OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 4, 25 July 1861, Page 3

OTAGO.

PCHT-IC MEKTIXC! OF THE U.YEMPIOVED.—A public meeting of the laboring classes was held on Wednesday evening last, in the Odd Fellow’s Hall, Dunedin, pursuant to public announcement, “To take into consideration the advisability of petitioning the Provincial Council as to the present st ate of the labor market.” After several speeches by working men, David Winter stated that being induced by privat o letters to go to the Diggings, he left his employment and proceeded thither, in company with several others. On arriving they began working a claim, and continued for six days, during the cold and wet weather : tiny raised several tons of earth, and at the end of the six days they had just obtained three shillings and eleven pence worth of gold. They then started back, and on the way, met perhaps 200 or more, going to the Digginsg. They, of course gave them no encouragement, and were in return abused for their pains, but he had seen some of them since, nay there were several in the .room, and they could amply bear him out. Expression was freely given to the opinion that the statements of those in the public newspapers respecting the Diggings were by interested parties and that any contrary opinion would bo refused insertion. The Chairman stated that the Press was open to all, and it was the duty of every one who saw mis-statements to correct them. lie had no doubt there were exceptions to the rule but they were few.— Witness.