THE REQUISITION TO THE CITY MEMBERS.

Evening Star, Issue 4232, 19 September 1876, Page 3

THE REQUISITION TO THE CITY MEMBERS.

MB LAENACH'S EEPLT,

[Bx Telegraph.]

Wellington, September 18. The following letters have been addressed by Messrs Larnach and Stout, M.H.K.'b, to Mr E. B. Cargill and others, in reply to their protest:— - Wellington, September 18,1876. Gentlemen,—Hating noticed in this morning** ' New Zealand Times' aletter purporting to be addressed to myself and colleague, as representatives of your city, in reference to our political action during the present session, I take the earliest opportunity of stating that while I regard your several opinions on most matters political of very great weight at all times, yet I feel on the present occasion that btringon the spot, I am more favorably situated than you possibly can be to judge fairly and prudently of the political situation here, and it is my intention to continue, as I have done in the past, to act and vote in the direction I may consider moiit beneficial for the best interests of my constituents and the Colony of New Zealand as a whole. lam not likely to be swayed by newspaper or other reports, although I shall always be happy to receive suirgestiouß and good wishes from any of you.—l remain, gentlemen, your taithfol servant, W. J. M. Lmuvach.

MB STOUT'S BEPLY. Wellington, September 18. Gentlemen,—As you have published, by telegrams in the public Press, a letter addressed to Mr Macandrew, Mr Larnach, and myself, before it has been received by any of us, expressing your opinion of the political situation at Wellington at this juncture in public affairs, I desire at once to reply thereto. lam always most anxious to hear the free expression of the opinion of any of my fellow Colonists os public matters. I consider it to be the duty of ever/ politician to listen to the opinion of a minority before resolving on any political action. I am, however, particularly pleased at your letter, notwithstanding that I understand it has been got up in deference to suggestions from a Minister of the Crown and others in Wellington. First, because up to this time some of you have never publicly taken any part in public politics, but on the contrary have carefully eschewed expressing any opinion 0,1 public affairs. This I always regretted, for I felt that unless those engaged in commerce m de politics also part of their business the result would be most calamitous to the Colony. Your letter is an. earnest that this neglect of politics will not longer c Tntinue. Second, many of yon are the Dunedin representatives of that party—the Abolition party—which has brought about all the turmoil and difficulty into which the Colony is now plunged. I may be pardoned in pointing out that you are in error in some of your statements. It was the Government, not the Opposition, that inaugurated the Piako Swamp debate; and as for Separation and Disqualification debates, not one-fourth of the time of the session has been taken up on these subjects. If any blame is attachable to anyone for the delay that has occurred iu the Government, the responsibility rests with the Government. Seme of theirmain measures they nave withdrawn, and their County Bill was read a second time after a brief debate but an emphatic protest. The debates that have taken place on the Piako Swamp and Disqualification Bills may appear to you waste of tune, but I have yet to learn, however, that the illegal granting of 87.000 acres of public lands is a matter about which Parliament should not be occupied, or that it is a waste of time to uphold the law of the land, and to prevent a Ministry escaping from the violation of a Statute passed to uphold the rights and preserve the liberties of my constituents and my fellew-colonists. I feel assured that to talk about finance and counties wi.l indeed be idle debate. The reduction ef the Estimates in any appreciable degree is impossible, and. as to the County system, it is a sham, a delusion, and a snare. The Abolition party is in a majority, and the members of that party are content with the " cry." To me they seem to be carelesß ef the result of their favorite idea, in which some of you have aided them. Your letter shows me that you are doubtful of the effect of Abolition, and afraid of the aims of your own party. On you and on your party will rest the responsibility and blame of destroying not only our political institutions, but also those other institutions which have grown up under Provincialism. For my part I protested against Abolition in 1874-1875, pointing out what the result would be. Some of you, however, joined in the cry " Abolition! Abolition!" and I would much desire to know whether you think now you were right is your aetien, andfalso if you see whither Abolition tends. I may only in conclusion say that if my constituents think 1 am doing violence to their politic il convictions, I am willing to act in a Constitutional manner by resigning my seat. I believe, however, that the vast majority of my constituents approve of the stand the Opposition have taken against the flagrant violation of our laws and our Constitution. It is my determination, at Borne considerable personal sacrifice, to support them to the best of my ability, and to the utmost of my purse. Thanking you for your expression of opinion and advice, I am, &c,

Eobeet Stout,

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS,

The memorial or letter—-which was published in our issue of Saturday—to our City members, accompanied by its long lists of signatures, was forwarded to-day, perTaupo, to Mr Macandrew's address. Eight hundred and sixty-four electors signed the letter, and this number, we are authorised to say, did not include Mr R. K. Murray's name, which was struck out at his own wish. The following message for Mr Maeandrew was telegraphed in the afternoon :

James Maeandrew, Esq,, M.H.E., Wellington.

_ , ~ x , Dunedin, September 19,1876. we nave had the honor of posting to you to-day a letter addressed to yourself and the other members for Dunedin, signed by 864 electors. "We can assure you this letter originated solely with a few of the gentlemen whose names head the list of sie5S*^ eg ' and was n . ot suggested in any way from Wellington, aa has been falsely said. The signatures now forwarded were freely given to the letter since Saturday aftornoon, and if time had permitted we believe doable the number would have been given (Signed) E. B. Caboill ' B. Wilson J, BfTTBAY,

A CHALLENGE. At a meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Political Association held last evening it was resolved that the following challenge be presented:— To Messrs Cargill, Fish, Eattray and others. Gentlemen,—lt having been ascertained that gig. natures to the letter to our City representatives have been obtained by misrepresentations, you are challenged to call a public meeting of the citizens to pronounce upon the public affairs therein referred to. The committee undertakes that at snob meeting they shall be prepared to submit and maiutain the following resolution in opposition : "That our representatives are nobly defending our constitutional rigkts against tyranny, injustice, and aggression, and that it is most desirable that they continue to do so until they obtain the victory." It was also resolved, that inasuuoh as already a large public meeting of Ike electors has heartily accorded its approval if the conduct of our representatives, if the promoters of the letter do vot at once aocept the foregoing challenge, the public will be jestifled in opining that they dare not. « x ,«,«.„ Alex - Bdet « Chairman. September 18,1876.