MOTUPIPI.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 28, 4 February 1868, Page 2

MOTUPIPI.

[from our own correspondent.] January 28, 1868. Mr Gibbs addressed the electors of this district iv the Schoolroom this (Tuesday) evening, Mr Baird being in the chair. His speech on the different matters brought under review was of so rambling a character that it was impossible to follow him, to say nothing of taking notes. He was perfectly understood and applauded when he in no measured terms deuounced the shameless extravagance of the present Ministry, aud alluded to the Panama Mail Service, Native Affairs, the Defence Force, the Mineralogical Department, the Telegraph aud the Government Printing Office, as matters either to be done away with altogether, or altered. He was remarka bly sweet on the Local Government Bill, introduced last session into the House of Representatives, but either his reasoning was enveloped iv such a mass of unmeaning verbiage, or the deuse ignorance of the electors prevented their understanding what he really meant, so that he most signally failed in convincing them that it was desirable that such a Bill should become law. One explanation he gave for which the electors are obliged to him. He stated that in auswer to a question which he had put to the present member, Mr A. J. Richmond, that gentlemau had said that 'he would not resign until March, as several of the miners would not have held their rights a sufficient time (6 mouths) to entitle them to vote.' It appears that the law provides that no miner has any occasion to register his vote, the mere holding a license for six months being sufficient. The miner is thus placed in a much better position than the bona fide settler, who, if he lived in a district for sixty years, and did not register, would be unable to vote at any election. I fear that ray report of the speech, if it is indeed worthy the name, will be anything but satisfactory to your readers, but it was so jerky and disjointed, that I find it impossible to collect the material in my hazy brain in any betler form. It is, however, only simple justice to Mr Gibbs to state that he had lost his memoranda. A vote of thanks to Mr. Gibbs for his courtesy in coming forward to explain his views, and a like compliment to the chairman, terminated the proceedings.