GREAT MEETING AT MOUNT ALEXANDER ON THE SUBJECT OF "LYNCH LAW."

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 775, 5 January 1853, Page 3

GREAT MEETING AT MOUNT ALEXANDER ON THE SUBJECT OF "LYNCH LAW."

[From the Special Correspondent of the Sydney Herald.] The great adjourned meeting on this important subject came off according to announcement, on Saturday, the 23rd of October. The lawless state of the diggings, more especially in respect to the immediate neighbourhood of this great gathering, had banded together a number of respectable persons, who had long felt the necessity for some steps being taken to protect " the lives and properties of the diggers," A strong committee for this purpose has some time.be.en in existence, and several meetings private and public were hejd. At the last public meeting which took place some three weeks since, regulations were passed .condemnatory of the apathy of the Victoria Government, and one of the resolutions emphatically declared, that unless the proper authorities afforded security to the great mass of the i mining population, the diggers would protect themselves " in avery summary manner" or in the true meaning of the phrase, they would have recourse to Lynch Law. At the last meeting j it was also determined that a deputation should wait on the Chief Commissioner in order to ascertain whether the Government was prepared to meet the emergency ; but the Chief Com- j missioner being absent at Bendigo, twenty-five miles from this, his deputy declined to act in the absence of the chief ; but I believe that a copy of the resolutions was sent to the latter, with a request from the committee that they should be forwarded to the Executive. How- 1 ever, the Chief Commissioner, on perusing the I resolutions, concluded that they were of too intemperate a character to be submitted to the Lieutenant-Governor and his advisers, aud consequently declined to send them. The present meeting wag held to consider the reply of the Government, as well as to give the distant communities of diggers an opportunity of sending deputies to represent them. The place of meeting is situate about three miles north-east of the Government head quartets, and is termed •* Lever Point," on the celebrated " Moonlight Flat." On these flats, for they are many in number, upwards of 20,000 persons reside, all more or less occupied in gold mining. For some time past scenes of the most deplorable character have taken place here, murders and robberies, some of which have, and others have not, come to light. Bands of midnight marauders have been prowling about robbing tents, stealing the gold from the rich holes, and committing other crimes with the greatest impunity, and the Government people here have taken no steps to detect the villains. The well-disposed portion of the diggers 1 , have, therefore, determined on doing something in their own defence, and some isolated cases of lynching have been carried out on parties who were detected in the very, act of robbing tents. The meeting of this day was fixed for two o'clock, and by that , hour c^any hundreds of persons were assembled. The Committee bad caused to be erected a large platform for themselves and the speakers, neatly trimmed with green baize and ornamented with blue ribbons, and a huge green tree shaded the greater portion of the assembly. The tree and platform were covered with flags of various colours, conspicuous among them were the British Union-jack, and the flag of the Manchester Unity. The heat of the day called into requisition the lemonade factories, with which the place is studded, no strong drinks being allowed to be sold dejure on the diggings. Close to the platform was a tent with a regular soda water manufactory, at swhich hundreds of successful diggers were regaling themselves " direct from the engine/ All the stores, the different medical men's tents, &c, displayed their flags, and the tout ensemble was far from unpleasing. The Committee, too, had enlisted the aid of a drummer and fifer, who paraded the streets, beating up recruits. At two o'clock Mr. Wells was voted to the chair, who in a few words, explained the objects, of the meeting, which, according to announcement, was "to take into consideration the best means of protecting the lives and property of the digger?,, and other important, matters connected therewith." He stated that the attention of, the meeting would be directed to three subjects: — Ist. '.The best means of protecting the lives andf properties of the miners. 2nd. The petitioning the Local Legislature against the passing* of the Duty ; on Gold Bill. 3. fa petitioning the Government for reserve . grounds in the neighbourhood of the mines for the purpose of enabling the distant proprietors to depasture their cattle and sheep when bringing them for sale on the mines. The Chairman briefly explained the advantages of these objects, and stated that the different spe a ij ers would go at length into the subject Mr, Pott rose to move the first resolution, condemning the apathy of the Government He stated that the time was now come when the miners must move in this important matter ; that their lives and properties were in constant peril from the lawless depredators that infested the diggings ; that the persons employed by the Government as constables, were

things and not men, who carried about muskets, not knowing how to use them, excepting in seizing *ly grog- shops, ia the fines of which they (the constables) participated ; thnt they did nothing to suppress crime. He (Mr. Pott) would tell the meeting an anecdote of the manner in which these men did their duty. Information had reached the camp that a dray, with spirits, was approaching the diggings, and that the officer and some constables went to seize, much to the dissatisfaction of one of the constables, who stated that if left alone, the dray contained spirits enough for ten sly grog shops, the fines from which would amount to £500, that by prematurely seizing the dray, the gross fine was £300, a-vi that by this step the'constables lost their the ejetra £200. He knew one constable who had retired from the force with £1,000 which he had amassed by sly- grog selling within the camp. The foot police were worthless, but the moanted police were of use in protecting the transit of the gold to Melbourne. Look at the infamous roads, and what had the Government done? Abso- i lutely nothing. Of what use would he ask were these orderlies, but as ornamental appendages to the Commissioners when they took their airing ? The camp had cost the public £400,000 in all, and we had nothing in return for thrs money. They did not even collect the revenue; the people took it to them, and 25,000 of the 80,000 alone paid licenses. If the camp was established for benevolent purposes, it answered admirably, but send the recipients to Cape Otway from under the nostrils of the hard-working diggers, who were dispirited with the total incapacity of all connected with the establishment. (Great cheering.) The speaker then moved the adoption of a memorial to the Government for proper police protection, and the document set forth at considerable length the outrages constantly committed at the diggings. Mr. Perkin Wood seconded the resolution. He said that good would result from the meeting — that the press would carry on its wings to all quarters the grievances which they weie met to remove. That there would be a " Red letter day" in Australia as in California — the present race would rejoice at this meeting ; the future would be proud. As a remarkable coincidence, he (Mr. W.) stated that the Lieuten-ant-Governor was expected to pass by in a few minutes, his Excellency's portmanteau had ; preceded him that morning to the camp — they would invite him to the meeting. (No ! No ! hiss him.) He (the speaker) thought that the | Lieutenant- Governor was hood- winked, ("Let i him read the papers " from the crowd.) When I crime" increases every body suffers. The arts I and sciences could not flourish in the midst of | the growth of crime. The government was supported by public opinion alone, and that power could destroy it. The colony, like a ! schoolboy, had outgrown its shoes, which now • pinched it. The diggers would do all in their | power to support law and order if the govern1 tnent did its duty ; they would give his Excel- ! lency an armed body guard from themselves of 60 "or 60,000 if required. Crowned heads would envy his position if he did his duty. His Excellency did not need funds, the government | was too rich, and still too weak. Mr. Woods then read from a manuscript, an original Ode to Australia : it was well written, and showed j I strongly what this country would be under good government, and what it might be if the reverse was the case. The resolution and memorial were both put and passed. At this moment Captain Harrison, the delegate from Bendigo, was seen on the platform, and there were loud cries for him. Captain Harrison was then voted to the Chair, the original occupant having vacated it to the delegate, " who was a man of great experience in these matters." The Captain stated that he could do nothing until his flag was unfurled, and a red flag with a white star in the centre was then suspended from one of the large branches of the huge tree over the platform. This having been done, Mr. Taylor rose to move an amendment — The memorial did not go far enough ; they had orer and over again stated their grievances to the Government, who had spurned them. He understood that a letter had been received by the Committee from the Chief Commissioner, I stating that he declined to receive their former resolutions, as they were disrespectful. This memorial would meet the same fate. .He was for withholding the license fee at once. (Great cheering.) The people could be robbed no longer. (Cheers.) Two thousand men were coming, but what of that — they would be kept at Melbourne or at the camp. The Government would be powerless if the money was withheld. A long discussion here ensued on Mr. Taylor's amendment, which was in effect, that unless the Government acceded to the terms of the memorial in a fortnight, that the miners would not pay another monthly license fee. About twenty voices from the crowd seconded Mr, Taylor's amendment, declaring that they would meet the Government by force if they persisted in sending armed men over the mines to take persons for refusing to pay the license fee. This part of the meeting was somewhat irregular, the ceremony of installing the Chairman not having been completed. When Mr. Taylor had finished his observations, Captain Harrison commenced speaking : He was 20,000 persons rolled into one. The red flag above his head was emblematical of Australia's destiny — the sooner the better. (Immense cheering.) Australia Felix, must be Australia the happy — she will be happy if improved in laws, but if the Government of the country does not meud its ways she will be cursed. The thousands that come here to dig, come undei delusion : they will be worse off than in England ; they should be told both sides of the questiou — that while many do well there are thousands not earning their living. The Government tried in December last to double the license' fee, which was resisted successfully; they were now on another tack — they had called on the representatives of the people to sanction a tax of 2s. 6d. per ounce. The moment the bill passes, gold will be reduced 2s. 6d. per ounce in value. They had called a meeting in Bendigo fourteen days since. The people would pay a tax of Is. per ounce, and ss. per man — this would not tax the unsuccessful digger : the present tax was unfair— the Government wished to get the 30s. license, and 2s. 6d. per j ounce. They had written to the Government at

Sydney and Adelaide to co-operate to prevent gold smuggling. Could they do so ? They did not want the money — they squandered the present taxes in useless offices. T hey manacled the people to get this 30?. tax — they wished to disarm the people. The diggers mast not waste powder, it will all be waated — they must not fire after sundown unless in cases of attack ; any man caught out after nine at night let him be made fast to a tree till morning, then, there would be no need of Lynch law. He thought there was no use petitioning, but it might be tried once more for the last time ; if it does not succeed, then send an armed force to Melbourne, (Tremendous cheering 1 .) America drew the sword. (Cheers.) They must meet there again on the loth November. He hoped things would end well, — if they did not the people must prepare for the worst. (Great cheering: ) Mr. Taylor wished to state in reply that he would be the first to resist the license fee. The Chairman again spoke — the meeting having risen to many thousands. Let Government have till the 1 5th November. la Bendigo they had threatened to withhold license fees if the roads were not made ; the threat succeeded. He appealed to the Press, which did the duty of the sword and the cannon. He stated that a Commissioner in Bendigo had tricked the people by buying gold when it was less than £3 per ounce, and paying it to the Treasury for license fees at 60s. per ounce, after having refused to receive it at that price from the people. They bad a great meeting in Bendigo in consequence, and they again, beat the Government, They marched in column to the Commissioner's camp, who called 14 policemen to protect him. In conclusion he would say, " if the Government will not protect you, then seize protection and march on Melbourne." (Great cheers.) Mr. Taylor, in deference to the Commitete, withdrew his amendment. — The resolution and memorial were passed. Dr. Gibson moved, and Mr. Healy seconded a resolution with memorial in favour of setting apart some portion of the runs in the neighbourhood of the diggings for depasturing cattle and sheep. It was shewn by Mr. Healy that there was a combination among the squatters to tax the diggers ; that scabby sheep were sold at the mines for double the piice which good meat cost in Melbourne. The price in Melbourne was 10s. 6d. for a sheep ; here it was 21s. They could be had 20 miles from the diggings at 7s. 6d. each. The Chairman, who spoke as a squatter, put the resolution to the meeting, and it was carried. Mr. Levey, in an excellent speech, proposed the adoption of the following memorial to the Legislative Council :— 1 That your petitioner* have beard with serious alarm and regret tbat a bill has been introduced into your honorable house for tbe purpose of levying a duly ou all gold exported from this colony, and that the bill has passed the second reading. 2. That from tbe speech of the honorable. the Attorney-General, as reported in the Melbourne papers, it doits not appear to your petitioners that the abolition of the present license-fee is contemplated. That from the amount of gold conveyed to Melbourne by the Government escort and other means, 80,000 ounces weekly, as compared with tbe es'irnated number of persons employed in gold mining (80,000 persons) your petitioneis are of opinion tbat tbe average earnings of a digger do not exceed an ounce a week, which at tbe present price of gold is not higher than the remuneration of any other description of unskilled labour. 4. Tbat your petitioners at present, in addition to contributing to the ordinary revenue by their consumption of articles payings Customs' duties, pay a license-fee or poll tax of 305., or £18 per annum. 4 Tbat if the proposed measure be carried out the price of gold in the colony will be reduced in exact proportion to the amount of duty imposed. Diggers will, on an average be taxed (should the duty be 2s. 6d. per ounce) at the rate of £24 10s. per annum, or nearly one-sixth part of his entire earnings, in addition to the ordinary taxation or payment of Customs 1 duties — a rate of taxation higher than is exacted in any other part of the world. 5. That from tbe present numbers on the gold fields and the daily accession in number, your petitioners are of opinion tbat if proper means were adopted, such as tbe Commissioners patrolling tbe diggings for the purpose of collecting license-fees, a revenue might be raised of one million (£1,000,000) sterling per anuum. 6. That if the present bill be passed, your petitioners would receive a heavy blow and discouragement, and the proper deveiopement of the mineral wealth of this colony would be .materially checked. Your petitioners would therefore urgently and earnestly pray your honourable house that no export duty may be imposed, unless the license-fee be entirely abolished. And your petitioners, &c, &c. Dated at Moonlight Flat, Forest Creek, this 23rd of October, 1852. . Signed by the Chairman, for tod on behalf of the Meeting. Mr. Potts seconded the adoption of the me* morial, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, Captain Harrison, who returned thanks in a brief speech. He said the Bendigo diggers had met, and would not have the Gold Export Duty Bill at any price. As for the estimate of an ounce per man, it was not too low, he said. He called ; upon the meeting for three cheers for the cause, which was responded to by all present. The dense mass then separated, to meet, "as a forlorn hope," on the 15th November. Subscriptions were thea entered into, to de« fray the expenses of the Committee, a deputation of which would proceed to Melbourne, to see the Lieutenant-Governor. A pannikin fall of gold, notes, and silver, was collected on the spot in a few minutes, and the meeting separated. The greatest order and harmony prevailed throughout.