THE LATE PUBLIC MEETING.

Lake County Press, Volume IV, Issue 204, 1 May 1875, Page 3

THE LATE PUBLIC MEETING.

SO THR EQWOH ARROW OBSKKVBB. SlB,-r-As there exists some misconception about the late meeting', allow me to make a few remarks upon its origin and events ; - ••'•- >r The meeting was called for ttte twofold purpose oft WtUng the district know, Vhat line,of conduct the, Miners' Association had taken, and""to" give the general public an opportunity of expressing anindependgntepinionon the subject. All this was fully explained at the opening of the meeting by the Chairman. ' AstheFarmer'sAsscwiationhascbllapsed and no other public body took steps to convene a public i meeting, the Miners' Association went to the necessary trouble and expense in order to afford the public an opportunity of passing an opinion on so important a subject. It, appears there were some, people who in return for this service rendered to the district, would have gladly thrown the resolutions of the Miners.' Association jverboiard, in .the futherance of tbeir interests. .Happily, the Committee iwsit* business better than to submit a matter affecting the miners solelj, to a united public meeting, and place the issue entirely in their Hands. I may state that the result of the late meeting was fully anticipated by the Committee, they did not expect the public to be in favor of the sale of the Crown Terrace any more than they were themselves; 'and very little reflection will' show, that the resolutions of Miners' Association do receive additional Weight from 'that of the public meeting.' : It will show the Government that the people of the district still look upon the Crown Terrace as their patrimony, and will part with it only on terms, if at all. Both resolutions support each .other,.and both are sent together to Dunedin. Reports are also circulated to the effect, that the Miners' Association advocates the sale of the Terrace, while in reality the very opposite is the case. The resolutions as read to the meeting at its beginning oppose the sale of the Terrace, and the Miners' Association will assf nt to its being leased, only on such terms as; will secure to them the right of cutting races, through any land; to reserve every inch of shallow ground, and'to'fix the right of entry on easy terms. It'behoved the Miners Asssociation to face the contingency, and the result will.show, that they have done it in a wise auil circumspect manner, as far as their qwniuterestsare concerned, and they have recognised those of other classes of the community, by calling a public meeting to give expression to their views, on the .natter. . That this was not done, is the fault of the leaders of the meeting; I. mean the principal speakers. Instead of turning their attention to the subject of the night, their only apparent aim was to mislead and to amuse the meeting at the expense of the Miners' Association, in return for" the courtesy they bad received at its hands.—l am, &c.. •. •» -. ~t ■ .•< ,\?m ■ JOHN A. Mir.LEB, President Arrow Miners' Association. Arrow Falls, April 28th, 1876.