THE BISHOP OF NELSON ON NELSON'S WRONGS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1427, 11 September 1878, Page 3

THE BISHOP OF NELSON ON NELSON'S WRONGS.

A somewhat unusual feature in regard to the objection taken in Nelson to the Public Works scheme of the present Ministry is that the Anglican Bishop of the cUopeae lias taken up the cudgels on behalf of Nelson against the Government. At a public meeting held on the subject, the Bishop delivered the following speech ; " He was not in the habit of taking part in political meetings, but the present was not held for political purposes, but that utterance might be given to very deep feelings, and where any great wrong was about to be done he thought it a duty to come forward. It was a great wrong to tin's district to debar it from any part icipationin the now Public Woris policy, for it was an infringement of promises and conditions plainly stated. He had lived

in Nelson for the last, few years, and he could oonfirm the statement that the scheme to connect with the West. Const and Canterbury was withdrawn on the distinct understanding that tho line should form part of a larger scheme. It was an infringement of the conditions < f contract entered into with all those who had laid out a single pound in tho purchase of property in the district; an infringement of the rights of the working men, whoso homesteads were the pride of Nelson, for these they would have to give up when Nelson's trade was lost. If he had tho power of Sir Q-eorge Grey in drawing pictures, what a picture of want coming to tho little children could ho paint them ? [Applause.] All the local steamers trading to the West Coast must certainly cease to run, and why ? becauso the G-overnment policy was to proceed with destroying the regular trade now existing, in order to form a competition into which Nelson could not enter. They asked simply that what had been promised them might bo carried out; this was removed altogether frem party politics. He would quote the words of the present Minister for Public Works, who said, "if we can come to an arrangoment as between ourselves, an honorable understanding, which ought to be held as binding as the laws of the Medes and Persians.' His Lordship said, 'I thank him for tho wcrd ;' let Mr Macandrew apply that principlo to them now. Mr Sclanders had remarked that we could not live on climate. Ho begged to differ, for climate was a remarkably good market tble commodity, and if they got a trunk line, they would soon find it to be so, for people from Christchurch, Dunedin, and other places would speedily see the advantage of making Nelson the home of their families, whil'? the money-making men could run off to the more busy places. On the other hand, what would become of them if such a statement as that recently delivered were allowed to be carried out ?