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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4260, 14 November 1874, Page 2

Me. Steward's constituents passed a resolution, at a public meeting convened by him in the Provincial Hall, Oamaru, approving of liis action in the General Assembly. But the meeting did not stop there. A very decided expression of opinion was given by those present, in the form of a resolution approving of the , abolition of Provincial Government in the North Island and the localisation of revenue. So far, the resolution runs on all fours with the Government's proposal; but it went a long waj beyond that, and declared against the provincial system of administration : "This meeting is further " of opinion that tho abolition of the " provinces, and the substitution of local " government, with local expenditure of "local revenues, should be extended to " tho Middle Island as soon as praetio- " able." To be sure, this is a little bit hazy ; but the central idea is quito intelligible, and it is one which the Government will be forced to adopt as the opinion of the colony at large. North and South, tho public demand tho abolition of Provincial Government, and tho substitution of an efficient system of local administration. The Government should not ignore the set of public opinion, but prepare a Local Governmont Bill for next session embracing the whole colony. Meanwhile the Superintendents, are busy lessening the area of the public estate, and by so doing are -preparing the way for direct taxation. No considerations for the Euturo well-being .of the colony appoar to restrain them, and nothing will ever stay their hand until it is rendered powerless by tho abolition of their office. In this connection', wo may mention that Mr. John L. Gillies recently declared in favor of tho suppression of tho provinces, his constituents boing entirely in accord with him on that subject ; while at Napier, on the occasion of the recent banquet to Sir Donald McLean, similar opinions wore emphatically expressed. Thus, North and South, wo havo tho samonoto of warning, that tho days of Superintendontalism , are numbered.

will be a Crown Colony, and therefore the free-trade policy and tariff of England will be that .of the latest addition to the colonies of Great Britain. Dceing the month of October the arrivals of immigrants in the port of Dunedin were 1193, of whom 680 were males and 513 females of all ages. The departures in the same period amounted only to 187, of whom 155 were males and 32 females. Coastwise passengers were not included in the calculation.