MEETING OF MINERS AT THE GREY.

West Coast Times, Issue 173, 9 April 1866, Page 2

MEETING OF MINERS AT THE GREY.

(Prom the "Argus.") A meeting of miners was held on Thursday, shortly after noon, at Kilgour's Union Hotel, for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken with reference lo the " Extraordinary" published by this journal on the 29th ult, announcing the disebvery of a payable goldfleld tm; jthe Little Grey. ( . JCfyglareq hall was crowded to excess by about 500 diggers; Mr E\ B.tggnwho was called to the chair, comnrWcea the proceedings by stating what he believed to / be the , object.of the meeting, and expressing a hope that 'the proceedings would bo conducted calmly and fairly towards all parties. He called upon any miners who were present and who had visited the ground mentioned in the " Extraordinary" to jcorae forward and state their 1 exjfJeHe'ndel^ Several miners came forward, but. on the question being put to them it appeared that they had visited the locality soine time before the report of the new* discovery was published, but not one of them had been there since the appearance of, the ". Extraordinary V so much coniplaiiled b£ Those who came , forward were heard, and they made state., inents, the general tenor of which was, that they had got gold both on this side of the saddle and also on the other side, but not always in payable quantities ; there was no news of a new rush, or of any fresh discoveries having been made while they were in or about the locality ; and some of them had left the place because, as they expressed it, they had a great objection to " humping tucker sixteen miles." But, on the other hand, one of these witnesses stated that he and his mates had been working on both sides of the saddle for seven weeks, and during that time, they averaged L 4 jier man per week b^er 1 and above paying all expenses, and that in ten days they got twenty-eight ounces of gold six miles on this side of the saddle. He also stated, in answer to questions, that there were many men at work in gullies over the saddle ; ho usually saw them come in for " tucker" on Sundays, and go away he knew not where. It was quite possible that there 1 might be many men at work in adjoining gullies without his knowing anything about it ; and he admitted that he liked the look of the country over the saddle away to the right, and he believed it to be auriferous ; but he did not like the look of tho country lying to . the left. One of the most prominent speakers stated that he felt satisfied a

great injustice had teen done to tho raining community by the publication of the " Argus Extraordinary" of the 29th ult., which had brought a large number of miners to the Grey on a fool's errand. He had not been up the Grey, to test the truth of the reported discovery, but he believed the statements which had been made to him, since he arrived in town that they had been hoaxed, Under- these circum* stances, they had met to consider what steps they should take in the matter. He^ pointed out the great hardships which were entailed upon the diggers by the publication in newspapers of reported discoveries of goldfields, which turned out <o be untrue. They were kept rushing about the country, as the newspapers would not allow them to settle down to diggings where they might make a comfortable Jiving, and perhaps make a " pile," by the con-, tinued announcements which were made of new rushes. Of course they moved off to the rush, for fear that they should negleot it, it might prove to bo the Very one At wbjqh they ovgty

to have made a "pile." Several other Sp6akerft stj-oiigly cofldemried. the conSucfci.pf, ,thi^ journal, in publishing the " Extraordinary" of ilie-29th ult., and there were then loud calls foi

Mr Mome, one of tho proprietors of this journal (who had at an early stage of the meeting stepped on to the platform, to defend our conduct. He staled that for the last four weeks rumors of rich discoveries of gold were constantly reaching the office from various quarters, but in order to obtain more reliable iriforrilation, these rumors were temporarily suppressed. But during the last w/jek these . rumors, assumed a more definite shape, and the information which was then conveyed appeared to be so confirmatory of previous rumors, and of so genuine a nature, that it was published as had been stated. He asked them where, in a country like this, was a journal to obtain information except by relying upon the good faith, of the members of the community. And he could now point to one of the diggers who had addressed them, and say that he had to a great extent cor - roborated every word which had been published by tho " Argus." He asked them again, what in the circumstances Should, they havo done which had not been done? He considered it their $uty to , publish the information ,which iHey believed io be true, and they had at once despatched t$ the ground Mr James Milne, a man whom they all knew well, and who had great experience in these matters. That gentleman was now on the grouud. One letter had been received from him before he reached .the ground, which had been published,; and whenever the next letter wa'fe received it would also be published. Under these circiimsfa'uces, he asked them if it was right to condemn the proprietors of the " Argus" for what they had done, and take action without having any definite information before them. He distinctly denied the assertion which had been made that they had hoaxed the diggers, and he repudiated the idea that they had any intention to do so. What had been doiie by the " Argus" was all in good ia.i{,}j, and ho x asked them to postpone their juMgrtiimt until further information Wft.9 received.

Mr T. L. Shepherd and Mr J. Kilgour spoke in favor of delay, but it was rietermined by the voice of the meeting to come to a decision at once.

Mr James M'Gowan moved and Mr Wm. Taylor seconded — "That this meeting is of opinion that a vote of censure be passed on the Editor" and Proprietors of the '.'Grey River Argus" for publishing ftn " Extra" ,wl}ich appeared on the 29th ult, reporting the discovery of a new goldfield on the Little Grey ; such goldhelfy in our opinion, not being according to report." An amendment was moved by Mr Walter Colo and seconded by Mr Henry Kees— "That the Editor of the " Grey -River Argus" should make some material reparation to the digging population -— *the vote of censure will have no effect — and We are of opinion that he Should place £100 to the credit of the Hospital." The amendment was carried amidst applause.

After votes of thanks to the Chairman for the able and perfectly fair manner in which ho had conducted the business, aud to Mr J. Kilgour for having granted the use of the hall, the meeting distjei's,e l d.iii the,, same quiet and orderly manner iut which the entire proceedings had been conducted.