The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, SEPT. 1, 1876.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 112, 1 September 1876, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : FRIDAY, SEPT. 1, 1876.

A meeting of the elector's of the Clntha District, will be held in Barr's hall on Tuesday evening-, to consider the constitutional changes now occupying the attention of members in the General Assembly. The time is most opportune. The Premier has at last found that it is impossible for him to carry through his proposed measures. These have therefore been withdrawn, and Sir Julius leaves the Colony. The Government must now be re-constructed, and Ministers will introduce wnat measures they may consider acceptable to the country. Now, tjhen, is the time i'dv the various constituencies to speak out plainly and emphatically. Dunedin shewed the example on Monday evening-,— an example worthy of being' followed, aftd which we trust will be followed by every constituency throughout Otago. The present is the mdst momentous crisis that has ever arisen in the history of the Colony ; the financial T^ssition is' ad mitted by all to be most critical, and the decision now to be arrived at upon the constitutional question will affect the interests of the inhabitants for manjr years to come It appears to us that the bona fide settlers are specially interested, as, unless they take sortie action in the matter, upon them apparently will fall the lion's share of the payment of the enormous debt incurred by the Colony. This is a matter, then, that affects their pockets, "and those of their children, and every individual settler should make a point to attend the meeting on Tuesday evening. We trust that oh that oc'easidii a unanimous and final decision wil! be arrived at that the people of Otago are to have the entire control of the whole of their land, railway, and other revenues, except an equitable proportion of what may be required to Maintain a legislature to attend to 'matters purely federal. Such is the spirit of the constitution granted by the Queen to her subjects in these part's, and we should be unworthy of the right* and privileges of BHtish su^eets did we submit to be deprived of that constitution without a resort to the most eitreme measures, if necessary, to maintain its integrity. We Would only add that the firmer and more unanimous the istand taken by the people now, the greater likelihood of justice being meted out without the necessity of unpleasant measures. We therefore hope to see a. full meeting of electors on Tuesday evening.