The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1874.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1772, 7 September 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1874.

Mb.' Readeb Wood addressed his constituents of Parnell on Friday evening last. As his speech was principally and primarily an explanation of the motives which actuated, and the principles which Im ; guided him in voting for the motion of the & Premier for the abolition of North Island fA£ Provinces, Mr. Wood's address possesses ; I an interest outside the limits of his cons '*'? stituency. , Mr. Reader Wood is a veteran politician, and in many respects a very candid one. He is also an able speaker, and, having held office as a Minister of the Crown, his utterances in Parliament are always listened to with interest, as his speeches outside are regarded. with respect. On the floor of the House and on the public platform Mr. Reader Wood*

opinions are looked upon as something more than the mere echoes of political

partizans. An avowed centralist lie did no more than was expected of him when he voted for the abolition resolution, and

the only ground that coulcLejist for finding fault with him in voting as he did lies in the fact thai; the resolution was partial in his tendency, by affirming as applicable to the North Island a system, whioh should—and which must ultimately—take effect in tho Middle Island also. This Mr. Wood explained to his constituents. He said the resolution was propounded to tho House as a whole; it was mado a ministerial question; and if he and others : who thought with him had carried their objections to one portion of the resolution to tho point of rejection, tho opportunity would have been lost for affirming the principle of abolishing the dual form of Government which at prcient rotards the progress of the colony. If they had insisted upon expunging the objectionable portion of the resolution, probably it would hare been lost altogether. But, as it stands, the Government have gained a good position from which to extend the principle,, and substitute.a form of local government which, if conceived in a liberal spirit, will be much more acceptable to out districts than Provincialism, There are other representatives pf electoral districts in the Province who will no doubt take early 'opportunities of giving an account of their stewardship. This same question must necessarily form tho chief point in alltheir addresses; and from some of those who opposed the resolution we may learn -something new. At any rate they will try to make out a good case for themselves, but we do not anticipate that the best of them will succeed iQ inducing the people of this district to regret having expressed a general concurrence in the principle of the resolution, unless they can show that the Government have ho intention of applying the abolition experiment to the' Middle Island. - ,