The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1868. PUBLIC MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 219, 15 September 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1868. PUBLIC MEETING.

An important and most numerously attended public meeting took place yesterday evening at the Provincial Hall, for the purpose of giving expression to the public feeling in reference to the financial measures lately proposed by the Government, and particularly to consider tbeir bearing on the colony generally and ou this province especially. The Hall was densely crowded, a large assemblage also occupying the gallery, whilst many were unable to obtain entrance. Mr N. Edwards having been voted into the chair, after impressing upon the meeting the necessity of observing strict impartiality and courtesy towards any speaker who might come forward during the evening, referred to the present position of the colony, apparently on the eve of another war, the colonists taxed to the utmost, and the Customs duties diminishing, and said that the good Government ol the colony being the primary object of legislation, it behoved the people to consider well whether the new policy of the Government was indeed the best which could be arrived at uuder the present circumstances of the colony. Dr Irvine moved — Resolution 1. That in the opinion of this meeting, the Ministerial proposals for regulating the financial relations between the colony and the provinces are unsound, and calculated to act most unjustly on tbe colony at large. He then referred to the crowded state of tbe hall, as being an evidence of the importance attached to the question which they had met to consider, as bearing upon the welfare of the colony generally, and not solely on those of the province, in which light alone the meeting could exercise any influence beyond its boundaries. The advantages likely to accrue from a separation of the partnership in revenue between the colony and the provinces, first enunciated by Mr Stafford and his party, were now generally acknowledged, even by Mr Fox himself. The question was, how was this to be carried out? Dr. Irvine then gave a comparative sketch of the principal features of the present and of the proposed plans, and stated his objections to the latter, as being unfair and inadequate in its operation. He then pointed oat various inconsistencies in Mr Hall's Financial Statement, which, whilst professing to give the comparative results of the two systems, omitted the reduction on the annual charges on their debts amounting to about £45,000, which had resulted from Mr. Fitzherbert's successful mission to London. Dr. Irvine adverted to the strong probability that a still more profuse expenditure would arise out of the new system, as, seeing that the frugal and economical provinces would be saddled with the same payments as the prodigal ones, each locality would strive its utmost to get public works carried out in its own neighborhood, since only a small portion of the total cost would annually fall upon itself; aud after apologising for the length of his speech, fat down amidst much applause. Mr Gilbert seconded the resolution, saying that the numerous attendance at the meeting would prove to Mr Stafford that there was what he had questioned a publio opinion in New Zealand, and characterised the Government as merely experimental, trying to cure a chronic disease by taxation. The resolution was then put from the chair and carried by acclamation. Mr R. Burn, M.P.C. moved— Resolution 2. That the scheme for imposing the annual charges for the provincial debts on all the provinces indiscriminately, is flagrantly unjust to the Province of Nelson, which, by the frugal administration of its affairs, is entitled ta be exempted from the greater burdens which the scheme in question would lay on its inhabitants. Mr Burn asked who but the electors of [ Nelson had given Mr Stafford the power

which he was now exerting to their injury? and asserted that the loss to Nelson of the proposed scheme of the Government, would not be £20,000 as stated by Dr Irvine, but £30,000. What reward would there be in the future for frugal districts or provinces like Nelson, if they were treated in this manner? Mr Burn, after making a humorous illustration of the position iv which the Government sought to place Nelson, expressed his opinion that our roads, bridges, and provincial system of education must cease, if this measure was carried, and concluded, amidst much by cheering, expressing his hope that the community would show, a 9 one man, their determination to withstand such propositions as the Government had made.