PAHAUTANUI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4499, 21 August 1875, Page 3

PAHAUTANUI.

(FROM OUR OWN OOttIIESrONDENT.) According to notice, a public meeting was held here on Thursday evening, on the abolition question. The district does not appear to take much interest in the matter, as there were only about twenty persons present. Mr. Pearce was elected to the chair, and he briefly opened the meeting by reading the notice. Mr. Galloway addressed the meeting, and said he considered the time had come when provincial institutions should be done away with and some better form of government substituted. No doubt when in the early days of the colony provincial legislation was adopted it was well suited to the requirements of the country; but now that the provinces had got rapid communication with each other by telegraph and steam, the case was altered, and it was his opinion that a central Government would be cheaper and better for the people. He therefore proposed,—" That this meeting is of opinion that the Abolition Bill should be passed in its present form this session."

Mr. Bould seconded the resolution, and expressed similar views on the subject. He thought a change would be for the better, and that surveys, for instance, might be executed with less partiality than at present.

Mr. Mulheun and Mr. McDonald expressed the same opinion as the previous speakers, and were in favor of abolition. Mr. GILLON, who was requested to address the meeting, said although he did not entirely agree with provincialism, he should prefer going on with it at present until ho could see something better in its place. He considered it unconstitutional for the Government to attempt to pass the Bill without consulting the voice of the people, and recommended delay for a few months, until the next general election.

Mr. R. Smith addressed the meeting at some length, and said he was in favor of the Abolition Bill being passed at once. He considered that the country districts would be much better off under the administration of local boai-ds, and gave as an illustration the Pabautanui Small I'anns-road, which had been managed and constructed by a local board. They had done wonders, and the roads they had made were a credit to them.

Mr. Fred. Bkadey addressed the meeting, and said that although he was not a thorough provincialist he was in favor of delay, and proposed as an amendment, —" That this meeting is of opinion that the passing of the Abolition Bill should be deferred until after the next general election." Mr. Blackev seconded the amendment.

Mr. \V. Jones supported the amendment, and said it behoved the people to be careful. He considered that we ought not to make such a thorough change as that proposed hastily, as our children might have cause to reproach us with it afterwards if it did not work well. He said there was no reason for jumping into the fire to warm ourselves because we were cold. The amendment was put to the meeting, and six hands were shown in favor of it. The original proposition was then put, and ten voted for it. A vote of thanks was then given to the chairman and Mr. Gillon, and the meeting terminated. .