THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi.` THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2109, 7 October 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi.` THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1875.

The meeting held at the Theatre Royal last night to " take into consideration the Representation Bill before the General Assembly" might more properly have been called a meeting to protest against the injustice perpetrated on the Thames by the refusal of the Government to recognise its claims to equitable representation. We say this because no effort was made by the speakers who addressed the meeting to consider the Bill beyond its application to the Thames. There was not a single argument brought forward to show wherein the injustice under which the Thames lies consists furtber than that it has a certain number of electors, and that the representation of such electorate is out of all proportion to the rest of the colony. It may be considered unnecessary, as | one speaker affirmed, to advance argui ments on. such a subject—the proposition is incontrovertible. We grant this. We know that taking population or number of electors as the basis of representation the Thames is entitled to at least four members. But these facts the Government and the House are perfectly conversant with. The \ census returns furnish the one and the electoral roll the other. What was wanted was some analysis—some abstract of the facts and figures which bear upon the question of representation generally; whereby the gross injustice done to the Thames could have been put in a light in which members of parliament who are willing to assist may not. have seen it. The speeches last night were but. a feeble reiteration of what has been said over and over again. There was no sort of enthusiasm apparent until Mr Eowe roused the meeting with his energetic and sturdy enunciations; while one of the speakers was fain to con fess that while advocating the course he did, he had but very faint hopes of the Thames getting any additional members. Such meetings as these we are inclined to look upon as of very little use. In the first place a healthy public opinion will not be excited or kept alive by the system that, has lately been carried on by a few of th« the " coming men." We mean the practice of having everything " cut and dried," even to the proposers and seconders of resolutions, for a meeting at which the electors are expected to " consider " and " discuss " great public questions. The thing is becoming so tame that many citizens who take an interest in political matters, and who could speak intelligently upon public affairs, refrain from going to these meetings at all The speakers are always the same —very often the speeches. The only changes are that one time we have Brown, Jones and Eobinson, and next Smith Brown and Jones. If we could only infuse a little more life — a trifle more variety into these gatherings, a more general interest would be taken in ! that great institution—public meetings. Formerly the Thames 4 was famous for the largeness and enthusiasm with which public questions were publicly discussed ; lately public meetings have been remarkable for their tameness and sameness, and for the gradual but certain lessening of that healthy interest which used to be regarded as characteristic of the community.