NELSON.

Southland Times, Issue 1025, 21 September 1868, Page 2

NELSON.

Sept. 15. A great public meeting was held in Nelson last night. Upwards of 600 persons were presentj and crowds were tnrned away from the doors.The policy v of the Government was strongly condemned, Mr Stafford Jbeing severely censured; : ' > : Mr Edwards was in the chair, and the following resolutions were passed by acclamation.: — : Moved by Dr Irvine 1 and 'seconded by Mi* Gilbert—That, in< the opinion of 'this meeting, the Ministerial proposals -for regulating the financial relations between the Government of the Colony and the Provinces are unsound/ and calculated to act mbst injuripiwl^ on tne L Cblony at I large. ' ' Moved by Mr B. Burn, seconded by Mr Luckie, and supported by'Mr 'Shepherd—THatthe scheme^ dr4mpbiin^~fhe annual charge of the ; Provincial debtsfon all' jthe- Provjn^ [ indiscriminately, is flagrantly unjust to; Nelson, which, considering the frugal administration ofiti affairs, is entitled to exemption ; from the heavy burdens it is proposed to lay upon j the inhabitants. < „..-. , •; Moved by Mr."Webb ; and seconded by Mr Hornby— That while the Jfejspn electpra.hayei never, sought to obtain any special advantage for their locality from their connectibn with the Premieir," they | desire in this meeting to' declare ttieir ! opmiou that it" is the duty of every reI presentative to withstand any measure calculated to injure his constituency j and

considering the manner in which the Hon E. W. Stafford has sacrificed their interests, it is their opinion that the connection between him and the electors of kelson should cease — (loud and continued applause, frequently repeated), and that he be accordingly requested to resign his seat as their representative in the General Assembly. — (Renewd cheers). On this resolution, Mr Elliot moved the following amendment, which was listened to with great impatience. That . Mr Stafford's position is a 'difficult one, and if their representative were to be changed, in six months the electors would j be. as dissatisfied as they are now. That it is not for a Minister to trace out the policy of the Government ; he must meet the circumstances in it hich he finds tho Colony placed • - MrLuckie — " Who made the circumstances ?" • ;■ Mr Elliot — " Ido not think it was Mr Stafford." A Voice :" Who, then ?" Mi- H. L Curtis: "Mr Pox."— (Laugh-' ier:s^ ; ;V- : '" : .'".' .'.! i: ."'.., • Mr Elliot oelieved that those who had ' now 'spoken sought to supplant Mr Staf- ' ford;— -(Great dissent.) He then proposed as an amendment, " That Mr Stafford be invited to meet his constituents, and explain his conduct relative to the financial scheme of his Government." — (Cries of " Too late," hisses, and disturbance.) Mr Johnston, journeyman cabinet-, maker, seconded the amendment, for the . sake of fair play. He said Mr Vox was no better than Mr Stafford, who proposed an inconie-tax, but that Mr Stafford would do very well if he were among better people. He had a bad lot about him, including Superintendents, needy place-hunters, and unprincipled lawyers. He censured Mr Curtis for throwing himself into the arms of Mr Pox, and wound < iip, amid great hisses, by saying that Mr Staffdrd had a lot of scoundrels about him. . On a show of hands been taken, there „ , were only, nine for the amendment, and a forest for the motion, which was accordingly carried amidst great applause. ' r Mr Pitt moved, and Mr Wastney . ; seconded, the following resolution : That it is highly objectionable iihat the measures alluded to, which involve important changes in the Colony, should be decided by the present General Assembly; and that it be accordingly urged that the opinion of the electors should be taken by summoning a new Parliament. Mr l£tt agreed with Mr Yogel that the policy of. the Government was one of gambling. . .- , .. ' The meeting lasted nearly three hours, arid great interest was display ed throughout.