PUBLIC MEETING.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 339, 17 October 1879, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

Pursuant to a requisition addressed to the .Chairman of the County Council, a meeting was held at the Town Hall, Akaroa, on Wednesday evening '• to consider the present political situation." Almost immediately on the doors being opened, the hall was well filled, and later on almost every inch of room was occupied. The Chairman of the County Council being absent, on the motion of Mr H. Piper, his Worship the Mayor took the chair.

The Chairman commenced by reading the notice convening the meeting, and at a suggestion from the meeting, proceeded to call over the names of those who had signed the requisition, with a view of eliciting some expression, of opinion from them as to their reasons for doing so.

No response was elicited till the name of Mr A. I. M'Gregor was called, when— Mr M'Gregor said he totally disclaimed any participation in the presumed object of the meeting. He was sure they must all feel much obliged to Mr Richard Westenra for coming down to instruct this constituency, of which he was not an elector; as to the course they should adopt under the circumstances.

During Mr M'Gregor's remarks, Mr Tosswill, Mr Fenton, and Mr R. Westenra had entered the hall.

Mr Westenba said, though not an elector of the district, that as his name had been mentioned, he would ask permission to say a few words. He utterly denied having come down for the purpose attributed to him by Mr M'Gregor. At the same time he acknowledged that he felt a warm interest in the Peninsula and* all that concerned its interests. He regretted to see that their member was opposing Messrs Hall and Rolleston, who had always been good friends to the district. Mr Tosswill, before commencing to speak, read a letter from Mr Williams, Chairman of the County Council, in which that gentleman expressed his regret at, being unable, through indisposition, to be present; First, he would desire to cohtra.dict a statement that had been made I that Mr R. Westenra had come down here for the purpose of supporting Mr Hall's Government. Again, he had been asked why, instead of taking bis present line of action, he had not opposed Mr Montgomery at the late election. His answer was plain. Because he had a great'respect for Mr Montgomery. He had said so before, and he ; said the same again. He did not; in any j, way reflect,on Mr, Montgomery. The l meeting had been called to consider the! E resent political situation. Mr ToseWill ere gave a brief retrospect of what had taken place since the first vote of No Confidence had been carried. Before the present Government had absolutely taken their seats a vote of want of confidence against them had been tabled, a course which he believed was quite unprecedented. The Grey Government had- been in office two years, and had not carried the liberal measures spoken of. The present Government, it appeared, were not to be allowed to bring down any policy. All he asked the electors was that the "Government should be allowed to bringdown their policy. Was this Unreasonable ?i'He cast no slur on Mr Montgomery. He would give them one or two reasons for a fair trial being given the. Government. He would use no vituperation against any individual. Various charges had been made against the late Ministers,' and. they should not be allowed to be judges in their own case. Another reason was that Messrs Hall «nd Rolleston were both Can-

I terbury men, and had done a great deal for the Peninsula. (Considerable interruption took place during the latter portion of Mr Toswell's speech.) In spite of interruption, he believed there was a sufficient number of fair-minded men to give them a fair trial. What would be said of. -a-judge who both sides ? He'Vouldfnbt'appearto'thq.baser motives, *ot he were'guilty of ingratitude, j At a dipner %jven in that hall eight nionths ago, Mr Montgomery • na"d told them how Mf Hall had" assisted dnm' in.getting 'the Akaroa Railway Bill and yet^the 1 moment they got a.chance, they would show their gratitude by hurling him from office. He would propose the following resolution :—" That in the opinion of thiamineeting it i&of T the utmost importance to;,tHe< Colony, l and especially to this district, that the Hall Government should be allowed a fair trial." (Cheers and hisses:) People who sat at that din-. nerand m ow hissed this resolution .weie ." arrant humbugs." (Uproar.) : Mr Joblin thought that now the speaker should be called to order.

Mr J. Daly seconded the resolution without making any remarks. Mr H. Piper thought'that those who had signed the requisition calling the meeting should be called upon to explain their reasons for doing so. On Mr Fenton's name being called, that gentleman explained that he would speak when the right time came, but objected that the "proceeding of calling over these names was entirely out of order. Mr Piper said it was the first time he had appeared on that platform. The object of the meeting was by a side wind to express a want of confidence in their member. (Mr Tosswill: No.) It was a trespass on their liberties to attempt to rush through a resolution expressing confidence in the present Government. This he characterized as a fraud. If such a resolution were carried, it amounted to a vote of want of confidence in their member. (Cheers and no, no.) - If they passed a resolution to cripple "their membsr, they would be doing what 'was - not fair. He was sure they had every confidence in him. (Cheers.) As to their railway, but for Mr Montgomery the railway would never have been placed in the Bill. It -was true Mr Hall helped in this matter. Mr Tosswill had given them a retrospect, but he had not gone far enough back. The Atkinson Government had leftthe benches with an empty treasury. He would move as an amendment—"That this meeting has the fullest confidence in Mr W. Montgomery as the representative of the district, arid desire that his actions be entirely unfettered.".■~.

Mr G. R. Joblin regretted the interruptions to which Mr Tosswill had been subjected, but for these ho might perhaps have made out a better case. Mr Tosswill contended that they should support Mr Rolleston, because he had done something for the district. According to all principles of logic they ought therefore much, more to support Mr Montgomery who' had done a good deal more for them. (Cheers.) If their action to-night should weaken the influence of their member, they would certainly lose by it. The Hall Government had assumed the clothes of the Grey party. They had been in power themselves, and had not carried out. these measures. Let those who had initiated them carry them out. Sir George, Grey. had never been a favorite of his, but after the columns of abuse that had been heaped upon him he felt a sympathy for him. He would conclude by seconding the amendment.

Mr Tosswill would say ;a few words on the amendment. He had a great respect for Mr Montgomery, , to this meeting being called a "hole and corner" one. It was not one of his* faults to fail to stand up for his friends. He would stand up for Mr Montgomery/as;freely as he had for Messrs Hall and Rolleston.7

Mr Duxbury did. not see, any reason for their being there to-night. He was sure any resolution of the sort proposed would Bj'mply ieiter Mr hands," and reduce him.'from a representatiye-'to a delegate.- .He had no f douhf-the [amendment would bo carried, as ' there was no-v doubt'the-meeting had. every/confidence, in' their .member without passing a resolution to.'th'atf effect. , At the''same .time he wrs sorry tbe meeting hadjbeen called,ias he did, not see the ah all: MrH. Fenton, who was; upon, came forward after spine delay, and said he was no political tfaVtrndVev-er interfered in politics in hiaj,lrfeJ_.'The object of the rne£tinj; t jis--heXuydeitetuod!it, was simply to ask that,'the Hall, Government should have time to bring -down tlisir. measures. As to Sir' one, did not believe" in' him. As an instance, he would simply refer to that/day's paper, where it would be seen that at the very moment, he"was stating to the working men of the colony- that immigration should be at once stopped ; r b§ hodi jusfi telegraphed hoilie' "for" 6000 "eimgi ants'." What the notions of the Ministry would one knew, and they should~get a fair show. .*, ' * "i v ' ■

At this stage the speaker was subjected to frequent interruptions, and stated his intention of taking numbers; of them one by one, singly. After repeating his statement that, "the Hall .Government were worthy of every support, the speaker sat down amidst considerable applause.

■Mr Wiggins said before the resolution was put, he would like to make a few remarks. They had heard a great deal about fair play, and about being Englishmen. He- was an Englishman and hoped he was a lover of fair play. He still objected to the resolution. Under ordinary circumstances, when a Ministry sustained a defeat on some question of policy their successors were certainly entitled to a chance of submitting their own measures. But the cases were not parallel. The prespnt Government when in opposi-* tion had not objected to the ! policy laid down in the Governor's speech, but had objected to the Ministers as men. . They, having raised that issue must be" content to have it fought put, and the House* had a perfect right to refuse to proceed With the measures until the personal fitness of Ministers- had- been settled. Mr Tosswill had referred to people , who had cheered Mr Hall at a certain dinner in that hall as " arrant humbugs " - He for one objected to the term. He had no doubt Mr Hall was a most.estimable gentleman, but it did not follow because they dined with a man and treated him with,courtesy that therefore they were prepared to endorse every sentiment he uttered.

Mr Tosswill, in answer to the last speaker, said the cases were not analogous. The Grey Government had held- office'for*! two years, and were charged with maladministration. The present Government

had only just taken office, and had had no opportunity of showing what they were prepared to do. Mr M'Gregor rose to order. Mr Tosswill was importing, fresh matter into the rules of debate he had "already had his opportunity. , 'Mr' Tosswill resumed Ins seat amidst considerable uproar. > -The Chairman then put the amendment when a Very large number of hands was held up in its favor, the Chairman stating that, he was unable to count them. He then put the resolution, for which ten or twelve Jiands were "held up. The Chairman declared the amendment carried; and after a vote of, thanks to the chair the meeting separated.