Hawke's Bay Times. Nillus addictus jarare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 806, 21 July 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nillus addictus jarare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1870.

The great space which our report of the recent public meetings necessarily occupies in this morning'* issue, pre eludes our devoting more than a few lines to a leading article. We cannot, however, allow the occasion to pass without a word of comment). In response to the request published on Saturday, that the public of Napier would meet together and consider the financial proposals of the Go vernment, a large assemblage collec ed, and as fully and fairly as was possible under the circumstances, fulfilled the request of the conveners by discussing those proposals, 'and, after Isucli discussion, giving a deliberate

decision, founded upon the merits of the case, according to the evidence brought before them. That decision ought in all Conscience to have been final; but as it did not correspond with the wishes of the conveners, they must call a second meeting—not to decide it on its merits—but to express confidence in our representatives in the Ministry,—a question altogether foreign to the subject. After all has been done, they have sustained a virtual defeat, as it was not the resolution which it was intended to pass at the first meeting that M 7 as carried, but the same amended in some particulars of no small importance. Still, they have succeeded in one thipg, and that is in exposing the people of this Province to the ridicule of the rest of the Colony.

THE MEETING OF TUESDAT LAST. | On Tuesday afternoon a placard, 1 signed by eight members of the Council, was posted in town, setting forth that those whose names ap[peared below, believing that the decision arrived at on Monday levelling last did not represent public opinion, convened another meeting in the Council Chamber to leconsider the subject. We had prepared a full report of this meeting, but have found it quite impossible to publish it this morning, the report of Monday's proceedings occupying,so much of our space. At the appointed hour —7 p.m.— the doors were opened, and the room was almost immediately filled. M.v A'Deane was voted to the chair, and fulfilled his onerous duties with im* partiality. The first resolution, declaring the former decision contrary to public opinion, and revoking it, was moved by Mr Sutton. The portion declaring the lesolution to be " revoked," wa-= generally objected to, as assuming a power which the meeting did not possess, and it was accordingly struck out. Mr Sutton said the resolution passed last night was a disgrace to the community, and ought not to be allowed to .bo recorded. If it had been passed before the Assembly met, it might have been intended to guide our representatives; but now, when they had committed themselves to the Government scheme, it was passing a vote of grave censure upon them, which should at once be rescinded. Mr Kennedv seconded the motion.

Mr Harding said that the meeting last night was a fair test of public opinion. No organization had been attempted, either for or against the Government; the arguments of the speakers had been listened to with attention, and had been dispassionately weighed ; and after a fair healing of both sides, a verdict had been come to by an over whelming majority. The Government party were not satisfied, and had called a meeting to lecousider a deliberate decision—by a placard, the terms of which were an insult to the community.

Mr BVrard followed with an able speeeli. He explained that he had held aloof from those who had called the meeting, as he would not be a party to so gross an insult to the public. He pointed out the various hints of vastly increased taxation in the future, such as incomi!, house, and property taxes, railway taxes, &c, which he read from the financial statement. In reference to Mr Sutton's remarks he said that the public were iioc the servants of their representatives, nor should they allow their deliberately expressed opinions to be altered because the}- did not happen to meet the views of their members in the Assembly. He said that the con veners of the meeting had not had the common decency to wait till those of the public who had not been present could read the report of the first meeting in the local press. He moved the adjournment of the mee'.ing for a week. During Mr Ferard's speech, a very considerable '* rowdy " element manifested itself in the meeting; but not to such an extent, as to prevent the speaker from being heard. Mr Wait, who was received with mino-led a.nnlause and hisses, second-

luiiJigicu <xjjjji.ciiu.iacr cij.h.l hkmw), '.'wuuvied the motion. Time should have been allowed country settlers, who were equally concerned with those of the Town, to attend the meeting. Mr Ferard's amendment negatived Mr Buchanan, on the part of himself and the other members convening the meetiug, distinctly repudiated any intention of insulting the public. He explained why he believed the vote did not represent public opinion. The Chairman last evening—his eyes no doubt being very much dazzled—(laughter) had mistaken a very large majority for a minority; and it was out of the feeling of revol b occasianed by a love of fair play in the meeting that the majority the second time was so much larger. He spoke at very great length in favor of the Government scheme, which he said had been very much misrepresented. He could understand Mr Harding's amendment, which had met with so little support, but not the one which

was carried. A loan of one million would be simply useless, and no scheme of lesser magnitude than that proposed by the Government would give the Colony a chance of averting the alternative of repudiation.

The confusion in the hall reached a great height during a portion of Mr Buchanan's speech. Mr Sutton moved the first clause of the resolution rejected at the previous meeting, which may be found in another column. Mr Holloway seconded the resolution. Mr Harding made a few remarks, which were lost in the prevailing confusion. He moved 'that the meeting adjourn sine die. Negatived. Mr Sutton moved the second clause of the resolution, which was seconded by Mr Worgan, who failed to obtain a hearing. Carried amid loud yells. For the second time during the evening, a sou file arose, and a large ring was formed in the centre of the halJ. Mr Ferard, Mr Watt, and many other gentlemen left the hall, in apparent disgust. The resolution was then carried. Mr Buchanan moved the final clause, with the following important modification after the words " terms on which it is raised ; " — t? as may be adequate in reason to satisfy English bondholders, and the more timorous section of colonists.''

Mv Cuff seconded the motion, which was carried by a very large majority. A vote of thanks to the Chairman was proposed and unanimously carried, and Ihe most disorderly meeting that has ever been held in Napier came thus to a close at about 10 p.m. As may be supposed, the meeting has been the all engrossing topic of oon\ ersation in town, as it has displayed a hitherto incredible amount of rowdyism in our midst. The tact, too, is brought into greater prominence by the contrast it affords to the oiderly and well-conducted gathering of the previous evening.