PUBLIC MEETING.

Otago Witness, Issue 34, 10 January 1852, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A Public Meeting was held in the Schoolroom, Dunedin, on the 7th inst., in pursuance of an advertisement put forward by the Otago Settlers' Association, to the effect

" That the expenditure of this Settlement being in excess of the revenue, the Treasurer being unable to meet the demands upon him, and the salaries of public officers being unpaid— a state of things alike discreditable and unsatisfactory — this Society resolve, That a Public Meeting of the Settlers be held for the purpose of reviewing the state of affairs of the Settlement, and of Petitioning the Imperial Parliament and the Local Government thereanent."

James Macandkew, Esq., was called to the Chair, and remarked, that he regretted much having been called to the Chair, as he had fully expected that it would have been occupied by a gentleman much more competent to perform its duties than he was, — he meant Mr. John Hyde Harris, who had consented to preside upon the occasion, but who had been suddenly called into the country a few hours before on urgent business. He felt assured that the duties of Chairman would be entirely honorary ; but in any case, he relied upon being supported by the meeting in securing a fair and impartial hearing to every one who had anything to say. He trusted they would shew that they were met together as earnest and intelligent men, calmly and deliberately to consider the position of their affairs, and determined to throw all minor differences to the wind, and to unite in the one great object of securing for themselves and their posterity the right of managing their own local affairs. They were often taunted by the enemies of popular rights that the people were unfit for self-government, and they pointed to their public meetings in proof of the assertion. He trusted that every individual present would show that they are not only capable of governing themselves, but of taking a part, if called on, in a deliberative assembly. Before proceeding to the business of the evening, the Chairman called on Mr. Proudfoot to read the advertisement calling the meeting. This having been done, the Chairman went on to remark, that the object of the meeting was to consider the present position of the affairs of the settlement, and to take such steps as might seem to it best, in order to obtain redress of the grievances under which we are now suffering. That there are grievances affecting both our individual and general interests he presumed that no one will be prepared to deny ; although it may be a matter of opinion, and of course for the meeting to consider, as to how far these may be remdied by a local representative legislature His own opinion was, that this is the only practical means of setting things to rights ; and that the settlement was being thrown back years for every month's delay which occurred in the attainment of this end. It appeared to him absurd to think that a few men at Wellington, many of them, it might be, not being particularly bright, none of them having a farthing's worth of interest in the settlement, all of them strangers to the wants and wishes of the community — it did seem absurd to suppose that such a body should be better qualified to manage our local affairs than any equal number of men among ourselves. What we want is power to manage our own purely local affairs ; to administer at least a portion of the revenue paid by ourselves in our own way, without lot or hindrance from any quarter whatsoever. It is this you are met to apply for, and with nothing less should you be satisfied. Is it business or common sense that if we want to complain, for instance, of the misconduct of a policeman, — if we want to apply for half a crown for carrying a parcel to a government office, — if we want £5 to repair a bridge,— or if we want anything, however trifling, we have no help but to be continually petitioning and memorialising Wellington, sometimes getting an answer in six months, and then perhaps to the effect that our petitions have been transmitted through the wrong channel, and at other times getting no answer at all ? After sundry observations in this strain, the Chairman proceeded to remark, that of the £7000 paid by the settlers in the shape of customs duties, at least the half of that amount has been spent upon appointments which, although perhaps necessary in a papulous colony,

are perfectly useless in so small a community as this. Had this money been applied by ourselves, instead of at this moment an empty exchequer with nothing to show, we would no doubt have seen a road from Port Chalmers to Dunedin, and from Dunedin to the Clutha, and a staff of road-makers employed from one year's end to the other. Another grievance, which calls loudly for your attention, is the mode in which the settlement has been surveyed, — street and road-lines utterly impracticable, laid out on paper, without reference to the natural formation of the ground. Then again the laying off the district in suburban sections appears to many to be a great blunder, and in his opinion the sooner that these suburban sections are either abolished or curtailed to two acres or so, and the boundaries of the town belt also much curtailed, the better. These are matters which can only be dealt with satisfactorily by a local legislature well acquainted with the merits of the case, and prepared to remodel the whole concern, taking care of course to protect the vested rights of the present landholders. Then again the price of the land is a question worthy of consideration. Altogether, it appeared to him that the progress of the settlement had been much impeded, and the revenue misapplied, in consequence of the want of local self-government ; the views of the original founders of the settlement, instead of having been promoted, have been practically thwarted by the colonial legislature ; with a revenue equal to that of any settlement in New Zealand, in proportion to the population, the local treasury is at this moment empty, and the odium is borne not by those who are the cause of this, but by the settlement ; almost the whole revenue has been spent upon a Supreme Court, which has hitherto had no business to perform, and is therefore unnecessary ; a Resident Magistrate's Court, the constitution of which is opposed to the first principles of the British Constitution, inasmuch as it gives into the hands of one man power over the persons of his fellow-subjects for six months, and over their property to the extent of £20 ; and that, mark you, without trial by jury, or any appeal whatever. Such a power is unconstitutional, and too great to be lodged in the hands of any one man, were he a Solomon himself.

It was then moved by Mr. Cutten, seconded by Mr. Stevenson, and carried unanimously,

That this Meeting resolves respectfully to Petition Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, and the Imperial Parliament, to the that extensive powers of Self-Government may be immediately conferred upon the Otago Settlers, as being the only and most effective remedy against the grievances under which they are now labouring.

The Petition to the Queen, Lords, and Commons, adopted by the Otago Settlers' Association, (pub lished in No. 31), was read by the Secretary.

Mr. Cuttex said that the resolution he was about to propose had fallen into his hands in consequence of the absence of a gentlemen who had undertaken it. He would not enlarge on the advantage of Local Self-Government ; the subject had already been so fully argued on. many occasions ; they were, in his opinion, so \manimous upon its advantages, and the Chairman had so ably stated the object of the meeting, that he would at once propose — That the Petition now read be adopted. Mr. Rennie said, I beg to second the resolution that has just been, made — the adoption of the Petition. It appears to be an embodyment of our general and individual grievances, and the remedy pointed out for these — large poioers of Self-government — is, I think, the only source from which we may expect redress.

Mr. Thorbuiin moved, as an amendment, — That those portions of the Petition referring to those who dissented from the Scheme and the Land Claimants, Ordinance be struck out. The amendment not being seconded, the original resolution was carried.

Mr. Adam said, — Mr. Chairman, the resolution which I hold in my hand cannot fail to commend itself to many who are here, especially to those who signed that Petition which His Excellency Sir George Grey promised to lay before the Legislative Council of New Zealand, which Petition, so far as I have ever heard, has been consigned to eternal silence. But this resolution has much to recommend it to them who opposed that Petition, inasmuch as its fate involves the destruction of one of our dearest rights ; and lam persuaded that many of these persons regret to think that His Excellency should have.been so bland and sweet to our faces, and so unkind and untrue behind our back. But whether it commends itself to these or not, surely it does so to us who have assembled here, for what is the use of crying where we shall not be heard ? Let us at once appeal to the fountain head — the British throne. The Queen never yet turned a deaf ear to our petition, but Sir George has ; and what he has done before, he may do again; and X am certain if tie meeting adopt this resolution, they have recourse to an antidote that will preserve the Petition, now read from the oblivion of the one received by His Excellency at Port Chalmers. The resolution is as follows —

That the Petition now adopted be transmitted for presentation to her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen through His Excellency Sir George Grey, X..C 8., Governor-in-Chief of New Zealand; to the House of Lords through His Grace the Duke, of Argyle ; and to the Comnfons through the Right Honourable Fox Maule Secretary at War.

Seconded by Mr. Bain, and carried unanimously. Mr .'Langlands said,— Sir, The resolution I have the honour to propose, is one that I am sure will meet xvith a most hearty response from the meeting. It is as follows — That a copy of the Petition be transmitted to the Committee of the Otago Association, with a special request that it will use its influence with the members of the legislature in support of-the prayer of the Petition. There is no body (he continued) to whom we could with greater safety entrust the prosecution and advancement of our interests than the Committee of the Otago Association. They have ever shewn the utmost concern in the prosperity of this settlement. Witness their jealous watchfulness <*ver the arrangement at its outset, by which our settlers were ensured immediate possession of their land on their arrival, thereby avoiding all the delay and loss which the first emigrants to "Wellington and" Nelson experienced. Let me notice their intense -anxiety, that we should possess all the- solid realities of the political, religious, and educational institutions of our native land ; though the first of these — our political rights — are yet withheld from us by a tardy government, and which is the cause of our meeting here this evening. The Association and its Committee also hold land extensively in Otago. As individuals they have given their money largely to the scheme ; so it is not aione their influence and superintendence we have received, though that were great in itself. We want to rouse the might of agitation in our favour at home. Is it to be endured that we freemen at home are to be politically slaves in the colony ? Can any reason be shewn why, being competent to use the elective franchise at home, we are not so here ? In short, are English freemen only to be the obedient tools of a despotic Governor through the medium of a Nominee Legislative Council, or an equally objectionable Provincial one ? To that Governor or his Council it is useless to'apply, and vain to expect, any redress. Let us then go to head-quarters, to the Imperial Legislature, and in this work I am sure none will render us more hearty and effective assistance than the Otago Association. Seconded by Mr. Adam, and carried unanimously. Mr. D. Napiek. said, that the object of the meeting would not be complete without the Petition to His Excellency to suspend the two obnoxious measures lately passed by the General Legislative Council. Great injury might be inflicted upon the settlement if those laws were brought into operation ; hetherefore moved —

That in consequence of the length of time which must elapse before any redress can be received from the Imperial Parliament touching the grievances complained of, and the consequent mischief which will be entailed upon New Zealand if the law at present in force be carried into effect, this Meeting resolves to Petition His Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., Govemor-in-CTuef of New Zealand, &c, ' praying His Excellency to suspend the operation of the Provincial Councils' and the Land Claimants^ Ordinances. * .Seconded by Mr. Healey. Mr. Adah objected to petitioning His Excellency. Sir George Grey had asked the settlers^ of Otago for their opinion upon the Provincial Councils' Ordinance, and yet had taken no notice of that opinion ; he therefore considered it useless to trouble themselves Avith His Excellency any further, and moved as an amendment — That this Meeting petition no more, until we hear of the Petition sent to him already. Mr. Langlands followed on the same side, remarking that His Excellency had not attended to the opinion he had asked for, and was not likely to attend to one unasked ; he would therefore second the amendment.

It was remarked by a speaker in favour of the original resolutions, that it was notorious that Sir George was perfectly immoveable in his despoticpolicy ; it was not likely that His Excellency would be struck with remorse, and would say to himself, I have done these gentlemen an injury. He was by no means of such a sensitive turn of mind ; but that was no reason why they should desist from petitioning him; it was the only constitutional means- of expressing opinions which they had left to them, and was not meant so much to effect an alteration in Sir George's views as to tell upon parties beyond him. The public were bound to shew that they had made him aware of their opinion, and petitioning was the only means. Mr. Adam made some further remarks, and the amendment being put from the chair, was lost~and the original motion carried. The Petition to His Excellency, Sir George Grey, X.C.8., which lately appeared in our columns, was then read by the Secretary. Mr. CurrEur said, the Petition alluded to their being almost under military law. The state of the law of the police department was of such a nature that they ought not for a moment to rest under. He would not say that it was likely to be used to carry arbitrary measures against the public ; the British public would protect them against that ; but they were to take into consideration what might possibty occur. It was a sight most offensive, and one they were unaccustomed to — men keeping the peace with muskets and bayonets. It was unnecessary and exceedingly expensive ; for instance you might see, on a cold winter's morning, one or two of these gentlemen, armed to the teeth, guarding an unfortunate sailor or two, who had deserted from a ship — for fortunately the prisoners were seldom of any other class — looking most woefully cold- and miserable, while the prisoner was repairing a road ; when if they were to lay down their muskets and set to work with the shovel and pick, they would do three times the work of the prisoner, with less expense to the public, and greater comfort to themselves. He next proceeded to show the evil of placing in the hands of the Resident Magistrate- the full control af" the police force ; and also in "giving him excessive powers over the liberties of the subject without any appeal. He also adverted to" the Ordinance which prohibited shooting in the town, and showed thatthe law-preservers were the first law-breakers. In reference to the Ordinance, prohibiting grass or thatch roofs, which at tne time put many to a very considerable expense, he pointed out the policemen's barracks as an instance of obedience to the law s where might be seen at this present moment a grass or thatch roof, and from which no danger need be ap-

prehended, itbeing-'under the Resident Magistrate's care. He further discanted upon the general principle of the petition, but as the arguments contain nothing new, it is unnecessary to print them. He concluded by moving — That the Petition now read be adopted. A Committee was then appointed to obtain signatures. And thanks being voted to the Chairman, the meeting separated.