MR. MACANDREW AT THE CONVENTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 173, 9 November 1876, Page 2

MR. MACANDREW AT THE CONVENTION.

[FKOM OTXPv OWN CO-RESPONDENT.] ♦ At the sitting of the Convention yesterday, Mr. Macandrew, in his opening address, stated that as the term of office for which he had been elected Superintendent would not expire for some few months, he looked upon himself as, de jure, the Superintendent of Otago, and consequently the cjurse he had taken in issuing invitations to the Convention, was perfectly in accordance with the powers vested in Mm by that office. He then referred in strong tjrms to t'le manner i~i which the Abolition Act had been carried, characterising it as an arbitrary and revolutionary action on tie part of a representative body such as had never before been perpetrated. In answer to the taunt that the Convention should have been called prior to the passing of the measure, Mr. Macandrew stated that, had it been imagined for a moment that the late Parliament would have turned a deaf ear to the voice of a people who had returned nineteen representatives pledged to vote for Financial Separation out of twenty-one, the call would have been made prior to tiie Session ; still, he contended, even were that cjurse carried out, or even apleblscilum ->f t..e people of Otago taken, their wishes would not have been listened to, through the petty Provinces of Hawke's Bay and j Taranaki having a preponderance of voting power in the Assembly. Under those circumstances he was forced to the conclusion that it was utterly futile to hope for •justice at the hands of the New Zealaad Parliament, and the only hope of extricating Otago from the difficulties in which it was being entangled, was by its becoming an independent Colony, with a supreme Legislature of its own. His Honour then pointed out that Otago isj at the present time, in a far better position to stand alone than was New Zealand when selfgovernment was bestowed upon it, and in many respects more fitted for self-govern-ment than the now flourishing colonies which separated from New South Wales. He had no desire to go back to Provincialism as it existed hitherto. What he wanted was a separate Colony, having power to govern itself, and work out its own destiny, untrammelled by the millstone of Centralism which had been placed about its neck. In conclusion, his Honor said that, should Otago succeed in becoming a separate Colony, it would be necessary that the British Crown should nominate a Governor ; but so far from being desirous of the honor, on the day Otago hoists her own flag, he himself to retire into private life.

A number of. notices moved were then tabled— .

"That a Committee be appointed to draft a petition to Her Majesty, asking

thati<9jago;iriay be proclaimed ai separat* and independent Colony. ; " That the said Committee consist 0/ Messrs; Robin, Stout, and the mover. " That Mr- Mrcandrew having the tire confidence of the people of Otago, jj is desirable that in accordance with tn 9 provisions of the Abolition Act, the management of Provincial affairs until tin 31sfc December should be entrusted to him, and that therefore the Convention requests Mr. Macandrew, in the best in. terests of Otago', not to refuse to -watcli over its affairs.

"That Sir George Grey and Mr Mac andrew be requested fco proceed to Eng. land to lay before Her Majesty the united prayers of the people of Auckland and Otago that they may be allowed to retain the rights, liberties, and privileges origi. nally bestowed upon them under the Constitut'o.l Act."

The following programme was then moved by Mr. Stout:— "1. That an Otago Convention b« f ornied,, and that the representatives pre. sent be, with their consent, enrolled u members of the Convention. - " 2. That said convention meet annii. ally, or at such other times as the Pren. dent or Vice-President and Council shall determine. "3. That for the purposes of manage, ment there be a President, Vice-Presi-dent, and Council of nine members. "4. Tiiat Mr. Thomson be appointed President, and Mr. Clarke Vice-Preii. dent. ■ . ■