THE SEPARATION LEAGUE.

West Coast Times, Issue 630, 1 October 1867, Page 7

THE SEPARATION LEAGUE.

* PUBLIC MEETING. ' A public meeting of the members of the Separation League and other gentlemen who had been invited by circu- < lariyld advertisement to attend, was held atthe New Orleans Hotel, on Wednesday Mr. Sooth, the President of the League, occupied the chair. The Chaibman, after briefly' stating the object of the meeting, read the following telegrams which he had received from the Hon. Mr. Stafford. Mr South, HoMtika. Bill to establish the County of Westland, and to mate temporary provision for the Government thereof, introduced by Mr Stafford to-day, second reading on the 26th, county to consist of Westland, south of the Grey. Present Canterbury laws to remain in force until other provision is made. Powers of Superintendent to be vested in Governor, with power of delegation as be may think fit. ' Road Boards, with power to levy rates, to be elected for management of Public "Works. Roads and Public Works to be under the control of these Boards. All Revenues collected in Westland, formerly provincial, to belong to the County. Colonial Treasurer to keep separate accounts of Revenues. Provisional power to Colonial Treasurer to defray expenses of Local Government. Arbitrators to determine Westland share of debt. After payment of local expenses of Government, surplus to be distributed to Road Districts and Municipalities. Elective County Council to advise as to administration of Goldfields, &c. These arrangements provisional until Westland Members take seats in the House of Representatives. E. W. Stafford. He said that he apprehended the object of the present meeting was, to consider what telegram should be sent in reply to Mr Stafford, and he need not remind them that this was of very considerable importance. Mr Shaw thought that the provisions contained in the Act proposed by the General Government, were all that was necessary to meet their views. The Chaiemajt said he must congratulate the ftieeting upon what he considered the statesmanlike and generous concessions made by the General Government, to the unimpeachable allegations set forth in the Petition. Had there been time, he should have strongly advocated that the officers of the League should resign their trust into the hands of the public, but there was not time for that, and now they must endeavor to assist the General Government in the exertions they were making in their behalf. As they must reply to Mr Stafford's telegram to-morrow, he trusted that they would take the whole matter into serious consideration now. He was happy to see gentlemen present who wda^ ns& members of the League, and he trusted that all would unite together for their country's good, for he considered that probably the future destinies of Wpstland were in their hands that evening'; he therefore hoped that - ihgy Kpuld give the subject most serious consiasration. . MiCBiNNET sa i<r^|fii he^jwaa one- of these who had takeru/^Pbpposfte side to the League, for he did not. believe in Separation. At the same time he believed that there was not one man in Hokitika who would not accept the proposals made by the General Government. He did not believe in Separation, and, therefore, he did-noi 'join the League, but now it was his duty to join and endeavour to do his best to promote the object they now had in view, and, moreover, he believed that there was scarcely a man in Hokitika but would say, "this is the very thing we k?ve been looking and striving for, for the last^eighteen months." Mr Mttnbo said that it could not be denied that the Separation League had done their duty, and had induced the General Government to take cognizance of the state of the Government of Westland. At the same time he believed that the Bill would be conducive to the general benefit of the districts. He had no .objection to offer as to the resignation of the officers and Council of the League, so as to give the public an opportunity of choosing those whom they might think fit. / Mr CEOsssaid that-^lthough he agreed with much that jtiM^fallen from Mr Munro, still he saw no reason at present why the Council of the League should not proceed-withtlie final accomplishing of the work they hadfso happily begun and so successfully carried forward. He thought the concession they had obtained from the General Government must be most gratifying to the whole of the community, and particularly to those who had adhered to the League movement. At the same time he was most happy to see those gentlemen come amongst them who had seceded from the League, and he thought that in the name of the Council he might most heartily welcome them back. Mr Klein said that the Bill introduced by the Government, was just what the second Committee wanted. But they hardly hoped to get it. Mr Pbossee said that he must congratulate the Council of the League and the gentlemen present upon the success of their movement. He had withdrawn from the League because he did not believe in a separate province, but immediately the petition which the Council of that body had promulgated was altered to a certain extent, it met the views of himself and many others. With regard to the other movement that had been set on foot and of which he was a member, he might say that they held several meetings, and. the sole reason for dropping the affair was that they could not see how the General Government would give them the control of the revenues arising - from Westland. Mr Baeff would move tbe-jollowing resolution: — "That inthe-oph meeting, the Bill about to be int. .auced n the House of Representatives is a measure calculated to benefit Westland, and this meeting desires to express its entire satisfaction at the prompt manner in which the«BC<plaints of the district have been attended toby the General Government." He said that ho^hould like to say a few words in explanation of his own conduct, and first he would mention that the measure introduced by the General Assembly was almost identical with the spirit of the resolution which he introduced into the Provincial Council. Afterwards he was led to alter his opinion, because he understood that the New Provinces Act would provide for the case of Westland. For

that reason he went in for a new province, but now that he found they were to get the control of their revenues by means of a local board, he certainly should advocate that movement. Dr. Moubilyax seconded the motion. Mr Bbight would simply say, with reference to the past agitation, that his reason for objecting to any reform short of the creation of a new Province was that they Would not have the control of the general revenues of "Westland, as the establishment of Local Boards would still have left them at the mercy of the Provincial Council of Canterbury ; and from the experience of last session they all knew what mercy to expect from that source. The arrangement proposed by the General Government appeared, however, to have met the case, as under it they would receive their proper share of the Customs revenue and the whole or the Goldfields revenue, and in obtaining this arrangement he thought that the object of the promoters of the Separation movement had been gained. The C'haibman then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Cross moved that a copy of the resolution be telegraphed to Mr. Stafford. Mr Shaw had much pleasure in seconding the resolution, and said that in alluding to the past he was aware that he was touching upon somewhat delicate ground, but at the same time he would say that they must not be angry at the vancrc3 little diversions that had occurred amongst them, and the remarks which had been made with regard to the motives that had influenced them. At the meeting held at the Theatre they were unanimously in favor of Separation, they only differed as to the kind of separation required, At that meeting- he (Mr. Shaw), had expressed himself Strongly in favor of the abolition of Provincial Governments, but as had been stated by Mr Bright, he saw no machinery by which they could ootain the control of the revenue except by the creation of a separate Province. When he went to Greyinouthhe found the people there almost to a man in favor of annexation to Nelson, and immediately on his return, finding that certain amendments could be made in the prayer of the petition which would put an end to all differences, he proposed it, and it was entirely at his suggestion that it was made. (Hear, hear.) It was quite true that they had been subjected to hostile criticism, but they did not mind that — all they had to do was to do what was right, toiactjaccording lo their consciences, and if they succeeded let that be their reward. (Cheers.) After alluding to the fact that numerous citizens who were not members of the League had been invited to attend the meeting, Mr Sha»v said he trusted, that a unanimity would prevail amongst them, in order to carry out their present object, and, moreover, he thought that now the League, instead of being called the Westland Separation League, seould be called the " Local Self-govern-ment League," and he trusted that there would be a re-construction thereof, and that a new committee would bo elected. The CHAiBarAN explained that being entirely opposed to provincial institutions, he should not have gone in for the creation of a distinct province had he not believed that without it they could not get the control of their own revenues, and he felt that it would be better that Westland should be constituted a separate province rather than be under the domination.of Christchurcb . Ho might mention that a friend of his in Wellington had informed him that the General Government had power to pass this bill. Mr Higgiits said the reason that he and several others- had seceded from the League was that they were not in favor of the creation of a new province. He trusted, however, that all will unite in promoting' the passing of the bill brought into the Assembly by the General Government. The motion was put and passed. The Chaiejian said that he fully en- i dorsed the views expressed by the Vice President of the League (Mr Shaw), and he trusted that all past differences would bo buried in oblivion. He thought moreover that some association should be formed for the purpose of watching the progress of legislation with regard to Westland. Mr Shaw moved — " That the name of Westland Separation League be now altered to the Westland Local Government League." Mr Ceoss seconded. MrPsossEE thought it desirable that the League should go on with the work until the negociations with the General Government were disposed of, and then they could call a public meeting to reorganise the whole affair. Mr James Beowne begged to endorse the sentiments expressed by Mr Prosser. The Council of the League had made an effort which had resulted in some good or some probable good. They were entitled to all the credit, let them then work the matter out, and not ask others to join with them at present. Mr Beight pointed out that the present meeting had been convened both by circular and advertisement. Mr Shaw said that it was not his intention to propose any re-organising of the League at^this meeting, as the following resolution, which he intended to move, if the one now before the meeting was carried would show.—" That a Meeting be convened of the Original Members ol the Westland Separation League, including all persons nominated at the General Committee, at the Public Meeting, held at the Theatre Royal, for the purpose of -electing twenty-one gentlemen to act as the future Council of the Westland Reform League." He considered that now all parties were united, that the public ought to have an opportunity of choosing those in whom they could place confidence as oflicers and council of the League. Mr Pbossee objected to the course proposed as being likely to disorganise the League, and he would therefore move as an amendment— " That the subject be deferred until a future occasion." Mr Higgings seconded the motion. Mr Shaw said that he would withdraw his motion. Mr Babff deprecated any alteration in the name of League, which, if it remained intact, would be likely to make a much more favorable impression on the Government than if the name were changed. Mr Peossee would suggest that steps should be taken not only to secure the co-operation of those who had retired from the League, but also of Greymouth and the centres of population. With this view he begged to move— "That the gentlemen who withdrew from the Separation League, and those gentlemen nominated

at the Theatre, should be invited tojenrollthemselves as members of the League, in order to support the measures now being introduced into the General Assembly, and that the residents of Greymouth, Boss Town, Waimea, and the other outlying districts be also invited to join in supporting this movement." Mr Klein seconded the motion. Mr Beight said that, as a matter of justice to the League, it ought to be borne in mind that until the present overtures were made by the General Government no idea was entertained by either committea that they would have the management of their own revenues. After a slight conversation the- motion was put and passed. On the motion of Mr Oed the foregoing resolution was ordered to be inserted! in. the local papers. The meeting then adjourned. (For remainder of News see Bth Page.)