PUBLIC MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 144, 18 June 1872, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

Iu compliance with an advertisement, signed by Mr. O'Conor, there was a full meeting at the Provincial Hail last night, when the chair was taken by Mr. R. Burn, For reasons that will be patent to all who were present we are unable to publish the whole of what was said, and we therefore do not intend to report the speeches, but shall content ourselves with giving a slight sketch of the proceedings, which extended over two hours. We have the less hesitation in doing this, as the matter has now passed out of the hands of the public, and is to form the basis of an action to be brought in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The principal portion of Mr. O'Conor's address has already appeared in the reports of his two speeches in the Council and in his published letters He last night reiterated his complaint that sufficient time and opportunity bad not been allowed him for making his defence; that the Committee appointed to inquire into the case was unfairly constituted, three of the members of it being personal enemies of his, and he referred especially to Mr. Luckie, who should never have been allowed to act as chairman; that the evidence was mutilated, garbled, and altogether unreliable ; that

the report was hastily adopted by the Committee, Dot more than five minutes having elapsed betweeu the taking of the evidence and the bringing up of the report. He then went ou to show that it had not been, clearly proved that be was in the Committee- room at the lime the decision was arrived at, while lie positively denied being preseut, and secondly that no one could say 'hat he bad beard what took place. The arguments that told most in favor of his being unaware of what had occurred were, that the decision arrived at by the Committee actually rendered worthless the sections that he had bought, which, in the event of Mr. Dohsou's recommendation being acted upon, us he fully anticipate 1 ' would be the ca6e at the lime be made the purchase, were likely to prove of considerable value ; that having been by far the heaviest loser by the floods ho would in all probability have received as a gift from the Government that for which he had paid £150 at the Land Office; that he had shown a telegram which he had despatched to Westport some time after making the purchase, which proved that. he was then unaware of the determination that had been arrived at not to act upon Mr. Dobson's report. He did not ask the meeting then to say that he was in the right and his accusers in the wrong, but merely that they should require a full ami searching enquiry to be made into the whole, affair. He meant to proceed in a proper le»al way, and to place those who orougbt the accusations against him upon their oath. Mr. Cooksey did not think that Mr. O'Conor bad had full justice dealt out to him, and considered that but little weight was to be attached to mere statements, as the evidence should have been upon oath. He bad known Mr. O'Conor for 15 years, and had never seen or heard of anything dishonorable in his conduct. In coming forward and speaking as he bad done that evening, he had, clone what very few men would have dared to do, and he wished to see a full and impartial enquiry into the whole matter. He would move, " That a respectful memorial be drawn up, and signed by the Chairman on behalf of this meeting, praying that his Excellency the Governor do cause strict inquiry to be made into the whole circumstances involved in the Westport Land Purchase and iDto certain resolutions passed by the Provincial Council of the Province, affectin" Eugene Joseph O'Conor, Esq., M.P C, M.H.R." Mr. R. Lucas seronded the resolution. Mr. Luckie, primer, protested a^ains the meeting, especially as it was got up at the instigation of Mr. O'Conor who had taken out summonses against several of the members of the Provincial Council for conspiracy, and then while the case was pending called a public meeting for the purpose of allowing the people to prejudge she facts. He had no objection whatever to the motion as it was only be who wished to shun the truth that should fear the upshot of it. — Mr. Donne rose to but. finding the meetinir disinclined to hear him, he shortly resumed his reat. — Mr. Reid hoped that a searching enquiry would )>e made, and he felt, sure that the result would be that the facts would be proved to be against. Mr O'Conor. He was prepared to con radict the whole of his statements as well as his theory about the value of the laud. He would say no more then, as with the charge against hirn pending in a court of law, it would be as unseemly in him to sp> ak fully at that dine as it was in Mr. O'Conor to call the meeting. The resolution was then put aud carried, sixty-three hands being held up for, and seven against it. With a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting broke up. For remainder of news see fourth page.