DUNEDIN.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2127, 28 October 1875, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

Wednesday. Reception of Northern Repse-

sontatives.

Demonstration to Macandrew.

There was a demonstration on the arrival of the Superintendent and ..party to-day by special train tfroin , Port Chalmers afc 2.15 p.m. An address was presented by the Demonstration Committee, but the crush was such that no remarks could be heard. Owing to the conlusion the original programme was not carried out. A portion of the crowd assembled cheered lustily, but this was mingled with hooting and yelling. A small triumphal arch was erected at the railway station and a little bunting displayed, but the reception was anything but an enthusiastic one. On entering two carriages drawn by fdur horses each, the party, headed by a brass band, proceeded along Princes-street to the Fern Hill Club. Another band followed the carriages with a few citizens and four mounted troopers. The party were met at the Club by the Deputy Superintendent and Provincial Executive.

His Honor Mr Macandrew stepped forward and thanked them for the enthusiastic reception, to which he believed fcliere had been nothing equal since her Majesty's representative had been here. He believed tho reception was more in honour of the distinguished men invited to accompany him than himself. He had been a steady and consistent voter, but they had been the eloquent advocates and defenders of the rights and true interests of the people. (Cheers.)

Sir George Grey, in response to repeated calls, came forward and thanked the people for the manner they had received the Superintendent that- day. Nothing pleased him better than to see them recognise the qualities of their public men. Men who work for the people of this country deserve to be. rewarded by the appreciation of the inhabitants-

Mr Donald Beid also thanked them for the manner they had received His Honor.

Tho Banquet took place in the evening, at which there were over four hundred persons present. The room was tastefully decorated for the occasion with flowers, flags, and evergreens. Sir John Kichardson arrived just at 7 o'clock, and was received with loud demonstrations of applause and cheering, the whole company rising. The Artillery band played the National Anthem. Sir John was accompanied by Mr Eolleston. The heads of all the provinces were well represented, and there was a large sprinkling of merchants. The banquet was set down to take place at 6.30, but it was past 7 before Mr Macandrew, Sir G. Grey, and the others arrived. On entering the hall the cheering was most hearty. Mr G. TurnbuU occupied the chair, and was supported on his right by the guest of the evening, Mr Fitzherbert, Sir John Eichardson, Mr Btout, and Mr Bunny ; and on the left of the chair were Sir G. (»rey, Mr Kolleston, and Mr Bradshaw. Professor MacGregor faced the Chairman, and at the same table were Mr J. L. Gillies, Mr J. C. Brown, Professor Sale. Dr Stuart, and Mr G. B. Barton.

The Artillery Band played a fine selection of music during the dinner. On the cloth being removed, the usual loyal and patriotic toasts were proposed, including '■ The Governor," proposed by Professor MacGregor, "The Army, Navy, and Volunteers, " coupled with Sir John Kichardson.

The Chairman then proposed, " Our Guest, Mr Maeandrew." He said he wished an older settler and one who kuew better than he did all Mr Maoaudrew had done for Ids adopted country *liail been called upon. He was quite sure, however, his deeds were .so well known and appreciated that they did not require special mention before his present hearers. He had done everything to assist to make for the settlers a happy and comfortable home, assisted largely in bringing into existence the educational and other valuable institutions that the people of Ota go now enjoyed. He referred very fully to the early history of the province in which Mr Maeandrew had taken so prominent a.part. He could state that our guest had conducted the duties of his office with unswerving zeal and patriotic energy. He held one of the leading positions in the Assembly at the present. The main object of the meeting this evening was to express their approval of the action he had taken during the last session. (Prolonged cheering ; tremendous applause.) He was one of the leaders of that heroic band who had fought for the interests of their country, and the happiness and welfare of the colony. He looked upon the conduct of the Government as a mischievous attempt to change the whole constitution of the colony without giving the people a chance of expressing an ooinion. He was sure he would do his duty in the past as he had done in the present. (Great cheering.) Mr Maeandrew then rose, and the applause was frantic, the band playing "He's a jolly good fellow," and the audience cheering vociferously. He considered if any man had reason to be proud that man was himself. Nothing was so gratifying to a public man as to possess the goodwill and confidence of his fellowcitizens. Thero were few men to whom greater confidence had been evinced than towards himself. He should devote him*

self, heart and soul, to building up the institutions of the province. It was, he feared, a crime almost to mention the word '* province." If it was ho would always be,guilty of that crime. It would be the blackest day that ever dawnod in this colony'when provincial sentiment was abolished.? New Zealand will never become all great united colony unless it is; based on provincial sentiment. He sup-^, posed there never had been such a de-r monstration asthe present one in New Zealand, i (Cheers.) We were one of the most overgoverned and overtaxed countries under the sun. The whole thing culminated in an Act which wilUn a short time result in this p"r6"vin*ee" Bising mulcted in a, sum of £200,000 .a-year. Otago has always been able to take care of its land. .It depends on hi* hearers and the people -in the province to say if they should still stick=toit. Three great blunders bad been committed, to wh eh maybe attributed all the ills New Zealand is heir to. The first, is not having defined the respective functions. of the Colonial and the Provincial Governments; the second was that the Legislative Council should not have been a nominee body by the Governor, but have been nominated or elected by the Provincial Councils ; aud the third was the anomaly of attempting to carry on responsible government without the power of appealing to the people. He considered the .Provincial Councils -rant artpirable/ichepk ijponf this central despotism".' " Wheii they * were abolished the Central Government would ride rough-shod over the liberties of the people. His idea was that the two islands should be left to manage their own affairs entirely independent- pf aud irrespective of each other."'-(Terrific cheering.) He was sure there were other persons more able to speak on that question. He thought it was a good and hopeful sign to see a man like Sir G. Grey withdrawing from his hermit home and condescending to. serve where Formerly he had.jruled. This great gathering had quite tfaken the breath out of him, and he hoped it would be the beginning of a new political life in the province. His Honor then sat down amidst tremendous applause. Mr J. H. Harris, formerly a Superintendent of. Otago, proposed " The Land we Live in," contending that as, during the previous session of the Assembly, Ministers had intimated their intention of abolishing the North Island provinces only, therefore the South Island provinces were taken by surprise. It was an act of tyranny on the part of the Government to press the Abolition measure to an issue this session. That act was not the way to make united New Zealand. He alluded in eulogistic terms to Sir George Grey and paid a high tribute of praise to the Superintendent of Auckland. .He spoke at great lengih, and concluded by proposing the toast, associated with the name of Sir George Grey, which was received with terrific cheering. Sir George Grey said he felt that great personal compliment had been paid to himself. He had to thank them for many acts of kindness shown him by " The Land we Live in." We do not mean the New Zealand of old, or New Zealand of the future, but we drink the great land we hope it will be, and to the great land we hope to help to make it. We drink the toast with enthusiasm, because we hope to leave it a great country for the posterity that follows us. The speaker then entered into a long account of the steps taken at the original settlement of the colony, and traced the growth of local legislation, and ultimately Provincial Councils. He would, ask if the power of making our own laws had led to tyranny, .oppression, or to anything but what the people of the province might be proud of. It was a source of grief .and .sorrow to him that institutions should be needlessly abolished, institutions that had been so carefully framed, and everything that could be of advantage had been copied from other countries. He had heard remarks made and arguments used on the great change which was about to take place which were almost childish. We stand here free men, owners of acres of our own, and not to follow examples, but to give them. We stand hero to show that God has given us intellects and resolution to carry them out, and here we have no hereditary monarch to think of his race and family ; no hereditary race of peers to look up to here. We have a Governor, a mere bird of passage, a tool of the Government and Ministry of the day. If you have representatives under the power of such a Ministry, is it right to hit at a distance, and trust yourselves to such men ? He felt go strongly on these points that he must deliver his mind to them. As far as Abolition goes, nothing has yet been done. His mind revolted at the thought of their instant abolishing, but a band of trusty men clustered round him, and they determined that the country should not be robbed without their voices being heard. This costly fabric should not be pulled down about their heads without the voice of the people being heard. • He should never forget the feeling he experienced when he heard the action ho had taken had pleased the people of Dunedin. The whole question yet rests in the hands of the people — the electors were the juries and the representatives the pleaders, but nothing could be dove till the juries had sanctioned—he hardly knew the meaning of the term—Abolition. If the Government meant tfl change the federation of the country, each and all of the provinces had a right to say if they would join the new federation. It was a subject they should take into their consideration. It was for his hearers to determine what their future should be. He would not say much more, because there were other abler men to hear. (No, no.) They had not met here to-night to eat and drink, but to make history. They were here to listen to arguments as to what was to make the future prosperity of New Zealand. They were here to night to honour and give thanks to one who had sacrificed his own I time and comfort to serve his fellow-men. (Loud cheers.) They were here to give the lie to those who said that Provincialists are opposed to the unity of the colony. They had met from all parts of the colony to do honour to the man who had served the province of Otago faithfully. He concluded by thanking them for the demonstration received and .the. encouragement which is given to all honest and earnest workers. (Loud cheers.)

A number of other toasts were given, including "The Pioneers of New Zealand," by Sir J. L. 0. Eichardson, responded to by Mr Kolleston; " The Op* position," by Mr Davie, M. P. C, responded to by Mr Thompson, representative of the Clutha; " Provincial Institutions," by Mr Mclndoe, responded to by Mr Rolleston; "Friends from a distance," by Professor McGregor, responded to by Mr J, Sheehan ami Mv Bunny; " The

Coming Struggle," by Mr Murray, responded to by Air " The various interests and industries," " The Press," and " Chairman," the proccedintjt being most enthusiastic, and lasting till midnight. '%.■-_„.: ■'-'■■'' •">-