HYDE.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 396, 14 October 1876, Page 3

HYDE.

(From our own couespondeDt.) ' < 9th October. .; .This, place is a kind of "ultima dim Tliule," as the poet says, in matters poetical, never making a very conspicuous display of itself in any particular way in that line, but the ear-stirring turmoil of the Assembly has at length awakened the echoes amid the hitherto deaf lieges of this locality, and Hyde at last .dribbled, I can't say gushed, into an expression of opinion in re the political status of the Province. A meeting of Hydonians, convened by Mr. Angus M'Kay, "to consider the political situation/' came off at Mr.

Laverty's Commercial Hotel on the evening of the oth inst. It was fairly attended, but scarcely so thronged as might have been ex~ected on the discussion of a question of so much importance. Mr. John Laverty was installed Chairman. Initiating proceedings, " Gentlemen," said he, " we have gathered here to-night to express such opinions as we hold with regard to the peculiar position in which the Provinces are placed relatively to the management of their own affairs. The present aspect of things in the House of Representatives is calculated to lead us to suppose that, unless the people of Otago hold together as one man, the Abolition Bill, with all its evils unabated, will be carried out. It now becomes our duty to show, by united energetic resolutions and actions, that we wholly agree with the efforts made by the Opposition to combat the tyrannical and retrogressive legislation of the General Government. Otago particularly, and the Colony generally, will be disastrously affected if Abolition, as promulgated! by Wellington Centralists, becomes the order of the day." He would not, he said,' further trench upon the time of gentlemen who were desirous of having their say, but would leave the matter in the hands of Mr. M'Kay.—After a little dallying, and when the tremor commonly incidental to public sneaking had somewhat subsided, Mr. M'Kay said he was sure it was only necessary for it to be generally known that Abolition of Provinces meant the entire doing away with institutions which had hitherto worked well, to cause them to set thpir faces against such a measure. Centralists had not yet planned any legislation which would be found to be half so good as that we already possessed. Ha was no talking man himself, and merely broached the subject in the hope that others better used to " spouting," as it was called, would take the matter up, and make it plain that if the General Government had all its own way we should be placed, in a most unpleasant fix with regard to ways and means. He trusted resolutions to be brought before them this evening would convey to those members fighting the battle ot the Provinces that our sympathies were entirely with them, and that, under their leadership, we would do or die if necessary.— Mr. Matheson next opened fire. He observed that if the General Government succeed all our land fund will go North. We ought not to. be robbed for the sake of the other island. If that money goes we have nothing much left for public works. Farewell then to roads, bridges, and other civilizing and colonizing requirements. Our taxes will then become so heavy as possibly to become unbearable. To try to ameliorate, if practicable, the probable futuritive condition of events, we should show by our unanimity Bnd concordant action tonight that the manner in which the Opposition members have acted, specially our bold Otagan representatives, that we are at one with them ; that their conduct has our warmest approval, and has won our grateful esteem, as ithas patently evinced they have been, and are, doing their best to secure to us existing institutions.— When Mr. Matheson ceased a lull came over the audience and orators lor some time.—-.The silence was eventually broken by Mr. M'Kay, intimating that, if the gift of tongues was not exactly his, still much yet remained to be said about this business. The laws, he remarked, should be kept as they are : at least until we got better than those coming from the present Ministry. It was the duty of every one to stick up for his rights ; rights which, if lamely allowed to be taken away, would very likely never be restored again. He heartily supported Mr. Macandrew in all he had done up to this time against Abolition, and it was the bounden duty of all who wished well to the Province and to themselves to do so likewise. If all went in "shouther to shouther" for the Provinces, Ministers would'nt go right in and win so easily as they imagine. He had great pleasure in proposing the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr. E. O'Connell, and substantially runs thus: " That this meeting heartily endorses the action taken by those Otago members who consistently and persistently during the present session of Parliament have in every fair way striven to oppose the destructive policy of the General Government, and to preserve for Otago and the Colony Provincial institutions, as nearly as practicable in their original integrity." Carried triumphantly.—Mr. Ramsay, after a little display of native modesty, now entered upon the scene. Speechifying, he told the audience, was not necessary on an occasion like this. Everybody knew the desirability of preserving'as far as possible the gentle and beneficial rule of Provincialism. There were able, and devoted, and disinterested men now eagerly warring in the tide of great difficulties for keeping it, or something like it, intact. We must convince them by our expression of sympathy with, and approval of, tneir conduct that they have no ungrateful or thankless clients. He had a resolution in his hand, embodying sentiments such as those he had expressed, and he now begged leave to put it to the meeting. Mr." John Meade gladly seconded the resolution, which read as follows : " That this meeting feels that a vote of thanks should be acco.-ded to Messrs. Macandrew, Stout, the District and other Members who, by their devoted honesty, ability, and pluck, have shown they have not forgotten the pledges given to their constituents, and who have always had in view, during the existing session, fair play for Otago, the Provinces, and consequently the Colony as a whole." Adopted nem. con.— Mr. O'Connell observed to the effect that, though not entirely agreeing with many of the acts of the Provincial Government, still if a choice of evil—a greater or a lesser onelay -before us, it was better'to. have the little one. The deyil we do'know, he said, is not so much to be dreaded as the devil we don't know, and Provincialism, with all its faults, was more calculated to serve our interests than the General Government'; would i be Uikelv to "do.— Mr. Dowliog believed if Grey could secure Auckland and Macandrew Otago we might be well satisfied. Wellington could have all the rest, and much good might it get from them.—Mr. Laughton proposed and Mr. Ahhett seconded the third resolution : " That the action taken by Mr. de Lautour to obtain areas of land as a means towards constructing interior lines of railway, so that the country may be opened up, settlement advanced, and fair fields of employment provided for working men, is thoroughly accordant with the views of this meeting , and that, if successful, it is sure, to be a great boon to the Province." Carried.—Mr. Meade proposed and Mr. Boyd seconded the fourth resolution : " Tbat s owing to the

obstructiveness of the General Government, much privation has been inflicted on. the laboring population through the public works of the Province being brotfght to a stand, and great injustice done to the country generally, and to this district particularly. That a memorial, embodying the necessary public requirements of this place be drawn up by the Progress Committee and sent to Mr. de Lautour, the District Member, with a request that he will use his best • efforts to give effect lo the fair claims of memorialists." This, after, a loDg and desultory conversation, in which eveiybody joined, was finally carried. , A vote of thanks to the chair wound up the business of the evening. It is to be regretted that we were not earlier in the field in marking our appreciation of the conduct of the gallant band of Otagan members who have fought through thick and thin on our behalf; but, although last,-we are not least in the measure'of sympathyand support which we do and will gladly render them. The Assembly has rejected de'lAmtour's motion for waste lauds for railway purposes,.;but it was a step in the right direction, and the Government.had not a great majority—2o voting for and 24 against'it;' It is evident, therefore, that a.considerable party in the colony hold wHhour member in this matter, and surely it.would. be much more economical and prudent than vusbiug.into the talons of Jewish vultures who will bleed the poor Colonial goose (New -Zealand) whollylor the battening of themselves, and gather all the golden eggs into their own foul nests. District news is nil just now. The deferred payment :blcekis at last gazetted, but the land can't be utilised this season. The few pounda_ap.propriate for the road leading thereto have been expended in making' a cutting, and pitching an, open ford across one of the streams contiguous to the block. .All the hands are knocked off—surfacemen included. Twenty-six miles of road, lying between .Macraes and the Kyeburu are, therefore,-left to mend and take care of themselves; as indeed has been the case for the last six months. Many dangerous holes and ' ruts exist along this dreary ill-conditioned distance. A visit from the District Engineer is urgently required.\ He might possibly recommend that something should be done to keep it from going' to. the bad altogether, and s ray t,he torrent .of curses whi c h sett ler s and carriers (poor sufferers in person and pocket)--incessantly- pout out on thy parties responsible for this shameful neglect. The wea.her is sumnier-Jike —miners working with a will, an abundance of water being available. Mid spring's green mantle charms the eye in cultivated paddocks as well as on unreclaimed spur and flat. _ Lambing general thoughout the district. Gardens bursting into bud, blossom, and leaf; and all seasonal surroundings Vigorous in the present, and promising^'oi-the future.