A HOWDY MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1637, 16 August 1887, Page 2

A HOWDY MEETING.

Gj_bymh.th, August 15. There was a very stormy tim_ at the H.rb.r B>ard thia evening, m reference to tbe words Mr Petrie was reported to lnve uaed ar the Paroa publio meeting, V'Z., that ihe Board was a oorrupt body, eto. Mr Lahman called attention to the words. Ho would like to see where the corruption was, aod would be with Mr \ Petrie If he could show him any. Mr Seddon said Mr Petrie should, m deference to the Board, say whether he had used such language, and why. I Mr Sheedy expressed the strongest condemnation of the language, aud wondered Mr Petrie could sit on a Board he oould speak of m that way As the words had keen telegraphed the Board should probe tbe matter to the bottom. Mr Petrie said ha would not be bullied or ooi reed into replying to the statements of the "Argus," whioh did nothing bnt tell lies about him. For the last six years, he said the " Argus " had no reporter there. If it had any he was a rabid supporter of Mr G iinne_s. He would soon call public meetings, and on the platform use exactly the words used at Paroa. A warm altercation took plaoe between the Chairman and Mr Petrie, tha former saying a reporter from the offioe was present. Mr Petrie was several times asked to deny the correctness of the words, or say it wjb a misstatement. Ho said that it was not a misstatement, and yet was, but would say no more until on a publio platform. Surprise was expressed by several members thi. no denial appeared m •Mr Petrie's paper that evening, nor any reference to it lv a report of his speech. The mater then dropped, the motion for adj j ournment being negatived.