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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5104, 2 August 1877, Page 2

The Conference of delegates from the various municipalities in New Zealand held their first meeting at the Provincial Buildings yesterday. The whole of the gentlemen chosen to represent the several boroughs were not present, about half their number only having arrived in Wellington; but the remainder of them are expected almost immediately. Not much business was done yesterday ; but from the opening remarks of the Chairman, it appears clear that a leading grievance which the municipalities have against the Government is the deductions made for charitable , institutions from the subsidies paid to municipal bodies. Although the Chairman expressed his disapproval of the Charitable Aid Bill brought before Parliament this session by the Government,' Mr. Hutchison and Mr. Sutton expressed their approval of the principle of that measure.- We have very little doubt that a satisfactory settlement will be arrived at between the parties concerned. The present Ministry is composed of gentlemen ready to listen to reason, and averse to doing injustice, and the delegates chosen by the boroughs to confer on the matter appear to be sensible and business-like people, who would not urge claims which they did not believe to be fair and just. If this opinion regarding the delegates and the Government be correct, as we believe it is, there can be very little doubt indeed that matters will be placed on an amicable and satisfactory footing, and that this conference will not have been held in

vain. The movement-was initiated by Mr. Hobbs, the Chairman of the Conference, in the Christchurch City Council, and the. ready response made to his proposal from all parts of the colony shows that there very, general feeling entertained of the desirability, if not necessity, of carrying out that gentleman’s idea. The questions at issue will doubtless be fully argued by the delegates, and the resolutions arrived at by them will, we feel sure, carry due weight with the Government.