THE MEETING OF TUESDAY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 228, 17 February 1865, Page 2

THE MEETING OF TUESDAY.

This highly interesting and important meeting has already received a-brief notice at our hands. Wo are fully alive to the desirability of giving to the addresses of the various speakers that publicity and permanence (hat would bo afforded by their appearance in fall in our columns—some of them are so truly interesting end valuable that to abridge would bo to materially injure t hem. Our very limited space however effectually prevents our fulfilling our wishes in this respect, and we arc forced to allow a mere outline to suffice. Tho Council Chamber was (as wc have said) filled to overflowing and the meeting comprised many of tno most influential inhabitants of the province.

Major LAMBERT, who, on tho motion of Mr. Sealy, was called to the chair, having road the requisition to his Honor, and the notice convening tho meeting, called its attention to the agitation now existing iu the north and south of the Colony for its disintegration. Ho felt that the centra! and smaller provinces should express and record their opinions on tho question, and if they felt that such a step would prove to them an injury, enter their protest against it. Ho rogvetted the illness, of his Honor, which prevented his attendance; and invited free discussion on the resolutions that would be submitted for their approval.

Ur CAUL- OX, in moving tho first resolution, regretted the absence of his Honor, who heartily concurred in the resolution he ur.d to propose, and whoso name would be found aoyeniiSd to tnoiae;noiiaf,'sho 'ld it be adopted by the meeting. Tho question before the meeting was one on wlucii all parties could heartily unite, and was quite distinct from the question of the scat of Government, upon ■which he held his own views, though it perhaps might not be one cl' great importance to tho colony, this question of dismemberment was as would be speedily found to bo the case should it be accomplished. We, as colonists, required to regard it from two points—as members, of the colony, and as members of tho province of Hawke's Bay. Anok lam* seemed united in something like a conspiracy agains” the constitution, and this at a time when rebellion wag tr.it. and which 10,000 of her Majesty’s troops wore

etm loyou to subdue, at a time, too, when a portion of the colony was afilteted with the horrors of actual warfare " ct this time tho agitators of Auckland would bo emanci patea from a constitution framed anke for the benefit of both races. It is true they would leave the management of the natives to .the Home Government, but it would not be found willing to undertake .the charge, but if it Should so stultify Itself and agree to the proposition, this would be a further extension of the system of double government so unpopular in Auckland, and that lias caused the change of ministry, and hastened that change in the scat of Government which is regarded there as a grievance and is the cause of the present agitation. It was a cab for more government for this most over-governed state 1 If separation were effected great provincial works could not be carried out, as roads, railways, telegraphs, &c., as these required unity of purpose; so did the exactions, of

Jariff, and above aUthcpubiic debt, of which 50meE3,000,003 had been already spent in Auckland, or tbr its benefit. Again, the Queen’s writ—the liabilities of a inivhbljs easily evadsft by a short trio within the boun. darics of the other colony. Tin chi not speak of the future, but cf the present, aud would ash the’meeting to decide .-.r,a.-.■s': the sitovemon cf the constitution in two small and probably opposing colonies,.

• Hr KINROSS hi a few words seconded the resolution. Xr. COLw-fbO, in proposing tho second resolution, re. marked that near three years sines ho had, in a speech before tho House of Representatives, said—“ The one thing which no deplored above all others, as being the greatest possible evil which could happen to the colony, was so halation. He wished to see th- seat of Government so centrally situated as to keep tho colony cue and undivided; ’• and he was glad that his views were so well supported ae,e. He could not, however, treat the Auckland movement uit a contempt, as that province comprised three tilths of the v, nolc Northern Island, unci more than one" half the population, as was also the case with its revenue. The whole of that province—its Superintendent and Council—its sixteen members of General Assembly—had affirmed the principle, and had held many public meetings, and its public voice was all but unanimous for separation. Otago, too, was much the largest province in the Middle Island, and, together with Auckland, outweighed tho rest of the colony. It was owing to tho inopportune time chosen for the change of the seat of government that this movement was made in Auckland, not without plausible reason nor by a few agitators only. He had great pleasure in proposing the resolution. In Canada small colonies were uniting, on tho principle that union was strengthThe Separation scheme was a movement in the opposite direction, and if successful,-it would be very detrimental to tho interests of the colony as a whole. He had been a resident in the island for thirty years, and had seen the planting and growth of all tho towns and settlements, and had taken interest in observing tho j,regress it had made, mid should ho live to tho age of three score years and ten, ho trusted ho should not see tho colony divided. Tho resol itioa spoke of Hie best interests of the colony. Vfliat were they ? They were cf three classes-cxtomal’ internal, and nautical. The principle of separation, once admitted uould not end with. Auckland merely, but would speedily extend to Otago,, even if it was not separated at the same time, 'ihcro would then be three colonics to begin with, and tho external status of New Zealand would bo gene" 3,0 more worthy of the appellation of “ tho Britain of tho South," she would merely bear comparison and class-flea tion with the Isle of Man. Other speakers, particularly -nr. Carb, on, had treated of her internal interests, which must be injured by such a change. Settlers at no great distance from Napier might live under different fiscal arrangements from ours, having a tariff, customs duties, and postal arrangements differing from ours; a new colony might legislate on groat questions affecting the whole in a local spirit—as for instance, on questions affecting the natives—and fresh disturbances would result; but, nolitscally, it would most injuriously affect tho si i diet- provinces, as Hawke’s Bay ami Taranaki, which, between two other larger ones, had some hope of justice, but left to the mercy of one, as Wellington, could expert but to bs treated as cyphers, and would “ go to the wall." Mr. J. 31. STUART, in speaking to the resolution, ,rc" marked that he took perhaps what might ha regarded as a peculiar view of the quest ion. It seemed evident to him t.tiu Auckland wished tho Homo Government to resume the power it possessed previous to the re;-.foxing of sell government on the colony—thus, to restore the old .state of things. If he thought this could be done it would he v. ell, ns wc should have a Government both efficient ami economical, ami ho for one would regard it as a change for the better; but he was afraid that Auckland would, if successful, only bo so so far as to divide the colony, and ho therefore would use his influence to oppose the movement Tho loss of the General Government hart deeply chagrined Auckland, which was resolved rather to “reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven.” Hr. CARR, objected to the word “present” in tho resolution ns proposed. ns cither injudicious or unnecessary and suggested that it bo withdrawn. • sifter some discussion, in which :,lo=srs. S. Hogg. Coleoso. and Carlyon took part, the proposed amendment was adopted, and the amended resolution put to tho mootin'--and carried co:i. ° Sir. CATilt, in cote hi? forward to propose tlie tim’d rcsolution, was glad to see so numerous and so respectable an assemblage. He would refer to the financial portion cf the subject. Each of tho two proposed governments would cost as much as the present one, the cost of which was already too great, in fact, quite as much as it could bear, being already over taxed, raid with a further prospect of another an income-tax-how could these governments be supported? It had been pleasant for Auckland to eu‘ joy the disbursements of taxes raised in other parts of the colony, she would not find tho same advantage from the expenditure of a revenue raised within her own boundaries, so neither would the Southern Island escape the pay ment of their share of the expense of the wav, as it would be over long before separation could be effected. Tho scheme was a bad one for all the parties concerned, and would not pay. Capt, CURLING expressed his entire concurrence in the sentiments expressed in the able speeches that had been made, and seconded the resolution. Mr, TII’FEN in a few words proposed the fourth resolution, which was seconded by Mr. AVilkinson. and carried. Mr. RHODES (who should have seconded the second rc solution, but was then absent) regretted that, from detou" tion at the punt, he had been unable to fulfil his intention" He was glad to see so good an attendance, and to find so much unanimity and cordiality had been manifested.

Mr. SEALT, in proposing tho fifth resolution, remarked that tbe meeting had already expressed its feeling against dismemberment in three resolutions, and its determination to oppose the measure in a fourth. He was gratified to find iho Hawke’s Bay public for once unanimous, rather an unusual circumstance for the province, since the time that a question of a soteewbat similar nature had called them together—he alluded to the separation of the province from Wellington. Now the watchword was unionBut there was no inconsistency in this; their separation from Wellington conferred on tho province the benefits of the constitution of which the proposed dismemberment would deprive it. Whether Auckland succeeded in ob taining separation for itself only, or included the whole Northern Island in its scheme, its results would bo equally injurious to tho interests of this province. In the fix-st case, if the colony of Auckland should have war with the natives, their policy would he to drive them over their boundary, as, indeed, they had done as a province; in the second ease, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki must occupy the undignified position of mere make-weights for Wellington against the too preponderating power of Auckland, The consequences of the success of the separation scheme

would bo highly disastrous to all the central provinces, and it became our duty to take measures for oar protection. Tha r solution would strengthen the hands of our representatives in their opposition to the measure when it should come before the General Assembly. Hi'. T. E. lIAI’.mMG, in seconding the resolution, remarked that at that stage of the business when the meetng had already recorded its protest against the scheme of. the agitators north and south, and when the province stood pledged by resolution to oppose it by memorial and such other means as it might be able toadopt, it seemed needless to add mors to what had been already said, but ho would remark, that at the commencement of the agitation, and indeed almost up to the present period, the separation scheme seemed so absurd and its success so improbable, as to leave no room for wonder at the inaction of the province in the matter. The prevailing feeling undoubtedly was precisely that expressed by the province of Taranaki—that the existence of the movement was a source of regret, hut certainly no cause for alarm. But we now saw that it had grown from what it was and assumed proportions almost formidable, and it was even said that the Governor would support it. It had become, in fact, an example of many familiar circumstances—a little fire spreading to a conflagration—the leaking of a reservoir ending in the bursting of an embankment, and destruction and desolation throughout the course of its waters. A few grains of gunpowder, for example, seemed a little thing, so innocent, quite unworthy of serious re* gard, but capable of producing almost incredible resultsMoreover, Auckland was calling upon Hawke’s Bay to speak out as a province on the question. Ha was happy to see the response given on this occasion. Hawke’s Bay had now spoken, and Auckland would doubtless he satisfied.'

On tlio motion of 3lr. J. 31. Stuart, the thanks of the meeting -were given to the Chairman for the ability with which ho had performed the office, and for the interest ho had taken in the subject.