THE REFUSAL OF THE DELEGATED POWERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 262, 3 May 1867, Page 2

THE REFUSAL OF THE DELEGATED POWERS.

rUB'LIC MEETING \ AT THE TOWN HALL, CLYDE. t On Monday last one of the largest and 1 most enthusiastic public, meetings that \ has been for many months held at Clyde, i to take into consideration the uction of t the General Government in the withhold- 1 ing of the delegated powers under the < Goldiields Act of 1866 from His Honor ] the Superintendent. Mr John Jack occupied the Chair, who ] after explaining the objects of the meet * ing, and making a few brief r marks upon the conduct of the General Government, called upon Mr Cope to propose the first ; resolution. • Mr Cope said that he believed they all unanimously condemned the course taken by the General Government, in withholding the delegated powers from Mr Macan--drew, and the appointment of Mr Bradshaw as their Agent; he the speaker con sidered the matter as a direct insult to the people of this Province, the miners were made the vehicle for a display of personal feeling, and their interests prejudiced, because the election of Mr Macandrew to the Superintendency was distasteful to the authorities in Wellington. With MrMacandrew's former acts we were hot called upon to deal, it was sufficient to us to know that he was elected Superintendent by almost the unanimous voice of the people, and as such, he cemm ■neled our res pecfc and support, and any insult or slight offered to him must bo considered as offered to ourselves ; he the speaker did not believe in Provincialism, but while such existed, its integrity should be preserved A collision between the General and Provincial Governments could only result in disaster to the Goldiields; public works would in all probability be stopped and the usual votes and grants to local institutions would be discontinued, while to obtain redress to grievances, the sending j to Wellington would be tantamount to an absolute denial of justice, our representatives in the Council might as well be returned for somewhere cl«e, they would have no influence whatever, ar.d we ! should be virtually disfranchised, for as I we should conttibutc nothing to the Fro"l vincial Revenue, except by our cotsump- ■ I tioa of dutiable articles, wo could expect 1 1■ to get nothing in return. The act of ref I fusing to delegate the powers was illega', : I ad contrary fo the Constitution Act, •! which intended that the Provi ces s.kou d j make their own laws, and how could ! : such be done when they had not the pow- '■< , or. If the General Government had re ■ ' fused had refused the delegated powers in ' . 1 the other Provinces, we might not have j i j had so much cause to grumble, but matI ing it a special case with regard to our- ' II selves we should resist to tlie utmost in 1 - j our power. Mr Cope proposed "That in the opinion • I . of this meeting, the recent action of the j 1 ' General Government in withholding from j - the Superintendent and Provincial Coun- [ ■ cil of Otago the powers delegated to them j , under the Goldiields Act; and the rctcntiI on of these powers in the hands of His Kx cellcney is arbitrary, unjust, and contrary 5 to the spirt and letter of the Constitution C Act, inasmuch as it virtually and actua'ly s disfranchises the whole mil ing population • of this I rovince."—Seconded by Mr Hopper ad carried unanimously. MrT. L. Shepherd, member for Gold--1 fields, who was present said, that the pre- - sent was the first time he had lead the op- j - portunity of meeting the electors since I ids return, and lie was glad to do s upon 1 the present occasion He was quite taken - by surprise last week when he heard that the General Government had appointed \ an Agent in the person of Mr Bradshaw. At Tuapeka the matter was resented by 1 everyone, and from what he could learn the opinions of Tuapeka whould be evcry- ; where endorsed. It had been said that the Provincial Government had spent less . upon the Goldiields than they had receiv- - ed bat the truth was, they had spent v more. Mr Shepherd entered into a long ■ detailed account of Provincial and General r Government matters. From the mecti g. —Who pays the exi pencesofyour party while travelling round 1 the diggings. Mr Bhephcrd doe" hied an expanation 1 Proposed by Mr llastie,— '■ That this '"' ",i- eting pledges itself to support the Suss j perintendent ad Executive Council in res I sisting the despotic conduct of the GeneI ral Government rcferctl to in the previous resolution, and heartily approves of the g steps a read) adopted by the Provincial g (.over..ment to v.'pho'd the independence s, of the Province." —Seconded by Mr M trail ford and carried. n M r W. L. Bailey moved an amendment d to the e.Svci, —that the General Govcrne ment were legally justified in withholding •s the delegated powers. It meeting with opj position he withdrew it.

Mr J. Height's M.P.C. who spoko ; at the request of the'meeting said, That the action tuknn by the General Government lias this effect, that while withholding the delegated .powers, it inflicts a blow at representative government, and not as is sup posed at the Superintendent. 'lhe f 'fields Act does not permit the Governorto appoint an Agent, the powers must be held or delegated. Mr Uradshaw had how ever done only what a number of other people woud have dose when a salary of j£GOO per annum was in the way. The present battle must be fought by the Gold fields population, and they must say whether they elect to be governed by the General or Provincial Government Mr MTonnochie proposed, and Mr Barlow seconded " 1 hat a Committee consisting of Mcsssrs be formed to cooperate with the Otago Association tor the puppose of securing ah solute separation between the Northern and Middle Islands of New Zealand, and to look over the interests of the miners generally, and that a Copy of these resolutions be forwarded to His Honor the fc'uperintendent. Carried. Mr -'opesaid that the real object of the meeting was being departed from, the persons assembled had come there for the purpose of expressing their disapproval at the course taken by the General Government and to take some measure to have the powers of the Go dfields Act delegated as usual. He believed that if the Govern or was petitioned on the subject, that he would delegate the powers to Mr Macandrcw, as in the case of Mr Dick. a"d proposed " That His Kxcellency be petitioned t3 delegate the powers under the Golcliields -.ctoflß66to Mr Macandrew as delegated to Mr Dick the late Superintendent," Seconded by Mr -'astie and carried. Proposed by Mr M'Connochie, "That this meeting has no confidence in Mr bradsbaw as their representative for the I Goldfields Towns and respectfully call upon him to resign his seat"—Seconded by Mr Grindley and carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairman cou- ! eluded the proceedh gs.