NELSON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3173, 30 August 1881, Page 3

NELSON.

August 30. On Saturday a building situated at the foot of the Moatcre Hills, known as the Golden Lion, and which formerly was an hotel, was destroyed by fire, but no fuller particulars are to hand. A crowded meeting was held last night regarding the Representation Bill and the cloture proposals. The Mayor presided. Mr Sclanders moved, " That apart from the Representation Bill, conceiving which the opinion of this district had already been expressed, this meeting. in the strongest possible manner, and on broad principles, entirely disapproves and utterly condemns the action of the Premier in meeting the opposition of a section of the House by proposing to introduce a violent 1 change in the standing orders in the direction of smothering all discussion, and of placing the freedom of debate at the mercy of the majority of the day, such change being justifiable only after unreasonable opposition bordering on the revolutionary, or under circumstances of the gravest and most exceptional character." The resolution was carried with but three dissentient voices. Mr Everett, moved, that the meeting tender to Mr Pitt and Mr Levestam its most grateful thanks for the determined and manly stand they are making against the scandalous injustice designed for Nelson by tbe action of the present Government, and to assure them they may rely on our assistance and support to the last extremity. This was carried ananimously. The third resolution expressed thanks to all who had aided tbe Nelson members in their struggle against a tyrranical majority, and called upon all friends of constitutional liberty in tbe House to resist by every lawful means the arbitrary measures proposed by tbe Premier for the purpose ot gagging and depriving the people through their representation of the sacred and inviolable right of freedom of speech. The fourth resolution was that tbe meeting is of opinion that the population basis is misleading as a g i4e in determining electoral districts, and that the present Representation Bill is masked by tbe absence of Ministerial tact, which should have forseeu the present deadlock, and that the present action of the Government in attempting to disfranchise this place is unconstitutional; and, further, it is repugnant to the laws of England, by which no place can be disfranchised unless by special legislation, and by way of punishment for bribery or an infamous crime. That in the history of New Zealand no place has been disfranchised, nor in the laws at present is there any provision made for that operation except for bribery; we therefore feel we are being exceptionally treated, and counsel the Government to desist from further prosecution, which may convert the most lawabiding community to the opposite extreme. Both these resolutions were carried without dissent. Votes of thanks to the press and the Mayor was also carried.