THE LATE SEPARATION VOTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 111, 13 May 1869, Page 2

THE LATE SEPARATION VOTE.

OPINIONS OF THE WEST COAST PRESS. Writing on this subject the Westport Times says : — " Most interesting, and also most gratifying to the inhabitants of this part of the province is, no doubt,the fact that in the Nelson Council itself there has been what we may fairlv call an equal division on the very first suggestion with regard to Separation. Though discussed in committee, and with one of the West Co *st membprs, Mr Donne, sustaining, from the fact, of his being placed in the chair, the.unusual and enforced character of fthe 'dumb man,' jthe paragraph in the reply to the Superintendent's address, suggesting that in the Assembly he should oppose Separation, was carried by only a majority of one Constituted as the Nelson Council is, this fact is a significant one and its significance is enhanced by the circumstance that .the minority—if minority we may call it—included Nelson men of recognised status and intelligence, compared even with the average status and intelligence of a Provincial Council. It cannot, of course, be implied that those composing this minority are purely and simply favorable to Separation. Dr.- Irvine- for one, has very definitely stated that he wafe not less" a Proyincialistthan he had ever been, but that hie objected to the spirit of the suggestion'contained in the reply. His feeling: was raffcer that.there should be concession *. .. '**• *';-* *;"P y *y'"'] * '*"/'..'■■'■ * " But 'on- whatever grounds '-the minority individually voted, there has i b"eehtli_ admitted by. a fair half of the Council-reitherthat there is something to concede*to the West-Coast, or that, in the demand for Separation, there is. nothing vrhieh can be reaifanably opposed."

The Greymouth Evening Star has the following:— i *•' . ; "Ten 1 members of the Nelson Provincial Council we find are not opposed to the separation. When the Council met on the 4th instant, to move the adoption of the" reply 'to the Superintendent's.address, the most important portion of the following "clause was opposed: — 'The Council r-gt-et to find that s> much dissatisfaction has arisen on the West Coast, and hope that measures may be taken in the present session to remove just causes of complaint; at the same time they approve of the determination of your Honor t> oppose in the: General Assembly any dismemberment of the Province.' Mr. Macmahon proposed to strike out all the word's after 'complaint,' and on the amendment being put, ten members voted in favor of it, and eleven against." The Grey River Argus writes : — " The supporters of the unity of the Nelson Province must be surprised at the number of adherents which the Separation movement has suddenly acquired in the Nelson Provincial Council. Tbe opening address of the Superintendent referred to tlie movement; and the reply, which was moved by one of the Government supporters, contained these words: — 'The Council approves of the determination of your Honor to oppose in the General Assembly any dismem- ' herment of the .province.' The Separationists moved the striking out of these words, and lost their motion only by one vote." The Separation Committee met on Wednesday evening at the Post OHice Hotel, when Mr O'Connor gave notice of a motion, or what may be more properly called a resolution, to this effe t : — " Unless the members of the Separation Committee who hare undertaken to collect signatures in town do not do so, I shall do so myself." He added as a "rider," the words " Wake up," to which appeal the sub-committee will probably give their attention when the weather becomes more favorable to out -door visitations. There was some conversation among the members of the Committee as to the propriety of soliciting the Amateur Dramatic Club to give a performance in aid of the funds required for the promotion ot" the object- of the Separation petition, but there was no motion made on the subj ct. After some other matters of detail, the meeting was •I'Vjo-irned. — Westport Times, Bth May.