A CRAVEN CROMWELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 654, 11 June 1864, Page 13

A CRAVEN CROMWELL.

Mr J. G. S. Grant has employed himself for some time past in the trade of political agitation, and on Monday last, the 6th instant, he convened a meeting in the Octagon, which was somewhat numerously attended, to whom he expounded his peculiar view of the tf political and social state of the colony. The result was that an address was got up purporting to embody resolutions adopted at a meeting of upwards of 1000 men, and presented by that assemblage to His Honor John Hyde Harris, Esq., Superintendent of Otago." The resolutions, which were couched in language equally inappropriate and dictatorial, affirmed that, in the opinion of the meeting, all. the Government officials ought to be dismissed in order to place them on an equality with the officers in the Provincial Engineer's Depart-

ment, whose services, it was expected, would be dispensed with. That all future appointments should be by election, as a' matter of course, of very low salaries, and .that the money " thus saved" should be appropriated to the " opening up" of public works for the special benefit of those who could not get work This extraordinary document wound up with requesting His Honor to transmit the resolutions to the Provincial Council. Wisely or unwisely, His Honor acted on-this request, and on Tuesday, the 7th, transmitted a message, accompanied with a copy,. which after due consideration and a determination to preserve intact their dignity as a deliberative Assembly, the Council returned for the consideration of the Superintendent and his responsible advisers. During the debate which followed the reception of the Message, in accordance with the closing resolution, Mr Grant " watched over the conduct of the different members in regard to the matter ;" being present in the Hall, and taking notes of the proceedings, and on the following day at one o'clock the so called " working men" re-assembled in the Octagon to receive his report. As the manner in which the resolutions were disposed of did not coincide with the meeting's view of their deserts', on the opening of the doors of the Council Hall they forthwith proceeded to pack the space allotted to strangers, and scarcely had the proceedings commenced when Mr Grant rose, and turning to those in the Hall observed he was going to present their " most peaceful and respectful memorial." Whatever else he might have said was cut short by the Speaker ordering him to sit down, which refusing to do, he was immediately, by direction of Mr Speaker, taken into custody by the Serjeant; at Arms. It seems probable that Mr Grant had in his mind Cromwell's success in dismissing the Rump Parliament, for he turned to his companions and called upon them to protect him in the pursuit of his duty. The appeal waaJiowever vain, for after a few hisset and groans, which were promptly suppressed, his former supporters left him to his fate. At a subsequent stage of the proceedings he was placed at the bar of the House, and after, making a full acknowledgment of the folly of' which he had been guilty, and an abject apology he was set at liberty. ' •

The official inquiry at the Bluff, respecting the stranding of the steamship Scotia, has resulted in a decision that Captain Gay was guilty of culpable negligence. We are glad to learn that at tho time of the latest accounts from the Scotia, there was every reason to hope that she would be temporarily repaired and floated off the reef. It is notified in the " Provincial Government Gazette" that John Hardy, Esq., has resigned his seat as a member of the Provincial Council, We learn from Auckland that sickness prevails in that city to au alarming extent. The most common forms of disease are said to be typhoid fever and dysentery. We learn from the "Argus," of the 2nd June, that the Government Escorts brought down for the week ending Ist June, 6000oz of gold, the largest parcel being 24040z from Beecnworth. • The Town Board is reprieved for a little - longer, the contemplated Municipal Bill not ■ being intended to be presse#this session. Next session of Council will no doubt result in the extinction of the present venerable civic body. We learn frem our Dunstan correspondent that the streamsia that district were becoming much less in violence in consequence of the frost and snow on the ranges ; .as a result the Molyneux keeps gradually falling, and is expected shortly to reach the low level of a few weeks ago. The Pioneer Sluicing Company, an undertaking which has recently been organised on the Dunstan, under the management of Mr Hackett, will soon be in a position to commence operations, the construction of the race being rapidly pushed on. Great confidence is expressed in the success of the undertaking some excellent prospects having already been * obtained in the company's leased area. We learn from the " Dunstan Times," that a party, sluicing on the point, at the head of the Molyneux, just below the Manuherikia Junction, obtained from their claim during three days of last week, seven pounds' weight of gold. This is another of the many instances of success which have followed sluicing operations in this district. We have received the first number of the Sydney " Punch." It is in form and design similar to its great prototype, and is a most creditable production. The illustrations an exceedingly good, better, we think, than the majority of those in the Melbourne " Punch." The witticisms are racy, and doubtless to those acquainted with their local allusions, are pointed and appropriate. We have received the first number of * new newspaper, published at Havelock, Marlborough, under the title of the " Havelock Mail." Its proprietors recently left Duuedin, in the belief that a good opening for a news- . paper existed -in Marlborough,;and we are glad to find that our young contemporary has commenced his career hopefully, and we trust with a good prospect of success. The journal > is a very creditable production, the number <■ before us containing a good deal; of wellselected information, well printed. It is to ' be published twice a week, and at present U \ : thejoame size as the X Daily ' Tln^imMpß^ | starting. . -..«._