THE PRESS ON SEPARATION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 226, 13 February 1865, Page 3

THE PRESS ON SEPARATION.

Separation Meeting in Dunedin.—A public meeting "was held at Dunedin on Frida} 7 last, “to take into consideration the formation of a league, having for its object the separation of the Middle Island from the Northern.” The meeting, which was very numerously attended, was held in the Princess’ Theatre, and the principal speakers were his Honor the Superintendent, Messrs Yogel and T. B. Gillies. The following resolutions were carried:—‘That in the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived when the separation of the Middle from the Northern Island of New Zealand will be attended with benefit td* the colonists of both islands.” “ That an association be formed to carry out the object embodied in the last resolution, to be called the Southern Separation League.” “That a petition be drawn up for presentation to her Majesty the Queen and the Imperial Parliament, sotting forth our grievances and praying for separation.” It was also determined that subscription lists should be opened, and a committee was appointed to form the nucleus of the league. —Otago Times. The following from the Southland Times is quoted to show the state of feeling on the Separation question by a party in that province :—“ The separation movement has been revived in full force in Otago, and strenuous efforts are to be made to induce the other Provinces to join. A league is to be formed, and we have no doubt many in Southland, Canterbury, Nelson, and Marlborough will become members of it, and throw the whole

of their influence into the scale. It is to be hoped that the friends of separation will keep the cause constantly before the public, and not rest in their endeavors until they have fully effected their purpose.” The following extracts are from a leading article in the New Zealand Herald , and shows that it is from no love of the South that the North seeks separation. It is a pity any can bo found who try in this way to excite ill-feeling and discontent between the different members of the same social and political community:—‘’The future greatness end independence of New Zealand, do not depend for their realisation on the political connection of the two islands; nay more, we believe that the Northern island of New Zealand is more likely to acquire future greatness wheu disencumbered of the Southern one. As one state, the Middle Island will always be a source of weakness to the State. It will be a corpse bound to the living body of the IS’orth. It is the North, and the North only, which has, to use a very common expression, ‘ the makings’ of a great country.” “The Northern ..Island is capable of feeding and employing an immense population of men, the Southern one of sheep. They have but few ports and can never be a maritime people, such as ourselves.” “ The Middle Island could only be to us what Ireland has been to England, a source of weakness,- with this greater disadvantage even, that on the one point in which Ireland has been a source of strength to England, the Middle Island will not be so to us, viz., the supply of men to our future army. In this point alone perhaps Ireland has repaid England for her possession—but, the same rule will not apply to New Zealand in the future. Great Britain is surrounded by vaster continental nations than we can ever be, even if the whole of Australia be occupied by man. "We should not therefore need so large an army to enforce respect, in this hemisphere at least, but if the protection of the Middle Island is to from part of the duty of the Northern one, as one state —then we think the greatness and security of the futuae of New Zealand may be more visionary under a combined government, than those who now oppose separation think it will bo under that system.”