MR REEVES AT LEESTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2042, 23 September 1874, Page 2

MR REEVES AT LEESTON.

» Last evening Mr Reeves, member of the House of Representatives for the distriot of Selwyn, addressed a meeting of his constituents afc Loe's Hotel, Leeston. Notwithstanding the very stormy weather, there was a large attendance, and amongst those present was his Honor fche Superintendent. On the motion of Mr Frankish, seconded by Mr Lambie, jun., Mr W. J. G. Bluett, M.H.R., was called to the chair. The Chairman, having briefly opened the business of the meeting, introduced Mr Reeves. Mr Reeves, who was received with loud applause, said, Mr Chairman and Gentlemen — As you are all aware, I did not do myself the pleasure and justice of meeting you when the session before this last had closed, I may mention that after the close of that session I was detained some time in tho North Island, and when I returned it was in middle of the busy aeason — the harvest. I accordingly made some enquiries from my friends in the district, aa to whether it was desirable for me to call a meeting, and I found fchat their opinion was decidedly adverse to such a course being adopted, and I accordingly did not call you together. I shall not take up your time this evening by adverting at any length to the events which have taken place in sessions before this. I consider we are met together this evening especially to discuss measures of very great importance fchat have occurred during fche past session, and to them I shall confine myself chiefly to discussing those important measures. At; the same time I shall trespass on your time very briefly by calling your attention to matters of importance that have occurred during previous sessions, and which bear intimately on thoae which have benn brought forward during the session ju.t now at an end. I shall also take thia opportunity of endeavouring to place before you my political conduct as regards my relation to the present Ministry in a light which I consider due to myself, to you, and to them. I shall do so more especially becauso on the last occasion I met you here, almost tho last words I had with a gentleman — whom, I trust, is now enjoying himself in England — a gentleman of very great intelligence, and whom I consider to be one of the best informed politicians in the district. I allude to Mr Gammack. I say almost the last words that gentleman said to me were— " Mr Reeves, I consider you and Mr Fox to be fche only honest; men in the late Ministry (the Fox Yogel Ministry), and all I blame you for is, you are a thorough paced supporter of Mr Yogel." I havo been, from the first, a strenuous supporter of Mr Vogel's policy of public works and immigration, and I retain now, as I held from the firßt, the opinion that, that policy is a very wise and beneficient policy, and ita effects are making great improvements, and conferring great benefits upon the country. The support I gave to Mr Yogel wifch regard to that policy I would give again, and I only wish that Mr Yogel had confined himself to carrying out thafc policy — which I believe is yet on its trial — fco ita end, before he had introduced the large changes in the Constitution which haver now been promulgated. (Hear, hear.) Whilst I always declared myself to be a staunch supporter of Mr Vogel's policy of public works and immigration, I have always reserved to myself the perfect right of independent action on the general policy of the Government. (Hear, hear.) I may point out, thafc in the veiy first session I was returned, I opposed a measure introduced by Mr Yogel, and which he attempted to carry out with all the powerful means he had at his command. I allude to the Brogden contracts. (Hear, hear.) A reference to Hansard will shew that I voted against the contract which Mr Yogel had entered into provisionally in England, and I especially requested that this province might be exempted from the operation of the Brogden contracts. Whether what I then did was of any avail or not, I will not pretend to say, but the fact remains that no contracts were given in Canterbury .to Mr Brogden ; and I think we know enough of the manner in which fche contracts have beon carried out in thb province to say that the local contracts have been much more satisfactory than if thoy had been in the hands of Mr Brogden. (Hear, hear.) During the last session, whon the Government proposed as the polioy of tbat session, to take the land from the provinces as security, and payment for railways, I opposed that proposition, and acted with other members for tbe Middle Island, in carrying a proposition by which a sum of money amounting to £500,000 was set apart from the general revenue for the purchase of a landed estate in the North Island, to be given to the provinces. The object we had in view was, thafc the provinces in fche North Island sbonld bo endowed with a landed estate, and should be enabled to follow the course which has caused such great advantages to the provinces in this Island — I mean in carrying out those useful works which are subsidiary to the great public works of the colony ; and also to enable them to carry on the work of their various departments without being dependent on the General Government. That change haa been adopted by tbe Government, and is being carried out ; and I believe ifc would have been better if large purchasea of land had been handed over to those provinces, so as to enable them to carry on fche administration in just the same way it is being cai'ried on in Canterbury and Otago. There is another matter to which I will call your attention, with reference to my action in tho previous session to thia. You will recollect that one of the principal points in the financial policy of that aesaion waa to enable the provi ncea, with the aid of the General Government, to borrow money to carry out certain worke, and the billa introduced to enable them to effect this, were intituled " The Provincial Loans Empowering Acts." I considered that policy to be a mistake. On the first occasion, I voted with tho Government, very much against my inclination, I did not speak on the subject. Those billa were thrown ont by the Upper House. On the biUs being reintroduced in a different form into the Lower House I recorded my voto againsfc fchem, and when they were brought before the Upper House they were again thrown out. Iv the Financial Statement of the present year, there ia an admission on tho part of the Government that they had made a mistake in their proposals of last year. In making his Financial Statement, Mr Yogel said that the proposals for borrowing money on the part of the provinces would interfere with the general polioy of public works and immigration, and therefore he would not support any policy which would tend to that effect. I mention these facts to show that the charge which has been brought against me of being a blind supporter of tho Government has no foundation in fact* I may, however, state thafc whilst giving the Government

a general and generous support wifch regard to their polioy of public works and immigration, I have invariably reserved to myßelf the right of individual action on other points. (Hear, hear.) The only ofcher points to which 1 will allude as to the matters which occurred during the se3aion of 1873, was the part I took in the very important subject of immigration paper, laid on the table of the House. I showed that there had been and was very great mismanagement on the part of the Government, and thafc a very serious misunderstanding existed between them and the AgentGeneral in England. There was a disinclination on the part of the House to entertain the question, nevertheless I succeeded in bringing on a debate on the matter, which I trust led to satisfactory results. In my opinion there wa3 ample evidence to show that Mr O'Rorke, who was then Minister of Immigration, had not conducted his department as it should have been done. The manner in which it had been worked was not satisfactory. Two years after the policy of public works, to be carried out concurrently with the policy of immigration, had been commenced it; came to light that a very small number of immigrants had been introduced, and that the Middle Island especially had not received anything like its proportionate number. I called attention to this and many other points,and the result was— although no debate followed, for, singularly enough, it did not suit the Opposition to enter upon any debate, partly because many of the members being personal friends of the Agent-General were not disposed fco crifciciaehis conduct, and of course the Government did not wißh to provoke criticism — that the charge of the Immigration department was taken out of the hands of Mr O'Rorke, and placed in the hands of Mr Yogel. Very vigorous action immediately followed. Orders were sent home thafc an enlarged number of immigrants should be sent out, and very beneficial changes were made in fche administration of the department. I hardly think, however, that the department is in a perfectly satisfactory state, and, I am sorry to say, that it has again passed from the hands of Mr Yogel. If he had continued to conduct it, althongh I am free to admit that his time is greatly taken up by other matters, I believe thafc we ahould have seen conaiderahle improvement, and although Major Atkinson has beeu appointed Minister of Immigration, I hope that when Mr Yogel returns from England, Major Atkinson will receive the benefit of bis advice and assistance. I greatly respect, personauy, Major Atkinson, but I am sorry to say that I fear his management will not be so satisfactory as Mr Vogel's would have been, because I do - not think thafc he is acquainted with fche wants and requirements of the Middle Island. I will not, however, detain you further wifch matters pertaining to the session of 1873, but will come at once to the points which we are met thia evening more particularly to consider. Ihe late sesaion haa been one of a very peculiar character, and, although the shortest on record, it will be one of the moßt important in the list of Parliamentary sessions. Before its commencement we heard from all sides, from Ministers during .their recessional orations, that tho session would be very short, that no important measures would be introduced, that the legislation would be very brief, and that Ministers intended to devote themselves to carrying out that policy which the country had endorsed, These statements, I venture to affirm, gave general satisfaction. At the opening of the sesaion the same line of conduct was adopted in the Governor's opening speech. The country was congratulated upon its general prosperity ; a few measures were mentioned as likely to be introduced, amongst which were the Foreata BUI, a bUI for the trade of the South Sea Islands, and another bill for the amendment of the electoral law. The speech closes with the following remarkable passage : — "The urgent demands upon their administrative attention, consequent on the rapid progress of the colony and the many matters to which that progress makes prompt attention desirable, leads my advisers to think it expedient not to invite legislation upon questiona which do -tot press for immediate solution." The next statement; of consequence which proceeded from the Government benches was the Financial Statement, in which you are, of course, aware ( hat it ia usual fco dilate especially on the financi <1 questiona that are proposed for consideration, and any other matters of importance wbich bear any relation to tho finances of the colony. The general tone of the Finanoial Statement was one of congratulation ; it stated broadly thafc the successea of the public worka policy waa so great that the Treasurer felt himself enabled to say that he could relieve the provinces of any ultimate charges on account of the raUway. He then also stated in a paragraph I have already alluded to that he acknowledged the error of the Government in supporting the borrowing scheme of the provinces last year, and aaid that the Government would give no encouragement to any scheme brought down for such a purpose. He then said fchat fche Government had made special provision for carrying on the departmental and administrative works in some of the provinces, and he made uae of these words, which are deserving of special notico : — " Auckland's caße is far tho worat. It will take that- province some yeara to work itself round anc? to enjoy the future, which I firmly believe is still before it. Westland haa proved a mine of wealth to the colony. •It is folly to deßerfc ifc. The West Coast of Nelaon ia somewhat similarly placed. Nelaon wili now haye the means, as it appears its rulers have the'inclination fco uae those means to become a prosperous province." I call your apecial attention to this paragraph, because ifc clearly indicates that at the opening of the session there was not any thought of great constitutional changes in the mind of the Premier. I believe that policy waa afterwards suddenly adopted— l mean the abolition of the provinces in the North Is'and. The Financial Statement ended by declaring that it was fche present policy of the Government to make the surplus revenue to assist the loans, and nofc as previously the loans to assist fche revenue. It- was generally considered to be the most satisfactory Financial Statement that had ever been made, inasmuch as ifc was thoroughly conservative in its character. Ifc stated that it was the intention of the Government to let matters remain as they were until tho land fund money voted at a previous sessions for certain of the provinces was obtained and handed over to them. The Finanoial Statement waa also satisfactory, because it shewed a very large addition to the revenue, partly owing to the prosperity of the colony, and partly to the very large addition made by reason of the change from measurement duties to ad valorem duties, a chango which the Treasurer stated, and, I think, very fairly, had not been felttopresß unfairly on any olaßß. That increase had been to fche extent, of between £300,000 and £400,000 whioh enabled the Treasurer, besides giving

assistance to certain of the poorer provinces, to devote a considerable sum to meeting the expenditure of the Defence Department, the interest on the Public "Works Loan — which, during tho previous year, had been paid out of loans — and to other purposes, which carried out his statement thafc the revenue waa now being used in aid of loans instead of, as was tho case during several years previously, the loans being used in aid of revenue. t may say, therefore, that tho House, for aome time after ita meeting, had no other impression than that the Government intended to carry out the outline of tbe policy which had been expreeßed in the Governor's speech and in the Financial Statement, namely, thafc ifc would addreaa itself mainly to carrying out the large works it had in hand, fchafc ifc would shorten the session aa much a3 possible, and thafc ifc would nofc indulge in any legislation, or introduce any large measures either of reform or of any other kind, which were nofc of pressing necessity. The ordinary business then proceeded, and shortly afterwards a bill, known as the State Forests Bill, was introduced to the Houae. (Hear, hear.) That bill waa generally esteemed by fche colony as a move in the right direction. (Applause.) It had for its object tbe creation and conservation of State forests, and in so far met; with general support, and gave very general satisfaction. (Hear, hear.) But when the details of the bill were looked into, it was found thafc one of the first provisions was fchafc fche colony should acquire from fche provincea, in whom, as you are aware, the landed eatate of the colony is vested, an amount of land which appeared to many members of the House to be totally out of proportion either to the immediate or even the remote wants of the colony for the purpose of creating State forests. In a word, I may say thafc the amount of land which Mr Yogel required for this purpose was no less than two millions of acrea, (Hear, hear.) It very naturally occurred to thoae who more immediately represented the provincial party, thafc such an amount of land was far beyond the requirements of fche case. All that the Government proposed fee do, in the first instance, was to introduce some few foresters and men acquainted with the science of forestry, either from Great Britain or the Continent, and the amount proposed fco be placed on the Estimate* for establishing the Department of State Forests waa £10,000. There must be many gentlemen in the room who are practically acquainted with forest tree planting, and they must see that an annual vote of £10,000 for the purpose of creating State Forests was quite out of proportion to the demand for two millions of acres of land, especially when it is borne iv mind that after the land is acquired the firat thing to do is to plant and fence it. If ifc were necessary to take two millions of acres at once, it would have been no inadequate sum to have asked for £500,000 to commence dealing with this land. Ifc will not, therefore, surprise you to hear that what I may call the Provincial party took alarm afc thia, and saw, or profeaaed to see, that the proposal was in effect the introduction of the thin end of the wedge on the part of the Government to obtain a landed eatate : and I think they had reaaon — I speak quite disinterestedly — for arriving at this conclusion in the facfc fchafc from the very commencement of the policy of public works and immigration Mr Yogel had shown a very decided and it may be a wise inclination to obtain either security from the landed estate or the land itself as security for the moneyß employed in the conafcruction of fche maiD trunk linea of railway. His firsb proposal, you will remember, included the actual payment in land for a very large proportion of the works proposed to be constructed. After that, in 1873, he made the proposal I have already referred to, to take land for the payment of railways, and stated diatinctly that he would not allow another yard of railway to be made until the provinces gave land as security for the money expended j and, therefore, it was not unnatural to suppose that the demand for two million acres of land on account of State forests had some reference to obtaining a landed eatate for the colony, more eapecially, as you will find, that in introducing the bill certain calculations were brought forward to show that, in the course of time, these forests would provido funds for paying off the whole of the national debt of the colony. Aa the debate proceeded, more than one speaker alluded to this, and especially the Superintendent of Wellington, Mr Fitzherbert. (Hear, hear.) He made a very strong and somewhat bitter attack on the Premier, and declared that, in hia opinion, the bill was a mere sham and excuse to take from the provinces their landed estate. This speech had a very remarkable effect on the mind of the Premier. Ifc produced an amount; of irritation which exploded in a reply, in which he warned Mr Fitzherbert very distinctly that if the defeat of the demand for land led to consequences which that hon gentleman had nofc contemplated, and which would be very adverse to his position, he must not be surprised, for in all probability thafc would be the effect. To be correct, I will give the precise words made use of by Mr Yogel : " If tho bill leads to anything else than the conservation of foreßts it ia the hon member for the Hutt who is responsible for it. To the conduct of the Provincial Government of Wellington, and to the speech of the member for the Hutt fche other night may be attributed any consequences — if any such consequences do ariae in an opposite direction to those the hon gentleman advocates." I call your attention to theso words because it was subsequently charged against the Premier that his proposal to abolish the provinces of the North I-land was due in a greafc measure to a fit of irritation, and to the effect produced by the speech of Mr Fitzherbert. On that occasion he made some remarks which will hardly agree wifch the words I have just quoted. It will be found in Hansard, page 891, thafc Mr Yogel, in replying to a speech which I had made, stated thafc " all the assertions that have been made about my having come down with the resolutions becauße of irritation a 8 connected with thia province of Wellington are very wide of the mark." Woll, the debate on the Forests Bill proceeded, and very shortly afterwards Mr Yogel made use of much plainer terms, and stated tbat the defeat of the Forests Bill had brought to the mind of the Government very seriously the question whether ifc would nofc be necessary fco abolish the provinces in fche North Island, and I think he was largely assisted in thia direction by the epeech of Mr Stafford, who supported the Forests Bill, and stated in very significant terms, thafc if the provinces stood in the way, by refusing these grants of land, then it would be so much the worse for the provinces. A few days, I might almost say a few hours after this, it was mooted aboub thafc a bill was actually to be brought down to abolish the provinces of the North laland. (Hear, hear.) Thia announcement producedavery strong effect. There were many members who were {prepared to support the

Government even if thoy had adopted the extreme measure of bringing down a bill afc once. This was undoubtedly the facfc, because Mr Yogel himself declared to the House that it was so ; bufc, whether it. was from a feeling that such an extremely abrupt measure would be distasteful to the country, or whether it was the result of more temperate counsela from frienda of the Government the idea that had been entertained of bringing down a bill immediately, was abandoned, and Mr Yogel came down to to the House on the 6th August and made a very important and significant statement. He said that though the Government had contemplated the idea of bringing down a bill to abolish the North Island provinces, and though they believed, from the promises of assistance they had received from members in the House that they would have been supported in doing so, yet they felt that after the announcements they had made that no measures of importance would be introduced the session, it would have too much of the character of legislation by surprise, and might even be termed a coup d'etat, and therefore they had given up the idea. He concluded his statement by saying — " On the part of the Government, I have only to say that we think the change would be more acceptable if an expression of desire for ifc came from the country — if, during tbe time when Parliament is nob sitting, the people of the country should express an opinion upon a subject which may be as interesting to them aa it ia to those whom they have elected. . . The Government will not bring down a bill but I am not prepared to say they will not bring down resolutions on the subject." For my part, I heard this announcement with very great satisfaction. I had heard the rumour that the Government would be likely to bring down a bill to carry a great constitutional change, on fche spur of the moment, and from feelinga of irritation aroused during the debates which had taken place in the House, I felt that it would be a very unworthy courae on the part of the Government, and a very grave error, and I liatened to thiß announcement with great satiafaction. The meaning I attached to it waa that Mr Yogel had given up the idea of bringing down a bill, that he would prefer waiting for the expression of the opinion of the people as well of those whom they had elected, which opinion he would endeavour to arrive at during the recess, and that therefore no bill would be introduced, but that some resolutions would be brought down. I conaidered that the only meaning attached to the resolutions was thafc the Government would, at the close of the session, state to the House that in their opinion it was desirable thafc there ahould be a large conatitutional change in fche direction of aboliahing the North laland provincea, and that next session they would bring in a bill and take the sense of the House upon the question. A few days after this statement was made it appeared that the Government had altered their mind again, probably owing, as I believe, to the instigations of certain gentlemen who were very strongly in favour of the experiment being tried at once and of atriking while the iron was hot. Mr Yogel accordingly gave notice of certain reaolutibna. Theae reaolutionß were to the effect that ifc is desirable that the provinces in the North laland should be abolished j that the compact of 1856 should bo ratified ; and that Wellington should be tbe seat of Government. In speaking to the resolutions, when he introduced them, Mr Yogel said that they must be looked upon as a Government measure ; that is, the whole weight and importance attached to a Government measure would be given to obtaining a pledge from the House that the North Island provinces would be abolished, and that he would not even say that if the pledge was nofc given by the House, thafc the Government would not disaolve the House. You will therefore see that so far from leaving it an open question, upon which to invite the opinions of the public during the recess, he had changed his mind to the extent of insisting that tho House should at once pledge itself in favour of abolishing the provinces of the North Island, and instructing the Government to bring in a bill to carry ifc into effect — thus pledging every member who supported the resolutions to support fche spirit of the bill when introduced next year, and to carry out the other parts of the resolutions. I ask you whether it ia possible to reconcile the first statement made by Mr Yogel on Aug. 6, with hia subsequent action, when he came down to the House and insisted upon its pledging itself to abolish the North laland provinces, and to support fche bill which fche Government was instructed to bring in fche next session ? Well, gentlemen, the effect of this was soon apparent. A number of gentlemen who were opposed to so violent a change in the constitution of fche colony, for many reasons, met together and consulted aa to the course that waa to be pursued. I may say that I was not ono of this party, nor was I aware of the meeting, nor of what took place at that meeting, bufc on a subsequent day, one of their number was delegated to meet me, and ask me if I would have any objection, aB an independent member, as ono not allied to them by any party tiea, but as one who was known to be a supporter of tho Government, to take fche part of moving the previous question in reply to these resolutions. I ms-y explain fco any gentleman present who may be unacquainted with the meaning of "moving the previous question," thafc if ifc is carried ifc is simply a declaration that the House is not prepared to consider the question, that in facfc it is of opinion, fchafc ifc is inexpedient, thafc the question should be discusaed. lam particular in detaUing these circumatances, becauae ifc has been put forward repeatedly, and was stated the other day afc a public meeting, thafc although I declared that I was nofc fche leader of any party, when 1 took thia atep, yefc I wae in reality, the leader of a party who were desirous of ousting the Minißtry upon thisquestion. I may say, very distinctly, that I entortained no idea of the kind. I considered that I should be doing the public a service if by any possibility I could atay what I believed to be a raah and mistaken action of the Government. I took some time to consider whether I would take the position I was invited to occupy, and on the following day I told tho gentlemen who had spoken to me on tho Bubjecfc that I would undertake the task. The Government brought down its resolutions, and as you are probably aware, ono effect was tho immediate resignation of one member of fche Government. A greafc deal has been Baid on that subject, and I think some very mistaken notions have been entortained. Ho haa been held up as a traitor to his party, because he adopted a particular form of resignation. To my mind it was not a question of whether he resigned bofore or after this announcement. My view of tho matter is thafc he acted in a highly creditablo manner, and in a way which is very rare in tbis or any other country, in that when he found he could no longer retain a highly lucrative office without compromising his principles, he at onco resigned that office

The debate proceeded. The motion for tho previous question was defeated by a very large majority. Ifc was a very inconclusive debate ; ib waa closed by a aorfc of surprise ; and many of tho principal members of the Ilouse were shut out from the debate, and somo of them even from the division. The opponents of the measure then followed up their action by moving that, before it should be carried into law, an appeal to the constituencies of the country should be made. (Applause.) That also led to a debate, and was defeated by a majority nearly as greafc as thafc on the division when the previous question was moved. A further amendment was then proposed, to the effect that before the bill for abolishing the provinces in the North Island was introduced next seasion, it Bhould be circulated for a period of at least two months. The Government objected to this, and said that they considered it would be something of the character of an insult, and, strange to say, they were supported in their objection by Mr Stafford, who, on a previous occasion of a similar character, although not nearly so important, when he introduced his Local Government Bill, circulated that bill some months before the session, and took to himself very great, and I think, very proper, credit for having done so. However, on this occasion, he supported the Government in their objection to circulate thia bill, and on a division the amendment waa again loat by a majority not quite so large — some sor 6 leas than the amendment to the effect that the conatituencies should ba consulted. I therefore wish to point out to you that the action of the Government on this matter has been thia : — After having stated thafc fchey would introduce no measure of importance, and after having stated that they had been urged to introduce a bill to abolish the North laland provinces, the Premier Btated that he had declined to do bo, because it would be a measure of surprise — a coup d'etat, on which it was moro desirable the public should give an opinion ; I say that, after stating all this, he then brought down resolutions pledging the House to abolish the North Island provinces, pledging the Houae to support a bill next year to do that, and refused the request of certain hon members of the Houae that the conatituencies of the country should be consulted on this measure ; and the Government alao refused to circulate the bill, as was proposed, so that the public might have an opportunity of discussing its details before it was brought forward in the House next session. I have not spoken, about the Other parts of the resolutions, though they are of almost aa great importance to us. It may appear at first sight that they have very little to do with the question of abolition of the North Island provinces, bufc they were introduced doubtless for political reasons. The second part of the resolutions, which I may mention Mr Yogel stated distinctly in the House would form part and parcel of the whole of the resolutions, was fco fche effect that the knd compact of 1856 should be ratified. The reason for this was undoubtedly that it was thought desirable by those members of the Middle Island who supported tbe Government in their policy of abolition, *to endeavour to aatiafy the minds of southern representatives and their constituents, that no interference should take place with the existing compact as to the land fund. That compact, I may say, in explanation, waa an arrangement entered into in 1856 on the part of the House of Repreaentives, that the administration of the land revenues should vest in the provinces. It has been carried out hitherto, and we here know by this time the value of thafc compact. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) From the earliest times — almost from the time that the compact was made — it has been brought into question repeatedly by the members of the North Island, and from time to time certain efforts, which have alwaya been unsucceaaf ul, have been made to upßet it. The Government, I may say, has, through Mr Yogel in the House, pledged itself that this part of the resolutions shall be made an integral part of the bill — tbat they shall all run together, and that the bUI to be introduced Bhall include all these resolutions ; but it is my duty, as your representative, to point out to you that although thia statement has been made by the Government, totally contradictory statements are made and have been made since last session by very important supporters of fche resolutions. (Hear, hear.) Ifc must be known to most of you that one of the members for Nelson (Mr Luckie) has stated most distinctly that a large number amongst the supporters of the Government do not look upon this as an important part of the resolutions ; they state that they are nofc prepared to carry out this compact of 1856 ; that they look forward to the abolition of the Southern provinces following almost immediately upon the abolition of the North Island provinces ; and then, thafc they will undoubtedly take their share of the land fund of the South. (Hear, hear, and a Voice : — "Of course they will.") But a BtUl more important announcement has been made by Mr Reader Wood. He addressed his constituents the other day at Parnell. Mr Reader Wood, I may remind you, is a very important supporter of these resolutions, and he told tho electors at the meeting in Parnell fchat afc the caucus meeting of Government supporters he announced fchat he would be no party to this compact being made part of these resolutions — that he would be neither a party to the compact of 1856 nor to the question of the seat of Government. He saya ho stated this publicly at a caucus held afc Mr Vogel's house. He states distinctly that Mr Yogel, in answer, said " Oh, it ia of no consequence at all ; that ho did nob look upon these resolutions as an important part of the whole, and thafc therefore in effect he need not trouble himself about it ; " but, strango to say, with regard to such an announcement aa this, made at a time when Mr Yogel wbb present in that city, or afc all events when he was expected, and very shortly before his arrival, Mr Vogel's only answer to fchafc, a few days af towards, was to fche effect that he believed Mr Reader Wood's version of what took place at the caucus meeting with regard f • the land compact was not quite correct. I think you will agree with me that such an announcement aB that made by Mr Reader Wood ought and could only have been met; by a distinct and positive denial. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Instead of that, all that was said by Mr Yogel, if reported rightly — and I havo very little doubt he has been — was that he believed Mr Reader Wood's statement was not quite correct, bufc we shall of course hear more of this next session. Such a statement, involving contradiction on auch an important point cannot fail to demand a full and explicit explanation, and I shall say nothing more about ifc now than that it is a strong reason why we- here ahould receive with very considerable doubt, the atatemenfc made by fche Government that the.v intend to stand or fall, in effect, by their ■upport to tbis compact by which alone

at present we hold possession of our lands and enjoy the large revenues now accruing to the province. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Gentlemen, I have stated that I took part in opposing these resolutions, and I will now state the reasons that actuated me in doing so. (Hear, hear.) I considered that the time itself waa moat inopportune; that the Government was engaged in carrying out a very important; policy which waa still in its infancy, a policy which involved fche borrowing of large sums of money, and on fche succesa of which depends, to a very large extent, the success and prosperity of the colony. (Hear, hear.) I thought that suddenly to rush into large constitutional changes was very injudicious thing to do, and fchat the time to propose ohanges of such an important nature waa most inopportune. I thought aIBO, and believed ifc was fche case, that thore was no demand on the part of the people of the colony for such a change. (Hear, hear, and a Voice—" Certainly not.") I thought, also, and stated my opinion, that a Parliament elected mainly on the public works and immigration policy, and certainly not elected in any way on a question involving very large and important constitutional changes, was not a Parliament to carry out these changes, or to pledge itself to carry them out, seeing, moreover, thafc there was only one moro session before it ceased to exist. (Hear, hear.) I thought, also, that this Parliament was not in a frame of mind or in a temper fairly, thoroughly, and honestly to consider bo large a question on its merits; and I will say— (and it is exactly what I would say in the House as well as Out of it) — that no Parliament I have ever seen has exhibited less of the character which the people might expect of fcheir representatives — less of the critical character and attention fco public business— than the Parliament of last session, for it is no exaggeration to say that it really spent more time, and shewed more energy in debating the question whether it should add £50 to the honorarium of members than it spent on the collective debates on the the Financial Statement, on the Public Works Statement, on the Immigration Statement, and on the whole Estimates. As a further proof, if any were required, I may state that it was the first occasion iv the history of New Zealand Parliaments in which, on going into Committee on tbe Estimates, there was debate at all, and the first occasion, too, on which Estimates amounting to over a million of money were passed in two nights without a question being asked. A Parliament in that state of mind, exhibiting Buch qualities, as I have described, ia not a Parliament to enter into the discussion of such large constitutional questions as thoae which were suddenly brought down by Mr Yogel. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) But another reason why I objected to this change waa this.that it was a most novel and nnheard of experiment to alter tho constitution of one half of the colony, while the other balf was left under its present form of government. (Hear, hear.) I do n«t believe any such experiment haa ever been attempted in any legislative Assembly in any colony in the world. New Zealand has become a by-word, in some respects, on account of the complexity of its governments. It is proverbial as a colony with a double Government, but by the adoption of these resolutions it would be making it a colony with a treble government, for it would require very close attention and Btudy to understand what would be the result of suoh an experiment. I confess, though I have thought the matter over and given some time to the subject;, that; I can only see the beginning of the evils and difliculties which would ariße. In the firat place, if the provinces of the North laland were aboliahed, its present provincial institutions would of course cease to exist, and I may say thafc the resolution, curiously enough, declares that the provinces shall be abolished without previously preparing any other form of Government to take their place, that in fact there would be an interregnum of no Government at all, for it Btates that as soon as possible, a cheap, efficient and local form of Government with adequate endowments, shall be substituted in its place. One of the first effects would be this, that the present form of Provincial Government would cease to exist ; that all the local Provincial Ordinances would, as a matter of courae, ceaae also, and an immense maas o. legislation would have to be introduced into the Assembly to tako their place. All this would have to be done for the past, and for the future we should have the anomaly of an Assembly elected from both parts of the colony engaged in legislating and financing for two different constitutions ; one department under the General Government control in one island, and, at the same time, helping to make laws for a form of Government of a totally different kind for another half of the colony. And still greater difficulties would arise with regard to finance ; in fact, it is impossible to overrate the difficulty and confusion which would enaue. Any one acquainted with the subject wUI realiso to some trifling extent the trouble fchafc waa caused simply from tho facfc of one separate form of government existing in the shape of fche County of Westland ; and when it was made into a province last year, one of the strongest arguments brought forward by the Government was that the trouble of making laws for one part of the country was so greafc thafc ifc was time ifc should be done away with. That was one of the reasons why I voted against the resolutions ; but the main reason was that I considered that no changes of thia kind— especially iv experimental changes of this kind in the constitution— ought to be made without a direct appeal being made to the constituencies of the colony. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I state plainly that I never have and never shall look upon myself as your delegate. (Hear, hear.) I consider I have received the liberty from the time I was elected to act on your behalf on every occasion within reaßon ; but there are limits to every thing, and I think the limit in my own ease is that I waa elected without reference whatever to carrying out any grave changea in the conßtitution of the colony. I look upon that as my limit, and I do not feel myself justified in taking any share in passing any measure — especially in a measure which has been introduced so suddenly without warning and without preparation— where in facfc lam demanded fco pledge myself to certain changes, without seeing where they will begin or where they wiU end — I tell you therefore, that I could not givo my support to a measure having for its object the abolition of the provinces of the North Island, because I well know that if they were aboliahed in the North the same thing will mosfc indubitably be carried out here. For theae reasons I did not consider myself at all authorised or qualified to assent to those changea on your behalf. (Hear, hear.) I feel that the proper course to he pursued by the Government in this matter is to relegate the representafcivea to their conafcituencies so fchat the constituencies may have time to inform themselves as they would have time to do through the Press, and by inquiry at publio meetings

by putting questiona, and the intercourse of ideas with the various candidates who shall come forward on such a question. I maintain that it is an inherent right of the people to be consulted on questions of~ such very great importance. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Gentlemen, I know it is the fashion (and I have been met wifch fche reply) to laugh at the talking of bunkum about the Constitution ; bufc unless the form of Government under which we live is a farce, unless it is a matter of no consequence at all under what form of Government we live, then we are not entitled to make changea of very vital importance on a sudden and without consulting the wishes of the people. (Hear, hear.) A great deal has been said about the land fund, and you hear a variety of opinions aa to what effect it will have upon the possession of the land fund, especially on the posaession of the Middle Island land fund. I wish to give no uncertain opinion on this subject, because when you are told that your land fund wUI be endangered by this measure, you will be told in reply — " Oh, don't believe anything of the kind ; Mr Yogel has pledged himself that the compact of 1856 shall be strictly adhered to ; it is utterly impossible that a change shall take place, and you need not disturb yourself in the slightest degree about that." In reply to the first part of this — that Mr Yogel has pledged himself to maintain the compact of 185G— I ask you to recall to mind what I have told you as having taken place afc Parnell — the statement of Mr Reader Wood ; and I should be fche last man to cast any doubt on Mr Vogel's honour, integrity, or word. I have the greatest respect for him ; I consider him one of the cleverest men in the colony, and I think that the measures he haa carried out have been of infinite benefit to the oolony ; but I know him to be a statesman and a politician, and Bubjeet to the neceaaities that affect politicians. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) I have known him to bring down statements of hia intentiona ono year, and the next year to entirely alter hia policy. (Hear, hear.) We have aeen him quite lately, as I have pointed out to you, advocating and strongly supporting the policy of empowering the provinces to borrow on their own account for the carrying out of publio works, and within twelve months we have seen him come down and admit frankly that he was extremely glad such a polioy was bot carried out, and that ho was not prepared to adopt suoh a polioy now. Therefore, I think that we must take his statements with a certain amount of reservation. We muat remember that, though he is Premier, he depends on tho supportofamajorityof the Houee, and we must alao remember that he has ahown repeatedly a weakneßa, not fco desert his majority, but to give up his principles and his intentions and polioy rather than give up his majority. We know it beyond doubt that a very considerable proportion of his majority are entirely opposed to ratifying thia compact of 1856, under which we hold our lands j and we know, also, that the aame gentlemen, who are very strong in numbers, are also determined thafc if the provinces in the North Island are abolished, the abolition of the provinces in the South Island shall follow too ; and not only may I tell you that the North Island members are agreed, nearly to a man, that if the provinces of the North Island are abolished those of the South Island shall be abolished as well, but also that among the members of the South there are those who are anxious and willing to see the Southern provinces abolished. [A voice : " More shame for them."J I believe tho majority of the members of Nelson, of Marlborough, of Westland, and I believe of many of the Goldfields of Otago, would vote in the direction of the abolition of the provinces of tho Middle Island, or rather, I should say, of the provinces of Canterbury and Otago. Well, gentlemen, the question then iB this — by what security do we hold our land fund f It isby the compact of 1856, which vests the administration of the land fund in the provinces. I have shown you, and I trust I have made myself understood, that there is very great danger that in spite of what Mr Yogel states about the compact of 1856, namely, that he has no intention of interfering with Canterbury and Otago so long as they can carry on their functions properly — in spite of all this, I say there ia very greafc danger fchafc a large number of his followers, should fche North Island provinces be aboliahed, who would decidedly vote in the direction of abolishing the provinces of Canterbury and Otago. Then, as I have pointed out, the sole ground of possession of the land fund is in the fact that we are provinces. It lia vested in us because we are provinces. (Hear, hear.) When we are abolished, by the facfc of our abolition, the land fund will vest as a matter of course in the existing Colonial Government, and aa soon as it is vested in the Colonial Government, ifc wUI be subject to the appropriation of fche General Assembly ; fchat is, the members of the General Assembly will decide how ifc is to be appropriated. Now, I ask you to reflect for yourselves on this pomt — that if the northern provinces are abolished, you must see great danger of the southern provinces being abolished as well. In fact, one of the most important members of the House, a leading member (Mr Stafford), a very honest and straightforward politician, said to the members of the South : " Gentlemen, do not disguise it from youselves — I will not disguise ifc from you — tbat if the northern provinces are abolished, you will follow very soon afterwards." We shall follow very soon afterwards, in my opinion, and as soon aa wo arc aboliahed, our land fund, as a matter of course, will become the property of the Colonial Government, and will be aubject to appropriation by the General Aaßembly, and I will aak you to consider of whom that Assembly is composed? It is composed of 78 members from all parts of the colony, of which Canterbury and Otago form a very insignificant minority. So long as the land funds of Canterbury and Otago remain large and flourishing as now, those members when they have power to appropriate those revenues, will appropriate them as they deem fair and proper as an equal division. If I have been able to make myself plain, you will sco that, by a logical sequence, the land revenue of the provinces, if they are abolished, becomes the property of the colony. So soon as it becomes the property of the colony, and subject to tho appropriation of the Assembly, the Assembly will do as it likes with it, and that revenue will be equally divided. Therefore, gentlemen, I think you will say it is no idle tale when I tell you that you are more vastly interested in this matter than a great many of you imagine, for it is scarcely necessary for mo to point out how largely indebted for our prosperity we are to the expenditure of the magnificent land revenue now confined within the borders of the province. Ineed not say what it does for you. The large Road Board grants, the contribution to this very railway running through this place

and which you certainly would not havo had, but for the large amount of lasd rovenue which has gone towards the construction of thafc railway. Tlte hnrbour worke, the magnificent; charitable institutions, the grand educational system which is the pride and envy of the rest of tho colony, are all due largely, mainly, and almost entirely to your land revenue, and a very largo proportion of tho publio works now going on all over the province, is due entirely to. that source; and when thafc source ia dried up, as ifc undoubtedly would be if the provinces were abolished, those works will cease, these institutions wUI not be kept up as now, or if they are they will have to be kept up by contributions coming out of your pocketß in the shape of rates and taxes. Therefore, you will see, gentlemen, that you are largely interested in this question of the land revenue. I do not know that I ueed take up your time to any extentin criticising the scheme proposed or the reason given for the proposal. I consider those reasona to be totally and entirely insufficient. All tho reasona given by the Government; were these — tbat the existence of the provinces in the North Island interfered with the policy of public works and immigration. When this statement was made, I desired further information, and I specially requested fche Minister for Public Works — my hon friend Mr Richardson — to state distinctly and definitely in what way they had interfered with the furtherance of that policy. The answer which he gavo me was a very curious one. He said — " The hon member has been a minister himself, and he ought to know." I had to state, and stated it conscientiously and truly, that I had received the greatest; assistance at the hands of the Superintendents and Provincial authorities, and I am very glad to be in a position to repeat the statement now, that I received very great assistance from the present Superintendent of Canterbury, whom I am glad to see here to-night; from Mr Macandrew, the Superintendent of Otago ; and also from Mr Curtis, the Superintendent of Nelson. So far from interfering with the policy of public works and immigration, the provincial authorities did a great deal to assist me ; but I need not enter into the question whether they assist or retard the progress of the policy of immigration, becauae it is an undoubted facfc thafc from tho moment Mr Yogel took charge of immigration he very wisely, in my opinion, denuded himself of hia powers and devolved them on the Superintendents of provinces. I say now most indubitably that if it had not been for the aasistance given to the Government by Canterbury, Otago, and other provincea, under the very trying circumstances which have occurred, when many thousands of immigrants have arrived at the worst possible aeaaon of fche year, when work waa most slack, I say thafc but for the aaaistance rendered by Provincial Governments by distributing these people, providing them with house accommodation, and taking care of them generally, there would have been moat disastrous results — (hear, hear) — and these results would have visited very severely on the head of the Government. This is ample proof that so far from the provinces interfering with the policy of public works and immigration, they have done a very great deal to assiet the General Government in carrying it out. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) These were' the only reasons given by the Government why it was necessary to abolish the provinces in the North laland, and I would refer here in proof of what I say to the records of Hansard. There can be no contradicting them. What I said i 9 absolutely true. Something wa3 said at first that the action of the provinces even impeded the proper government of the Natives, hut, when I appealed to Sir Donald M'Lean to state whether he had not received very large aasißtance, under moat difficult circumstances, from the Provincial Governments by means of which bloodshed and disaster had been apared the oolony, he admitted aa much by cries of "hear, hear," which were many times uttered by that hon gentleman and we heard nothing more about interference in the management of the Natives. I think we need not go far to find the reason for the proposed change. The question is a financial question. (Hear, hear.) An entirely financial question, as the Government, in my opinion, see, and I think ifc is a pity that they do not acknowledge it more frankly, becauae I do believe there would be a majority in the Houae who would, meet the Government if they frankly came down and said "we are engaged in very large undertakings, the colony is borrowing very large sums of money, the colony requires larger security and larger area of revenue to work upon ; all are doing work that should be done by you, and we niUßt have a Bhare of your land revenue as security for this work." I believe thafc if the Government had the pluck to come down and say so, instead of driving at the land revenue in a variety of indirect ways, a majority of the House would bo ready to meet the requirements of the Government and make such an apportionment of the land revenue as would satisfy their necestity. If I am right in my assumption, it will become a question simply to be settled in this way : either that the land fund must come in to the aid of the ordinary revenue, to meet tho interest of the money borrowed, or further taxation must be imposed ; and there can be little doubt that when the question is put to the country, tho people will prefer that a portion of the land revenue should go in aid of tho ordinary revenue rather than put their hands in thoir pockets and submit to further taxation. That is one of the questions involved in this great question, and ono on which the constituencies should have an opportunity of Btating their opinions. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Gentlemen, I have taken up a great deal of your time — (No, no) — but tho matter is so important that I desire to put it beforo you as clearly and dietiuctly as I can, and that my own opinions should he as plainly recorded as I able to express them. I look, as I stated, on tho proposed change, as a very grave constitutional change, one that should not be undertaken in a hurry,one that should not be carried out by a side wind, or piecemeal, but ono which should be proposed to the colony, and on which the opinions of the varioua constituencies should be tested by a general election. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I can conceive vory plainly the condition of things as I have stated them ; I can conceivethafc the condition of tho finance of the colony may render it necessary that tho colony should demand from the provinces a share of their land revenues in aid of the Consolidated Revenue, in order to meet liabilities incurred for purpos.es, really and properly belonging to tho laud revenue of tbe colony ; and 1 can conceive circumatanceß also — aud it ia no new idea on n.y pari; — when, in the courso of time, very material modifications may be made in the local form of Government throughout the colony ; and I wish this rnuy be clearly understood, because it has been considered, and there may

have been reason on the part of tho people to consider that, in taking -the part I did in moving tho previous question, I was leading, as ifc apparently may be assumed, tho ultraprovincial party in the colony.. Ifc might fairly be assumed 1 liat my opinions on provincialism were identical with the opinions of those who take a leading part in maintaining Provincial institutions,- bufc such is not; the case. I have never been an ulfcra-provincialisfc. I think I may say thafc I can take an unprejudiced view or the question. I hnve never been a member of the Provincial Council, though I have observed and studied Provincial Councils as closely perhaps aa those who have taken part in them. Bufc 1 repeat that I have- never been an ultra-provincialisfc. I have always looked forward to the time arriving when greafc modifications might take place in the existing form of local self-government;. In facfc, I think — and ib is a pity for fchafc reason that Mr Yogel haa been ao premature in hia movementa — that; his policy ia most likely to bring about that state of affairs when a radical change can be made in our form of Government, for when the means of communication are extended — when they ' are so improved that we can travel from one end of the island to the other, and when the intermediate area of country ia settled, I think theae provincial distinctions will ceaae to exist and provincial institutions in their present form will be very much modified, if not rendered uselcaa. Therefore, these being my views, I can conceive very readily that the time will arrive when ifc wUI be necessary to change our form of Government, nor should I be indisposed afc all, though I should think tho time premature, to consider it advisable to change it for the shire and county form of Government ; but I totallyand entirely objeefcto fche ideaof forming an experiment on one part of the colony alone. Considering the whole question, ifc ia quite possible thafc the provinces of the North Island may be aboliahed next year; and if they are, ib is certain fchafc, having taken the provinces piecemeal, ou the principle of divide and conquer, the provinces of this .Island will equally be abolished without consultation, or without considering, probably, the merits of the form of government which may be substituted. I think this is a question which should be treated, as all great Constitutional questions ahould be treated, with the utmost care and with every conaideration, and I consider that time should be given for it, that the colony should be treated as a whole, and that if the question of abolishing the provinces ia raised, it should be a question of abolishing them throughout the colony, so that the colony may be put upon one uniform system, for I cannot conceal from myself that if this system is tried, and the abolition of the North Island provinces ia carried out, ifc will raiae a cry which I had hoped had been laid for ever — I mean the cry of separation, we should avoid that evil* at any rate by taking the colony aa a whole ; moreover, we ahould have this advantage, the queation would have to be fairly and properly considered, and would have to come to the varioua constituencies aa a whole. That is the last thing I have to say aa to what may take place in the Assembly next year. For my own part, I will do my utmost to prevent the abolition of the provinces in one part of the colony, and I will also do my utmost to prevent either that change or the entire change of the provinces, taking place without the matter being referred fco fche constituencies by a dissolution. Gentlemen, I will nofc take up your time at any further length. In conclusion, I have only to thank you for the patience and attention wifch which you have listened to me, and I shall be happy to answer any questions which may bo put to me. (Loud cheers.)

The Chairman asked if ahy gentleman had any desire to address the meeting or to ask Mr Reeves any questiona.

After some remarks from Mr Lambie, jun., Mr Milne asKed whether, in the event of a bill being brought down to do away with the Northern provinces, and it; waa passed, ifc would become law without being referred to the Mother country for its assent.

Mr Reeves replied that he imagined such must have been tho case without doubt, but Mr Stafford had intimated in the Houae that several constitutional changes had been made without being referred home. Ho had no knowledge himself whether this question would have to be referred to the Imperial Parliament, but he imagined that such would have to be done.

Mr Milne asked whether the making of railways in the North Island were advantageous in any way to the Southern Island ?

Mr Reeves replied that he was undoubtedly of tho opinion, that any works which tended towards the settlement of the North Island would be of advantage to this Island. Mr Milne said he was perfectly satisfied with Mr Reeves' answer.

Mr Milne then asked what courße Mr Reeves would pursue in the event of its being proposed to abolish the wholo of the provinces ?

Mr Reeves said this was a very large question. He would state at once, that he would be entirely opposed to tho abolition of the provinces, until the question was fairly and fully put before the public by means of a dissolution. By auch a course, intending candidates would be able to mature their views, and would be able to state them fully ar.d clearly when seeking election. (Hear, hear, and applause).

In reply to a question, Mivßeevks said that during tho session of of 1873, a petition was forwarded to him on the subject of stations on the Racecourse and Southbridge railway. Ho showed the petition to tho Chairman (Mr Bluett), and then took ifc to the Minister for Public Works, who said, as far as he recollected, thafc the prayer of tho petition would be acceded to.

Capt. Willis proposed a vote of confidence in Mr Reeves, aa far aa he had gone, as member for tho Selwyn district in the General Assembly.

In roply to Mr Lawrence, Mr Reeves said that if the provinces were abolished, Provincial Governments would cease. Ifc was proposed there should be district Governments, sub-district Governments, and Road Boards; but there was nothing definite whatever as to what there really would be. He would not be able to answer tho question satisfactorily until next session. At present it was all chaos.

Mr C. J. Bridge moved a vote of confidence in Mr Reeves. From what they heard ftom Mr Reeves, no man in the room could help passing a vote of confidence in Mr Reeves, especially for the manner in which he had acted with regard to the abolition of the provinces. (Cheers.) He would ask them to pass a vote of confidence in one who had voted for the preservation of the land fund. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)

Captain Willis said he would be very happy to second Mr Bridge's proposal.

In answer to a question, Mr Reeves said that, as a private member of the House, it did not fall within his province what was to be dono wifch tho provinces. Not being a member of the Government, he was nob prepared to answer such a question. In reply to the same questioner, Mr Reeves said he did not vote againßt the Forests Bill. Ho supported ib as ifc passed through tho House. He intimated to several of tho Canterbury members — notably the Superintendent — that he considered the Provincial Government should set apart a portion of land for purposes of State forestry, but the whole thing resolved itself into a question of quantity. He was opposed to the Colonial Government taking £560,000 worth of land when they were nofc in a position to devote ifc to the purpoae of forestry. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) In reply to furthor questions, Mr Reeves said he thought thafc Mr O'Rorke had acted moat honourably in adopting the course he did, when he found he could not hold office at the sacrifice of his principles. The mode of his retirement wab not perhaps so much in accordance with precedent as ifc might have been, but this was the only objection which could bo raiaed to Mr O'Rorke. He (Mr Reevea) did not vote for fche increaso of payment to members. He thought they were well enough paid before the increase was made. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) His opinion, for what it was worth, was, thafc he had sufficient faith in the honour and intelligence of the Minister of Publio Works to believe that when he endorsed tho statement that four millions would suffice to carry out tho public works undertaken in the colony, that amount would be sufficient. (Hear, hear.) It would require great persuasion to gefc him (Mr Reeves) to consent to further borrowing, but rather than that ono-eighth of tho works should be left undone, while tho other seveneighths were completed, he would feel himself obliged to vote for whatever amount was required to complete tho whole, so that tho progress and prosperity of the country might not be impeded. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman then put tho motion as follows — " That thia meeting expresses its entire approval of Mr Reeves' conduct in the last session of the General Assembly, and desires to express its confidence in him as their representative." . The vote of confidence was carried unanimously amid loud cueera. Mr Reeves returned thanks for the vote that had been passed in his favour, and said he would continue to do his best for the fche interests of the country. A vote of thanks to the Chairman for his conduct in thechair terminated the proceedings.