Untitled

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 576, 8 February 1851, Page 4

The Titan, an iron built vessel, from London 9th September, arrived on Sunday, having previously touched at Otago. The English news has been anticipated by previous arrivals. By the Otago News, two numbers of which have reached us, we learn that a Public Meeting had been held at Dunedin on the 3rd December, 1850, attended by not less than 200 male adults, chiefly for the purpose of considering the Provincial Councils Ordinance proposed by Sir George Grey, with a view of obtaining from his Excellency such a modification of its provisions and powers as would adapt it to the present circumstances of that settlement. The following resolutions, which were carried unanimously, will best explain the views of the settlers, the second resolution was passed by acclamation. Moved by Mr. M'Glashan, seconded by Mr. Bain— That with reference to that clause of the address to his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, °* Ip l h November last, in which application was made lor a Municipal Charter, giving power to authorities elected by the people, ana unsalaried : first, to legislate and rule within the whole boundaries of the Otago block ; and, secondly, to dispose of the surplus revenue of the district. As it appears from the verbal reply of his Excellency at the time, and his subsequent re-

marks thereon, that these powers, and especially the disposal of public revenue, could not be held under a Municipal cnarter; hut that they might be largely obtained.under a modification of the Provincial Legislative Councils Bill- a copy of which has been sent by his excellency ‘ for any observation which the settlers mav wish to make thereon;’ it is therefore.resolved—That the application for a Municipal Charter is withdrawn; and that the meeting proceed to consider the foregoing Bill, with a view to suggest modifications, by separate enactinent, so as to adapt its provisions to the present limited state of the population and revenue of this district. Moved by Mr. Cutten, seconded by Mr. A. Anderson— That the modifications suited to the circumstances of the district (or province) would require to be as follows, namely * ‘lst. The provisions of the Bill for placing the powers of Local Legislation and Government, together with the disposal of revenue, under an officer appointed by the Governor-in-Chief, and a Legislative Council, of which two-thirds to be elected by the people, and one-third appointed by the Governor-in-Chief, is satisfactory in principle; but with a view to necessary economy, it is proposed that the officer so appointed by the Governor-in-Chief should be designated ‘ superintendent,’or some such other name as should imply a salary much less than that of a Lieut.-Governor (but the limited salary, however, is alone insisted on); and also that no other appointments be made, but the public duties of the district be left in the hands of the aforesaid officer and Council to be provided for by such appointments, and small appropriations of revenue as from time to time shall be found requisite, excepting, however, that the customs and post-office departments do stand as at present. ‘ 2nd. That the salary of the principal officer holding appointment from the Governor-in-Chief, the salaries of the customs officers, de-puty-postmaster, and of the police establishment, so long as the latter shall remain on its present footing, be paid from the civil list of ; and that the contribution from the Otago revenue to that civil list be fixed and defined by the amount of such salaries, so as to leave the remainder of the Otago revenue at the disposal of its Legislative Council for necessary expenses and public improvements. 3rd. That the appointment and salary of the Judge being altogether disproportionate to the means and population of Otago, his salary ought to be provided from some other source. Highly as the settlers do prize and esteem his residence among them, yet they think that his exalted office should include some larger sphere, and the salary, so far as they are concerned, be but rateably laid upon the Otago district. Only one criminal case has occurred since the arrival of the first ship, and that so unimportant as to have left a general impression tnat it might have been adjudicated by a bench of justices ; but certain it is, that the establishment of Quarter Sessions, in addition to the powers of Justice of Peace Courts, under the Resident Magistrate’s Ordinance, would leave litttle or nothing for reference to a higher court until the community shall have largely increased. 4th. That the allowance of £5O toeach member of Council whose residence shall exceed 25 miles from the place of meeting, as provided in clause 20 of the Bill, is uncalled for in this district, and should be withdrawn. sth. That the dwelling-house qualification in towns, as per clause 5, be reduced from £lO to £5. The following resolution was also carried unanimously— That the Meeting takes this opportunity to record the grateful, sense,of the settlers for'the munificent and well-timed donations of his Excellency from funds at his disposal, of £4OO for the erection of an Hospital, and £l5O for the extension of the Jetty at Dunedin, and £5O towards the removal of a difficulty on the Taieri Road. The Acheron arrived at Otago, Dec. 11. We regret to find in the Otago News of the 21st December, the announcement of the discontinuance of that Journal owing to the. ill health of the proprietor and other causes. During its brief existence, the industry and independent feeling evinced by our contemporary in the conduct of the News merited a better result, and we should have rejoiced if bis exertions had been attended with success.