THE HON. JOHN JOHNSTON AND MR TRAVERS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 3114, 3 February 1871, Page 3

THE HON. JOHN JOHNSTON AND MR TRAVERS.

♦ Thb psssuge in " Hansard " to which the Hon. Mr Johnston referred in his speech at the Odd Fellows' Hall is the following : — (" Hansard," vol. 1, pnrfc 2, p. 1039.) Mr Moorhouse said Mr Truvers 1 speech reminded him of a speech he heard some years ago in Auckland. He had a distinct recollection of parliamentary passages, which took place in 1854, when he came up as a member; ane was greatly impressed by the talent displayed generally by honorable members, and especially by the honorable member for Ohristohurch once, at a meeting of a cabal for turning out the then Government, at which at least one honorable member now in the House was prpsenfc. The honorable member for Christchurch was there, made one cf his most striking and vigorous speeches to that meeting, and concluded with recommending the party not to abate its efforts until they succeeded in " treading the toad of despotism under the heel of liberty." The honorable member then crushed the imaginary toad under his own heel, executed a pirouette, and sat down amidst great applause. Yeb who would believe that this earnest man, who made no reservationo, who could not be mistaken, whose eloquence and courage were admired and regarded as a comfort by his own party, made his appearance in the House next morning as Attorney- GeNEBal for the opposite party. The above remarks, as the Hon. Mr Johnston said, went uncontradicted at the time. Another extract from the same speech is very suggestive, page 1038. MrTravers said — "Ho did not choose to tell them all about the bill in the North, because if he had it might not have passed. The Government were at this moment engaged in trying to destroy provincial institutions. He wished them to remain, because ho considered that if properly worked, they would be a valuable check on what he called the extravagance of the General Government. The General Government was at this moment trying to place the odium of taxation on the provinces;" Contrary to forensic habit, the hon. member had unwittingly let out the truth. Although when up here he had spoken of the extravagance of the provinces being a reason for the interference of the General Government, down there he ' admits that the General Government is trying to destroy the provinces, which he affects to consider valuable institutions, as tending to check the extravagance of the General Government." Again Mr Travers proceeds: "That was the reason which induced him to frame the bill in the manner he had done. He had not told that reason in the North, and he was sorry to Bay he was obliged to tell it in the South, beoause he was certain that if his true views came to the knowledge of those interested in destroying provincial institutions, and really doing mischief to Canterbury and the other provinces of the colony, they might be prepared to re-consider the step they had taken, and give tho bill a little opposition. The Government and others were committed to tho bill." No doubt the honorable member winked when he said that "he must correct himself as to what he said about the bill in the North." He pointed it out to tho honorable member (Mr Eeeves) and he paid him (Mr Travers) a compliment, by saying " You ere the most cunning beggar I ever met." It was doubtful as a compliment, and he did not accept it as one.