OTAGO.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 32, 20 January 1864, Page 2

OTA G O .

(FROM OCR OWN" CORHESFOS DEST.J Dunedin, January 16. On Wednesday afternoon a monster meeting took place in the Princess Theatre on the "Seat of Government" question. The theatre was crowded to excess in every part of it. The stage was occupied by many of our leading men, His Honor the Superintendent taking the chair, and presiding during the -whole of the proceedings. The resolutions and the spr-eohes thereon, the seconding of the same, also, with speeches — the amendments, with interruptions, cheers, hisses, and expressions of disapprobation, occupied the time of the meeting for four good hours. The reports in the papers occupy some six or seven columns, and this is the gist of what it all means: A majority in the General Assembly. passed a resolution that the seat of the New Zealand Government should be removed from Auckland to Cook's Straits, and further, that certain disinterested Governors of neighboring colonies should decide through a disinterested commission what part of Cook's Straits should be selected. This is it, I believe, as nearly as possible. Well, the Otago people say this will not suit us any way. We do not believe that Cook's Straits is the right place for a seat of. Government ; we rather think Dunedin would be preferable. It would decidedly be better for us if we could manage the thing. We will if we can. If we cannot, Cook's Straits shall not be the locale. Sooner than have the seat of Government at Wellington, we would prefer to let it continue to exist at Auckland. We will call a public meeting and agitate the matter. So the meeting was called, and the following resolutions, after an imme-ise expenditure of lung power, Avere almost unanimously carried : — " That the removal of the seat of Government to Cook's Straits, proposed at the late meeting of the General Assembly, would not only fail to remedy the defective administration of the Government in the Middle Island, but would at the same time seriously injure the administration of the Govern merit in the most populous and progressive portion of the Northern Island ; and this meeting protests against the action taken by the Assembly, in forcing on the decision of sucli an important matter without affording the people of tho colony an opportunity of expressing their opinions thereon, and in inviting the interference of the Governors of the Australian Colonies in a purely New Zealand matter." The second resolution was after great discussion cartied — ''That for the due administration of the Government of the Colony, it is necessary that separate Exeentive Governments

should be established for the Northern and Middle Islands, together with a LieutenantGovernor for the Colony." Tlie third resolution closed the business of the meeting, and was after great efforts had been made m procure an adjournment, carried — " That in order to defeat the resolutions adopted by the Assembly and to promote the proposal of the foregoing resolution, a committee be appointed to prepare and forward an address to his Excellency the Governor, requesting him to delay taking action on the resolution of the House until after next general election ; and also addresses to the Governers of the Australian Colonies, protesting against their acting in a purely New Zealand aflair, in a manner clearly opposed to the wishes of the people of Auckland and Otago, which constitute a majority of ths entire population of the colony ; and that the committee be authorised to promote by every legitimate.roeans the objects of this meeting." The following gentlemen to be the Committee, with power to add to their number : — J, Frendergasr, G. Barton, J. Yogel, F. L. Gillies, Mr Hildreth, C. T. Ick, M. Holmes, T. B. Gillies, T. S. Forsaith, J. J. Ham, and the mover. Having carefully perused the above, you and your readers will know quite as much about this great public movement as any of us do here. We are in a terrible state of civic excitement, just now, and the " Millar case " absorbs into itself all other questions and matters of local interest. Mr. Millar, our City Engineer, has been summarily dismissed from his situation, with its salary, general pickings, and emoluments, which are something equal, I am told, to fifteen hundred pounds per annum. The dismissal took place about a contract known as the George street contract. Mr Millar had sanctioned the expenditure of more money than he had received the authority of the Board to do. So a charge, in set form, was made against him, to which he entered a very- able defence, but it all resulted in his being dismissed by a majority of seven to five. Thereupon, Mr Millar takes Counsel, and through his solicitor, makes a claim upon the Board for £3,350, for " wrongful dismissal- and loss of position." Writs of action have been served upon three members of the Town Board, as also one on the Town Clerk. Such a prompt and determined measure initiated by the City Engineer, has created some alarm in the breasts ; of member s of the Town Board, and: a strong desire is evinced on their part to come to a compromise. One thing we rate-payers know full well, and that is, that damages and costs and all other expenditure will come out of .our. pockets, and that .we are powerless to prevent the Town Board making -ducks and drakes of our money. ..,.,;' r -. ■ ; A dire calamity has fallen on our Province in the breaking cut of pleuro pneumonia, in a . herd ofcattle belonging to Mr John Jones, at Waikouaiti. These had 'been imported from Twofold Bay , and immediately the information of the dread desease having shown, itself had, ' been communicated to-the Superintendent, a '" proclamation ; was. -issued forbidding any * further importations from that part of f . Victoria. I shall be able to send you all the . particulars, -in my next,' of a Board of Enquiry how sitting; - The wholeof Mr Jones's , infected herd has been = destroyed, the Gd- '. vernmerit paying the price of the cattle— 1 some £3000.- ; ->The news, has created the ? j greatest alarm .■) among .stockholders, dairy'•ljien, and agriculturists. : ; C.- ■