THE ALEXANDRA MINERS' COMMITTEE, AND MR J. C. THOMSON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 249, 1 February 1867, Page 3

THE ALEXANDRA MINERS' COMMITTEE, AND MR J. C. THOMSON.

TO TBS EDITOR Of THE DTOSTAH TIMES.

Fir, —Your position as the chief of a Public Journal, ought to be one of independence, and the favor, or the frowns of the world ghouid riot be studied by yo", as long as you discharge your editorial duties conscientiously. Believing that you are not da-posed to make light of public wrongs, we feel disposed' to request of you to publish the following facts, in connection with the enquiry, held on the 22nd Inst., connected with certain charges against Mr 'lhomson, Officer in ' Charge, at A lezandra. Some four months past, a public meeting of the miners was held at the I'cyal Mail Hotel, to complain publicly of certain un" desirable actions committed towards them by M r Thomson. Subsequently a Memorial to the Government, for his removal from the district was numerously signed, and forwarded to His Honor the Superintendent. Mr Warden Robinson was ordered to investigate the complaints, but the miners, for very taugible reasons objected to his acting as arbitrator, and after much unnecessary correspondence with the Government, Mr V. Pyke, the Secretary for the gold-fields, was directed to make the desired investigation. Mr Pyke arrived at Clyde, -and on Monday the 21st, the accusers of Mr Thomson were to appear to give evidence' but the enquiry was however portponed until Tuesday, the 22nd. E u'ly on the of that day, the Miners Committee, and the rest of the witnesses, appeared in the streets of Alexandra, and about nine o'clock, Mr Pyke arrived, and soon wended his way to the Court house, where the enquiry was to be held. Every person naturally expected, that as tlie charges to be. preferred, were against a public Officer, that the enquiry would beheld openly in the Comt, and if •Mr Thomson, was innocent of the charge, that he would be only too glad to face his accusers; and prove publicly, that they had wronged his character. Such however was not the case, all strangers were ordered to keep aloof, a representative of the Press, being also requested to retire

"When the door of the Court-house was ' opened, the seen", which presented itself was most comical, if not farcical. Mr Tyke sat in front of the Magistrate's desk, like the I hiof Justice of Victoria, Sir William < tawell, and on his left, Mr Warden Kobinson, and on his right, the accused. The two latter, seemed, like Justices Williams, and Barry, making up .with Stawell, a " Sitting in Banco. " What right Mr Robinson had to be there, no one can tell, and why Mr Pyke did not or der him out like al the other strangers, must be lelt to himself to answer. Mr Robinson, was a required witness, and in order to place him in that light, he should have been peremptorily ordered from the precincts of the Court, especially as the enquiry had been made a private one. A police officer was stationed at the door of the Court throughout the hearing, and if a.ny one of the witnesses, or of the nonconcerned, attempted to step within sixty yards of the door, M r Constable very politely, but still earnestly told them to stand off. Mr Robinson was there to give a certain plausible colouring to several of the charges preferred; which, had thev been allowed to appear in their natural hue, would have presented a very dif ferent light, to the mind of Mr Pyke. With Mr Pyke, we have no fault whatever to find, Except his unwarrantable al. lowance of Mr Robinson to sit in Court during the hearing, and not order him to keep his distance, until called upon as a witness in the ordinary way. Mr Pyke acted in the most courteous manner toward the witnesses, and in svery probability, his report will prove an honest one. We are &o. Members of miners Committee.

•Our correspondents, add to their letter the specific charges against Mr Thomson, but as the enquiry, waa strictly a 'private one, we cannot see except by hearsay, how Our correspondents could become sufficiently acquainted with the charges, to warrant us giving them publicity—Another thing, cur correspondents in their communication, apparently do not desire the publication of their names, merely sending as a guarantee of good faita.—Ec'. D. T.

The Victorian aboriginal cricketers, are to be sent to England, under the leadership of their Captain Mr "Wills; steps have been already taken for carrying out the project. «n ■•■--- . .- -

Mr Vernon, Colonial Treasurer for Victoria, when' i'n'Englancl, took 'measure for the establishment of a mint in thai Colony. The "Argus ""Says, that the necessary machinery is in course oi construction.