THE RE-ANNEXATION QUESTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 191, 28 August 1869, Page 4

THE RE-ANNEXATION QUESTION.

MEETING AT HAVELOCK. ( From our Own Correspondent. ) A Public Meeting was held here on Friday Evening last, Aug. 20th, for the purpose of discussing the Re-Annexation question, which was numerously attended. A. Thompson, Esq. took the chair and briefly stated the object of the meeting. Mk. Levien (M.P.C ) rose and said—ln bringing my views before you, 1 do not concur in the speeches made at Blenheim, as I consider they savour more for salary and place, than any view to promote the welfare of the Province. I intend to give you my opinion, but in doing so, understand that as your Member in Council I shall be guided by your wishes. You are aware there has been a meeting in Blenheim and they have determined to forward a petition to the Assembly to preverit.the injustice of re-annexation to Nelson. I trust you will see the necessity of joining with them. Ask yourselves why did Separation take place in the first instance ? On account of the unfair treatment received from Nelson which allowed this portion of their then Province so small a portion of the land fund, and why now tamely submit to go back and be treated in the same manner again. What would our position be in their Council ? About one-fourth of that body, jusfcsufijfcient to ask for our rights arid be I ilQuim'* - Ihif request to the Assembly was just, .that certain evils existed. The Government%ackn6VvlecTge it, but to save themselves propose to annex us to Nelson. This I insult worthy only of the present Ministry reign is short, and 1 feel assured the day is -riot far distant when Marlbprough, through its own resources, like the Phoenix, will rise again from its ashes. I would strongly impress on you all . that Unity is We must stand up for our rights, and resist this des-. {>otism of the Government. Marlborough has, ooming in the distance, gold-fields, flax, wool, and unknown wealth 1 I say stand as a province. We have come to the worst, having done us all the injustice they cam and they will see we will not stand it longer, tnbfgfore I say emphatically resist annexation, your Members to arrange for the future, Cheers.)■ Mr. Wilson said he considered this district would have been much better off had . it never been separated from Nelson, as we should have had now good roads, :-and considered that re-' annexation to Nelson \£ould be better for this district. (Cheers.) *<

Mk. Wells moved “ That in the event of the measures proposed by the Provincial Council of Marlborough—viz. that of forming the province into separate districts—not being adopted by the Houses of Parliament, this district as defined by the Provincial Council, be re-annexed to Nelson.” (Cheers.) Seconded by Mr. C. Mills, and carried unanimously. The Chairman remarked that as the petition had been sent through to obtain signatures, any person wishing to sign could do so, as it lay on the table. No one availing themselves of this permission, Mr. Bradshaw said he wished it to be understood that he spoke as a settler of the Pelorus District. He agreed with what Mr. Wells had said, except in one particular. He proposed that we be at once re-annexed to Nelson, as the Province of Marlborough is in a state of bankruptcy, there being no funds for improvements, or carrying on public works, the revenue being spent in salaries in Blenheim; and our interests do not lie in Blenheim. We neither buy nor sell in Blenheim ; but we both buy and sell in Nelson. (Cheers.) It was to our interests to join Nelson, as they had better land laws, an instance of which might be seen in Pelorus Sound. The land on one side being in Marlborough, is sold at £1 per acre, while land on the other side, more favorably situated, and belonging to Nelson, was sold for ss. an acre. That Government is not wishing to carry on a crawling existence, but to encourage industry and the settlers (hear). He remembered the feeling that used to exist in Blenheim with regard to this District: it was looked upon as the ultima, thule, or extreme verge of the universe, where men might be expected to be found with their heads under their arms, or on all-fours. Things took a turn when our Provincial Council, in their wisdom, gave us a representative. The result was, that we became more important in their eyes—casks were seen where kegs formerly stood; orders came for timber, firewood, &c, from Blenheim with unlimited credit. This was bribery and corruption ! When he was representative for this district, they tried it on him, and have carried it on with his succes* sor. The large block of land at the back of Havelock, which was always intended by the Nelson Government as a commonage for the public, has been leased as a bribe to our present representative, Mr. Douslin. [The speaker here made a personal attack on Mr. Douslin, who was absent at Blenheim, having received no notice of the meeting, relative to works undertaken in his private capacity, amidst a scene of considerable excitement. We omit the language used.] He wished to know whether such a state of things would have existed under the Nelson Government. He proposed “ that this meeting declines to co-operate with the other districts of this Province in opposing the movement in the General Assembly for annexing this Province to Nelson.” Mr. "Wilson" seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. Mr. Bradshaw wished also to say what had been done for us. The Kaituna bridge, and the approach to Havelock had been made by them, but the same party had for years opposed all proposals of their predecessors for public works lujiaxia uiDuwu. jrucy nave utterly uegicctcu. vub roads, which are impassable; bridges broken down ; cemeteries unenclosed, graves desecrated; yet those are the people who ask for our assistance in their extremity, and for perpetuating the languishing existence of an expiring Government. He then proposed that Mr. Douslin be requested by a marginal on the memorial which he has signed, to signify that it is as a private individual, and not as our representative. Mr. Levien had acted, on the contrary, in an upright and manly manner in declining to sign the petition before submitting it to his constituents. He then moved “That this meeting is of opinion that steps should be taken for promoting the object of Mr. Wells’ resolution.” Seconded by Mr. Bromell, and carried unanimously.

Mr. Cohen then moved “ That a committee, consisting of the following gentlemen. Dr. Weld, Messrs. Wells, Thompson, C. Mills, Levien, and the mover, and that they send copies of the resolutions to Mr. Vogel, and also to the Nelson representative in the General Assembly. Seconded by Mr. Bradshaw, and carried unanimously. Mr. Bellows proposed that as Mr. Wemyss was so kind in giving the assistance of the police in endeavoring to obtain signatures to the Blenheim petition, that he be requested to extend the same privilege to the Havelock counter-petition. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated, . .