THE MEETING AT MR. OLLIVIER'S.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XX, Issue 1164, 1 December 1863, Page 5

THE MEETING AT MR. OLLIVIER'S.

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE LYTTJiLTON TIMES. Sir, —As several anonymous letters have appeare< in the newspapers, in which the writers have kindl; hinted, that the recent meetings of the Provincui Council were held only by a clique, and, moreove that such meetings are dreadfully unconstitutionalI wish to say a few words in reply, and briefly t< state my reasons for having attended Mr. Ollivier' offices on Monday and Thursday last. I attended those meetings in the hope that fron Members of the late Executive Council I might lean positively whether the many rumours—rumour franght with disquiet and trouble to all of us—wen or were not substantially correct. Feeling satisfied from the statement made that th< present crisis requires that public explanations shoulc be given by the members of the late Executive, ] have simply asked his Honor to convene a meeting of the Provincial Council. If this be an unconstitutional act, I suppose I shall also be accused oi yielding to unconstitutional fears, when I say that ] fear an entire stoppage of all great public works must precipitate us into grave difficulties. No one has been maligned at these meetings, and ] "ki™ / or m y se an( l those who have signed the requisition to his Honor that we have endeavored tc act in all truthfulness and good faith to our constituents. I am quite at a loss to understand how Mr. Ross could designate a meeting approved of by so large a majority of the Provincial Council as a hole-and comer meeting! In politics men are apt unconsciously to err, and this is an instance of it, as the hon. member for the Raikaia is the very last man in Canterbury who would wilfully say anything either unkind or untrue. Yours obediently, CHARLES CLARK. Christchurch, Nov. 27.