THE TRADES DEMONSTRATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 397, 6 August 1877, Page 3

THE TRADES DEMONSTRATION.

(Br Telegraph.) * Dune-din, August 5. The United Trades Demonstration, held last night, attracted great cro >vds of people, and was the largest public gathering ever held in Duneelin. Their object ■was to protest against the importation by the Government of railway rolling stock for the New Zealand railways, and they contend that as a large number of artisans are out of work, that the Government should not import manufactures which can be made in the Colony. About 6.30 the various classes of tradesmen engaged in the iron works, together with tailors, carpenters, bootmakers, bricklayers, plasters, and the Typographical Association, formed themselves into a torchlight procession, and accompanied by two bands, marched through the principal streets of the city. The procession was about a quarter of a mile long, and presented a most striking appearance. The windows along the line of march were crowded, and in several instances ladies waved their handkerchiefs as the procession passed along. After the procession, a public meeting was held in the arcade of Guthrie and Larnach's building. The Mayor (Mr. H. H. Leary) presided, and there were about 3000 persons present, but a number of these were mere spectators, who had followed the procession. The Mayor, in opening the proceedings, urged upon the speakers that they should be temperate and respectful both in regard to language and resolutions. The speakers consisted of tradesmen, and were chosen from the dffferent trades represented. The speeches were very able ones, taking the circumstances of the speakers into consideration, and for ability were almost equal to those usually delivered at public meetings in Dunedin. One of the ablest speeches was delivered by a smith named Chandler. In conclusion, he sa'd that if the present Ministry would not accede to their wishes, perhaps the working men of New Zealanel would put in one that would. It had been said by the great Augustus that he had found Rome a city of brick, and left it one of marble. They would say to their statesmen of this Colony, " Work up the resources that you have, then yon will be able to say that yon fourd New Zealand a desert, and that you leave it—not a great sheep run—but a large manufacturing go-ahead country, possessing happy and contented people, manufacturing their own works, and ptrheps exporting it to other countries." Be contended that the movement was one which was needed, anel they expected working men in other larire towns in the Colony would take up the same stand. Seme speakers blamed the official heads of departments rather than the political heads for the grievance of which they complained. The rese>lutions, as previously telegraphed, were carried unapimously-