THE CONTENTION.

Evening Star, Issue 4272, 4 November 1876, Page 2

THE CONTENTION.

A special meeting of the Port Cludmers Grammar 7,2 °“ mi tt ee was held last night, to consider the following letter; from Dr Drysdale s—:*• I hare the honbt to rtqnbst that yott will call a meeting of tho School Committee at an early date, in; order to give the members ah opportunity of appointing one of their < number to represent them at the Convention called by 3tr Since last meeting, when 1 agreed to act in thiS capo9Jw» * .tove fall T WMideted the matter, the rCamt being that I feel that I cannot conscientiously attend a conference called to consider the best means of averting the evil results of the Abolition Act when I am of opinidn'that no evil results Will accrue, but on ■ the contrary, that i the bringing into operation of this measure will result in the permanent advantage of the district and the Colony at large.”, Dr Drysdale informed the Committee that he Considered that it wonld be an. act of sedition to countenance sttch a Convention, and that no loyal subject of'the Queen would be present there. As a JJustice of the Peace, he felt inclined to beMrtibtUorly cautious to avoid running counter to what waa. undoubtedly the law.of the land.- Mr Elder 1 moved the following resolu. tion:—" That Mr Macandrew i r he; written to, at knowledging tho receipt of his circular requesting the committed to appoint a. delegate to attend a meeting tobe held at Dunedin'oh tho Bth inst., to confer and determine as to the best means of extricating the; Province of Otago from the - evil results involved in the Abolition of the Provinces Act, and, in reply, to state that, after careful consideration, the Poit Chalmers School Committee do not anticipate that any evil results will follow from the Abolition of the Provinces; but, on the contrary, are of opinion that it will bo prodnctive of positive good, and consequently they see no reason why the Committee should be represented at tbe proposed Convention." Mr Goldie seconded the resolution, which was carried with only one dissenting voice—that of Mr Joyce. .~. We understand that the Chairman pf the Dunedin School Committee has received' a requisition asking him to call a meeting of that body to take into consideration die requisition of Mr Macandrew asking him to attend the Convention to be held on the Bth proximo, and in compliance,there-, with cirdhlaps have been issued calling a meeting for Monday evening at-half-past seven.' "