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Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 777, 10 January 1871, Page 2

Mr T. A. S. Kynnersley haa publicly *taken leave of a portion of his late constituents at Westport, aud announced his retirement from political life, and as a large portion of his district is now comprisett in the electoral district of Grey Valley, the event will no doubt be of interested" many of our readers. During last -week a public meeting was held at Westport, at which, according to the usnal custom, Mr Kynnersley gave an account* o£ the measures he had supported 'in Parliament during the portion of the session,, he had- the honor of representing *. Westland North, carefully explaining the reasons for his vote o"n each question, the dry details of ; wHfeh it is not our intention to reiterate, "But it jnay Vie instructive at this time, during the; heat of an election, when the Annexation question is snre to be made a prominent feature .of, to know the opinion of'Mr Kynnersley # as to the conduct of Mr Harrison during last session on this question. He is reported by our Westport contemporary to have said : — " The Westland Annexation Bill by which it was sought to annex a portion of the" County of Westland to Nelson was introduced by Mr Harrison, member for Westlaud Boroughs, about a month prior to the close of the session. Mr Harrison and myself waited upon Mr Yogel. I was not in favor of the movement, although atfxious to see the unsatisfactory boundary of the Grey river altered. The proposition struck me as not having any element of finality or permanence, and it savored rather of annexation of Nelson to Greymouth, than of Greymouth to Nelson. Besides, as a consistent opponent of Provincialism, I preferred to see the reduction of the power of the Provinces rather than their consolidation

as permanent institutions. If unable, however, to get such an alteration as 1 desired, I was none the less prepared to vote fur any measure that would remove the sorions inconvenience of keeping the Grey River as a boundary between these two portions of the t "Colony. Mr Yogel. upon hearing our views-, thought it desirable that the bill should' bB introduced, as a Government measure.* Mr Harrison wa3 satisfied with this, and, I believe, telegraphed to 'Grey mouth that the matter might be almost regarded as settled. The bill passed the first reading, and when called on again Mr Yogel asked that it might be postooned. After a series of delays, Mi Harrison learnt from Mr Yogel thai the Government declined to proceed with the measure. Mr Harrison was naturally highly indignant, as, had he known such was the intention of the Government, he would have brought it on himself. He again urged Mr Yogel to carry out his promise, and the latter declined, stating that it was too late in the session. The member for Westlaml Boroughs, as also myself, felt very strongly on the matter. It was not alone, the fact of MrVi.gel having undertaken the paternity of the Bill, but also its being a more important petition, having been signed by 2000 persons, than had ever been presented to the House of Representatives, that caused us to lament the defective representative institutions under which a Government would, dare to insult a constituency numerically stroug, but politically weak. If a petition signed by 200 people from any other Province, and more especially Canterbury or Otago, had been presented, the Government would not dare to have so treated it." After reference to a few other unimportant subjects, Mr Kynnersley defended himself against charges of ingratitude which had been brought against him by the Nelson Volonisb ; and denied that, when at Cobden, he charactered certain members of the Provincial" Council as "a factious place-hunting opposition," he included Mr A. Reid, the Gold Melds Secretary. He said — "I wish it to' : be distinctly understood that I had no such intention, and that Mr A. Reid, of all other members of the Council, was furthest from my thoughts -when I made use of 3uch an expression. Neither in speaking of Mr Curtis did I desire to say anything that could not be fairly construed as an impartial criticism of a public individual. Were Mr Curtis my own brother I should still claim 'the right to express my* candid and undisguised opinion,'- if occasion required it, upon his ability or efficiency in filling a public office. 1 still maintain that Mr Curtis has not, to my way of thinking, a proper conception of the office of Superintendent, or the duties connected with it. In conclusion, while maintaining that you cannot elect one as your representative who more faithfully or conscientiously essayed to discharge the t?nst than myself, I confidently hope that yo-ir choice will fall on ona who will be better able to do justice to the requirements of so important a constituency." It is sincerely to be regretted that Mr Kynnei'sley has thought fit to retire so soon from the political arena, for which he showed himself so well fitted. By his retirement the whoj.e of the Gold Fields of the' 1 Colony sustain a loss that is not easily repaired ; more especially at the present time, when men of practical experience and ability are so much wanted in the House, to watch over the important questions affecting the Gold Fields which will be brought forward during the coming session. Mr Kynnersley will long be remembered with the kindliest. feelings, both as Commissioner and M.H.R., by the residents on the Nelson South- West Gold Fields. __„_„„