PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2845, 28 March 1878, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETINGS.

(To tae Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,—A public meeting was held the other evening for various objects; one in particular I think everyone will concur in, viz,, the obtaining of lands for the Thames people. But, sir, I hope the pnblio will not follow their usual course, that is, to attend the meeting, indulge themselves at the expense of tome speakers bj giving them plenty of abuse, pass almost any resolution brought before them, and when they leave the inside of the four walls of the building in which the meeting is held they think no more about the affair, although they are the persona sought to be benefited. But, sir, the adage of the mountain and the mole hill was exemplified when the conveners brought forward their third resolution, viz., that of. wrongful expenditure. I went there—and I have no doubt a great many oihers did likewise —in expectation of seeing our loed dignitaries almost tom to pieces ; but all I heard tp.s

I sonic fa'k about couinu-ia not being car* ricd on in a proper manner, but tliey were met in a voiy fair spirit bj the officer! of (lie County. The persons were told . who were Lying to hare something to say that if they came down to the County office they could examine all the books there; and it alio was stated that none of those contracts were passed, uor would they be, unless carried out strictly in accordauce with specifications. There was not a tittle of a charge made against the Borough. It seemed to he Ike fact that some poisons had a very mean and patty spite against the County officers, and that was the way they took to show it; and they proved there was something hidden, for,-after the rery fair explanation made bj ihe County representative, they tried to exclude the County Chairman from the committee tt wait on the Hon. the Native Minister. They proposed that Messrs Cornea, Stephenson, his Worship tbe. Mayor, and Mr Carpenter should be the person's, to further the objects of the'meeting. ■ I earn only take it they considered that thote gentlemen weremost entitled to it. 1 r Well, sir, r with your permission we will review those gentlemen's rights. -In'HhV flffjp place Mr Cornea is an old identity and a. working miner,, one .of the class that have been too' long forsjbtten on occasioni like thii. I certainly allow: that Mr Comes or some one to represent the feelings and interests of. those who have the greatest stake on the field, tint t fail to tee any special claim that the other gentlemen may put forward.to entitle themselves to wait on'the Hon. John Shcehan, particularly with respect to **• tainihg lands for the people; for Mr Stephenson, I believe, wittfthe: exception of getting a small block of land for himself* and friends, and Mr' Carpenter,' have done absolutely nothing; and as for his Worship' the Mayor, the only thing he has done for the Thames was to hare a gentleman reinstated in an office that coils the miners something like a thousand pounds per annum, ..foe whatrV-but to keep a protecting hand over the interests of those who have ruined the field by keepf ing their ground idle to the detriment of those who might work it to advantage, and thoße gentlemen were to be placed on that committee ia preference to a gentle* man who, if yon will allow me, we will give some account of his actions.. In the fir«t place there was tome talk-on To.esday evening about the Big Pump, or, m it was termed there/ the big well.' lfov/ t sir, I remember the time when there wi§ some lalk of the Big Puupstoppijig, that there was a great deal of depression, aid some of those who are tryingjto tbsow diriy water on the afiair took ai active part in interviewing several.bofe. gentlemen, who were prayed to eositinojßj the work; but at that time then were tbM of gold in the Piako know to etsjft; -j When has it gone to f I hare no hesitation in saying that if there.was anything ifmek in the prospecting drives from tike big shaft those gentlemen I allude '. to would not allow the County ill • the credit for the wisdom of tAeir.aeheme. • lath* next place, I find that the County officer! have been foremost in. trying to obtain lands ia the Upper Thames fi»settle»aen4» and I take the Press as my proof.' Well* '"■ ■ I wiU now speak on the subject of roadtv I remember reading a few. years ago that the Geneffil Government had succeeded in obtaining, the right of putting a tele* graph line over the Upper Thames oontK try, but Homeland the most choice parti they could not get, that would allow them to shorten their Use, and elso place it upon more level ground; but I see) the Thames County have got the right to - make their roads through thenvaad have ever twenty miles of the road and several bridges already completed, and I believe I am correct in stating that the whole ofk the cost of the road and bridgeS'is not* as much as the Government paid fortheir • few telegraph poles, and the right to put them theie from the natives. So, sir, after looking at those things, I think you will agree that the meeting showed some wisdom in defeating the little side stroke made by some who wen evidently actuated by a spirit that I hope will not be shown at . any public meeting here for the future, for if any one deserves credit for,his pubUe action, by all means let him have that credit, md I think, the. Chairman of the Thames Council deserves a gnat deal of it. I hope, sir, you will pardon the length of this epistie, and allow me to subscribe myself, ,:, -■- • .-.■> Paudhiah O'Sattbht. ; March27,lß7B. , : , ;v