MR DONNE'S ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS OF ADDISON'S FLAT.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 206, 28 March 1868, Page 3

MR DONNE'S ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS OF ADDISON'S FLAT.

As our correspondent's letter has failed to reach us, the following report •of Mr Donne's meeting has been obligingly furnished us bya correspondent, but we do not "ttOTa 6u!^ ves responsible ■as to its correctness.*^ Mr. G. Donu , e,; j >.f.p.C, called a meeting of the ej.C c pra on Tuesday •evening last at the Australian Hotel, for the purpose of explaining his political views, and to enable the electors to judge whether he was •sufficiently qualified to represent them in the General Assembly. Mr Clune ■on being called to the chair, said, he was very sorry to see such a small assembly, upon such an important matter, but attributed it to the inclemency of the weather, and the hour at which the meeting was convened was rather inconvenient one for the miners to attend. But he had no doubt that before the business of the meeting had concluded that there would be a very good attendance, which there w r as before the meeting closed, he would therefore commence the business of the meeting at once. Mr Donne had vcome before them to explain his political views, as a candidate to represent them in the General Assembly, and it was not for him to say whether he was qualified for such an office, but they would have an opportunity of judging for themselves, and as it had been acknowledged the miners of Addison's Flat had given every gentleman who came to address them, a patient hearing he hoped they would give the same to Mr Donne ; he then introduced that gentleman who said thnt he felt much pleasure in coming for rard to address them, for several reasons. Eirst, that this district had the recent election for the Provincial Council, and he had made it his business to communicate with the Provincial

Secretary, the result of which was that a polling place had heen granted ; and moreover they were accorded a member to represent them in the General Assembly. Ho said, he could see many geutlemen present who could speak of his career in the Provincial Council. Ho had been the cause of the establishment of a District Court at the Buller. Ho had also made many valuable amendments in the "Licensed Victuallers' Act;" but yet he was of the opinion that, the sooner provincial institutions were knocked on the head the better ; he did not approve of ten different governments, neither did he consider it fair that a miner on simply c.-ossing the Grey river was compelled to take out a fresh miner's right. He would advocate one strong central government, by which means the virtue of a miner's right would stand for every province. Ho said there was another important matter he would mention, and that was, the amount of taxation the colonists were paying, which, by a simple calculation, showed at the rate of £G 2s Gd. per head, per annum, just three times as much as the old country. He said he wot 1! read an extract from Sir David Munro's recent speech to the Reform League at Nelson ; he did so, and said he had read it because it came from a great authority. He had another valuable paper which came from the same source, but he might prboably have another op? portttnity of addressing thorn previous to the polling day, and would explain his views further on that subject. He was certainly infavor of the abolition of the gold duty, if the revenue would admit and if not, he w r ould advocate a reduction of the gold duty, and introduce an export duty on wool, as the squattei s could better afford to pay the duty. He also considered that an amendment |of the " Vagrancy Act" was required.. He had seen men (whose respectability he could vouch for), brought up under the Vagrancy Act, simply because a scurrilous policeman had a " down" on him. He had certainly advocated the revision of the G-oldfields Regulations; but yet if they required Mining Boards and he was retttrned as their member, if a petition was forwarded to him he . would lay it before the Assembly. He \ had several other matters to mention, ' but owing to the proprietor of the : establishment requiring the room for . another purpose, he would not enter ; into them that evening, but if any : gentleman wished to ask him a ques- ' tion, he would be most happy to answer him.

Mr Donovan then said that he was present in Brighton when Mr Donne came forward as a candidate to represent that district in the Provincial Council, and he had made numerous promises on that occasion, and it was known that he had not violated one of them; he would therefore propose Mr Donne as a fit and proper person to represent the district in the General Assembly. Mr Sheahan seconded the motion.

Dr. Denovan then begged to mate an amendment, and commenced m a very forcible manner to censure the conduct of the Corporation and Mayor of Hokitika, and at this stage of the proceedings the whole meeting became in a state of chaotic delight, which terminated the business of the evening.