THE POLITICAL SITUATION. THE MEETING AT BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1297, 7 October 1876, Page 9

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. THE MEETING AT BALCLUTHA.

A meeting to consider the political situation was held in Barr's Hall, Balclutha, on Saturday night. The Mayor, Mr Peter Mason, occupied the chair. On the platform were Mr Donald Henderson; M.PC.,' John M'Neill, M.P.C., John Dunne, George Inglis, William Dallas. There were present about 200 electors. The Mayor stated that the meeting had been .convened by him;" but at <the request of a league which had 'been formed since the last political meeting, to consider whether they yrbuld elect to afopt Abolition or Provincialism. He then called upon • ■ • ' ■ 1 [Mr Dunne, who came forward and said' that ho had been honoured by having two resolutions placed in his bands to move, remarked that by the attendance .that evening -all were .getting alive to their position. He then read the resolutions : — I.' That this meeting, beliefiq'g it to be ultra vires of the General Assembly to pass a law having for its object the Abolition of the Provincial institutions conferred upon the people' by, the Queen, and believing that 'a gross'injustice would be inflicted upon this Province were the Provincial institutions abolished in the manner proposed by the General A»< sembly, urge upon His Honour the Superintendent and his Executive forthwith to convene a meeting of the Provincial Council, with a. view to the necessary steps being taken to obtain a plebiscitum of the people, so as to ascertain their wishes in tue matter. 2, That the chairman of this meeting be requested to' forward a copy of the foregoing resolution' to His Excellency the Governor of the Colony, the Colonial Secretary, and to His Honour the Superintendent."^ Mr Dunne then remarked that itwoß high time they_ became alive to their position. They were asking nothing from the Colonial Government, but simply trying to obtain their rights and privileges. —(Loud applause.) A deaf ear had been turned to their wants by the people of Wellington, and they would now require to stand firmly < together and construct a way to protect their rights. He characterised the County system as like hanging <v stoiie around their necks. — (Ap plause. ) It was a nice little scheme for their taxing themselves. Had they not been wealthy, the Wellington and other people would not have bothered themselves about them. It was a very unusual thing to find' a rich relative insisting that a poor one should come anl live with him. — (Applause.) In his experience, it was usually the reverse, "The Government had sown discord amongst various constituencies as a political dodge ; but they wore tampering with tha rights of the people, and the people would not submit to any such thing without a struggle. He was confident, if they appealed to the Queen, that she would ndt allow any such action. He characterised themselves as a down-trodden people, and hoped that all would stand true to their colours, and be alive to the fact that their homes, their wives, and famib'es, were at stiko at tho present moment. The Government would not daie to fire upon them, yet that they should not fire the 1 first shot.

Mr George Inglis remarked that he should simply follow Mr Dunne, and second the resolution. They'had been asleep, and the General Government had been schooling themselves up is to how they should get at Otago's revenues. He supported an appeal to the Imperial Government and upheld the actions of Mr Macandrew and others who had nobly fought out the battle so far. He urged .the meeting to support them in an appeal to the Imperial Government. He then read statistics showing the amount of revenue derived from and received by each Province, thereby showing that Otago by a long way contributed most and received least. The longer the matter was delayed, the worse it became. The General Government seemed determined to carry all with a high hand, and it waa therefore nocessaiy that a firm stand should be taken.

Mr W. Dallas would simply say thafc the resolution had his hearty support. As was said at last meeting, tho time for talking had passed — it was time for action.

Mr John M'Neil, in coming forward said when he looked around he saw faces which he had seen at various meetings, and of persons who by their presence marked their sense of the present position, of affairs. He was in favour of the Superintendent convening the members of the Provincial Council, not as a legislative body, but to adopt or arrange future proceedings. The various members wore looked upon aa the mouthpieces of their districts. If this suggestion would be acted upon, he and his colleague, Mr Donald Henderson would visit every porton of the various districts, and take the voice of the people. — (Applause.) He was of opinion that the petition to tho Imperial Government would be

attended to, and that tne case would be represented both by petition and in person. He then read despatches from the Governor to .Earl Carnarvon, dated 2nd August, 1875, and 25th October, 1875 ; also, the reply to the same, dated 17th .February, 1876. He read these despatches for those assembled to view tho results and judge for themselves. Ho then complained of the .Otago members being twitted when in Wellington as having been under the impression that Otago wsw New Zealand. He should like to know what else it was.— (Applause.) He then spoke of the present action of the General Government as ultra vires. Ho oemmented on the action of the Canterbury members, who were- large runholders, md who in place of studying their constituents, had been looking after their own runs during tho past session. He was glad he did not know any of them personally, .as they could not attribute any personal feeling to his remarks. He then stated that in many cases members were elected on account of the education, Sec, they had received : but, 1 to hi« mind, a good Bound common-sense honest speech, %na that man was tho one for him. — (Applause.) Mr Donald Henderson remarked tnat ho was labouring under a severe cold, and did not intend to make anything like a speech. ' He was usually a man of a few words, but he would say that he was determined to fight it out to the bitter end. He was an old resident in th« Province of twenty years 1 ' standing, < and had always taken an interest in the politics of his adopted country. > He had watched ■ the progress of Otago during the past twenty years, and could say that it has surpassed that of any other place under the sun, and that that progress had been attained by Provincialism. He then asked what Otago had done to have her privileges swept away?'. He had of late travelled a considerable amount, and every place he went he found all of the one mind— tha 1 ; was in farour of protesting against the proposed enforced measures of the Government. It would bo as well to talk to a stone wall as to ask the General Government for redress. The Opposition had fought well and nobly, and ha believed theywould yet be victorious. — (Loud applause.) He held that so soon as the first news of the confirmation of Abolition measures was flashed along Ihe wires to Otago, the flafl of independence then would at once bo hoisted. — (Loud and contimied applause.) The Chairman then put the resolutions, which were carried almost unanimously, there beinff only one hand held up against them. Mr J. S. Fleming suggested tha formatidri of a Political Association. He moved that the following be elected members :— Maasrs J. H. Jenkinson, James Paterson, Donald Henderson Port Molyneux ; John Watt, Matthew Paterson, Kaihjku; Potor Ayson, Warepa; R Robson, W. Dallas, Te Houka ; R. Finlayson, Otaria;G. Inglis, W. A. Mosley, G. H. Gilroy, Inch Clutha and North Molyneux ; James Scott, Waiwera ; John Somerville, Waitepeka ; P. Aysori, Finegand ; 'John M'Neil, Peter Mason, John Dunne, W-'Tosh, Joseph I Robertson, Robert Hogg, and J. S. Fleming, ! Balclutha. . ' - ' • ■ iMr W. Dallas' seconded' ttii pi-opoettion. widen, was earned unanimously. '

.A deputation, consisting, ef .Messrs N. Moloney (Mayo* of South JPunedin^M'liidoe. Car«T, »nd Halligan, waifad upon, His Honour the Superintendent on YjTediiMa&y; of tarueoii. jMr Mpiwusr, in introdqcingithq" deputation, Mid: Yoiu^ Honour,, we are, members of a Committee appointed bra meeting held at the F,«rbury immediately after the political »eeting in the Headquarters Drill-shed. They passed resolutions supporting the action taken by the Opposition member* of the- Home; of Assembly in Wellington, and ire, .were appointedly the meeting to co-operate with any other similar Committee, In supporting our" members in carrying: out the objects of your motion. We also hare ,to ask your Honour and the Executive ,to convene, if possible, a meeting 1 of tho Provincial Council as soon, as you can conveniently, do so, t , , , , . His Honour : Well, the question i* now under consideration, and of course legal •pinions are being got about it before tho Executive oan determine.

Mr Molonet : We know very well that tho opinion has not changed in our division since the meeting. There are three' thousand residents there, and not on 6 voice was raised against the course proposed. His Honour: It would not do to te precipitate in that action. We mußfc act according to law, and I believe' the Executive is bow engaged in obtaining legal opinions as to the validity of bringing the Council together. Mr Moloney : Many in' our ditision have suggested the desirability of calling.an open-air meeting t" discuss the matter. ■ ! His Honour : There is no doubt it is desirable that the people should express their opinions on the matter. Mr M'lndoe assured IBs Honour that tho Executive might' depend' upon the hearty sympathy and co operation of the residents of ' Sputh Dunedin and St. Kilda. His Hoxour : I may say that I am getting similar assurances from all parts of tho Province. It is evident that there is a iitrohg feeling growing up, and that it is not decreasing. lam sure I hope it will be all for the best. The deputation thanked His Honour and withdrew. , '