THE PORT CHALMERS RECEPTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2678, 6 September 1870, Page 3

THE PORT CHALMERS RECEPTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Siri—-1 have read a letter in this day's; issue of the Daily Times, signed "Ratepayer,"'and headed "The Port Chalmers Reception." I agree with " Ratepayer" as to the impropriety of the Council's vote of Lsj although not precisely on fche same grounds. As lam nofc much of a poUtical, and. still less of a legal, turn of mind, I am little versed in Ordinances, and therefore can* not speak as to the legality of the CouncU's proceeding ; although, parvis componere magna, it is in my recollection the same thing was done, nofc only here, bufc in Dunedin, on the occasion of fche visit; of H.R.H. fche Duke of Edinburgh. I consider, therefore, thafc "Ratepayer's" remarks indicate, probably a just and legal, but certainly a parsimonious and cheese-paring policy. Where I disaprove of the action of the Counoil : is not in regard fco fche vote itself, bufc that they ! should have rendered not only themselves, ! bat, unfortunately, through them, the in- ! habitants, ridiculous, by voting for such a. purpose such a paltry and miserable amount. * However, Sir, I am happy to infojmi.you* i and, through your paper, the public*, that 'there is a probability of a reception being ' given to His Honour in a manner, more, ■ worthy of him, considering the great services he has rendered to the province, and;decidedly more ereditabie to the inhabitants pf PortChalmers. —lam, &c, JL.iD. PortChalmers, Sept. 3rd. TO THE EDITOR.,, Sir—That the, vote of five pounds to be spent in the reception of His Honour the Superintendent should be objected to by a ratepayer is not to be wondered at, and although 1 cannot agree with him, in his objection that it would be a misapplication of the municipal, revenue, I coincide with his views generaUy. 1 cannot vouch for the correctness of the programme, as JL hear there is, to be a special meeting of. the Committee} directly the steamer with His Honour, on board is signaUed, and alterations wiU be made if necessary, but this is, ifc afc present,.:— Naval "Volunteer boat to.convey ,His Honour to the jetty; on passing the jetty, a salute from fche brass gun (not so heavily charged as hitherto) ; on arrival afc the head. of the jetty steps, His Worship the Mayor and Town Council will add reps him, from the jetty truck, and invite him to get up and take> ride to the end of the raUs, where he is to be hoißted shoulder high, and, preceded by a brass band, conveyed to Dodson's, where a lupcheon is ordered j for 12 at 10s...per head, to be paid for oufc of municipal nev^nue (that is where, the mistake lies):. ; any citizen outside the Council to have the privilege of sitting at j tho same table by,-paying for what he gets|. ! After lunch His Honour is to be driven to Dunedin in a coach and four, ;met by, the local authorities at the Water of Leith, aqd .thence accompanied until they arrive at the Government B.mlding3, when they will retire, and leave His Honour to get home some three or four hours later than he would- if left to himself at the Port. Now, I hope that if anything be done in the Port to,give the Obago members and His Honour,a reception, the citizens should take action thereon, and not lei it go forfch to the world thst ; the great cervices of His Honour to the. Port this session are only worth a five. pound note, aa per resolution of the Town,. Council. —lam, &o, Ratepayer^Nq, %.

Port Chalmers

I OUR LAND LAWS, •iO WE, JihxTOß. Sift—_One of the greatest evils of this over-governed country is the difficulty which the public experiences, in finding out jwhat its representatives and, riders are doing f when fchey assemble afc Wellington. In a WeUington paper just ta,hand I land the following :—"vTraquair apd, Stuart Hundreds BiU.—On.the motion of; Mr Macandrew th»r the Hou&egoihto Cainpaittee on tbis BiU, Mr Driver gave notice of his intention to move oertaip amendments in the Bill, House, then went iato Committee on this ' Bill v and a motion, by Mr JMver to strit- c out clause two being negatived after a long dis-. cossiop, the Bill was passed through Com, mitfcee and read a third time." I feel sure : that there are, not ten men inthe Province of ! Ofcago who ever heard of this Bill before Saturday last. Caa you explf.m what the ! object of the measure is? The Hundreds in question have cosfc the country an immense sum already. The vicious determination of a few Taieri settlers to have one of tlum at any coat, has been the first oau.se of all the ilhfeeling on the Land question which has distracted Otago for the last three years. I thought the finale was reached when the Council voted LIOQ last session to compensate Mr James Reid for defending hia proceedings in connection with the Traquair Hundred. But now it would appoar that the Provincial Government has succeeded in smuggling through the Assembly some new lav/ aboufc these bStes noirs. I should like to \uiow whether #m new law about Ofcago

Waste Lands originated wifch the Provincial CouncU. If not, what are we to think, of the impassioned eloquence of Messrs Reid and GUlies, as we find it chronicled in the Otago Hansard V Can you enlighten: the pubhc as to the contents of this BiU ?—I am, &c,

TRAQtfAIB.