THE CARRICK RANGE MINERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 675, 26 March 1875, Page 3

THE CARRICK RANGE MINERS’ ASSOCIATION.

(TO THE EDITOR OF TUB DtTNSTAR TIMES.)

Sir, —My attention has been called to a letter which appeared in your issue of the 19th inst., purporting to administer a sound rebuke to myself, and to disabuse tho public mind of some alleged erroneous statements made by me in my capacity as correspondent. The portions thereof which specially refer to the Goldfields Secretary do not call for comment at my hands, as I have no doubt but that he will be able to do what he has always done, namely, to defend himself. It seems that I have given some obscure individual, who delights in signing himself “ Bannockburn Miner,” offence, by chronicling the “ naked truth,” while the facts, as stated by himself, clearly demonstrate that the Goldfields Secretary secured a signal victory at the Bannockburn meeting. The writer says that only “one-fourth of those present voted for Mr Buchan’s amendment of want of confidence in the member for tho Kawarau.” In this respect he is correct, as the majority looked upon the amendment as a piece of insufferable impertinence, and did not think that it warranted any notice. It was apparent that it would not be carried, and, therefore, nearly all Mr M'Kellar’s warmest supporters did not vote at all, as they were satisfied with the manly way in which he had met his culnmniators, and expressed his reasons for joining the Reid administration, and not supporting the Gold Duty Rebate Ordinance. There was only one party who spoke against ivir M'Kellar that did not vote, namely, Mr MTCersie. Oh, for shame, Mr Bannockburn Miner ! to utter such an unpardonable fib as to say “ Some of those who spoke the severest against Mr M’Kellar did not vote at all.” Will this virtuous and truthful scribe name a few of them, and point out more specifically any inaccuracies that appealed in my communication of the 26th ultimo ? Has it taken him all that time (from the 26th of February till the 19th of March) to compile his letter and detect a trifling inaccuracy in the number of those who voted for Mr Buchan’s resolution in the Mining Association? I admit that when he contested the coveted post of President, that he polled nine votes “ out of seventeen,” being the exact number who supported Mr Buchan’s amendment at the public meeting held in the Schoolroom. Can the gushing “Bannockburn Miner” deny this fact, and will he dispute that the Association numbers over seventy members, and yet only seventeen supported the amendment introduced by their President ? Don’t rush into print again old boy, and make an agregious ass of yourself, as your egotism will not always avail, even though you do shield yourself by concealing your name. lam not surprised thereat, as you have reason to keep it from the public gaze, and your only chance of existence consists in the preservation of your incog. You have already had one or’ two escapades, and I would.strongly recommend you not to get into a third, or it might he difficult to wriggle out of it.

This “ Bannockburn Miner ” is evidently troubled with the cacoethes scribendi, and has paid but slight adherence to the truth. I am represented as having made the awful statement that one thousand miners were monopolizing two thousand acres of ground,” but if this would be thought truthful, writer has no objection ; I prefer using my own language, which I now quote for his special edification—“Atthe present time, and inaceordance with the existing Goldfields Acts and Regulations, 1000 miners can monopolize 2000 acres,” (See Dunstan Times, Feb. 26tn, 1875.) Thus it will be seen that the sensational writing in his letter was all thrown away, as he is surely not so ignorant as to require to bo told that residence areas can at all times be applied for, and" that many such have been obtained by residents of the Bannockburn. Did it occur to this “ Bannockburn Miner” that in the article under review I wrote “ Through the action of the Mining Association, and by their everlasting agitation claims are being taken up in large blocks, and residence areas are at every sitting of the Court applied for.” It was convenient for him not to quote this sentence, and it was equally convenient to glide over the arguments adduced in favor of keeping the gold duty at its present stand. The letter throughout is a gross pervertion of the facts, and wovl 1 occupy too much of your valuable space to notice it in detail, but those who feel any interest in the subject will be able, by reading my contribution to the Times of the 26tb ult., to judge for themselves. No wonder this miner would mot sign his name, and enable the Mining Association to im. mortalize him; or rather to give him a trifle to go to fresh fields and pastures new. I do not wish it to be understood tb*t I oppose tbe Garrick Range Miners’ Association, on the contrary, I hold that such a body is necessary, and may be tbe moans of checking many abuses, and' doing a deal of good ; but this end is not to bo obtained by riding rough-shod over other parts of tbe district, and passing absurd resolutions reflecting upon the character of our public men. The present Mining Association is not on a sound basis, and my *• Bannockburn Miner” friend knows this full well. He also knows that, by the Bye-Laws of the Association, a member is permitted to send in to the secretary, in writing, any proposition, which dispenses with the necessity of having it introduced in the ordinary way by a mover

and a seconder. I know that two resolutions, almost in the following words, were recently forwarded to the President of the Garrick flange Miners’ Association; but, so far as I am informed he has not brought them on for discussion. The first was—- “ That the majority of the miners in the Bannockburn district have no confidence in the present administration of the Miners’ Association and the other—“ That the members of the Association do submit themselves to the test of a public meeting, or that they do all resign.” That these resolutions have been forwarded I am prepared to substantiate, and I have every reason to believe that the discreet portion of the members of the Association will see fit to accept the alternative and resign, nnd not by clinging to office prove that the qualification of personal vanity has more to do with their action in the Association than has the welfare of the mining community. For the character, by inference, that the “ Bannockburn Miner ” wishes mo to draw accompanied by his paternal blessing, I must tender my thanks, and beg to assure him that I do not intend in future to take any notice of his frenzied trash and senseless twaddle. A correspondent, like all others connected with a newspaper, is sure to make himself unpopular with the few, as the knocks they sometimes get seems to stagger them, and I am generally fortunate enough to put the cap on the right head. But, farewell Mr “Bannockburn Miner,” don’t sin again, but try to speak the truth. I know it will cost you an effort, but don't bo dismayed, as by patience and perseverance you will ultimately triumph and secure a reputation not at present enjoyed by you, namely, of speaking the truth.— I am, &c.. Correspondent, March -2nd, 1875.

“ Did I not give you a flogging the other day ?” said a schoolmaster to a trembling boy. “ Yes, Sir,’’answered, the boy. “Well what do the scriptures say ou the subject ?” “I don’t know, sir,” said the other, “except it is in that passage which says, ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive,”’

Motto for the Married,—Never dis-pair. Fronde has been selected by Carlyle as his biographer.

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