PUBLIC MEETING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2118, 4 October 1867, Page 4 (Supplement)

PUBLIC MEETING.

- ;A ; publjc meeting was held in the" Town Hall pii Sept. 20,'tofliear' j xw Mr;TraTcrs .explanationsl with "regard ;i to"the Timaru and Gladstone :Road"BoardJßili; ; About : 700 persons werepreseut; ; P, ;>"?;- Iv ;■>'-. ;■

': Ue;mbtion^ ■ ;:W:AViison took-the ,chair/»nd[after Xfcwv ,-■ remarks.: dutroduced;;,Mr -TraversiI;; 1 ■/'■ : MrTuAvsus said that Ja few doysagby'im- :: ■"'mediately.:;: after'lie";arrived?- ; in Chrislcliurcli 1 ,froin Wellington,, he received a' letter signed .by a considerable nuriiber'of;gentlenieu, : : jquestinghinito attend in the Town llall, for '; -the purpose "nn> explanation- with? reference;; to"; a "measure; whicli appeared .to. .havecxcitedU;Considerable:.amount pf-in- ! terest'iu;tlie;province; -'^Tliis}Chttiruiian^:in; introducing liiui l<yi tlie rneetiiig,*statod: thtU ho; believed, he had heard thatlietMrTrayers); had been Instrumental ; in preparing: the hidi-: sure, aiid\briiigii)g;it -before "the; General: Assembly;. vNow, ; :whatevcr;:,odium : ;niight; have been attached.; to % that ;riieasure—what:; ever, pdiizuv spmer •portions- of .■the cplbiiy,' and-; ; 'more:; especially; "the;:, press) -of;; this" province, had ,to .cast;.; upon : ; thepe'rson. in itsjureparatipu, lie. was.prepared totake'to hiinself to ;tlie f ullestpbssibie extenti because he:wfote every;word bfjf, lie ibelipyedi with, liis own.liaiids,.:. (Applause.);. And lie lipped, 'before.lie concluded. tlie .obsefv.atibnsJrhe iiitehdcd to liiake to tlieiii Jin referto, be; :iible;;to;sheW.; tliat'theparfche liiid and'tiie billits'elfj.wereuotliiiig.to.be.asimmed of,' But: the" Chairman bail inade. a: mistake; in supposing, that hehad takena leading pah —ail active : part>--iu,; carryihg ; the iheasure. : .through : the,. House of ■ Kepresentaiivesi J t .so happeried.th'at on.the; two..occasions. when. '/'tjierow.^ the House, aud heJiadoiily:spoken oiice; aud. itben;yerj^-;sh^rtly^'bn/'th'e- : subjecfc;' ; ' : f.3B.ut ; itwaS': uot because'Jie should not.;have supported, it. fully—it. was;hbt-becAuse-ihe ...ivasfln any;' was,'. :absent occasions;. for had'he been:iii;" the Hoiise;;he; shbuldhave-given"; thb 1 - measure ■his • /fullest.-.- Audi- most;..unqualified-,sup-; •■ port. (Hear;beaqJaiid applause;) .In operiitig. ' this: question: to tlie. nieetingj ; ;lie lipped' they tlie ■cphstituency of who icledted: :;him as; their, represeiitatiye >; ; as the avowed . autlipr.of the .measure,;so faras its. language ■ >aud.construction *enti.and tiiatjhe.was'pre; pared to ;give,:itliis;lullest : (dear, hear, and applause,} .Wow, the history oithe.measure;.was : not..-a'Very long oiie, and; it might; perliaps,.l)B; useful for;tlienv to look' - back' -a ■littlV'to.-wJiatjiSd/tafeenj.piace; iii'this...' ■province, in order that tliey" might understand that history. HeobserveUtiiat a newspaper, whicli: had-not always, beeii, very cpiiipliT: -meufary to him—(ia'ughter)-die kuew ; by. the latigli.that those; assembled generally knew: well: the paper to whicli lie alluded. [A ■voice: the:. Lyttctlmi Times.] paper had published rjetters from, its correspondent at,. Vyellington'j;tiiat jvlien he (Mr : Travers). spoke in, the, flouse,.,he. reviewed theiiistory;;of the coibiiy, Well on ithis. 02Casipii;he was going to review, the. history . of orie..:portipn of-this prdvince,,in Order, to object of this, measure. ...Many of theni, perhaps, had' not .travelled ...far- to tlie sou.tli.of- the.province, and oh the other haiid. ■manypf theni might 'be;'perfe'ctly : well-ac-quainted. wiih;-tha'ft;pprtiph->bf .'■ the. province.' called ; .the ; Timaru:.:arid-.'Gladsfone,:districM -. that..was:tp sayjiiilithat.pprtion of it.which lay. to the- south .of ;tlie : :Kang;itata.; -^!bw,. : -.those who "hail ; iiot; that:.district were probably unawafe.of its extrbme. yiilue"; that, it; contained.withiiiiits'.boundaries a very "large.. arest: of- Exceedingly: good, land:; that:it;ppii>. tained a,large area of: rich pastoral country.; ahd.that it, in.poini; ,of ■fa'cti.prpniised.to be; ■■! one;of thembstviiiiportantjif hdt.the.riiOßt:, .importantj)onioii'.of: the.province of 'Canter-.''. :;biiry. ■ It'po'ssessed-yerylarge.resoufces/.ahd; - ;was:rji, eyery:rirspect f :a: district which ought ■ to 'be encouraged—a 'dis'trict;')whosb ! r'esb'urces : - bughttp : ;be''fostered;and. 'k ;district whii-h . ought to: receive the f ullc3t.pbssible cbhsidera-; : : tiori at the hands :6t :tlie.vGpyenvment;df"the- ■ ,province.;/(Cheers;)' ;Now,thoseAvhp'Biew.;'; the district would, '.■probab'ly.ag'ree with every, ( wbid; that;iie;Ead said about'dt.:., But besides' .what'lie;li'ad;poin.ied ontj the.town of"Tihiaru . .was:!plaj:edi:at tiie-only point ■■■between the:: Peninsula ..and Uaniaru, which .offered any Opportunity; whatsoever of e'stablisliing' ; a' hur ■ .hour for .'carry iiig.on. the trade.6f.the district.. For;nine ty miles to the south 1 of: thed'enifi- : sula' there, was not. another .siiigle.,spot ,at.■ which: a/boat--'could; safely., land ;except.;in : extrera'ely-'fine'r.weathe'r, i'orithe. .whole of; . tliat distance the coast li'iie, was. exposed to, ■'. .tlieitiil swing; of the Southern it. \vpuld be impossible, in point of facti,alpng:: tliat:; line pf. coast, to. erect; any;-works-: ■ ''whatsoever,::at. any ;cosf; ; whibh. would-:be" •■ 3ustifla.bie,takihg;ihtp consideration theiihan- : I cialpositipivof the proyince, for the■; purpose' of: carrying bn;thc iniport;,and.;e.xport;trade;'' exceptatTimaru.v'''-Tiui;ifu,.then,bfleredthe' only pbint. for. nearly one;;hundred .miles ; along -'the e.oasfe.whereanytiiirig in tlie shape of a liarhpur:coiild...be made available. They, knew that between Christchurqli and'Tiuiaru; ~' there-were: three: of -Hiem; ■. rivers, w liicli; presentiid extraordinary difficul-: ties in bridging—extraordinary; obstacles' to: ; flic traffic ; of: the :C.ou.nt:ry.-; : -an'd tiiose who . were"ac:]uainted:w;itli the: .district, well': knew; '>■ how impbs.sible it would :be with any.degree , of l satisfactipn to- the.district of ■'■ carry On tlie traflic of- that district,;if. ;tliey'''" were bound to. brihg:a.ii^their.;good.s.o.v : eidand ' to Lytlcilon, or bound: to receive: their" supplies' overland .froiii Lyttel ton. '-..-Moreover, It'o : '. the south, of - river in no degree less.anobsraele to overland :tralh"c,;and. it- : .consequeii%-,beeame .equally' . difficult.for the..people of Timaru andtlie : surrounding: : district- to: /receive " tlieir '■. supplies- ,from.;t)amaru, '■■flie. : .:hearest:;i)()rt' in. the, Otagp. iprpvihce," as: v it : would ;bp : to .receive; .tlieiii Jfrbm /tlie siP6rfc of ; ' tyttcltoh, Itbeeiime/tlieii, a f matter : pf'ex^' ; ■tremeinippft.ance to;the;district of Tinmrii " comprising. ..Gladstone;: as;:weii, ; that. :.ihcy- ; ' should, havethe ineans pfcarrylugV oh: .rrea-.. spriable expprt:anil i iiipor t ■ trade, i ri of der "that/,tjiey:fflig!it ; ;:iiaye; ! . an Opportunity ,bf available'the: respiirces.; .Ibf--\.tliat>:-distri":t;": ; 'A'iiiifiru, .as'.a'. town j was'/ilicreasingrapidly; -ii,; : tpurtded.by.largctracts;;6i;dand..-ava'ilabje for''' iiij;ricvilturtU and. pnstpfal piirposea; nriil imme- ; .diately.in frpnt.of it. there wasareef of rocks"'" : which :offered; : a fair means/oLestablishing'' ■ what was Ciil.led a bpa't.-:ha'rt)pu'r,:an''d';a''' means" of ear rying but ./certain .worics 'which'-would have the. effect of enabling; the .district■to;db/ :that;whiclr:it;;had{loiig wlslieJ to/do; namely;! 'so far: as tlie capability of the place would : adniit of :jt.>;Tlie:Timaru."district had been' gradually/growing in importance for tlie last'' four.or five years at all.events,;',lts wants, at least, had become more palpable; its population larger; its voice louder,, and its interests more valuable to the province; and it was' ■but natural that a district aocircumstanced /should ask to have some justice .done. to it, ..when tlie'Government of the province: came to deal with the revenues at its command .(Cheers)..;.,Tlie.. first, question, then, whicli 'they had to consider was this—Had /justice : :,beqii.done to/the district of Timaru, or had.it not;? (A/yoice,:iio,;nb);::/: ; Hewasnot'going : to accept that", no '.' '/: as an. answer to his '. ■question at all,; because : lie had conie there t]m;eveniivg,;npt;ipr;.the purpose:of;getting ; from them-isolated individuals perliaps-iuv ' whether Timaru had received / justice orrioviiift iie/'was.houtid.tb prove iii '■ 'f. r, !^!.^.' , 'fi mightstand there /with/deaii 5 '\ .:|i!UKls,in,referenee,:tp tlie.'q'ueatloifrWdW.li*:'' :' 'imani had not had -justice dori J": i .■'•,%"' ■"• '• l W^s»«!a^'not ; 'l, ll ve: been/ -'■ ■insußcd-.-inv- takirig--<tl,e'r-.. part I,b ■■■HW ' the/Bill/jnow-berofe/: 1 ,tlie::ll.iuse',of;:::.l{epresentatives'./ '■■ Jj-^T^-.™^ ■ Wm^lnv~tfiis..inSUer-. :: that he. was/not :reduced to/ the-:iioraitf of" :: entering into iitiyiij-nres ■,* ;ar K iiin : ent« ; at'nir / ontlie,(|i.!esti(in;:::All'. : lieV|iaditoidb-fPrtu- / ; nalply,.for;hihi/-was,to..l>rihgliefi)re/t!iemtlie::i printed :W()rds of.:;hiiHonbr:tliß/:S(iiiui : iiifeii- : '/' deiit of tlie province and of. tiie/otlier.ge'ntle- ;1 men engaged in/admitiisteririg its: affairs, in '

order to satisfy them that those who had the fullest knowledge of this matter had themselves come to the conclusion that the Timaru l . and. Gladstone district had not had justice 1 done,to. it. (Cheers.) He-neod, perhaps, [ only take 'for. this "purpose.the very, last .speech his*Honor.tlib-'r'Suporiu-:to hisS Provincial :' "Councils:- : -.'ln. -opening that Council, ho;said, • ".I; liayc. caused an.amount of money to be - /placed, upon/the(estimatesforthe,purposoof i carrying:; out the proposal made by Mr.Bal- !: four, for the. protoction of the Timaru road- ' ;Btead;.iindl truat/tliat,.tlio"financial position of ;'■•.the''province'will ho longer delay.'theproseou- ; lion of tliis; work.'f They had herb, in the very ■ .words of hia Honor/the Superintendent when i: /addressing/the ProvincialCpurieil-Hiiidiwhcn ;■' : ho/war bound fully'and; carefully to, consider he;utlerail^adirect;rccogni- ; -tionofilipfftct'tliatitwiis necessary to carry ?■ ..outthe'recpiiimehdiitions'of Mr'Balfoiirbytho . construction of the roadstead at: I'imnr.iixahil ] ttiat. was. npt...tlie only .recognition ; it .was ; nqt;the first nor, the last;; on (two-previous occasions; in the Prdyin.ciiil.Cpuncil; estimates :.' /money—werpput;:down ,: ;fqr/ : this ';■; particular work, : sp that it.Vvna hot Vihme at. : tlie liist ses3ion.of the PrdvinciiU'Council, but^ ; at; previous, sessions, that, sums of money, were. : /placed/on, ther estiinates.for'/chrryingbut/the .. ;;wprk,:;and; which: /must,, have re-/ :..;ceived the,sanction of'his.iHbnpf'the.Siiperili-.. ferideiit, Let. them see what' his "Honor said in reference; to. the.. matter wlieii addressing the House of to/ : the Timaru :an'd Gladstone;; lioad Board Bill; '< ■ [Read], Npiv. there : .they had, in, the words.. ::pf:the speecli.tothe Proyincial .Couiicil.an.dsecbndly, In an'address ttftlie House■bf.Uepr.csehtatiyes! ; oivtlitoery question—a; direct/and'.'distinct re-? . cognition of the rights of the iimaru and Glail-, stone districts tb theiconstru'etiphof those work's';:' ; wliich.iwere-.iiecessary. to promote the welfare ;pi the and to enable, the; people:'.'wlip.i lived in jt.to; carry on that export and import /trade which were,essential to its. further; ■'development and 1 the welfare.of its. inhabitants.,. Now, what happened/in reference/to/ .this work? Did the-Timarii people get tii.b money? Was. : the -work which the. Superihintcn.dent of -live province on several OccaT. .sionsV.by iiieorporating.it in. tlie andinhis reconimendiitioiisto the Provincial .Council,.approved, carried out?. 'llie're•ffiii a distinct recognition of their necessity! Now, .were they carried out? And if hot,, wasthere any hope held out.to the people of Tiiuafu. that they would be carried out? They were struck out.of the estimates last 'session. The Government said tlieyhiid notthe money. In previous sessions themoriey:/ was voted aiidspeiit for other purposes thah; those for which it was .passed; Was it not natural for the people, of Tlmaru, wji.eii.. tjiey. saw .£40,000 thrown, away, on a wooden breakwater at Lyttelton,, when they saw £60,000 or £70,000. expended on tlie road to the West Coast, when they saw that it was in.. .contemplation to construct a railway to Greymouth,; at a cost of £6OOO a mile, was it not natural that the Timaru people should cry put? The people of. the district could not place any faith 'wliatsqaveritt any promises or pledges-made in reference to.it when they saw the district systematically neglected in works, wliile others Were being carried on in other parts' of the province, in the value-of . which they had no participation whatever. It/Was only natural, that they should feel irritated and annoyed at that. Id was but natural that people to whom promises had been riiade, not ouly from the hustings, but in that solemn manner in which his Honor the Superintendent, took Upon himself to address tlie Provincial Council, should feel irritated and annoyed, anil that they should place no faith whatever 1 in tlie .promises or pledges; of those who had. so .-systematically' deceived them. It was/but natural for them, therefore, when they found there was" no prospect of having those works of necessity ■ carried.out, that they.should fake 'steps, by appealing to a higher authority, to secure that measure of justice they could not obtain at home. Well, what followed? He could not merely quote' the words of his Honor the Superintendent, but also of the Others who were associated -with him in'the .Government of the province, in support d.f what he stated was. a direct recognition .of ;the rights, of the 'Timaru district to ; these works. The fact that they were put on. tlie estimates, and the. fact that the.'Superintendent recognised their was quite. sufficient to identify his Executive: with the recommendations, because it was the boast of -Air Moorhouse ..that he was a constitutional governor, and did iibtliing without the consent and approval of ■lns Executive. (Cheers) The qiience, as-h.e said before, of the systematic: -neglect of their rights and 'interests was, that: ; parent of the qpibny to do theni justice. T/iiey sent up : . tiiiiiU'fp'usly. signed petitions, unanimously ;passed resolutions, and.a. request to, their re:.:P'resentatiyes, Mr Cox, Mr Joilie, and others, to jurge upon the 'General Assembly to (16. theni-tiiat justice wliicii they saw 110 hope of Obtaining from tlie Proviiiclal Council.. 'These peiitioiis were presented, anil Mr Cox, the -.member for tlie Timaru district, asked .him, anil; the., deputation which wa3 sent up to 'Wellington'from Timaru for the purpose of bringing the matter iinder tlie "notice of lion; members Asked Jik also/if he would undertake to present. .oiVfof the .petitions and. to ■•■. back, its request. He did so. unhesitatingly, becauseliehadalways,. not. in Timaru .only ; but also in.Ohristchurch, recognised the rights of tliat distiict to the fullest .meas'mv of justicie; arid ho felVtiiat if one portion of tlie province "was .prosperous,, it could not be so ;withput- .that, prosperity i;e-acting' oil every other:portion of thei-'pron'rice, and he thiirc-. ,fore ; saw .iiq reasqiii I" bis capacity as member for'Cliristcliur'ch, why he.shpuld.not ,ilo tliat' . which lie considered-woiiid' beneifitoheif ihe" ■largest.an'd.-mpst import;rit of the ontlyjiig. /dUtriots','; for -although; he.was'iiiember fiir' Ciirisfclnircli, arid bound in ail;.iiieasures. to Advocate its interests;;against' ''tlie'world' lie- . wai,bouiid also to sec that hot- only .:tiiie : done.;to tlie'districtwliicli liejepresented,, but - fp, every portion-of. the.' cbloiiy. ''(Loiiil Mtlieers.)- Aiid:he wouldtelli thentlhat hoiinau' ;-.Legislat|ve,-.A'Bsemb!y;..'suc'h.' as th'iitp.ossessed ■:by,;Ncw.'Zeiiland;-if. he we're eitlierisiyiiwcil of' ■supposedL"to:be. a lapri; delegate,wlib liiid.'nb'. .miiid of; his -own, .and wa.s-.puly" pandering to tlie Constituency lie' represented ..to .obtain' their approval of his cpmiuct, (liear, hear, ;and'. cheeis.)' .'■liepre'seiitatives should iiofe: :onl'y '-lie; ,'p'repiireii. to.' .justify'.their conduct.'. ■towards;;their' own.ciHstitiieiicy.'but'.to tii-i.' colony .at.:.large, ; .(Ghcci;s;) jvnil :;own ; .conscience, could; besttell him wlietlier ; the course he -had -taken w'a9;tlieibeßt:onb : .''foiV' the' country.-'., If hisicpiiscienceperPiittedhiiii toarrivesititliecoriciusipn.ttuit tlielcourse-be bad;taken was the, -best; he 'cpiild have : fo.l-' lowed/ he would.theii t»e;abie,tb'.passtlirdugii the,.world rind-, .receive.■ the' .general '■ aji-' :pro'val of "the. cbloiiy, although, a sectionmight:; choose.;.;, tp. .tliiiik .that .what : ;he- ■ did was not in . accordance ,witli their: theirparticular.yiews. or-desiresi '■.. (Cheers,j He; had : looked- upon .himself: in.. a;;more ; extended light than .as ;:tlie:representative of. Christchiirch; he regarded .himself not drily as the' representative ;6f: one particrilar part of a province, but as the representative/of the colony generally, and-he; therefore .feltit to' be his duty' to ■ Unhesitatingly undertiikeotlie; charge of a petitionyiti large ahfiiii-:: fluential; riuiiibef residents/bf.Timani. that justice :miglit--:b'p : donetoJ' ■' tl'iiiih -: w li i uli. hadv-becn.-re f liaetl -| to'-iti'i;em..-by ■ ii fii"'-.: d'rovincial-'Council.'' ' . tibns /presetiteil, hut he undertpok, iit' tiie. ;reuuest;'bf'.;l\lr-:Cox anil :t.|ic' delegates-froiii ■ Tiniaru/to prepare -a bill, the text of wliioii; ;:he.beliu.ved,|ia(l:bL'i;n piiblished. in pii.c of tiie;, ; .newspapers,:' lie ■ liad. ..not fcon.■ it, a'nii' vM . ; :np.t, : :'''tliererorC|prcpiire;d to. say whetliei: tlie- ■ lext,';,.iis publialieili was -a correct ..copy of the '. l:ill'Whii;h.lic;jield. in "Jiis< liii/ijls. Hiiw'eve'r,': ■fmiri wliat'jie .had;jiciird Joiit.' of dpiirs 'iie- ; : be.lii ; vi'il : it wiis.sulHciently cliisivat.all events,, ■iiot : io:n:qiiire.iiny'large .amount, (if:coiiinii'iit ut.iii& hands. .It ■biir. ,WaV .oiie.-. ,:wliich .interfered with. ; ji.roviiieiul,. institiitii'ms in th'u- colony.:' "on ' ;tlic;..\ coiitiiiry, it' was a bill vvhiuh did not disturii anyone of- the organibut ..nieroly alhiweii ■Jlie ltimd Hoards tliat had 11 r'eadv .beenereafeil' '.. i():(:oml)iiic ; fPr'biic conimoi'i.iiurpnse, and give- ■.' :to ihcni a. certain' eiiilbwiiieiit, ;isut tlie'ibili:.. was distasteful to. tlicSuperih tetiden t. of. tiie'

province, and he would tell them why by-and-by. He would take upon himself to read to them the opinions of a gentleman who could not be considered in the slightest degree favourable to him (Mr Travers) because he defeated him at the last election for Ohrlstchureh. (Hear, hear). It was not likely, tlieroforo, that in criticising that measure he would havo done so for the purpose of bestowing praiseon him. When he criticised it, he did it looking at the measure itself, and never thinking who was the author of it, He never troubled himself whether it was prepared by Mr Travers or anybody, else. He gave his opinions without any reference to him, and he would read thoco opinions us expressed by Mr Tanered on the Bill. There might appear to bo a certain amount of vanity and egotism in reading these opinions; but;; the fact was his friends at the Lyttelton Timis were not going to praise him; the Press . was doubtful; but he had had a little more civility shown to him by the Evening Mail . .than used to be the case. (Laughter.) He .was beginning to adopt the course taken by bis friend Mr Moorhouse—he called him bia friend because they were on the best of , terms-(laughtcr)-and meant to giro himself •;, a good amount o£ praise, as it was suro to go down. (Kenewed laughter.) They would havo nothing ; todo, when opportunity offered, butto place him at the bead of affairs, and he would make the country go on like smoke. (Laughter). He .would proceed to read to them what Mr Tan■creri had said on the bill, as it would be better, : perhaps, for him to do so than to criticise it himself. He would now read the opinions of , ,a gentleman with whom he had a contest, but ■who got a good beating at the end. (Read . MrjTanored's remarks on the bill). Such fwnsjMr Tancred's opinion; and there he .charged the Superintendent openly in his place in the House of Bepresentatives, with having declared war against the outlying .districts, and he (Mr Travers) would shew jthemtbat that charge was true, for he would /read to them the very words from that valuable publication (the Hansard) in which he did declare that war.The publication was so far yaluable,thfit no membercouldturn round and ,say-:that the reporter was mistaken, because every.morning at ten o'clock, printed slips were gjven to every member, and he was allowed too; look over it and make reasonable alterations..; Members were thereby bound by i-whati.-was printed in the Hansard, and constituents had the opportunity of procuring ■for -sixpence a copy of the very thing that wpiild .convict their representatives in the •event; of their trying to mislead them as to the.views they hud enunciated in the legislature;.; Now, let them see what opinions .Mr Taiicred bud given expression to. Mr .Tancred's opinions were sound ones. He was ii;:.cooMiended politician, not a young impetuous fellow like himself. (Laughter.) ■Up was supported for the representation of this, city by that party which placed Mr Moorhouso in power, but his (Mr Travers') 'election was carried in opposition to the .-attempt of both newspapers to prevent his return. (Cheers,) He would read Mr. Tancred's opinions to them, and let tliein: see the true reasons which made Mr Mqorhoiise oppose the bill. [Read.] Such was the language of the cool-headed, sound politician, who received in the election that took place here the support of the very parties referred to, and who, with that penetration ;ivliicli ought to belong to every politiciah,:had no difficulty to see through the motireswhich uoverned them in their opposition to the bill. He believed it was not the interest : pf the people, but the dignity which seemed 'to be the pride of those who carried on.thiwork of provincial institutions that actuated their opposition to the bill which he (MrTrayers) had prepared. He objected to this dignified position ; this aping at higher things; and the currying on of those grand shams ;f or the purpose of spending a few thousands a; year. (Cheers.) Yet although he disapproved of them, he approved of the existence of provincial institutions. (Cries of no, no.) He said so distinctly, and would appeal to his words in the Hansard when speaking on the Local Government Bill. He looked upon provincial institutions at a valuable means of carrying on the work of ■colonization and the administration of certain, departments of Government, but he objected to "By His Honor's command, God save the Queen." (Laughter.) He objected to seeing his Honor march into the Council Chamber, followed by five or six whom he called his executive. He considered all this to be foolish even in a higher legislature. Let them reduce provincial institutions to their normal and legitimate purposes, namely, that of carrying on the affairs of the country at ..the -smallest possible cost. (Hear, hear, and cheers.),. He would now tell them what lie had never told Mr- Moorhouse nor any other opponents to the Billin the North. He was now wining put w|th a little more vanity. (Laughter.) He considered himself to have his head as a lawyer screwed pretty well on his shoulders, and lieknew pretty well what he was writing when.preparing the Bill. He did not choose to tell them all about the Bill in the North, because.if he had, it might not have passed. The. Government were at this moment engaged in trying to destroy provincial institutions, ..He wished them to remain, because lie considered that if properly worked, they puid.be a very valuable check on what he called the extravagance of the General Government; The General Government were I at this moment trying to place the odium of taxation: .on the Provinces, He did not agree.; with them ; and what he would .say to the representatives in the Assembly would be this,—" Go up to Wellington, ..and exercise a rigid check on taxation." But wliiietiie system existed as now that could ; not be. done; and if provincial institutions -..wire,prematurelyilestroyed, they could not Mercise- tliat wholesome check over the ; General Government that was really neoessary.:.....He. considered that provincial institutions,; properly worked, would be a grand auri valuable check upon the action of the i General Government. (Hear, hear.) He 'Avas;going.; to tell them why he prepared the I biltin its '.particular form, and the effect of !it. There: were one or two gentlemen here I: Wlip we;;e;lawyers. They would not probably I' come there and give their opinions on the I bi11,.,(A voice—'l hey are no lawyeis.) He | had..'-been"in all the provinces except South. |''ihn-l:ahd?Hiiwke's Hay, and he had come in I .contact witji all the lawyers in these provinces, j.andjie could tell the meeting this fact, that I all the.best lawyers of the colony were to be .found-in Cliristehuroh-(hiughter)—and he r.would tell.tliem more, that when he left for • : :Wc)ljhgtpn, which he should shortly do, they wotiltihavc sufficient talent left to do all the business for them. He would tell the meeting; wluvVhe would not tell them in the North, (A. you were going to be Attor.ney:Gerieral~Great laughter.) No, no. It ;was;'an uncommonly easv billet, with a vcapital salary att iched to it, but he had no chance ofit; he was not a friend of the .Government. The Attorney-General was notlikely to die yet, and the billet was a life-■o'ie-v. :r(iJencffed laughter). Thero was hothirigpiprevent the Provincial Council virtually repealing the measure if they chose .to:do so, because the existence of the Boards intended ':■:' "'to bo created, depended on ; : th'o. existence of the Road ■BoardV; arid if the Provincial Council were to the Road Board Act, the ■ Tilhiiru and Gladstone Road Board Hill would ; : go;with ifrMHc would now tell them why he prepared;; that bill. He thoroughly well fknew the effect of it, and he knew this—that 'while, itiremained with the Provincial Council to repeal it by setting rid of the Road ..Boards,-they would never attempt it. lie prepared.-the bill, because it placed on the .Stntutedmbk that which was not upon it yet r-iidistiitclrei'iigiiitioti that the land fund of ■tliccidtthywas to bo appropriated to the (lis.tiicts:()[iiy iii which it was raised, and not to be ■taken;-.away for general expenditure, .(llLM.ri..lieiir, and cheers.) That was the ..reason which induced him to frame the bill in thuiiiiiiiiner he hail done. He had not told that ■■'reason in the North, and he was .sorry.to say-he was obliged to tell it in the HjOiithi ..because he was certain that if liis. ■ .true views c me to the :kno\vleii|»e..pf those interested in destroying provincial.■ .institutions, mid really doing mischief to Canterbury and the other provinces pfihiicoioiiy, they might be prepared to reconsider, the. step they had taken, and give the bill a little opposition, The government

and others wero committed to the bill. He believed it would pass through all stages and become law; and he said advisedly tha r . it was the first practical recognition of one principle —namoly, that the land fund of the colony belonged to the districts in which it was raised and should bB peculiarly appropriated on public works within the district. And before such a bill was passed, there was not to be found on the statute book what he considered to be a recognition of that most valuable principle, (Hear.) He must correct himself as to what he said about the bill in the North, He pointed it out to the hon, member for the Avon district (Mr Reeves) and ho paid him (Mr Travers; a compliment by saying " You are tiie most cunning beggar I ever met." (laughter.) It was doubtful as a compliment, and he did not accept it as one. Mr Reeves understood the bill, and fully recognised the principle in conversation with him, ami he (Mr Travers) believed Mr Reeves was too honest a man to say that lie did not see that in that respect the bill had its value. (Hear, hear, and applause). That underlies the bill. That fact stood, and would stand when the bill should pass into taw, as a valuable recognition of the most useful principle, while, at the same time, it left it open to the province of Canterbury to repeal the measure by getting rid of the Koal Boards Act if they chose to do so. But they would not repeal it, because when the Provincial Council came to see its utility and hearings, lie did not hesitate to say they would retain it, Now, those were his reasons for preparing the bill in that shape.-those were his reasons for being extremely anxious that it should pass through the Assembly and become law. Let them now see whether the bill was a bad one or such a shocking one as it was represented to be. It was said the bill would strangle the provinces; that it would dismember the province and do certain mischief. He would read the words uttered by Mr Moorhouse on the bill. He would read to them the opinions expressed by his Honor on one day, and those expressed on another and he would shew them how precious fast lie changed his opinions. [Read]. The effect of that bill—the very attempt to bring in a measure of that kind was looked upon as a domestic rebellion by one of the_ parental family—(laugliter)— and it was said that if it were passed, the province would be utterly destroyed, prostrated, rendered useless for all its purposes—in fact tint the Superintendent and his Executive might put on their night-caps and go to bed (Laughter.) But on the 12th September—exactly two days after Mr Moorhouse had expressed himself in these terms-what did they find him telling themaboutthebill again? [Read. | He did not object to the principle of the bill. The principle of the bill was a recognition of the rights of the outlying districts to have an equitable appropriation of the land fund and revenues of the province generally towards the execution of useful works within the districts. That was the principle of the bill, and Mr Moorhouso could not object to it. After telling them that the attempt to bring in the bill was a domestic rebellion, and was calculated to dismember the province what did he say on Septembers? [Read] There was a difference again! First of ail, that if the Provincial Council did not pass the bill, he woulj bring a pressure upon them to do so; and then, that the bill would destroy and lead to the dismemberment of the provinces ! He read his words from the pages of the Hansard, and anyone might buy it for sixpence, and fortify what he said. Firstly, Mr Moorhouse asserted that the attempt to bring in the bill was a domestic rebellion ; secondly, that it would dismember the province ; thirdly, he did not object to the principle; fourthly, he would persuade the Council to pass a similar measure if Mr Cox consented to withdraw it; fifthly, that it would dismember the province, again ■ and sixthly, that he would endeavour to persuade the Provincial Council to pass the measure if they were not inclined to do so. Could anyone gather from all these opinions what Mr Moorhouse's sentiments really were? He believed Mr Moorhouse had another reason for objecting to the Bill. Mr Moorhouse was a man whom he believed to be actuated by the sheerest desire to benefit the province. He believed that Mr Moorhouse was sincerely and honestly interested in the prosperity of Canterbury, (Hear, hear.) He would give him the fullest possible credit for honor, honesty, and integrity in his political aspirations in regard to this province. He iiffered from him merely in the mode of carrying them out; and he believed he felt acutely his position as Superintendent under circumstances which lis need not recall to them—under circumstances of promises and pledges to redeem this province from its present position of difficulty; and he felt acutely that Canterbury should be the only province in the colony whose outlying districts were seeking redress for grievances at the hands of a higher power. That was what he felt. And the feeling spoke well for his heart, and satisfied him (Mr Travers) that however they might differ in regard to their views of what was right for the province, Mr Moorhouse was sincere and honest in his wish that the province should progress. He believed he was a perfectly honest and straightforward man. Now, having told them so much as to the course taken in reference to the bill by the gentleman most actively interested in regard to the measure as a personal question, and also in his capacity of Superintendent of the province, he (Mr Travers) would take upon himself to tell them what he did beyond the mere preparation of the bill. He believed he spoke but once in reference to the measure, and it was after Mr Moorhouse and Mr lieeves had both made a fair and earnest appeal to the other members of the province not to allow Canterbury to stand as it were before the colony as the only province which could not obtain justice at the hands of its own Government, and was obliged to appeal to a higher power.' He felt for Mr Keeves; he felt he was justified in the appeal he made. He believed he was very much affected, and felt acutely the indignity the province was suffering at the hands of some of ils population. Those who heard his appeal, thoroughly resnected it; but unfortunately politicians had not much feeling, and appeals were seldom of a!iy use in a Legislative Assembly, lie (Mr Travers) took upon himself, after Mr Kteves' appeal, to address a few words to the Mouse on the question, [Read.] Now, lie did not carry feelings into his polities—that was to sav he did not quarrel with a man became he chose to speak ill about him. If any number of men or newspapers were to speak dl about him, and he was conscious that he was doing right, he would not quarrel with them. He would try to remove whatever misimpression was on their minds. He did not attempt to retaliate or retort upon an opponent in his address to the House. He thought it right to make a suggestion in reference to the bill, which, if adopted, might have got rid of the opposition of Mr Moorhouse and got rid of what wero to a certain extent very painful scenes to those who felt that the dignity of Canterbury was somewhat implicated in the conduct of its members. He spoke as follows. [Read.] Now, Mr Moorhouse had given them tins assurance, that if the House dropped the hill, be would propose a similar one to the Provincial Council, and would bring pressure on it to get it passed. It was then that he (Mr Travers) made the suggestion to which ho had before alluded, lie thought this was a reasonable course, because it left it open to Mr Moorhouse, as Superintendent, to call his ProvincadCouned together shortly after the prorogation of the Assemlly and press on them a measure which would not only do justice to 1 imaru, but would embrace the interests of all the outlying districts of the provinct:; and , he felt sure that if |,j. s IJoll()r ,|j (] , I|ilt mll] redeemed his pledge, the people of Tiniiru i would at once, if desirable, have presented a i petition to the Governor totally to suspend ] the hill piisscd by the Assembly, and affording I anoppori unity of having j t repealed at the i next session of the Provincial Council. Mr 1 Moorhouse decidedly and emphatically de- i clined to tirade to the proposal. Mr Reeves ( was more rcisonnblc and asked him i (Mr Travers) to draw out the I clause which he suggested, and which, I had he remained in Wellington, he would have i

proposed in the bill,so as togive Mr Moorhouse an opportunity of doing justice to the districts in the Provincial Council. Mr Reeves had that clause now in his possession, and would try to have it included in the bill. [Mr Travers then went on to refer to an attack that had been made upon him In the Lyttdton Times, which he said was most unmerited. Ho then went on to speak of the error into which the Times had fallen in reprinting Mr Hall's name for that of an I Auckland member, Mr Hull, oneof the dura-! mies of the House, and considered the "sell" to be a sufficient punishment jor a most unmerited- castigation on himself.] He would now refer to what he termed " the concluding scene"—that in which Mr Cox, strongly appealed to by Mr Reeves, Mr Moorhouse, and mutely appealed to by his friend MrMacfarlan.refusedtoyield. Mr Cox said that he could not accept the proposition of Mr Moorhouse. Mr Moorhouse wanted the bill to be dismissed altogether, and Mr Cox said that as the member for 1 imam he could not consent to do so, however he might respect Mr Moorhouse's feelings. But apart from that, there were other reasons why Mr Cox said he could not. [Head.] Mr Moorhouse told them that he was about to become financially wealthy in the province and that he would be able, out of abundance in the chest, to do justice to the outlying districts. Mr Cox said in effect that the peoplo of Timaru had for a long time been relying on promises made by Mr Moorhouse, and had been deceived in these promises, and Mr Cox further contended that Mr Moorhouse's recognition of the rights of the outlying districts on that occasion was extorted from him by circumstances j that it was not a sincere expression of his opinion ; and that it was not what he would carry out if the bill were withdrawn. And let them see if Mr Cox was justified in this opinion. Mr Moorhouse came to the conclusion that the outlying districts were not properly treated. He acknowledged it and the necessity for bringing in a bill to the Provincial Council. Let them see if Mr Cox had any ground for supposing that Mr Moorhouse's pledges were really made for the purpose of getting rid of what was really a disagreeable matter. Mr Cox was fully justified in believing that Mr Moorhouse's newlyprofessed opinion that the outlying districts didn't receive justice was only extorted from him under the pressure of the Timaru and Gladstone Eoad Board bill, because Mr Cox could not forget what Mr Moorhouse said only two days before in reference to the Local Government Bill when he used these expressions. [Read.] Now, with these words ringing in bis ears was Mr Cox justified in believing Mr Moorhouse's professions that if that bill were not passed he would prepare to do justice to the outlying districts ? Mr Moorhouse could have appealed to his former language to shew that he had not deceived him in saying that justice had not been done to the outlying districts, but Mr Cox could not consistently believe him. Although Mr Cox was in this matter specially representing Timaru be was aided by other members representing other portions of the colony. The arguments he used were fair and reasonable ones, and shewed that he fully understood that while the bill carried out the wishes of his constituents it was calculated to benefit the other outlying districts ; that if passed into law it would not only not do harm to the other parts of the provin e, but would carry on the face of it the principle of the right of the districts to at all events twentyfive per cent, of their land revenue for the purpose of carrying out local works. He had now told them all he knew and had told them only the truth. He had not attempted to put words into the mouths of those who addressed the House. He had read what they had said on the measure from their own corrected speeches. They would have an opportunity of addressing them and of pointing out to them the grounds upon which they assented or objected to the bill, as the case might be. He had told them frankly and fairly the ground on which he prepared and supported the bill; and whether what lie did was calculated to shake their confidence in him or not, he should leave the question to be decided by themselves, and if they should even disapprove of the course taken by him in the Assembly, he thought they would give him credit for not taking that base and dastardly course which he was charged with having taken in the columns of the Lyttellon Times, because in what he had done, he felt that he was actuated by a desire to forward the interests of the province as a whole. (Loud cheers.) Mr Travers further explained that there were no grounds for supposing that the Government were in treaty with him to accept any office. While in Wellington he was asked by the Hon. the PostmasterGeneral to take charge of some of the bills introduced by the Government,but he refused to comply, as he did not wish it to he imputed in the slightest degree that he was placing himself in friendly relationship with the Government with a view to obtaining an appointment. He hoped they would believe him that he had no intention, thought, or prospect in the slightest degree of holding office under Government, and if anything should happen in that direction, as he could not anticipate anything would, before he would accept anything of the kind he would appear before them again. (Cheers.) Dr Tußsnuu, sympathised with the hon. member for Christchurch on account of the attack that had been made use of in the columns of a newspaper of Christchurch. He spoke for nothing but common honesty, and what he regretted was, that Mr Travers had (old the meeting that he had allowed a clause to remain in the Timaru and Gladstone Road Board Bill, which would render the bill entirely nugatory, Mr Travers invited him to say what he thought of him. He would tell him very plainly that no lawyer bad yet been a successful politician. (Uproar—" Nor a doctor.") Lawyers were so addicted to subterfuges and trickery that they were unfit to be politicians. Mr Travers had employed a perfect diarrhoea, of words. ("Give him a tonic") He would conclude. ("Give Mr 'Travers another dose—blue pill.") He must, as a doctor, prescribe for the complaint from which Mr Travers is suffering, according to his own confession. He had givcu his assistance to a bill which had been founded upon chicanery of which any one ought to be ashamed. (Cheers and uproar.) Mr Tiuvbus replied to the arguments of Dr Turnhull. He (the speaker) had only wished to explain the force and bearing of the bill. Jt would be quite possible to get rid of the bill, and yet to do justice to Timaru. He should like to know whit harm was there in drafting the bill, leaving as he had done, the remedy in the hands of the Provincial Council. He believed then that Mr Moorhouse intended to act fairly by Timaru, and he believed so still, and that that district would have justice done to it, as would also the outlying districts, He had always contended that Canterbury should have a right to the disposal of its own land-fund, lie had prepared the hill, and he could not see what harm it could do. On the contrary he thought that it would do good, and if returned again, he should act in the same manner. (ClieeN.,,

Mr Wynn Williams proposed the followng resolution—

That tin's meeting bogs to fnndor a cordial voto of thanks to Mr Travers for his explanations, awl also to express its thanks to him and tha other mouthers ot tho llouso of lteprosontativos who voted in favour of tho Titnaru and Gladstono Board of Works Bill, ns thereby thoy recognised Iho principle of assuring to tho outlying districts of tho provinco a fair proportion of tho territorial revenue ami loeal administration thereof,

lie thought that Mr Travers was at all events entitled to the thanks of the meeting for his conduct with regard to the Tlmaru and Gladstone Hill, lie had no doubt but that Mr Travers would give a satisfactory explanation of his conduct, Mr Travers had acted . very fairly in not alluding to any other political subject, ns the other members were now absent. MrMoorhou.se, lie might have said, had admitted that injustice hud been done to Tintaru, and yet had done all in his power to oppose the progress of the bill. The time had now come when the enormous expenditure now employed in keeping up our little' Parliament and little state ought to be done away with, and the

sum so spent devoted to opening UDthTT in the province. This would S* B ,** benefit to ourselves and to our p , B t l* Btl # btevens had done great service 0 ?" Mt v;nce,Bnd he (the speaker) should do his power to support the views mm.- m the letter;,an extract ilSwHffS read. (Mr Williams here real an the establishment of a Hnancial ut 8 Association.) He thought that Mr t, m had acted with the utmoft fafrness a, T* taste. (Cheers.) rneßS a»d good Mr Wakefield seconded the »«,!„»• Although he had often opposed Mt and might do so again, he thought that iwi Travers was at least deserving of ti T tude of the meeting for his conduct in S" ing the bill. He should reserve anySf remarks until Mr Travers had given S,S* explanation of his conduct in the A 8 <Pmki He thought that the opponents 71 bill were the tricksters, and not ~ e who voted for it He requested the ,„S to pass the vote by acclamation, as there v really no opposition except a little amateur medical advice for a complaint from whSL Mr 1 ravers did not appear to be suffer? (Cheers.) ' '<>• DrToiw-BUM, should oppose the vole nf thanks on the ground of the mibterfu« e , 2 ployed by Mr Travers (hisses and uproar.) Mr Cutler thought that Mr Travers' h 1 acted.nost nobly and manfully. Hct| ; ™J that if Mr I ravers had used, as he had heon accused of using, legal cunning, it Witß S JZ better to have that cunning tn\\, H m 2 side than used againH us. If \i r T had been more far-sighted th*i*i hi, J" nents, that was their loss ami our gain regretted that Mr Travers was about i, „ move to Wellington, and he hoped that wh<* there he would remember the inttrtsu r f Canterbury. Our present system of iv vincial Government was only a s | iam mimicry of the state kept up in'ti,, Ii countrj. That money would be m.idWt spent in opening up roads. The p W pl- ln ,„f p ainly and forcbly express tlMr[ nlein g of having the strictest economy ex™; J whether we were under Provincial G,, 7ern ' mentor that of the General Government He was sure that the meeting w, )Ui ,i c " the resolution, and endorse it most heartily The resolution was put and carried i\ m L unanimously. l

Mr Travers briefly thanked the meeting for the attention with which they had listened to him. He resetted that j) r Turnbull should have made such charges against him. He must have dune so amino under soma misconception. fJr Turnbull w« a gentleman for whom lie entertaineJ the highest respect, although there be some disagreement between himself and that gentleman on political questions. He to propose a vote of thanks to Mr Wilaon'for his conduct in the chair.

The vote was unanimously carried, and the Chairman having briefly acknowledged the compliment, the meeting separated.