ADDISON'S FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 189, 9 March 1868, Page 2

ADDISON'S FLAT.

PUBLIC MEETING.

A public meeting was held at the Dan O'Connell Hotel on Thursdayevening, for the purpose of submitting certain questions proposed by Mr Commissioner Knnersley to tho miners of Addison's Flat, in reference to the revision of the present Groldfields Regulations. The meeting was very largely ' attended, and precisely at 8 o'clock, Dr Denovan was called to the chair. The Chairman, in opening the meeting, said that he had no doubt, and every miner present was fully aware that it had been unanimously agreed at the last meeting that no delegates should appear for this district at tho proposed conference, but tho committee, after the meeting dispersed, had given tho matter their most serious consideration, and had arrived at the conclusion that a certain amount of respect was due to the Commissioner; and as he had invited them to attend the conference, it was their duty to accede to his request. They had done so, the result of which he would leave Mr Clune to acquaint the meeting with, as that gentleman was one of tho delegates, but previous to his calling on Mr Clune, he would wish to impress strongly upon the minds of the miners that they should have no disrespectful feeling towards Mr Kynnersley, because he was not exactly in favor of the establishment of a Mining Board at the present. There was one thing they should remember, and that was that the Commissioner had done many things for them. He would now call upon Mr Clune to address the meeting. Mr Clune stated that the chairman had already told them that the Committee had considered that some respect should be shown to Mr Kynnersley, and had appointed three delegates to wait on him—he was one of the three delegates that had attended the Conference, and he would endeavor to inform the meeting of their proceedings on that occasion. He had told Mr Kynnersley, that the miners had no faith in the present regulations, and they had not come there for the purpose \ of revising or altering them, but merely to represent the district. Mr' Clune further stated, that since then he had received a letter from the Commissioner, which he would read. Mr Clune then read the letter, in which the Commissioner stated that he was anxious to learn the wishes of the miners, ar>d tho • details by which the bye-laws should be framed. He also read several question, which Mr Kynnersley had proposed, and would like to hear tho opinion of the miners i thereon. The Chairman said they had all heard the questions, and he should like to hear the opinion of some practical miner on the subject. Mr Campbell observed, that as no one seemed willing to come forward to ' give an opinion on the matter, he

would beg to make a few remarks ; he then mentioned many clauses which ho thought should bo inserted in the byelaws if they were revised, which would be of great service to the mining community. Mr Williams then stepped on the platform and said, ho had been elected on several occasions to carry out various local purposes, and he had, as far as possible, done his duty. He had a great respect for Mr Kynnersley, but at the same time, the practical miner must know what is best for himself, and therefore to revise the present Goldfields Regulations, would be doing away with any probability of obtaining something better. The present byelaws had answered the purpose so long, that he thought it would be as well to let them remain as they were till they could obtain a Mining-Board, and he could not see why they should be prevented from petitioning the Governor in Council by the public officials in the Buller. He would therefore propose the following resolution:-—"That this meeting begs most respectfully to decline giving an opinion on the proposed •questions, but is strongly in favor of i the establishment of a Mining-Board," j which was seconded by Mr Linehan, and carried unanimously amidst great cheering. Mr Clune then said it was his intention to inform the Commissioner of the result of this meeting, and although his questions had not exactly met with their approbation, he hoped they had no illfeeling towards him. The cries of "no, no, 1 ' fairly shook the building;and •after a vote of thanks to the chair, the meeting dispersed.