MR GLADSTONE'S SPEECH. A Wonderful Oration.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 154, 15 May 1886, Page 6

MR GLADSTONE'S SPEECH. A Wonderful Oration.

As soon as the cheering had ceased, Gladstone rose and moved for permission to introduce "A bill to amend previous legislation, and to make prevision for the future government of Ireland." On making this motion Gladstone said :— -"I do not know of any previous task laid upon me involving so diversified an exposition. In contemplating the magnitude of this task, I am filled with painful distrust, but that mistrust is absorbed in the feeling of responsibility that will be upon me if I should fail to bring home to the public mind the magnitude and various attitudes of the question. We should no longer fence or skirmish with this question. [Loud cheers.] We should come to close quarters with it. [Cheers.] We should get at the root of it. We should take means not merely intended for the wants of to-day 01 to-morrow, but should look into the distance of the future. We have arrived at a stage in our political transactions with Ireland when the two roads part one from the other, not soon, probably, to meet again. The time is come when ;.t; .t is incumbent on the duty and honour of Parliament to come to a decisive resolution on this matter. Our intention is, therefore, to 1 propose to the Commons that which, if happily accepted, will, we think, liberate Parliament from the restraints under which, of late years, it has ineffectually struggled to perform the business of the country, and will restore British legislation to its natural, unimpeded course, and, above all, establish harmonious relations between Great Britain and Ireland (hear, hear) on the footing of those free institutions to which Englishmen Scotchmen, and Irishmen alike ate unalterably attached. " (Loud cheers, prplongedby the Home Rule members).

Coercion a Failure, After reviewing the condition of affairs and the crime existing in Ireland since 1883, Mr Gladstone described the coercive legislation enforced during the same period as not exceptional, but habitual. He compared Ireland during all this period to a man trying to find sustenance in medipine only meant for oure. Serious disaffection, i said he, continued to' prevail in Ireland. i and if England and Scotland had' suffered 1 '.';.,..-. ... N r,, ,j. n

Mr Gavin : My idea was to pass u resolution to-night, agreeing to make the concession, provided Mr Robson would submit something satisfactory to the Board with respect to pushing the trade. Mr Ouinn : I would like to know ho\V much of the proposed capital would be Bpent here? Spending money in Melbourne would be of no benefit to Te Aroha. Mr Robson said he wanted a reply at once, so that he might cable it to Melbourne. Mr Quinn : We give this man the option of trying a speculation to make money out of it, and if he cannot do it, why there it is? Mr Lipsey : Ido not see that we can make the necessary alterations to-night; wa must have time to think over it. Let Mr Robson submit what he is able to do, and we shall then be able to tell him whether we will accept or not. Mr Quinn : If it would not pay a com pany to guarantee us a royalty of at least £1 per week, the concession would be of no use to them, the consumption would be too small to make it pay. Ido not think Mr Robson has fulfilled his piesent agreement with respect to advertising. Mr Robson : Don't you consider my getting bottles costing £2 per gross with the name on, any advertising ? Mr Quinn : Certainly Ido not. I think that agreement that you were to advertise the waters, meant something more than merely getting bsttles with name and place on them. Mr Robson : Well, I do not think it did; and 1 am not in a position to go and spend £200 or £300 in advertising*. Mr Robson : If I fail to carry out the new agreement within six months, you can resolve back to the existing agreement. Mr Lipsey : Certainly not ; if you ask for and get a new agreement on your own terms the existing agreement must be cancelled for ever. Mr Robson : I don't know for a certainty I can form a company yet. In tiny case I shall not get anything out of it, further than being a large shareholder. Mr Lipsey : I would not recognise any agreement on such terms. If you want it for ten years, have it for ten years, but certainly not with the option of falling back on the old agreement. The question was asked with respect to the proposed company with a capital of £2000. Was it to be with a paid-up capital of £2000, or nominal. Mr Robson replied : If the company, when formed, made a 5s call realising £500, and found that sufficient to set the thing going, he could not see what difterence it was whether the capital was paidup or nominal. Mr Quinn asked who would provide a water gauge ? Mr Ahier said he thought the fairest way was as at present, whereby the water was all taken away by jars. ! Considerable discussion ensued, the meeting- lasting over three hours ; ultimately Mr Wilson drew up the following resolution which was moved by Mr Lipsey, " That on condition that Mr Robson finds capital to the amount of £2000 by forming a company for bottling the Te j Aroha mineral waters within a period of j -six months from date, the Domain Board agree to amend the royalty terms to the j rate of Id per gallon from this date for the whole unexpired term of 10 years' lease. Secoaded by Mr Wilson, find carried unanimously by those present, Mr Ahier having left the room shortly before the mod on was put. Mr ' Quinn asked who was Secretary to the Board. The Chairman replied Mr Ahier was. Mr Quin-n : I always understood Mr Jaraec had been appointed secretary at £10 per annum. If Mr Ahier was not able to do the work, what was the good of having him as secretary. It really meant one man had the title, the other the work. It was explained Mr James was appointed to assist The meeting concluded about half-past ten.