The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1256, 27 May 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1870.

The union of the Provinces of Otago and Southland being no longer a matter of doubt in the minds of the politicians of the former province, the members of the Provincial Council of Ofcago had their attention directed the other day to overtures of a similar nature to the next adjoining province — Canterbury. The following resolutions formed the subject of debate:—"lst. That it is expedient that steps should be taken with a new to uniting the province of Otago with the Province of Canterbury. 2nd. That in the event of the Otago and Southland Union Bill becoming law, it is desirable that power should be obtained from the Assembly, with the concurrence of the Canterbury Representatives, to arrange a basis" of union. 3rd. That an address be presented to his. Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he will be pleased to give effect to the above resolutions." They were introduced by the member for Oaroaru, who stated that they came with a peculiar fitness from him, as the representative of a constituency" which was nearest of all the Otago constituencies to Canterbury, and that he had been induced to bring the matter forward on account of being asked by a Canterbury gentleman of considerable influence, why they did not take some steps towards uniting Otago with Canterbury. The greatest difficulty that appeared to the mover of the resolutions in the way of consummating the object he desired, was the dissimilarity in the. land laws of the two provinces ; but he thought an agreement might be arrived at whereby they might adopt the same principles in their land laws, and the real solution of the difficulty would probably be found in free selection. A succeeding speaker, Mr Eeid, the head of the present Executive, said he was afraid that, to throw aside their present difficulties and commence anew, in order to assimilate their land laws, was easier said than done. In his opinion, a great objection to union was the distance of outlying places from the centre of administration. The people of Ofcago would, not like to remove the administration to Christchurch, nor would the Canterbury people be likely to consent to the removal of their administration to Dunedin. Perhaps the mover of the resolutions would like Oamaru to be the place. (Hear, hear, from the hon. member for Oamaru.) The motion was premature, and hie did not see how they could deal with the question until a basis of union were, placed before them. It was then suggested that the words " the province of . Nelson^ the province of Marlborough, and the county of Westland," should be added to the first resolution, but, on being put, this was negatived on the voices. The first resolution was then carried by a majority r*f fU-»nf» -I nnirTfi —»f*-icr &v* a-nA -nrnrt against. The second and third resolutions were negatived.