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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4837, 22 September 1876, Page 2

Accoeding to Mr. Macandrew it is a Ministerial myrmidon who alone gets up political meetings by telegrams sent from Wellington. But in Otago they seem to differ from Mr. Macandrew on this point. Quite recently, on the strength of telegrams from some patriotic: provincialist or another in Wellington (not Mr. Macandrew of course), efforts have been made at getting up public meetings in the country townships of Otago, to denounce the Government, their ways, and works. How those efforts fared in one township (Milton) may be gathered by the following from the Bruce Herald .—“ It is too bad of the iuhabi-; tants of this district to stubbornly refuse to take part in a bogus ‘ political demonstration.’ One or two enthusiastic individuals armed with letters and telegrams from Wellington have been doing their best to work up a little excitement, but their efforts have ended in smoke—and whisky. Two of them met the other night, and while one delivered a long speech in praise l of Sir George Grey, the other slept, with a glass of toddy in his hand. The speech having been brought to a conclusion, the slumberer awoke with a start, and to the indignation and astonishment of his friend, proposed, as a toast, ‘ The immortal memory of Bobby Burns !’ The ‘ political meeting ’ then moved up the street singing ‘We’re no that fou.’ ”

A horrible suspicion has caused a rumor about Wellington during the last few days. “ They say ” that the Sir George Grey who has appeared in the House during the period mentioned is not Sir George Grey, hut merely a clever imitation, or “ make up,” as stage language has it, of our familiar and nonsensical friend. The real original Sir George, it is alleged, left here for Dunedin a few days ago. Two circumstances have lent an air of truthfulness to this report. The Sir George who has exhibited in the House lately has been comparatively quiet, and for two days has not mentioned the human family, the Anglo-Saxon race, or posterity, and has been absolutely silent on general corruption and the tyranny of a hireling Ministry. The Otago Guardian, however, of a recent date, has the following, quite in Sir George Grey’s best style:- “ Firmly and sternly the brave little hand of the Opposition have contested the ground inch by inch with the most tyrannical and overhearing Government that has yet cursed New Zealand with its presence, and onco more it has been humbled. Probably ere these words reach the eyes of our readers, the Indemnity Bill will have passed, and once again the Ministry will have ridden roughshod over laws that were expressly framed against the very abuses which are now perpetrated. If this is a thing at which any party can rejoice, we fail to see what value they can place on any of the usual bulwarks that are erected against the encroachments of power.”

The following new clause was introduced into the Municipal Corporations Act in the House of Representatives last night by Mr. Whitaker, and agreed to:—“If not less than one-fourth of the burgesses of any ward of a divided borough, petition the Governor praying him to divide such ward into two, and publish such petition, and no counter petition is presented to the Governor signed by not less than onefourth of the burgesses of the other wards, within two months from such publication, the Governor may by proclamation divide such ward into two wards, with such names and boundaries as he thinks fit.” This is a most important matter for the burgesses of To Aro Ward, and we understand they have to thank Mr. Hunter that such a clause was introduced into the Bill. Had it not been for his exertions in placing the matter before the Ministry in its proper light, there would have been no machinery in the Act under which,a division of the ward could have taken place, and their large district would have unavoidably remained with the present insufficient representation. As it is we hope that soon will be able to avail themselves of the provision made, and secure a fair representation in the City Council.