THE GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4496, 18 August 1875, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

PUBLIC OPINION. (special telegrams.) The following resolution was telegraphed to Mr. O'Rorke, M.H.R., yesterday, from the chairman of a public meeting held there on Saturday last : Oneuunga, August 17. I am directed by a large meeting held here last night to forward to you a resolution passed with only two dissentients, and to request you to communicate it to Sir G. Grey :—" In the opinion of this meeting it is absolutely necessary that the people of New Zealand should have full opportunity of examining tho proposed constitutional changes ; that such proposed changes should only be dealt with in a new Parliament ; and that this meeting requests the Auckland members to resist the Abolition Bills clause by clause, line by lino, word by word, so that they shall not pass."

The following is_from Dunedin, and refers to a populous part of the Caversham electoral district : —" At a meeting last night, Anderson's Bay voted against abolition."

A public metting was held at Naseby, a large mining centre in Otago, and the honorary secretary of the Mining Association telegraphs, :

Nasebv, August 17.

Public meeting held in the Town Hall last night, the Mayor in the chair. It was unanimously carried, —" That in tho opinion of this meeting any attempt to force the Abolition and Local Government Bills during the present session would be unnecessary and illconsidered ; that the franchise should be extended, electoral districts readjusted, and the constituencies consulted, before any measure involving an almost entire remodelling of the Constitution should be allowed to become the law of the land." About one hundred persons were present.

The chairman of tho Ponsonby district meeting (a populous part of Newton eloctoral district) telegraphs :

Auckland, August 16. Ponsonby meeting crowded, enthusiastic, and most orderly. The following resolutions were submitted:—l. "That this meeting recognises the necessity of reform in the Constitution of the colony, but protests against the passage of the Abolition and Local Government Bills now before the House until the people have had an opportunity of expressing an opinion at the general elections." 2. "That a copy of the foregoing resolution bo conveyed to the member for the district, Mr. Swanson, together with .the hearty thanks of this meeting." These resolutions, after many earnest addresses, were carried without amendment, or a single dissentient voice. A telegram from Mr. Swanson was read, and received with loud cheers.

The following telegrams are from the Waikato district:— Hamilton, August 17. Meeting was held at Hamilton last night which resulted in immense victory for the Government. The oppositionists were compelled to withdraw their proposition, and a motion was unanimously passed,—" That it is expedient that the Abolition of Provinces and Local Government Bills should become law during the present session." Meetings in other Waikato settlements to-night. The same meeting is thus described in another telegram:— Hamilton, August 17. A large and influential meeting of ratepayers of Hamilton and vicinity was held last night in the courthouse; Mr. Seddon in the chair, to consider the Abolition and Local Government Bills. Mr. Morris moved the first resolution, seconded by Mr. Johns. It was of the provincialist strain, asking that the passing of the Bills might be deferred for another year. He quoted the 56th clause to show that the Government, in making the rates on the value to let, and not on the value to sell, intend to favor squatters and speculators at the expense of small settlers and improvers ; and that by clause 27 of the Bill, the majority of those present would be disfranchised. Mr. Cox moved an amendment, —" That this meeting is of opinion that in order to ensure the success of the Immigration and Public Works policy, and to provide for the efficient and economical administration of the government of the colony, and to ensure justice to the outlying districts, it is expedient that the Abolition of Provinces and Local Government Bills should become law during the present session of Parliament." This resolution was seconded by the editor of the Waikato Times, and adopted unanimously. A second resolution was moved by Mr. Johns, and seconded by Mr. Cox, — " That this meeting suggest that the conditions of clause 27 of the Local Government Bill giving the title to vote, be so altered in committee as to include as many votes as the present law." Mr, Morris withdrew his original motion. A public meeting was held at Coromandel to consider the Government Bills, and the following telegram was transmitted to the member for the district : Cokojiandel, August 17. I was requested to forward to you, for you to place before the Government, the following resolution which was carried netn. con. at a very large meeting held at Coromandel last night : —■" That this meeting warmly approves of the principle of the abolition of the pro vinces, with a view to the unity and material prosperity of the colony ; but this meeting is anxious that such large constitutional changes shoidd not be effected without appealing to the electors for their decision, and confidently assert that such an appeal would obtain such an accession of strength to the abolition principle as would enable the Government to pass a measure so complete and comprehensive as would "at once promote the unity and prosperity of the colony."

A telegram has been received from the chairman of a public meeting held at Walwera, (Hot Springs), a district of Rodney, intimating that a resolution was passed to the effect that the House should delay passing the Abolition Bill until after the next general election.