. As a matter of fact the great bulkjof; the people, I and all the thinking anil .]"■' respectable ■ pebple remained till the close of the proceedings. ' Mr Petrie says Every word vr in "that then (after this: is/untruer Not the thinking people one of the persons left) ' Messrs' ' Jack, namedpropo^M-diy Rae, Chesney, and ! resolution whatever; Nicholson proposed Mr Nicholson did (amidst much con- even speak except fusion) resolutions to ask a quesfioh ;" upholding the com- I said :^ but a few mittee and asking words; and Mr Jack for separation." ~ spoke, -not-at— this stage, but at the opening of the meeting.' The resolutions were proposed by Messrs Bevan, Virtue, Turner, King, r Benjamin, arid Tait. When one thinks that the person^who so wilfully and wickedly perverted thsr truth . in order to glorify himself, .intffle above samples of "reporting," is Chairman of an "Education" Board, andanM.H.R., one cannot but believe that cant, -humbug, untruthfulness, and impudence get men into public positions. Mr Petrie,- ief ore the meeting commenced^ shewed mat lie was quite aware what his, own, r character was. He told a , respectable' resident of this town that " he wouiddarry the meeting with him by the force of his ' cheek.' " In this he found himself ""mistakeny for the people here know the man, and the day must soon come when the people of Greymouth will take his exact measure, if they do not do so now. Yours trulyj= ' • i ' f H..R..RaeI Hokitika, June 9, 1883. ' " ' X; (See Fourth Page.)- .