The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1182, 25 June 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1869.

It i 3 seldom we allow ourselves to be drawn into a discussion with the ' Southland News,' because on the one band (we regret to state it) there is very little honor or credit to be derived from such a course ; whilst on the other, we are of opinion that there is quite scope enough f r the usefulness of both newspapers, in e&deavoriug to pro note the interests of the Province, without entering into personal squabbles, uninteresting to the community at large. Bat we cannot alow some, remarks in a late issue to go uqi- ■ itrulier, d. The editor stages that he otio i affirming the desirability of annexation to So -ithl uid w;is carried at the meeting, and characterizes all who differ w h <■■ nas liars. This, to say the least of it, is using somewhat forcible expi'CM-i m.<. There are some people, perhaps, who might object to such language ; s that of a vulgar blackguard, and iook on it as calculated to bring discredit on the press generally. "We do not ioteud, however, to go so far, but simply to show that our excitable friend rather spolce at random, without any defiued principle, arid seemed anxious to mislead, whether intentii nal or not, we are not prepared to say. We will qtnte the following portion

of the report, to show that we are correct in our surmise : — " The Chairman then put the amendment to the meeting, seriatiam, beginning with the last, when he declared them all lost on a show of hands. The original motion, Mr Qlerkes, was then PUT and also lost, by a majority of two to one, but the Chairman declared himself unable to decide by show of hands. This decision created much confusion and dissatisfaction, during which the chairman called upon the meeting to divide. A portion did act in accordance with the request, but the great majority left the hall, apparently disgusted with the manner in which the amendments and motion had been put. In the confusion the chairman, acting upon the suggestion of some one at his back, declared the motion carried." The report was supplied by two gentlemen, who are in no way identified with local politics, and its correctness has since received the corroboration of numbers of citizens who were present at the time. All agree in stating that there was a large majority against the motion. Our report therefore may be looked upon as correct and unprejudiced, i But we cannot say the same of the one which appeared in the ' Southland News.' We are informed that the editor, who i also reported the meeting, frequently interrupted one of the speakers from the table where he was taking notes. This looks very like pirtizanship. Then, again, Mr Bain, one of the proprietors of the newspaper in question, was a party to the following interesting little scene : — "Mr Bain, interrupting the speaker — You had better cut it short, Mr Habyey. Tour remarks are getting distasteful to the meeting. (Mingled cheers and hisses.)" " Mr Haeyet — I have no doubt what I am saying is very distasteful to you, Mr Bain, but I don't think it is to the meeting, if it is, I will stop. (Loud cries of no, no, go on, and cheers.)' 1 These two paragraphs appears to have been altogether omitted by the ' News," possibly because there was not sufficient space in that well-conducted journal, or j perhaps the editor did not think it worth while to insert such insignificant trifles. Here is a further corroboration of the ' conclusion arrived at— that the feeling was against the motion — because it is well known that Mr Habvey took a prominent part against the movement, and yet he was loudly applauded during his speech. This plainly shows that the par. tisanshipwas all on the side of the ' Southland News.' "We believe there are no less than three of the proprietors of that paper members of the Annexation Commitlee. Indeed, we think it showed a pretty cool amount of assurance — to use a mild expression — to charge us with giving an incorrect report in stating the motion was rejected. The assertion that this journal is the organ of a clique is simply a silly and foolish one. We are identified with no clique or party, but impartially represent the interests of the communiby at large. When a newspaper writer descends to i persoual abuse — when he maligns i private character in order to gain his own object— and indulges in all kinds of vile insinuations anonymously, ia the correspondence columns of his journal, against political opponents, he becomes not only a discredit to the body that he belongs to, but a source of incessant mischief to the locality ia which he pursues his unworthy practices. The following letters are from the reporters who represented this office at the meeting : — "Sir — Your contemporary in his leading article this morniug, alludes to the discrepancies apparent between the report of the recent public meetiug on annexation as given in your columns, and in his own, in a manner intended to throw doubt on the truthfulness of the former. I can only say that the report as furnished by me is true in every particular. With regard to the disputed pomt — the show of hands on Mr Clerke's motion — I am perfectly clear. It was rejected by a large majority, as was evident without counting. As the show was called for twice, how. ever, I had ample time to compare numbers. I can only account for the chairman's hesitation and indecision on two suppositions — either that he was actuated by a spirit of partizanship, and created a riot to hide the defeat of his party, or that, being a young man, the unusual position was too much for him, and he became stupified and helpless with amazement. As for the division it was a perfect farce. I don't believe a dozen persons obeyed the request ; the order of the meeting was broken, and instead of votiug either for or against the motion, the people commenced pellmell to leave the hall. The movement to leave of course took the whole crowd to the right, (the side for the ayes) the staircase being ac that side, when the chairman turned to the platform, enquiring — ' what shall I do now ?' ' Declare it carried,' said an ardent supporter of annexation and, in accordance with that order, he did declare the motion carried. By the time the declaration was made, however, half the people were outside. I can get any number of respectable people who were there to corroborate the foregoing statement. — I am &c., " First Bepobteb." June 24th.

" Sir — With regard to incorrectness in your paper as regards the report of the Annexation Meeting, held at the Ex-

change Hall, last Saturday, and com--1 plained of by your contemporary, in his 1 leader, I have merely to state that the portion emanating from my pen, will in every particular bear the minuteit examination, as compared with the notes taken down from the mouth of the speaker, and are de facto the sense of what he uttered. I was entirely free from any bias, and succeeded to my own satisfaction at all events, in spite of the noise occasionally made by the annexation partisans (in which press representatives assisted) in gathering the gist of the various speakers remarks." — I am, &c, ! " Second Repobteb." June 24th, 1869.

A serere shock o£ earthquake occurred in Invercargill on Thursday, the 24th inst., at halfpast ten o'clock. It lasted for the apace of about ten seconds. The Invercargill Rifle Volunteers met at the Exchage Hall, on Wednesday evening last, for inspection of arms, &Ci Captain IjJUis appeared as representative of the Q-eaeral G-overnraent to report the number and condition, in accordance with a motion carried by Me EJax in the House of Representatives " For a return of all the Colonial arms and accoutrements, &c." After the inspection, Captain Harvey marched 'his company through the town, headei by tho Band, which by the way has greatly improved of late. On its return a meeting of the corps was hold, Lieutnant Surman in the chair, a committee consisting of the commissioned officers, the Color Sergeant, SergeantDunlop, Sergeant Brown, Corporal Hyama, and Private Dean w&s appoints i for promoting a Toluuteer Ball in aid of a fund for tho erection of a drill room. It was intimated that the Band would be quite prepared, if ten weeks were allowed for practice, to supply suitable music for the occasion. A meeting of gentlemen favorable to action being taken in establishing a new source of industry in this proviuce, namely that of preserving meat for export, was held on Wednesday evening, at the Southland Club Hotel. Considerable interest was manifested in the undertaking ; representatives of the banking, squatting, mercantile, and other professions being present, to the number of twenty-five, Thomas Watson, EBq., in the chair. The procedings being preliminary .were chiefly of a conversational nature, the principal speakers being Messrs Calder, Gibbs, and M'Pherson, all of whom had evidently been watching the developinont of this manufacture in the Australian Colonies. A unanimous feeling prevailed that the scheme, if carried out properly, economically, and with due regard to the errors or accidents which had taken place in the early stage of the Victorian process, would not only prove remunerative, but of real benefit to the province. The first- named speaker drew especial attention to the judgment which would be required in the Bite of operations which inu-st combine grazing facilities with those of easy transit to port of shipment, and pointed out the encouragement this enterprise would give to settlement, the cultivation of grasses, and the Bteadiness to the market for fat stock. On the motion of Mr Q-ibbs, seconded by Mr Donald M' Donald, the following resolution was unanimously carried — "That a Committee be formed to make enquiries into the different processes and arrangements for meat-preserving in Melbourne and the probable amount of capital required for the operations of a company, such Committee to make a report to some future meeting." dome remarks having been elicited to the effect that it was und.-sirable any delay should take place, as the months Irom about January to May were alone available for curing purposes. On the motion of Mr J. F. Jones, seconded by Mr W. H. Pearson, the following Committee were chosen : — Messrs M'Kellar, Calder, M'Pherson, Gibbs, and the Chairman (Mr Watson.) A resolution proposed by Mr Jones, seconded by Mr D. M' Donald — " That Mr D. Macrorie be elected Hon. Secretary, was then carried, as also an unanimous vote of thanks to the Chairman. Previous to the chair being vacated, Mr W. H. Pearson strongly advocated strenuous measures being taken to develop the underground resources, which he felt sure existed at greater depth than had hitherto been tested, and which he considered £100 would be well expended in fathoming. His remarks were listened to with attention, but the lateness of the hour prevented any further observations being made. On this account, no doubt the claims of a sister project to that of meat-curing, namely, the encouragement of i woollen manufactures, was not introduced. While ! one description of product from our stock was being exported to an Europeau market of vast extent, to be consumed not only in the cities and towns, but by the various navies, the colonies themselves, China, Fiji, &c, the wool should be retained to employ labor in the manufacture of clothing, and the bones, if converted into dust, would form an excellent manure to fertilise the land under cultivation. A meeti'ig of the Loyal St. G-eorge Lodge, took place on Tuesday evening last, for the election of officers for the ensuing six months. Mr M. Hyams was elected N.G. ; Mr John Young, V.G-. ; Archibald Campbell, Elective Secretary ; T. Patchett, Warden ; W. P. Porter, and Alex. M'lntyre, right and lefc hand supporters. A committee was appointed to take step* for the formation of a library, for the use of the members. Messrs W. J. Moffett. Peter M'Ewen, and Wm. Birss, were appointed auditors. Mr J. P. Armstrong, it will be observed, intimates to those who may require his sereices, that he has been induced to postpone his departure from Invercargill for a forfniglit or so, in consequence of not having got through with his engagements. The • Mercury ' says th»t about 1600 mixed shaep, clear of disease, were purchased from a station in the Wairarapa during the past week at lOd per head. The skins alone are worth from Is 3d, to Is 6d.