MAEREWHENUA.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 339, 3 September 1875, Page 3

MAEREWHENUA.

(From our own correspondent.) A meeting wasbeld here qn the 18th to consider the Abolition of the Provinces. : Mr. Prater explained the object of the meeting, which .was. toconsider whetheir it might desirable to ask'for postponement of the Bill, until the-people;had an opportunity of ascertaining its nature. He did not believe in being guided by chance. All that he knew-of the bill went against the Goldfields. The Go.vernment said the miners were the pio> neers of the district in-which their occupation led them, and proposed- to "give them back the expenditure o£ their 6wn revenue to open . such .districts. That sounded very JPFell.;.bujt. .he would- warn the miners not to be deluded by soft soap. .Nearly., all the.Province was a Goldfield. Let them look at this from a local point of view. What roads and bridges' w6uld they have been able to. construct from their own .resources. He feared the Only roads they would, have, had would-hUve; been sheep tracks. If the bill were all itv was said Jto be, why were, the Government? afraid 'to sliow it or postpone it until the, elections had given. an opportunity #br a public confirmation of their views ? Why did they not prove themselves the protectors of the people, and not deal/with their measure as if.it. were a thimble-rigging arrangement, to.be' done in.haste, lest expense should bring them to grief.' Three months ago at least the bills should have been scattered broadcast through the Colony/to be judged fairly. > Any Government that carried on the business of the Colony by'tricks of legerdemain were not fit to hold office a single day. If the bill were a good bill for the Colony it ought to be supported. He did not believe in voting blindfold. He spoke in high terms of Sir George Grey, and the great sacrifice he had made to vindicate the rights of the people. There was, he thought, every prospect of the Opposition being able to maintain the rights of the people. 'He would ask them to assert their right, or abide consequences little dreamt' of-at present. He moved, "Thatthis meeting is of opinion that the Genera} should ttot" r a&6li§h' &£ i without an appeal being first made to the country at the general elections, and hereby protests against the bill being passed withput, the people being afforded an opportunity* to exercise their right of vote 1 ' so important a charge in the Constitution, of. the Colony." The motion was seconded by Mr. Sutherland. '. •-•-::

Mr. Farquharson proposed an amendment, " That this "meeting- views with pleasure the action taken by the General Government in the Abolition of the Provinces, and that a telegram be forwarded to the representative of the district asking him, to exercise his vote for the Government in this." He spoke in high terms of the Shire Council system in Victoria. He also referred to the Timam Board as an instance of the advantage to be gained by local Government. He condemned Provincial authorities for habitual neglect, and instanced the fate of & petition' beinj; 1 sent from this place in May last, te-which" 3 no answer had yet been re3eivedju:i'Ehe"y. had, he thought, good ground.s r for ; wish-i ing t»v se&'the'Abolition of Provinces carried but. He believed in managing our own affairs, and ia rating our own property. ' .' j Mr. Smith thought there was too much Government, but thought the "miners ought to have an opportunity of exercjsing their, votes before the bill:was passed. He said there was too. much haw hslw and la da da. Every third man a was Government Officer. We could not be worW governed than at-preseak-. a - stfrtng 'feeling- against' the' Provincial' Goldfields department. Mr, Freter replied to what had beon

said by Mr" Fnrquharson-pointing out bow small tij< ; i> receipts would..be even if a high rite was'ipiposed; and that an was. not oni the same one. '.Fmaiiy'' {.h'e a'uiehduieht" was carried, by •a majority of those present declining to vote at^ili.'". ". ■-■■.- .•'--;■ •