3

A.—2a.

Mayors of Incorporated Towns. Mayor of Palmerston. Mayor of Invercargill. „ Alexandra. „ Oamaru. „ Eiverton. „ Lawrence. ~ Cromwell. „ Queenstown. „ Roxburgh. „ Clyde. Chairmen of School Committees. Chairman of Bluff Harbour. Chairman of Port Chalmers. „ St. Leonards. „ Riverton. „ Invercargill. „ Clinton. Road Boards. Chairman of Oreti District. Chairman of Oteramika District. Chairman of luvercargill District. The following sent letters of sympathy with the objects of the Convention, and regretted their inability to attend.: — Members of the House of Representatives. E. S. Shrimski, Waitaki. Gr. Sumpter. H. Bastings. Members of Provincial Council. G. Ireland, Mount Benger. A. Kinross, Oteramika. J. Hazlett, Dunstan. G-. Toshach. G-. Sumpter, Oamaru. Mayors of Incorporated Towns. Mayor of East Invercargill. Mayor of Naseby. „ Avenal. „ North Invercargill. School Committees. Chairmen of Switzer's, AVetherstone, Blackstone Hill, Te Houka, Macrae's, St. Bathans, Waipori, Hamilton's, Queenstown, Waitahuna, Ophir, Outram, Roslyn Bush, Waikiri, Arrowtown, Waihola Gorge, Myross Bush, Taieri Ferry, Naseby, Flag Swamp, North Clutha, Ahurdi, Lime Hills, Cromwell, Ravensbourne, Maerewhenua. Road Boards. Chairman of Waipori District. Chairman of Invercargill District. ~ Otakia. ~ Lindhurst. „ Pomahaka. „ Mataura. „ Tokomairiro. 2. That the Province of Otago contains an area of twenty-six thousand six hundred and forty and three-quarters (26,C_0£) square miles, or about fifteen million five hundred thousand acres, a population of about one hundred and one thousand, and the general revenue collected within the province during the past year amounts to six hundred and five thousand two hundred and eighty-six pounds. 3. That the province was founded in one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight (1848), and its rapid development has, we believe, to a great extent, been due to their large powers of local selfgovernment so gracionsly bestowed upon the colonists by Tour Majesty and the Imperial Parliament. 4. That, at present, one of the main provisions of the Constitution Act, lo and 16 Victoria, cap. 72, has not been obeyed —namely, section 41 —which provides that representation should be according to population. 5. That a majority of the House of Representatives passed an Act intituled " The Abolition of Provinces Act," repealing the main provisions of the Constitution Act. 6. That such Act was not to come into force until the day alter the last day of the next session of Parliament. 7. That, at the last election of members for the House of Representatives in the various districts of Otago, almost all those who voted for the Abolition of Provinces Act were rejected by their constituents, and candidates opposed to Abolition were returned in their places. 8. That the vast majority of the members for the Provinces of Auckland and Otago are opposed to the policy of centralism, which the said Act has originated. fl. That your petitioners believe that greater powers of local self-government should be given to the districts far removed from the centre of the Island than are enjoyed by them at present. 10. That your petitioners believe that in wealth, population, and area, the Province of Otago excels many colonies, as will be seen by the following table: —

Colony. Wealth. Population. Area. Ceylon Tasmania... "Western Australia... Queensland South Australia Natal cOtago £ 1,324,328 274,262 134,832 1,120,034 1,055,936 207,361 6J5.286 2,128,8S4 99,328 24,785 163,517 185,626 315,250 101,000 Sauaro Miles. " 24,454 26,215 978,000 678,500 914,730 18,000 26,640