SIR J. C. WILSON AT HEATHCOTE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4209, 16 September 1874, Page 3

SIR J. C. WILSON AT HEATHCOTE.

Christchurch, Tuesday. Sir Cracroft Wilson addressed the electors of the Heathcote district'in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Christchurch, last night. There was a large attendance. Referring to tho Provincial abolition resolutions, he said they did not mean the abolition of Provinces exactly, but the abolition of Provincial institutions in the North Island; and there was a great difference between Provinces and Provincial institutions. The latter had done their duty well, but with the sole exception of Canterbury and Otago, should cease to exist throughout tho Colony, He referred to the appropriations asked for last session by Nelson, Auckland, &c., and said when it came to this it was high time to abolish Provincial institutions. Then it had been said

that Mr. Vogel’s action arose from a fit of pique ; but if he (the speaker) saw that good was likely to- arise, he should not be too careful as to its source or origin. He said Mr. O’Rorks was a traitor to his chief by not resigning till the matter was under discussion. He said Mr. . O’Rorke received a letter in the House while Mr. Vogel was spealdng on the resolutions, and from that letter read his speech. He (the speaker) would like to know who wrote the letter. The groat majority for the resolutions was unequalled in such an important matter, and proved that the time for the abolition of Provincial institutions had come. It had been said that the resolutions were unconstitutional, but Provincial institutions were transitory, and he would ask, ■ was the removal of the seat of Government, or the removal of 10,000 soldiers without consulting the people, deemed unconstitutional ? He referred to the English Heptarchy, and asked where England would be in 1874 if the Heptarchy had continued to exist. Canterbury and Otago were the only Provinces which should be allowed to exist any longer, and when their land fund was gone, but not till then, must they consider the question of abolishing those Provinces also. It had been said that Mr. Vogel’s resolutions were a great surprise, but it was a greater surprise to him that Provinces which were bankrupt for three years, and living on the Colony, should have been allowed to exist so long. The step taken was a wise one. He congratulated all New Zealand on it, and hoped they would continue in the same path. It had been said the resolutions meant the loss of the laud fund to the Middle Island, but he failed to see that. There was not any connection between Provincial institutions and the land fund which necessitated the loss of the latter if the former were abolished. If tho land fund was to be spent where it was raised what matter was it whether it was spent by a Provincial Council, municipality, or road boards. The Premier solemnly declared that all the land fund should belong to the locality where it was raised. It bad been said that they could not trust him—now it was strange they should trust Mr. Vogel so far as thSy had, and then as soon as he wanted to abolish Provincial institutions turn upon him and say he was not to be trusted. He (the speaker) thought the Premier rash but never thought him dishonest. But even suppose Mr. Vogel so base, and that he obtained a majority to back him, would the people of Canterbury and Otago be so foolish as to permit the spoliation of their land fund. He said, in addition to the compact of 1856, the South Island had paid one million sterling as consideration for peaceable possession of its land fund. • Are the inhabitants of the South Island such miserable poltroons as to sit still under such spoliation? Should we not rather warn the Ministry and the North Island that it would bring about a revolution, and that we would resist even with arms in our hands such a gross violation—(cheers) —and the result would be that Otago and Canterbury would retain not only the land fund, but the Custom and Excise duties, which were worth half a million per annum. (Applause.) Depend upon it the Ministry, though in my opinion they have been foolishly rash, are not so rash as to rouse the people of the South Island to defend their rights by armed resistance, and I for one should bo prepared to continue the straggle to the bitter end. (Oh, oh, and laughter.) lam not speaking in jest ; Ido not jest on such serious subjects. Apart altogether from the question of Provincial institutions, I would prevent one sixpence of land fund being taken against our free will and consent if rebellion and armed resistance had to be employed to protect it. (Hear, hear, laughter, and cheers.) He then referred to the evils of Provincial resistance to Colonial legislation and of a double form of government in the bankrupt Provinces. Nothing was more absurd than the playing at government carried on in some places. A vote of confidence was unanimously passed to Sir Cracroft Wilson.