The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, SEPT. 22, 1876.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 115, 22 September 1876, Page 5

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, SEPT. 22, 1876.

The letter sent by a few Dunedin centralists to the representatives of the City in the Assembly, has apparently clone much mischief. Mr Macandrew telegraphs that it has most effectively settled Otago in so far a** the Assembly is concerned. Justice to Otago he now considers fi forlorn hope ; and it is expected both he and Mr Stout Till leave Wellington for Dunedin to-morrow. This seems to be the beginning of the end at last.

Mr Macaxduew on Friday night moved his motion to the effect " that a respectful address be transmitted to His Excellency the Governor, to the effect that he may be pleased, at the earliest possible date, to dissolve the Provincial Legislature of Otago, and to cause a fresh election of Superintendent and Provincial Council, so as to afford the people in the said Province an opportunity of considering and determining as to the form of local spit-government most suitable, for their requirement." After a debate, a division was taken", and the resolution was lost by 37

against 21. The plain meaning* of this is simply a decision by the Government and their supporters that the people of Otago shall not have a voice in determining what form of Government they desire to live under. , The form of Government under which they have lived hitherto is to be abolished against their unanimous voice, and another form ot which they have declared disapproval, is to be set up in its stead. The people have over and over again declared that to this they will not submit. The decision in the Assembly upon Mr Macandrew's motion renders, any further argument or negotiation out of the question. What action will now be taken cannot be decided until after the arrival of the Superintendent. We think it will be a mistake if he is not accompanied by the wliole memhers from Otago.

The Ministry have, forced through tho House a Bill to protect their purses and persons against the consequences of their own individual breaches of law. This measure should at once bs followed by another to protect the honor of the country against the disgrace which has been brought against it by the Minis-

try. Many thought that no Ministry could descend to a lower state of degradation than tlie Yogel Ministry had done. It seems this was a mistake, as the same gentlemen have found a lower level still.' When they assumed office it was repeatedly pointed ont that they were acting* in open viola tioii of the law. All snch intimations they, treated with laughter and contempt, and sneeringly challenged an appeal to the law courts. Seeing that amicable measures were unavailing to bring them ,to reason, their challenge .was accepted. Informations were laid; and writs served upon them for the 'heavy penalties to which they had rendered themselves liable. . Instead of answering these as any other individual would be forced to do, they introduced and forced through a Bill to free themselves from those penalties, and to stop the righteous operation of the law. They saw the •law would compel them to pay a large amount for their delinquencies, and to save their pockets, they sacrificed their honor and that of the country. Hitherto our ideas of" Ministers ot the Grown " have not been associated with anything so disreputable or mean, but now it appears they are not above doing acts of injustice which would secure their expulsion from even a third-rate gambling saloon. What would our' readers think of a similar case I—A1 — A man has been informed against for sly-grog selling, and proceedings instituted, but instead of appearing at Court, he gets a Bill passed to shield him from the operation of the law, and leaves the informer to pay all expenses instead of reaping the reward the law provided he should receive. This is what the gentlemen at present composing* the representative Government have done. YVe hold that by this act they have both insulted and disgraced the whole body politic. Sooner or later this and similar insults will be resented, for we do not "believe the people of this countvy will always allow their good name to 'je so vilified even by Ministers of the Crown.