PUBLIC MEETING.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 326, 23 November 1865, Page 1

PUBLIC MEETING.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE in Mb COLENSO UNANIMOUSLY PASSED! 7 A numerously-attended public meeting of the electors and inhabitants of Napier was held on Monday night, the 20th inst., at half-past seven o’clock, in the Council Chamber, pursuant to advertisement, for the purpose of hearing from Mr W. Colenso a statement of the course pursued by him in the General Assembly. Mr P. Seaeles proposed that Mr R. France do take the chair. Mr Mullany seconded the motion. Mr France declined, and proposed Mr T. B. Harding, who, after being dulyseconded, took the chair. The Chairman then read the advertisement convening the meeting. He said it was the common practice, and a well-fouad-od one, that the representatives of the people, should on their return from the General Assembly, render an account of the manner in which they had fulfilled the trust reposed in them. It was in pursuance of this practice that the present meeting was called, and he trusted that the audience would give Mr Colenso a fair hearing. Mr Colenso said he would have called this meeting earlier were it not that he had been unwell since his return from Wellington, ' and therefore unable to do so. Ho would likely detain them longer than usual, as the session had been a very long one, and the amount of business very considerable. Political matters, he need hardly say, were very dry, but he would do his best to render his account of them interesting. What he wished to do to-night was to show the man- < ner in which he, William Colenso, the member for Napier, had felt and acted in the late session of the General Assembly. Some misapprehension had arisen from the way in which he had been misreported in the Wellington papers. Some fourteen or sixteen days after the commencement of the session, he addressed a letter to the editor of the Advertiser on this subject, pointing out various inaccuracies, in some of whicn he had been represented as saying the exact reverse of what he did say, of which letter no notice was taken. He observed, however, that he was better reported afterwards. He would divide the subjects upon which he was about S to speak into the following parts:—l, the Weld Ministry; 2, the Stafford Ministry; 3, the Acts of the late session; 4, Separation; 5, the present moral and political aspect of the Colony, and its requirements. First, he would consider the Weld Ministry. He had now been in the Assembly for five successive sessions, and under several ministries; but * he had never known one so .strong as the Weld Ministry at the commencement of the session. They had three-fourths of the House in their favor. The early ministries consisted of four individuals. Afterwards a fifth was added, but the Weld Ministry consisted of seven ! In a House of fifty-seven members altogether, a ministry of seven, or about one should be sufficiently strong. He

had spoken of their strength, but they were in a great measure dependent upon Mr Weld’s name ; —it was a tower of strength to them. Jle was an honorable gentleman;—one for whom he had a great respect;—one who indulged in a great deal of honest, sterling talk, which Englishmen so loved to listen to. There was, however, one great source of weakness. It was the appointment of Mr J. E. Fitz Gerald, of Canterbury, to the office of Native Minister. It was a false step, and when Mr Fitz Gerald was introduced to the House in that capacity, he was received with ominous silence—“ not a soul said ‘ God bless him.’” In Mr Fitz Gerald, it is true, they had the great orator of the house, but he was, nevertheless, a source of weakness in the Ministry. Another great fault of the Weld Ministry was their reckless expenditure. In a time of heavy taxation they were considering how to increase the taxes, while the Colony was still involved in a costly war. Even their friends found fault with them for that, and feared that they would not make the remainder of the Threemillion Loan sufficient for their war expenditure. Among the objectionable Acts of the Weld Ministry were the Indemnity Act, which stood in the same relation to Europeans as did the proclamation of pardon to the Maori murderers; —and the Representation Act, for increasing the representation of the Colony from 57 to 70, and giving all the additional members to the Middle Island. This was a Bill that did not give satisfaction to any part of the House. Then there was the refusal to bring in a Debtors’ and Creditors’ Act; and the rescinding of the motion of enquiry respecting the so-called peace proclamation that had been carried by tbe House. This was done without notice, and for this purpose the Standing Rules and Orders were suspended. The Government whipped in members from all quarters, as they must have thirty-nine members to suspend the Standing Rules and Orders. The House, however, did not wish the Weld Ministry to resign ; they still wished to render them every assistance in their power, while imposing a check upon their ill-advised measures. The next subject was that of the Stafford Ministry. On Mr Weld’s resigning, he pointed out Mr Stafford as the man best fitted to form a Ministry, and the Governor immediately sent for him. Mr Stafford soon met the Auckland and Otago members, and the member for Napier,—who, on hearing his policy, tendered him their hearty support. Old colonists would recollect the StaffordRichmond Ministry—which had not only stood the longest of any, but was undoubtedly the best Ministry the Colony ever had. Old electors of Napier would also recollect that, had they done their duty earlier in 1861, that Ministry would not have left office : and, in all probability the present miserable war would long ago have been ended. Napier Electors had sent him in 1861 to support that Ministry—but he had arrived a day too late. He had, however, the great satisfaction before he left Wellington of seeing once more Mr Stafford in office; and now he began in reality to look for and expect better times. Mr Stafford had set heartily to work; he had cut down the Weld Ministry estimates very considerably; estimates which they had repeatedly said, —■“ could not be alteredand had withstood every attempt to do so. Mr Stafford had reduced the amount of general appropriations from ,£309,346, to £201,583, —-and had also reduced the amount of provincial appropriations from £180,295, to £174,152 —thus making a net saving of £113,906 on those heads; —and other great savings were to follow. Mr Stafford was not only Premier (as Mr Weld), but also Colonial Secretary, Colonial Treasurer and Postmaster-General, —for tbe time, at least, filling four offices; and he (Mr C.) knew, that even small vouchers of only a few shillings passed both his (Mr S’s.) eye and hand before they were paid. That was the way to save money. (Hear, hear.) He also knew, that, on one day in particular, shortly before they broke up, Mr Stafford was in his office and the House from 2 in the morning till half-past 12 the next morn-ing—-22| hours out of the 24 ! (hear, hear.) The third item to which he would direct their attention was the Acts passed during the last session. The Masters’ and Servants’

Act had been rejected after a very hard fight; but in its place there was another, the Master and Apprentice Act, resembling the former, as he (Mr C.) said in the Assembly, “ as a calf did a cow.” This Act was based upon anpSnglish one, the Parish Apprentices’ Act. It was in reference to the children who were the waifs and strays of society, and provided for their apprenticeship. They were to be bound at the age of 14 for 7 years, and if they had conducted themselves well, for a young man the master has to pay <£2 per annum for the last three years, into the Savings’ Bank, in his name. If a young woman, the sum is to be <£l 10s. If the apprentice complains of ill-usage (which in the Act is defined to be insufficient food or clothing), they must prove it to a magistrate to his satisfaction, and then the indentures are cancelled and the master is fined <£lo, And vrhat becomes of this =£lo ? Is it given to the child ? No: it is to be paid to some charitable institution ! What in the sight of God was the charity which withheld the money from the child itself to give it to “ some charitable institution ” ? This measure, which he had described as “inhuman,” was a disgrace to the nineteenth century (hear, hear.) The fourth subject which he would bring before them was Separation,— which appeared to him to be the only way by which the enormous growing evils with which the Colony was overwhelmed could be combated. He had voted for it with the greatest reluctance, as he had said in his speech on that subject,—a report of which he had sent to the Times, and which, he was pleased to observe, had been copied into the Herald. He had been very undecided on that question previously, and had come to the conclusion that Separation, though a desperate remedy, was the only one. The Province of Auckland, which contained twothirds of the European population of the Northern Island, was iu favor of Separation; —Otago, in the Middle Island, was in favor of Separation ; —and he believed that Separation would ultimately take place. There were too many cooks altogether. What did the inhabitants of the Middle Island know about the native question of the Northern Island ? What did the members for the Northern Island know about the railways, telegraphs, or gold-fields of the South ? In such cases all he could do was to hear both sides, and give his vote accordingly. The members for the Middle Island considered the Native question a little matter ; but the Northern Island people found it a matter of life and death. The Australian Colonies would not have been so prosperous had it not been for separation. Victoria and South Australia had separated from New South Wales, and their respective capitals were not at so great a distance from each other as Auckland was from—say Canterbury. He had given his vote for Separation conscientiously—believing that it would tend to bring about a better system of government. Mjt Macandrew, ofle of the members for Otago, had brought forward some resolutions in the House, which were of great importance, and which he would read to them. (Mr Colenso here read four resolutions (out of ten), which were to the effect that it would be expedient that the “ New Provinces Act, 1858,” should be repealed; that the Province of Taranaki be abolished, and form part of the Province of Auckland ; that the new Provinces should be joined to those from which they separated; Hawke’s Bay to Wellington, Southland to Otago, and Marlborough to Nelson.) The annexation of Taranaki was the sop thrown to Auckland to make her willing to accede to their proposition. He considered these resolutions of the utmost importance to the whole of New Zealand. He had never seen them published in any newspaper, but intended to have them inserted in both local papers. He now came to his fifth subject—the moral and political wants of the Colony. For the present, however, this, though of vast importance, must be summed up in a few words—which words, being pregnant with meaning, might be taken as texts for thought. Their main wants were two —peace, and good government. For both the whole Colony was highly desirous: they must be had. And the problems to be solved were how best and easiest to obtain them. By peace, he meant a good, stable peace, beneficial to both races,

By good government that government which would best develop the rich natural resources of the Colony—which would make all classes prosperous—and through which all would be represented. (Hear.) And such government must not be a costly one. He would now say a few words on the future, — not the far-off but the present future. They as electors would very, soon be called on to exercise their rights; the writs might arrive by the next steamer. He would read to them the Governor’s closing words with which they had been dismissed :

It is my intention to dissolve this Parliament, and to call another without unnecessary delay. I earnestly trust that the exercise by the several constituencies of the high functions which will devolve upon them, will result in the happiness of all classes of her Majesty’s subjects in the Colony.

—This he (Mr C.) now pressed upon their consideration. They should choose their best man, and send him to support Stafford. They could only send one; and more care was needed now than ever in their selection, as before it was as 1 to 57, while now it was as 1 to 70 ; and the southern constituencies boasted of their educated men. They should be careful not to send a man of one class ; particularly of that class which was already too numerous in the General Assembly—the class of squatters, or large runholders. He spoke not this against them, (for many among that body he honored and highly esteemed) but merely to avoid class-legislation,—always and everywhere pernicious to the common weal, and destructive of general prosperity and of liberty. He would quote a few words just arrived by post from the recent speech of Mr J. S. Mill (whom the electors of Westminister had honored in electing as their representative, and in so acting had done honor to themselves, and gained a world-wide fame.) Mr Mill had said •

They could not have a perfect constitution of Government which enabled one class to legislate for its own benefit. . . . There ought to be no class feelings. The Legislature should be a fair, just, and impartial umpire or arbitrator.

—-With this he (Mr C.) heartily agreed. They should also send their mau unfettered, and support him in the House. Not send a “ requisition” after him, to cry stinking fish; and so both wound his feelings, and lessen his influence. (Hear, hear.) He could not avoid saying a few words concerning that requisition. He was very sorry they had so acted ; but he had heard, both by letter while at Wellington, and personally, since his return, from several who had signed it, that they never for one moment intended to sign it as against himself. The many, he believed, had been induced to sign it, thinking there would be two members for Napier,—as that it had reference to the annesation of Poverty Bay and other lands on the East Coast. Be that as it may, one thing was certain to say the least of it, —that the getting up of a requisition was quite unprecedented in the whole Colony, and was an act of great discourtesy, and such as they could not be guilty of (hear, hear.) It was another attempt at stabbing in the dark or behind the back; an un-English practice, but such as his political enemies had always practised. He would they would come out manfully and meet him to his face before the people (hear, hear.) He had been told by some of Mr M'Lean’s . friends, that his only reason for desiring a seat in the General Assembly was, that he might be made Native Minister. If it was so, he (Mr C.) could point out a much easier way—a royal road—he might call it, to to the same end.—Air. M'Lean had only to get Sir George Grey to make him a “ Lord,” —a member of the Legislative Council—like the present acting Native Minister, Col. ite? sell, and the job was done I And surely, if they really wished to make him Native Min, ister they would do so. By this means too, Napier would have two members instead of one in the Assembly. He (Mr. G.) had his feelings like other men ; and he confessed, that when he saw the “ Requisition ” in the Herald, with the names of many of his supporters and old acquaintances attached,- — and when he was also taunted in the House with it, and with having no constituency, he felt it keenly; he felt lowered ; and he felt it, also, on behalf of his constituency, who

bad unthinkingly lowered themselves, (hear.) If they had wished him to resign, (of which* however he had never heard the slightest intimation.) they should have asked him to do so before he went, not weaken their one member while he was in the battle-field fighting for them. They could not afford to do so. It had reminded him of Gen. Cameron,s complaint against the Governor, that while he was fighting and imperilling his life for the Colony, its Governor was writing privately against him ! and the words of the immortal English Bard—which he had put into the mouth of the Cardinal, often recurred to memory and were mentally repeated;— If I am Traduced by ignorant tongues, which neither know My faculties nor person, yet will be Tlie chroniclers of my doing ; —let me say, ’Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake That virtue must go through. —(Hear hear.) He hoped they would pardon him for keeping them so long,but there was yet another item he wished to bring before their notice—the manner he had often during the session been referred to in the Hawke’s Bay Herald; not absolutely by the Editor in an article, but under the semblance of news, or of some one writing from Wellington. At one time, when presenting their petition, he had been charged with being “ silent,” — when by the rules of the House, he was prevented from making any speech;—at another time he was charged with “ speaking on every subject”! which, while far from true, he might perhaps lay some claim to do, from the fact of his being always present in his seats in the House. Then he was charged about the “ Maori Lexicon—some of these ho had already answered, and the whole he hoped (with other matter) to bring before them at an early date in a lecture on the Polynesian language to he given at the Athenaeum, with permission of its officers, —(hear.) Then lie had been charged with “ selling himself to Auckland, for a seat in the House for that Province”; to the honor however of the Auckland membersbe would state, they had never asked him for his vote; but, when they (with others) saw the requsition in the Herald, and also heard the remarks which were made as to the possible consequences of his absence and his vote for separation, they naturally felt indignant, and did say,—be could get returned for an Auckland constituency. But Napier men might rest assured, he would only he returned by them (as before) for his and their own native town, which had grown up and was growing old with him, (hear, hear.) He had also been charged with asking, “ What was done on landing at OpoliM before a shot was fired”; —but all he had wished to know was, whether the law they had so lately passed, and under which the force was sent to Opotiki, had been fairly carried out. —Now all those remarks and statements which had appeared in the Herald went one way to lower him as their member in the House; and that, he again reminded the electors, they could never afford to do with their one member (hear.) In conclusion, he would say, during any session he had even attended early and late, had every day heard prayers read and was present at every adjournment; he had, at least, gained the prize for attendance and industry. He had ever endeavored to uphold the honor of the Province ; and never sought his own private interests. He also thought, ha had not, as their member, been occupying the lowest bench in the House; and he could look back with conscientious satisfaction to his five years parliamentary life —which to him was a great reward (hear, hear.) He again thanked them, for choosing, and sending him; and also for the patient hearing they had this evening given him. He sat down with many and long continued cheers.

Sir J. M. Stuabt, M.P.G., then moved—

That this meeting views with satisfaction the exertions employed by Mr Colenso in the General Assembly, on behalf of the Town of Napier, while representing that town in such Assembly.

—He had much pleasure in proposing this resolution; though he confessed he could not agree with Mr Colenso in the matter of Separation—he could not go in with him on that subject,—believing that it would be prejudicial to the interests of the Colony. Mr Stuart then made some remarks with reference to the absence, from the General Assembly, during a portion of the session, of the hon. member for Clive (Mr Ormond.)

Sir H. L. YA.TES seconded the motion. Mr J. N. Wilson then moved the following as an amendment —

That this meeting is convinced that it is absolutely essential to the welfare of the Colony that it be kept intact as one colony, whole and undivided.

—-These, they would recollect, were the words of a resolution proposed by Mr Colenso himself, at a public meeting held some 9 months ago in that very Chamber, —a much

more influential meeting than the present. Separation would be the worst thing that could possibly happen to the Colony. This Province would be swallowed up by Auckland (no, no.) It would be better that Hawke’s Bay should be re-annexed to Wellington than swallowed up by Auckland. (A Voice: Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.) Mr P. Seaeles seconded the amendment pro formd. Air Wilkinson then made a few remarks, chiefly in defence of Air Ormond, who had been charged with being absent from the General Assembly during a portion of the session.

The amendment was then put and negatived by a large majority. On Air Stuart’s motion being put, it was unanimously carried, amidst loud acclamation.

The meeting dispersed about ten p.m,