PUBLIC MEETING.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 50, 14 January 1870, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

DEDUCTION IIS" THE PBICE OF WATEF. In response to a notice posted in front tf Mr. Busch's store, stating that a public meeting would take place opposite the post-office, at eight p.m. on Saturday night last, a considerable number of miners and others congregated on and about that sp. tat that hour. It was, however, suddenly intimated by the ringing of a bell, that the meeting would take place in the "Victoria Hall, instead of in the open air as notified. Thither, then, the crowd proceeded, and the Hall was speedily filled to repletion, many being unable to obtain adnvssion. There could not, -ve should imagine, have been l«-ss than from 250 to 300 persons present. Mr. Andrew Brown having been called to the chair, said that they were all miners, or nearly all miners present, and they were all aware that a petition had been addressed to the shareholders in the different water companies, requesting a reduction in the price of water, and they were aware also that the prayer of their petition had been refused by the water squatters. It had, consequently become their duty to consider what steps could be taken either to effect the reduction they desired, or to come to a general strike. It was a matter of absolute impossibility for the miner to p-iy the rate at present charged for water and live. Their whole earnings were < onsumed* in paying their water account, and they must perforce get into debt. He had himself tried it formerly on a large, ond was now trying it on a small scale, and could not make it pay. It was an impossibility for any man to do so. They must either gain their point and get the price of water reduced, or they must strike.— (Cheers.) They were all more or less in the books of the storekeepers and tradesmen of the town, and the longer and harder they worke 1 under existing rates, the deeper woidd they get into debt. If the miners struck work, the" Hogburn might shut up.—(Cheers). The miners could not pay the present price for water and their debts.—(Cheers). Should the miners strike, the water squuters might consume part of their water, bub they could not use it all—there were too many gentlemen among them for that—and they would be compelled to let it run to waste, which would be iontraiy to the mining rules and regulations. He would suggest that an offer of £i per head per wetk be made to the companies.

A voice: Too nmch—3os. —(Rapturous applause). Mr. Brown continued—And give them fill the next issue of the ■'Chronicle' to decide whether they will accept the offer or no*\ Should they refuse to deeide, then they should all strike together, and at once.

A voiee : They have already been applied to and refused. They have had time enough already. Mr. Brown thought they should have time to re-consider—a week, or at least till Thursday nest. Mr. Lewis then proposed that the proposal be made by the miners to the water companies , that water should be reduced to 30s. per head per week, and that they (the companies) have till Friday next to consider the proposition. Mr. Parker seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Chairman then intimated that if any gentleman desired to address the meeting on the subject before it, he was quite at liberty to * do so.

No person having come forward, and after a considerable pause the Chairman said, th.;t as no gentleman seemed desirous of addressing the meeting, he would close the proceedings upon the unierstanding that, if their terns were not-acceded tc, or other satisfactory ones " proposed by the companies by Friday next, they would again meet in that Hall on Saturday, there and then to determine their future course as to a general strike or otherwise. The meeting, which was an extremely orderly one, then separated.