The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, OCT 22, 1874.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 16, 22 October 1874, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. THURSDAY, OCT 22, 1874.

J ust t before! g;6ing to!,'* press we observe, ithia't Sir George Grey Has addressed a petition to His- Excellency , the Governpr praying- His Excellency immediately* to call. together th-e G;^oral,Assembly,, and to adopt otbei' measures, to prevent Parliament being hurried into taking any steps for abolishing Provincial Institutions; in these 'islands, , until th-d ' preliminary -consfcitutional , steps have in , the. first instance been taken. In the petition Sir George •clearly shews that the Assembly has* no power to abolish;; the ,'Proyi^cial! Legislatures, and expresses liis belief—* That there is no "instance (unless it has been accomplished by tyraony or a revolution) of indeperideht freely-elected Legislatutes established by law amongst an inofiensive and iaaustriqus people being. swept, away Without 4 the consent' of each of Buch Legislatures, and consequently of those whom tbey represent, having previously been obtained. by , ■an Act passed r by;itself.**' ?. iA y \ '■' "| j. I This is exactly ': the -arg|Ument we ; have sought to' ehforce in every article we have written upo^n the abolition; question, and it is to'firidOUr^ opinions corroborated 'by so^eminent W authority v a,sVSir s George Grey. * In thepetition h e also sayfi-r- ...... ,y .„. *. i , , That be.iscredibly, informed tha*i ; the jPi;e* tnier of the CtolonyhasrecenViy gone tb; England, and that one of the objects of such proceeding on his;part , is to obtain an/alteratjon by- the Brii-.h Par iamenc of the New Zealand A,ct, in order'that ' powers^ may/ be ,'*cbnferred up<?nthe General Assembly Of New Zealatd, enabling it to abolish the whole or pare ofthe existing provinces" and Provincial: Governiments of JVow Zealand. .. r.-y. .-...>, That the only manner in which yoar petitioner and his fellow colonists eanv become aware of the "representation already' raaiie or about to be made to the British Gpyerriment to' induce Parliament to alter the 'New Zealand Constitution Act, and' of your * Excellency 'a reebmmeudations and euggestions in relation thereto, which must have a very important influence is, by all the papers connected w.tlk the suViect beibg l'ri'd without delay before the General , Assembly, accompanied by expl«nations Irom the present Ministry. Hence the request /that -the Assembly be called together, at once.- Qur, space will not, admit of our., further referring to the matter at present. We shall, ,however ; return to it. A ' y.