THE CONVENTION.

Evening Star, Issue 4274, 7 November 1876, Page 2

THE CONVENTION.

: At a special meeting, of the St. Leonard's School Committee on Monday evening, it was decided not to send a delegate to. the Convention "as the Abolition proposals had been fSirly submitted tot the constituencies at the-last general election, toad because the Convention L» too late to Abolition, and too premature* tot suggesting -a* remedying anything in the Counties Act, until the constituencies have more knowledge and experience in the working of the new Acts." The committee added the following to its resolution But we are desirous of expressing our warmest' thanks for the noble stand made by the Opposition in the General Assembly of 1875 in giving; the electojfflan opportunity of saying what form of Government should be adopted." MrPyke. has sent "the following letror to; the Superintendent:—"! have the honor to acknowledge the receipfr-of your circular letter,-inviting my attendance at a meeting convened 'to conferand determine as to the best means of extricattn? the Province of Ofcago from the evil results involved by the Abolition of the Provinces Act;' As lam of opinion that no.' evil,' but, on the contrary, very beneficial results will attend, the • operation of the valuable measure referred to (which confers on the people of this Colony such large powers of selfgovernment), I must decline to assist in the discussion of a foregone conclusion, with which I have not the slightest sympathy." '•''■■ ' The City Council to-day, by "the casting vote of the Mayor, decided that his Worship should represent it at the Convention;> On his Honor's circular being read, Or. Fish moved .that his Worship should be allowed to take such a course atf he should think fit, and Cr. Gibsok, in seconding it, thought it would be wrong for the Council to vote unanimously in favor of - eing represented at a meeting the object of whieh. was to- discuss Abolition or non-Abolition.. As good citizens, it was their duty to carry out and respect the law as it was for the time being:. If the Mayor did go, he would represent himself. Cr. Ghaut moved, and Cr. Eobeets seconded, that the Mayor do represent, the City Council at the Convention. Cr. Mollisoh : I shall take! care' he ■ does not represent me. Cr. Grant_ replied that if the majority so decided the minority should give Way. Thon there was very nearly a serious difference between Councillors Grant and Walter, as > to whether or not on a certain occasion a question had been unanimous, and the latter, to 'preserve harmony, withdrew his denial that it was unanimous. For the amendment there voted Crs. Grant, Roberts, Isaac, Brown, Wright, and Thomson; against it, Crs. Fish, Campbell, Woodland, Mollison, Gibson, and Walter ; and the Matob, in giving: his casting vote for it, said he had not strong- reasons for believing that much good would result from the Convention, but as there would be a great number of representative men there, even these who were strong Abolitionists should be there. His sympathies were with the Provincialists, and he extremely regretted that the Provinces had teen abolished; at the same time, it became them now to make the* best of the situation. Cr. Fjsh then moved as an amendment: "That, inasmuch as his Worship the Mayor has received an invitation, as a member of the Provincial Council, to attend the Convention, and seeing' that this Council is equally divided on the subject, it is inexpedient that he should attend it as Mayor." The voting was as before, and this amendment was negatived by the Mayor's casting .vote. The amendment of Cr. Grant was then put as. a substantive motion, when six again voted for and a like number against it. " ' ■•■•■•

Lawbxhcb, November-7.—rhe following resolution was passed at last night's meeting of the Council unanimously:—" That this Council, while agreeing with his Honor that the present is a crisis which demands the most serious attention of all earnest men among jfcs, is not prepared to prematurely anticipate an accession.of evils consequent upon the passing of the Abolition of the Provinces; but had the Convention been called fio deliberate upon the best means for carrying out in detail'the wise and liberal provisions for local self-government contained in the Abolition Act, the Council would have gladly embraced the opportunity of being represented at the Convention. For these reasons, the Council declines to authorise the presence of the Mayor at the Convention." In justice'to Mr Fraer, the Mayor, we should state that before he left Lawrence he authorised the Town Clerk "to lay his Honor's circular before the Ceuncil, and obtain from it an expression of opinion thereupon, his own being totally opposed to the Convention. ; „