THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1867.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 171, 16 February 1867, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1867.

Our readers will observe that our report pf the publio meeting on Thursday night omits the Beport of the Improve^ ment Committee read and adopted at that meeting. As. Aye think it right that, the public should have an explanation of tlie reason for this omission we may state that after the meeting was over -the us.ua! application was made for the reports, to enable us to publish them. Mr. Maclean, to whom that application was made, was iindei Istood to say that he could not then spare them, but that tliey could be obtained afterwards. Yesterday morning, hoAvever, Aye ascertained, that the reports had been handed' to Mr. Whallj who had forwarded them to Hokitika for publication in the' "West Coast Times." = : We suppose tlicit Avhtit is in reality an insult offered to the public of Greymouth Ayas intended as a special act of discourtesy to this journal— probably because of its criticisms ori the proceedings'at the meeting on Tuesday- night. Beyond _ our regret that tlie public should be deprived of reading the Keport qf the- Improvement Committee in its proper place, Aye are entirely unaffected by this display, qf temper from the thin-skinned gentlemen Avho have takeu offence at our con\n:jents, ancl.we shall not in the slightest degree be influenced by anything they can say or do in the exercise qf. Qur right to the fullest criticism of public men and public bodies. We are given" to .understand Aye .are accused of some hidden purpose in not publishing the report read a.t the first meeting— a report Ayhich Avas disoAvned by some of tlie Committee themselves, and to enable the Committee to amend Ayhich tlie meeting Avas adjourned.- We withheld its publication simply out of consideration for the Committee, , few of Avhom, Aye think, Avould have been much satisfied: had it apjjeared imauiended. . [Since; the above Ayas in type,. Aye have ascertained that the Improvement Committee as a body, -and Mr. Maclean personally, are alike devoid of any share in tlie course adopted Avith regard to the Reports alluded to. It appears that the documents of the late Improvement. I Committee were handed to one of themembers fov custody;; and: that member tb(ik/ ; .upQH:;lumseifi to^luind. them/to another gentleman micbuueeted Avith the Coininittee, who took the libex-ty of forAvavding the ■ .'-Improvement Com, laittee's iycpovls to the "West Const

Times" for jmblicatibrij and in addition sent the original ; rejjprjt of Mr, Payne for the sarije purpose, ' "We are assured that this step \yas enth'o]y unauthorised by the Improvement Oommitfcee, and that q, telegram^ \ym sent to the " West Coast Tildes" to that effect, and requesting that the documents might be returned. The public will now be able to form their, own opinion pf this n^atter,] ' '-■ ■