THE MEETING.

Southland Times, Issue 571, 28 September 1866, Page 2

THE MEETING.

(tO SHE fifiltOS OB THE SOUTHSAKt) TIMBS.) Sis, — I attended the meeting the other evening on the subject of Boads, Eailwaysand "other business." The last phrase struck me as somewhat mysterious, as it evidently meant that something very extraordinary was about to happen. "Well, after several speakers, amongst them, some country settlers had shown to the meeting the hardship of their being left with but very bad roads to bring their produce into town, the subject of the railways was brought forward. Is this the " other business," fsaid I. " Oh, dear no," said my friend, " the best is to come on. The gettiug up of this meeting was not for the benefit of the settlers. "We don't care a rap for them. But there is to be a political demonstration. Mr Harvey, Mr Mitchell, and others are goining to propose all sorts of resolutions against the Government ; they ai'e going to threaten annexation to Otago ; and a dead Bet will be made upon Blacklock. " Oh oh," said I, "this then is what the ' other business ' means. After all, it is not about roads, or railways, but a party demonstration." " Yes," said my friend, "but the country settlers don't know this. They think that it is really about roads versus railways. Wait and see how they will be gammoned by Dalrymple." Being satisfied that I was in possession of information only possessed by those behind the scenes, I quietly waited to see the result of the working of the " rosy little game," but to my utter astonishment the whole of the machinations of the promoters of the meeting recoiled upon themselves. The people who attended the meeting were really desirous of aiding their country brethren, if possible, and of hearing their complaints on the road question, and when Mr Kinross came forward with his amendment, which was carried, and took the place of Mr Harvey's motion, the look of fiery indignation that mantled the cheeks of the lawyer was somethicg rich to behold. He was completely shut up, and the meeting abruptly terminated, without allowing the annexationists to Otago to have its fling, and to the utter discomfiture of the angry promoters of the meeting. It struck me as something very contemptible that those instigators of the meeting who wished to make it a political demonstration, did not boldly say so, instead of sneaking behind the backs of honest country settlers, and making the grievance of roads a cloak for playing upon their creduality. There was, indeed, some exceptions to the rule amongst the soeakers, for I cannot imagine that all >vere actuated by the same motives which characterised the intended programme of the getters up of the meeting — Tours obediently, Abbaham Simeon. Tay-street, 27th Sept. 9