MR. GILLIES AT CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 582, 13 June 1873, Page 2

MR. GILLIES AT CLYDE.

- o Mr. Gillies held a meeting last evening at Hawthorne’s Clyde Hotel, Fully fifty persona were present, in fact, the room was crowded, and many occupied standing room in the lobby of the room. Mr. J. U. Cambridge, Mayor, occupied the chair. Mr. Gillies entered into a lengthy explanation of his reasons for occupying the position of candidate for the Superin tendency. He said it was at the urgent solicitation of his personal friends and friends to the party he belonged, and he felt he would be betraying the trust reposed in him ho refused the call, lie was promised the supporo of ah influential section, and ho felt it his duty to ascertain the mind of the electors. He then reviewed at length the (so called) Constitutional question; ho referred to his claims on the electors, viz.—lC years residence in the Province, during which time he had occupied prominent positions, and had advocated causes promotive of the welfare of the Province ; he then dwelt on the Land Laws, concluding his address with a reference to the present Provincial form of Government, stating it as his opinion that the existing form of Government was fairly’wearing itself out, and with the general adoption of Road Boards, afterwards Shires, the form of Provincial Government could be shorn of its expensive parapharnalia, and brought to assume more the position of an executive for the regulating and proportioning the general revenue amongst the Shires. Mr. Gillies then sat down amidst much cheering. Proposed by Mr. Rewel, seconded by Ilastie, “That Mr. J. L. Gillies is a fit and proper person to be elected as Superintendent cf the Province of Otago. As an amendment, it was proposed, “That this meeting cannot conscientiously pass a vote of confidence in Mr, Gillies, and do not say he is a fit and proper person to occupy the position of Superintendent. A good deal of bantering took place between the different holders of opinion, all however, in good humor. The motion and amendment were eventually put, the result being about equal, but the Chairman proved the result in favor of the motion, which was declared carried amid acclamation. Mr. Gillies returned thanks for the patient hearing accorded him. He remarked the present feeling whether for or against him, availed nothing, the poll decided, and he hoped all who hold similar opinions to him would vote for him on the 18th instant. His policy was to administer the land laws in such away as would settle the people on the soil. Town and country would alike benefit, and it was certain if the land was not occupied the towns would soon vanish. The lateness of the hour at which the meeting was concluded is our excuse for the condensed form of the above report,