Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 510, 23 September 1857, Page 5

Local Intelligence.

THE - ELECTION OP SUPERINTENDENT. A meeting of the electors of Canterbury was held, in pursuance of an invitation from Mr. -J. Brittan, in. the Tow a Hall, Lytteltdn, on Friday evening last. The two candidates for the office of Superintendent (Mr. Brittan and Mr. Moorhou.se) presented tliemselves about half-past seven o'clock. The room was well filled, there being about 250 persons present; .and the meeting was the most respectable as well as numerously atteuded that we have witmessed in Lyttelton on any political occasion. .Mr. Hall was Unanimously voted to the chair. The Chairman opened the proceedings by remarking that the importance of the office forwhicli the two gentlemen who would address the meeting .'that evening were candidates demanded that their •views and •.pinions should be listened to attentively. He claimed fair play for both parties, and asked the support of the meeting in maintaining order. He would submit as the proper rule to le followed on this occasion that the candidate calling t.'ie meeting (Mr. Hrittan) should speak firsthand th;it Mr. Moorhouse should follow. If the former replied, the latter should be entitled to a reply also. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Brittan then rose and said that he had requested the favour of the attendance of the electors on that occasion that the views and opinions uiiylu be laiil before them whinh should d-'-termine them in the choice of a candidate to fill the office of Superintendent how vacant. '■ He might say thai in -offering himself as a candidate he was no: preparing to undertake duties quite novel to him, for he had a certain acquaintance with the r.uuine of the office before. But he was unable altogether to drive from his mind the feeling that there was «n appearance of presumption on his part in aspiring to be placed •at the head of men among whom were doubtless many equally talented with himself. He would therefore explain candidly his leasot's for coining forward. He was first induced to think of it when, about a. twelvemonth ago, it became apparent that the state of AJr. Fitz Gerald's in-alth would unhappily prevent his Honor from becoming a candidate for re-election. The question arose, who should be his successor; and-' it occuired to the gentlemen then acting with him and to himself •that, under the peculiar circumstances in which' they were placed, it miufht I c becoming that lx; (Mr. B.) should entertain the idea. He did not wish it to he undttst>od that he had been pressed to come forward. The gentlemen, his colleagues at that time, to whom he referred, had given him no promises but simply encouragement. It was no little encouragement, knowing the £,reat respon- • Ability and duties of the office, that he could count -on the co operation of these gentlemen, lie had also considerable acquaintance with the routine of the office; and he consequently felt supported in himself as a candidate. He would now 'proceed to lay before the meeting an outline of his views on some points worthy of consideration. He would not, however, attempt to make a large exposition of po isy ; for snob, he thought, a Snperinendmit ought not to entertain. A Superintendent was not analoguous to a President of the United Slates, or to the head of an independent country. Canterbury was an imperium in impevio, a government within a government, and the Superintendent had .his duties prescribed for him, and could only govern within defined limits. (Hear, hear). His object to-nighi was to talk in a busitiess-like manner with the electors of the duties of the office which he •aspired to undertake. These duties he would divide into two heads, legislative and administrative. First of the legislative duties of a Superintendent. He -Was often asked what were his virws as to the Telation between the General and Provincial Governments. The^ GLovemment of this colony was Unique; he believed there was nothing to he found •ike it many other country. It was very expensive »nd very complicated. (Hear, .hear.) The con*iaeration of this question might at first sight appear ■{Welevent. to'the present subject; but, though the jwperhitendent had "no'power to alter the general ■legislation of the colony, he was in his legislative capacity obviously concerned in the working of the vstem. . a That there was a General Government 0 make laws, and six Provincial Governments 0 make laws also, seemed to many to be a unity constitution for a>mall country. (Hear.) 7. „se who desired to amend its working genii?. y J? Ivided themselves into two parties, the £'tra- Centralists and Ultra- Provincisli-ts. The wruier were those who desired to do away with «rgreatly reduce the powers of the Provincial Goi en«neiu, and to place the chief power in the hands 1 tue General Government. The latter were those tihl. ?. eS' red t0 tetain aud extend as lnuch as P°s'oip the authority of the Provincial Governments. inijji*opiuioa the P°lidy to b8 desired suggested a *«**!«<»«««. (H«r. bear.) H* w M «, g » Pro-

vmcialiot as to lefuse to surrender one iota of the power the provinces now possess. The natural tendency of things was that in process of time rhe provinces would'merge into one another, and New Zealand would become oik* Government. (Hear, hear.) Jn this manner England had once consit-ted of seven kingdoms which afterwards merged into one. The kingdom of Scotland had afterwards merged with that of En-land into the kingdom'of Great llritain ; and Ireland was afterwards a.ided, and formed the United Kingdom as it now existed. And so it would doubtless happen with New Zealand. The six provinces would merge into two .' P?r! la!'s "Ho one. ' But it might happen that they would" first be considerably multiplied. He would he glad io s c the day when the present stare of things would cease to exist. The multiplicity of laws was a serious inconvenience, involving as it did much variety mid contrariety betweet. the legislation of the various provhr.es. (Hear, hear.) He would not on that account, however, surrender any prnvii-cH power The distance-ol the seat of the Central Government ami the inconvenience of moving from one place to anothei established the necessity for the present state ol things. (Hear.) The frameis of our Constitution acied, he thought, with "great sagacity and knowledge of the geographical position of the colony in apportioning the powers of the provinces. Seeing 'he difficulties o;' communication between the d.fferent parts of New Zeal.md, they properly gave greater facilities for separa c legislation.' Hence, the province.- had been permitted to make laws f'oi themselves. Hut it. had been foreseen that, the provincial legislators would be comparatively .tin skilled men, and it was accordingly provided that all provincial laws should pass the ordeal of the General Government, and receive the assent, or at least the permission, of the supreme authority to become law. It was, therelore. not necessary that the centralist sho Id press his objections to ptov:iifial legislation, since any errors introduced were by the Constitution left open tor eom-etion by the exercise L of the Governot's veto. In order to -obviate the evils anticipated, it wasculy necessary that the Genera] Legislature should use the powers entrusted to it by the Constitution. He was there a Centralist in hope, if he might use that expression, which me.nt that he trusted the day Would come when separation of the colony into six provinces would cease to be its necessary condition,'and New Zealand would become one. (Hear, hear.) Till then, since a power of veto existed to check unwise provincial legislation, and since it had be. n found hitherto that this check was effectual in ].ia.-iice. he vr»uld not consent to surrender the powers of 10-aile^islatioi "exercised y hepto\ir.ces (Clutvs.) The practical moral whi^-ii he won id draw from these considerations was, admitting that a multiplicity of laws was an evil, not to surrender ihe power of making laws hut to k-gisla'.e a*, iittle as possible. (Hear, hear.) Circumstances for the future pointed to the same line of It was to be acknowledged that a great, number of ordinances had been passed through the Councils since their first'existence; hut it must be recollected that when these Councils were called together there was in effect no General* Government. Sir G. Grey was on the point of departing, and there might be s-aid to be no Government left. The Assembly was not called togethet till some time had elapsed ; and, when it did meet, two consecutive sessions were occupied in the struggles fur power between opposing parties. (Hear.) The General Assembly Was now, lunvevei, inaction. Whichever pa'ty held the reins of Government, legi>| H tion would go on. The best policy of the" provinces was evidently to legislate as scantily as. possible; for the accumulation of English statute and common law, with the acts of the General Assembly, «ould render highly undesirable the addition of provincial ordinances to the mass. (Hear. :ear ) He would now consider the second part of the dutiis of Superintendent, the exercise of his administrative powers. One biief sentence would include uearlj all that was to be said on the subject. The 'duties-in question consisted, he mighr. say, in careful attention to strict economy in the expenditure of money, tosr<* fl>er with the vigorous prdseeutioii bf_public works (hear, hear). He "would trouble the meeting with a few "remarks on the first point, economy in expenditure. It was a settled idea in the minds of many that we are very expen-. sivily governed. (Hear, hear.) He had no doubt that it would be found by every one who sliou'd look into the matter that the largest proportion of the burden was laid upon us by the General Government ; and he would refer those who «ished to study arrays of figures and careful commentaries I upon them, to the pamphlet lately published conI laiiiiiig an .-.ddress to the electors of Lyttelton by Mr. Fitz Gerald. He would take this opportunity of saying, and, having had much acquaintance with the matter, he felt it was due *o the administration o!' Mr. Fitz Gerald to say, that he (.\ir. B ) was , not aware where economy could be introduced iiito the departineitotour Provincial Governnien s. No man's attention had been more directed to economy than had been that of Mr. Fitz Gerald, am) he was at a loss to know where reduction in expense could have been effected wish a due regard to efficiency. (Cheers.) It might he thought, and indeed had been broadly state-i that, in some of the departments expenses might have been curtailed, or even the departments themselves removed. It was c rtain, however, that expenses must be incurred; work must be done, and however the names of -,the departments or officials might be altered, the requisite services would cost as much. He would take for instance the office of Provincial Secretary. A een tlenian, he felt convinced, conld not be found lit for discharging the onerous and responsible ditties of this office for less than j£3oo a year. Then there was the Provincial Treasurer. This officer had an immense amount of work daily; he had all the accounts of the province to keep, and in addition, the whole business of the Canterbury Association's Estate was entrusted to him. Besides this, he had to account for all the monies which passed thrcugh the land office. And his responsibilities were proportionally he'-vy: he was bound under recognizmces and had to find sureties to a large amount for the proper execution of his trust. Kven if these duties were committed to a person who should be called a'clerk, no one could he found to perform them efficiently for less than £25') a year. And so on with all other departments of the Government. Business could not be efficiently conducted (and efficiency was the essence of economy) for less money thau the present outlay amounted to (Hear). He would now direct attention to the second great item in the administrative duties of a Su-

peiiiitendent. viz., the prosecution of public works. In this consisted the great labour of the office, and on this point the Superintendent was practically most responsible, for on this subject a cry, if wanted, could best be raised. The chief d'utv of the Superintendent of Canterbury in time to come would he to provide roads, bridges, culverts, and drains, throughout the province; to make the country ready for occupation. (Hear, hear.) In seekinw for a man to fill this high office he would submit 'hat the choice of the electors ought to fall upon one whose industry and willingness to progress would make him ready to undertake: public works, even of the greatest magnitude (Hear, hear.) As to whether he ; himself were the proper person to be chosen for the office it was not becoming for him to speak. Hejvmild.not talk of Ins. conipe'fency to undertake such onerous duties but. he had, iie would submit, a right to lay something in the nature of a testimonial of his fitness before the eiectiM-s. He had had considerable experience in ihe direction of the pubic serv.ee during two or hree years. Every public work and acr during that time had been done to a great extent by his guidance and assistance, and he ha.i had no slight labour to conduce every measure through the Council. Whatever success had attended his eff .its for the public good, one thing at least he might lay claim to. which was, thai all had been done with honesty of purpo>e, and with a desire to promote the best interests of the province. (Cheers.) '•In would n'uv pass to consider some representations ■ that hatl been iritide to his prejudice, and smiie impressions that had been sought to be created against him. He would first correct the assertion that he was desirous to reduce ihe rate of »vages in the province. No act of his justified this assertion. He had always been an employer of labour, and had never deserved the imputation <>f att-snipiing to force wages down unfairly below market rate. It had been also said thai he was desirous.of taxing the people. Now, it was not in the power cf the Superintendent hut of the Provincial Council to impose a tax. He could also assure the meeting that if he had the power to do so he had not the inclination, for in taxing others he would he also taxing himself, which he by no means desired (Laughter.) Further, he was happy to say that tl.ere would be no necessity to raise money by taxation so long as the sales of Waste Lands continued to produce revenue at ihe present rate. The time for taxation had not yet arrived. (Hear, hear.) Another objection that he had met with in his canvass was one which he would look fairly in the face. Ie was that the fact of his hr-.ther, Mr. W. G. Uiitian, holding the office of Chief Commissioner of Waste Lands rendered it objectionable that he himself should be Superintendent, it was said that there would be, in sucl- a case, 'a family compact.' This he must call fudge ; it was a most silly story to raise. There was^nothing in the Commissioner's position to give him any political influence. His duties were clearly prescribed by the Land Regulations, and ,he had in his ofhVal character no connection whatever with the Government. But it might be said ihat the Government could influence the Commissioner. To have any effect the Government -must influence not only him but the majority of the Board. Even then, the Board could not depart from ther duties, which were clearly defined, and must he in accordance with the regulations. It Avis s.iid further that the Superintendent might have undue influence from his power of dismissal, but he would remind them that this power must he exercised by the advice and consent of the Executive Council. He thought that those who looked faifly into the matter would see that there wns no connection between the Government and the Land Commissioner. Mr. Brittan concluded by saying that he woull not further trespass on the patience of ihe meeting. Me >iad endeavoured to describe the duties of the Superintendent as they appeared'to him; and he had tried to dispel the only objections which had been made against him as a candidate.. He would now leave his case in the hands of the elect rs, though there were many other topics to which he might have adverted. 'He hoped the electors of Cuni'erbury would not allow the appointment to he decided by the passions or tactics of party. The election of a Superintendent demanded great circumspection and judgment. In the choice of candidates which they were about to exercise he hoped that, if, after carefully thinking it over, they believed that the honourable gentleman, his opponent (Mr. Moor house), were more fitted than himself to hold the high office they both aspired to, they would elect that honourable gentleman. He also hoped, if such should be the case, Mr. Moorlumse would be found to answer to their liopes, and (o he worthy of the trust reposed in him. Should they think thh* the necessary qualifications existed to o greater degree in himself, he would ask to have the benefit of their suffrages. He was conscious of his inability to fulfil thoroughly the duties of the important post of Supeiintendent; but what little abilities he had he promised sincerely should be devoted to discharge tijose duties to the utmost. (Applause; amid wliicn Mr. Brittan resumed his seat).

Mr. Moorhouse then rose and was received with loud cheers. Hes:iid t!:at he had great pleasure in coming forward to answer any questions which might be put to him as to his intentions if elected. As a general rule he objected to mak-iig a speech : for in the first plaee,hej.y£s_iipt.successful as a public spe-ikev; and, in the second place, he was convinced that there was "aninfinite amount of humbug in long- winded set speeches. (Laughter.) He claimed, however, the credit of forming opinions on whatever subjects were brought before him, and of having sufficient judgment to form those opinions ably. (Hear, hear.; He would simply say that, if elected, he should eirteavour to perform his duty. If he was to go into the question of what thnse duties were and of how he meant to perfo-m them, he would only be amplifying the terms of his printed address. As for the party he belonged to, as for his opinions on the politics of New Zealand generally, he was neither a Centralist nor a Provincirflist, but a Constitutionalist. (Hear,' hear.) His desire was to give effect to the Constitution Act, and to leave the General anil Provincial Governments to take action as pointed out by that act. That Constitution was amply fitted for all the necessities of the colony, and all politicians would exercise a wise discretion in abiding by it. (Cheeri.) He was of opinion that, so far as we had gone already, the Provincial Councils liad somewhat exceeded their legitimate powers, but he thought that, under the circumstances of their inauguration, they were to a certain extent justified in assuming ' those additional pouer-s. Were he in the office of

Superintendent, and able to give a bias to the policy of ihe Council on this question, it would he Used towards retraining tliose powers (Hear, hear.) He did not, however, think that the time was at all near at hand when ihe stale of thi-.gs in New' Zealand would change, so as to necessitate (he abrogation of Provincial authority. At the same time, the clause of ihe Constitution Act which limited that auihoiily was most necessaiv, and its provisions should be strictly followed That and other clauses of the act showed that the Provincial Councils were established wiih a view ioAe_..respectable -village corporations. ("Loud cheers, with cries of No.) Hitherto the Council of this province, together with tliose of Wellington and Auckland, had been taking to themselves powers never.intended by the Act, and the result was far fron satisfactory. (Hear, hear) He* perfectly coincided in the opinion expressed by his lion, rival as t > not multiplying laws ; but that opinion was scarcely consistent with Mr. liriitau's actions. (Hear, hear.) Certainly, during the sessions in which he had held a seat in the Council, .Mr. Jirittati's performances did n.it tend to curtail the manufacture of laws. (Laughter.) lie was proud 'to say that on ;t perusal of his printed address his opinions would be found to be precisely the same as when he entered the Council, while those of his honourable rival had most decidedly changed. (Hear, hear.) As to the charges of mis rep'esentation brought against him, he would solemnly declare that he had not had recourse to a trick ol any kind during his canvass. Th.se gentlemen whom he was proud to call his friends would not propose, nor would they support him in such a system. (Cheers.) He would secure his election by a different process ;he would be chosen, he was certain of it; and the choice would simply result from his superior fi-uess. (Loud cheers a< d laughter.) He too had some-experience to reco.d. He had served the province in the Geneial Assembly before Mr. Brittan had ever emerged into public life. He had sat in the Provincial Council as long as Mr lirittan. As a Magistrate, he had, he believed, realised his sense of what a Magistrate's duty wa<. (Hear, bear.) Turning again for a moment to the subject of misrepresentation,' he had heard in the course of his canvass many most ridiculous stories against himself. He did not impute these stories to his honourable rival or his committee; for he did not think they would condescend to use such means. When lie heard these ! stories, he did not think it necessary to arjiue j against them ; they were so supremely ridiculous I that those who could circulate them were not fit to be argued with. (Hear, hear.) lie would go on to say that he never, to his knowledge, asked an elector twice for his vote; nor did he ever solicit a vote from a supporter of Mr. Brittsm. (Cheers.) He had no commute.1, and he did know six men in the province who were working in his cause. As far as he was concerned, every elector in the province was freely exercising his own opinion. (Loud cheering.) He was not conceited enough to think himself a cleverer man than Mr. Brittan. His hon. rival was an extremely able man, but of a class more useful in a subordinate pos.tion. (Prolonged laughter.) That gentleman's talents were very great, and pet haps for many things he would he rather to be chosen than himself; not, however, for the office of Superintendent. (Cheers) He would be wanting in candour if he did not say plainly' that he thought himself the better qualified man of the two for that high post. (lie.newt-d laughter and cheers.) He claimed to have the clearness of comprehension which could understand the Constitution Act so as to cany it out according to the letter and the spirit; as well as the modesty which would allow him to perform the duties of the office without seeking to grasp undue power. (Cheers.) Mr. lirittan had s id that-jecouomy of the public money and progress in public works were the constituent parts of the duty of a Superintendent. So far, they were very much agreed in ■ their reading of the requirements of the province. Indeed, it was surprising to what an exUnt thtir po itical. opinions as expressed coincided. He positively thought, when he first saw Mr. Brittan s address, that somebody had communicated to him (Mr. B.) his own sentiments. When be«ged to issue an address himself, he thought at. first that it would do to say that his opinions were the same as tliose of his rival. (Laughter.) It would have been much easier and would have saved much exper^e. (Laughter.) But on second thoughts it seemed that that course would not he considered the correct thing in a catid; date. (Heiewed laughter and cheers.) Mr. Brittan had spoken of taxation ; he said a few evenings before that lie had constitutional objections to tiixation. He would only call to the remembrance of the meeting that the well known Roads Bill had been brought in by Mr. lirittan. (A voice— * Oh ! Joey!') He (Mr. Moorhouse) at the time thought the experiment pretty but useless. The ordinance which was passed on the subject was now mere w;iste paper. The excuse made for the bill was that it was a last resource ; that the Governtnent was compelled to it, for the Exchequer was empty. But he found that tha;t very &essiou£'2ooo was . voted for the Sunnier Road, while important works were neglected Now, if the Secretary, as adviser iof the Superintendent, had proposed taxation, would not the same man, if advanced to the office of Superintendent, be likely to carry the system into effect? (Hear, hear.) From the outset of his canvass he had studied to avoid personalities; and there was only one subject which he woul f allude to at all of that character. That was what Mr. Brittan called ' fudge,'a'silly story :' the ' family compact.' The authorship of this ground of ob -ction to his honourable ri>al did not rest with 1, h. The idea was one originating from the public, d , he would leave it to the public to attach what weight they thou-iht proper to it: they could best judge wh ; it would be the effect of placing near relations in high public offices. He thought for his own part it would be possible to influence the Government unduly by i=ueh means. - (Hear.) As for his connection with Mr. Ollivier, a great deal had been made of it. Mr. Brittan had attacked him on that score, and called the alliance 'unprincipled' and 'prcfligate,' alluding to the terms of a letter written some time ago by him (Mr. M.) to Mr. Turabull, and published in the papers. He would not withdraw the terms of that letter, which he thought had been useful. As for the coalition which had been commented on, Mr." Ollivier had been a candidate for the same office at first, but soon withdrew. He ( Mr. Ollivier) then came to him, and, after asking him a few questions, promised to support him, as their opinions tolerably coincided. Mr. Brittan had asserted that Mr. Ollivier had offered to support

himself, and remarked that the combination between Mr. Olivier and him (Mr. Moorhon.-tt) was an extraordinary one, inasmuch as they hail differed on several important questions in tlie'Couucil. Now, most cerainy, .Mr. Ollivier and he had coincided in their opinions much more generally than Mr. Ollivier aiid Mr. Brittan, and there-was nothing remarknb'e ill that gentleman giving him his support, as he thought him much more fit lor ib« office. (Laughter and cheers.) In conclusion, h* would promise, if elected, to endeavour to do his duty conscientiously ; to do good to the province and to promote its inrists. Did the.responsibilities of' the office rest solely upon him he might, feel diffident; but his adv-sers would be chosen fom the best men of the province, and, if the best men did not help him, it should not be his fault in failing to ask their aid, (Hear, hear.) These advsers s! ould not be selected according to his own notions but from nun accepted by the public. (Cheers) Most assuredly, if his honourable opponent was m the Council, 'ie flioukl challenge his assistance. That assistance would be most valuable in a case of difficulty, if the business in hand required careful and diplomatic management. In any such case he would c rtainly call in that gentlei: an's aid. (Cheers juid laughter.) -He would add that, if elected, all his actions and reasons would be patent to the public ; ihere should b» no duplex meaning in his negotiations; and all his motives would be apparent on the surface. (Cheers.) He would now be happy to answer any questions that might be put to him. (Mr. Movrhouse then resumed.his seat amid loud and prolonged cheeis). The Chairman then observed that if any elector desired to ask a question of on* of the candidates, that opportunity should be taken to do so. After a pause, nn questions being asked.— Mr. Olliviek came f. rward to propose a motion. Me appeared, he said, to 'vindicate his character, and to support his friend Mr. Mom house- He attacked at .-ome length Mr. Hrittan's claims to support as founded on.the ineanres carried through the Council by him; particularly specifying the Waste L-mds Regulation*, the Itoads Ordinance, and the Public House Ordinance. Mr. Ollivier commented also at great length upon the alleged impropriety of his support of Mr. Moorhouse.- At the Ci.nelusion of a long address, which was listened to with attention, Mr. Ollivier proposed the following reso* luiion :—

" That, having heard the statements of the two candidates, this meeting is of opinion that "William Seftou Mooihouse, Esq., is a fit and proper person to he elected as Superintendent of the Province of Cant-rbury."

Mr. Kae came forward to second the resolution. He had much pleasure, he said, in doing so, for l>e had ever admired Mr. Moorhouse's straightlorwaid and honourable conduct in expressing his opinions, even when, as in the case of the Pre-emptive Right question, two years ago, ihey were unpopular, sud when he knew they might used against him. (Cheers.)

Dr. Donald then addressed a few words to the meeting in explanation of a reference which had been made to him by Mr, OlHvier in the course of his address.

Mr. Brittan in reply touched upon the connection between Messrs. Mooihouse and Ollivier, and specified the great questions upon which they had liffeied ; viz., Waste Lands, I're-einjtiive lights. Education, Loans, and Emigration. He eoirplained of being attacked by Mr. Ol ivitr as well as by Mr. Mooihouse wherever he went; whereas in his address he had net mentioned either gentleman. Had .Mr. Moerhouse only spoken, he would m t hiive troubled the meeting with a leply. Mr. Brittan went on to show ihat Mr. lUoorhouse and Mr. Ollivier had been opposed not only publicly but privately ; ami adduced several observations alleged, to be used by one of'tiie ol'itr in private conversation. Mr. Biittan spoke at some length and was heard with much impatience by the meeting. Mr. Moorhouse then replied to the charges of 'profligacy' and 'want of prneiplo1 alleged as attaching to the combination between himself and Mr.'Oilivirr. Mr. Moorhouse also spoke at some length, anil sat down amid prolonged cheering. The resolution as above was then put by the Chairman and declared carried, by a show''of hands, almost unanimously; amid prolonged and vociferous cheers.

We may say that the tone of the meeting was generally jocose rather than angry or noisy;" and, though occasionally interruptions arose, they passed quietly over, and nothing like a riotous j-cene occurred during the evening. Some impatience was however expressed, especially during the latter part of the evening, when,'front the time of Mr. Ollivier's address, the tons of the speeches involved a great deal of personality. Over this portion we have purposely drawn a veil, though it was in our power to have reported the later speeches at as great length as we have done the principal addresses. The-' sense of the meeting; clearly was that the tone adopted was not creditable to either party, and, looking at it in this light, we have refrained'from a full report.

After the above resolution was adopted, Mr Britain proposed and Mr. Moorhouse stconded a vote of thanks to the Chairman : which was carried by acclamation, and the meeting separated cbout 11 p.m.