THE ARROW.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 142, 7 September 1864, Page 2

THE ARROW.

(from our own correspondent.) September 5.

The anticipated Exhibition meeting which was advertised to be held here has not yet come off. On the evening appointed for that purpose, Mr Waymouth, the peripatetic secretary of the institution, did not put in an appearance, and the parties who attended, in expectation of hearing his views on the subject, after waiting until their patience was quite exhausted, at last dispersed under the impression that a meeting would take place on the following evening ; but in this they were again disappointed. Mr Waymouth did arrive here during the day; but having refreshed himself and steed, he again travelled, wending his way to the Dunstan, leaving no public exi lanatiou of his reason for treating us so cavalierly. Naturally enough, people enquire why he did this, and opinions are freely expressed that if this accredited agent of the Exhibition commissioners really has any earnest .desire to ensure the adequate representation of the gold districts, he should certainly descend from the stilts of fancied dignity of office, and set about his allotted task in a more practical manner. Beyond observing the ordinarv courtesies of social life the Arrow people certainly are not in the habit of receiving every illustrious stranger who comes amongst them with any very obsequious attention, and if Mr Waymouth expected to be greeted with a public oration, he decidedly came to the wrong locality; but had he chosen to meet the public as a practical man of business, and explained what was required or expected of them, he would have gained the cooperation of many who would have joined him heart and hand in insuring the object of his visit. That he did not do so is to be deplored, because it is only by prompt and energetic action, any general interest in the Exhibition arrangements is likely to be excited in this immediate district.

Public curiosity was considerably excited here on Saturday evening last by the odd announcement made by our local bellman, that George Brodie, Esq., a "Hem-pce-see," and a "Hem i.nd a Hell and a Hay," would appear at the New Orleans Hotel. The fact was our respected member of the Council and Assembly honored us with a visit and held a public meeting at the above hotel to address the electors of the district on political topics generally, giving also a succinct review of the action taken by himself and colleagues for the welfare of their constituents, during the last and preceding sittings of the Provincial Council and Legislative Assembly. H. C. Richmond, Esq., was voted to the chair, and an audience of about one hundred miners and townsmen paid marked and quiet attention to Mr Brodie's address, many of his sentiments being received with manifest approval. Mr Brodie referred primarily to the action he had taken with regard to the extension of the electoral franchise amongst the mining population, and explained that the holding of a miner's right or business licence constituted its possessor a free and independent vote>and urged the expediency of every one present availing themselves of the privileges gained thereby at the next election. Then touching upou the suoject of roads, he referred to the successful exertions he had made to abolish the disgraceful monopolies which had so long existed in the letting of punts and bridges, and explained the causes of the various delays which had occurred in the construction of the mam routes to the goldfields, resulting from the late unsuccessful attempt of the government to replenish their bankrupt exchequer by the sale of debentures in the home market. He then explained at some length the relative position of the Provincial and General Governments, showing that however anxious the community might be for a reduction in the present excessive duties and imposts on gold and the necessaries of life, there could not, under the present aspect of colonial affairs, anticipate any lessening of their burdens. The Provincial Council having no power to act in the matter, the General Government alone controlling the taxation of the colony, and they, whilst grappling with the difficulties of the present Maori war, could not afford to relinquish a single item of the revenue, now wrung from the hard earnings of the Otago miners. Referring to the representation of the goldfields, Mr Brodie strongly advocated an increase in the number of members, and an alteration in the present unjust system by which the whole of the Otago goldfields were represented by four members only, instead of each separate district returning its own representative, an arrangement which virtually reduced the power of the present upconutry members to a nullity, inasmuch as they were outnumbered and outvoted at every point by Old Identities representing the metropolitan and pastoral interests, who knew little and cared less about the mining communities, legislating only for their own private aggrandisement, and ignorantly looking upon the miners as a class to dreaded rather than respected. Mr Brodie concluded by expressing a hope that as he had now introduced himself to his constituents in this district, they would at all times unreservedly communicate with him upon every subject requiring his attention, and assuring them of his earnest desire to at all times further their interests. He then expressed his readiness to answer any questionsjthose present might choose to put to him. •

In reply to a question from Mr Charles Hay, miner, Mr Biodie again explained ttfat the Provincial Government could not reduce the export duty on gold without the sanction of the General Government. Mr Haughton, after briefly reviewing Mr Brodie's observations, suggested to the audience the propriety of availing themselves of Mr Brodie's presence to lay before him any grievance they might have to complain of; and urging upon them the absolute necessity of shaking off their general apathy upon public matters. No one present seeming inclined to enter into a discussion or to recount any presumed grievances, the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to Mr Brodie and the chairman.