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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5017, 23 April 1877, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times gives an account of tho meeting of the so-called unemployed in Dunedin,presided overfly the well-known John McLaren, which was held in the neighborhood of the Fire Brigade station lately. The Times says ;—“There were 100 to 150 persons present. The attendance comprised citizens who happened to bo passing at the time, a goodly sprinkling of small boys, aud probably a few men who really are desirous of work. The latter, if there are any such, have our sympathy, but if they really want work they should apply at the Public Works Office, Dunedin, where they are much more likely to find it than by following the lead of a vulgar loafer. The Waikouaiti section of tho Dunedin aud Moeraki railway has been reserved especially for men in need of work, snd wo have lately been assured by Mr. Blair that those who have accepted employment there are making equally as good wages as the men employed by contractors, The proper course, then, for men requriug employment is to apply to Mr. Blair or those in the habit of employing men, and should they then fail in having their wants satisfied, they might apply to the Government to provide them with temporary employment. The fact that they took no steps in this direction during the time of Mr. ■ Reid’s visit to Dunedin tends to show that the meeting of yesterday is simply a subterfuge for the purpose of bringing discredit on tire city, on the occasion of the Governor’s visit. We believe McLaren’s object is to present a petition of some sort to bis lixcellency on or after his arrival, ami it is this consideration alone which leads us to make the slightest reference to any proceedings with which McLaren is connected. At a public meeting bold at Cavershara some time ago, lie avowed that on one occasion during political excitement his noisy support was purchased for £1 sterling, and what guarantee is there but the demonstration which bn is seeking to get up at present, may not have originated in consequence of his having received a similar sum from some one who would like to see disgrace brought upon the city ? There are very few citizens who do not know how to appreciate law, order, and public decency at their proper value, and in their names we hope that as Dunedin lias a character to sustain, aud a reputation to lose, stops will be taken to secure that McLaren will bo kept in the background on Saturday- next.” It will be seen by our telegrams, that McLaren was “kept in the background.” Our telegram also showed that McLaren had entered upon his latest mission in consequence of certain matter that had appeared in the Otago Guardian. We notice by our files that the Guardian vehemently denies this ; but a perns .1 of those files leaves little doubt that the statement telegraphed by the Press Agent at Dunedin is true. The Guardian- also complains bitterly that the Press Agent at Dunedin should be a member of the staff of the Otago Daily Times. But, if we are correctly informed, tho Dunedin Press Agent was, until very recently, a member of the staff of the Guardian. Read in the light of this fact, its last complaint seems curious.