THE REFORM DEMONSTRATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1074, 24 April 1867, Page 6

THE REFORM DEMONSTRATION.

The great Reform demonstration took place on February 11, and went ofF quietly and in perfect order. Trafalgar square was the rendezvous, and here the various bodies of demonstrators mustered accordingly, about an hour or so later than was intended. Of spectators it is estimated that some 50,003 assembled in the square, tlie demonstrators were under 20,000. The route of the procession was from Trafalgarsquare, by Pall Mall, St. James-street, Piccadily, Regent-street, Langham-place, Portlandplace, Park-crescent, Euston-road, Pentonvilleroad, to the Agricultural Hall, Islington. By 1 o'clock the traffic through the square, which had alsvays been moro or less impeded, beeamc so dangerously mixed up in the crowd that it was brought to a dead standstill; and from this time forth the few mounted police who were stationed in the streets which intersected the line of route did good service, to the procession at least, by stopping the traffic till it had passed. No extra force of police appeared to be employed, and in fact, none seemed necessary. The crowd, though large, was perfectly good tempered, and with the exception of some gangs of ' roughs," who now and then tried to vary the monotony of looking on by " bonneting " a bystander here and there, there was nothing to be seen very different from the usual conduct lookers-on at the opening of Parliament or a Lord Mayor's Show. Tlie procession did not differ materially from that we had to describe two months ago. It was headed by a band, and by a troop of farriers, who performed the duty of pioneers. Then branches of the League including deputations from Scotland and the provinces, intercepted with trade societies, followed with their bands and flags. An immense concourse had congregated in the vicinity of the Agricultural Hall, among whom thieves and pickpockets appear to have been well represented, for several most impudent robberies were committed during the afternoon, among the sufferers being two of the deputation from the Leeds Reform League, who were despoiled of their watches while passing into the building. The meeting commenced at seven o'clock. Mr. Beales was in the chair, and was supported by The O'Donogliue, Mr. P. A. Taylor, M.P.; Mr. T. B. Potter, M.P.; Professor Rogers, Professor Beesley, Colonel Dickson, and Mr. Ernest Jones. After much speechifying and the adoption of a few Reform resolutions, the immense gathering quietly and orderly dispersed.

Mr. Bright recently addressed a crowded and somewhat excited assemblage at Eochdale. The topics of his speech were threefold : his personal consistency, the dominance of the aristocracy, and the existing necessity for Parliamentary Heform. Delivered with his customary force and eloquence, the observations of the member for Birmingham could not be devoid of interest. He described at the outset the means which had been employed to blacken his good name in the eyes of his countrymen, and from this topic he reverted to his conncction with Mr. Cobden and their agitation for the repeal of the corn laws. He took credit for being instrumental in obtaining the abolition of the newspaper tax, and for having sketched the outlines of a sound and statesmanlike policy for India. Alluding to lieform, he thought it would subservo the general good if the sceptre so long wielded by the aristocratic class were to be torn from their grasp by the millions of his unenfranchised countrymen. Mr. Bright disclaimed all revolutionary views, and contended that in asking for an extension of elecforal privilege he was only seeking to give Parliament the power which it possessed in theory but not in practice.