DUNEDIN.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2888, 18 May 1878, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

Friday. Mr Donald Reid, M.H.R., for Taieri, addressed his constituents at Mosgiel last night. He commenced bj referring to criticism on a speech which he delivered last year, and said that the Boauerges of the Opposition, JBobert Stout, also wrote letters commenting on it. Mr Eeid then went on to show that Mr Stout's statement that, to outward appearance, he remained one of the Grey party down to when he-delivered this Taiei i speech was not correct. Mr Stout had said that his conduct degraded politic!i, but he maintained that he was as respectable and as much respected as the most popular member of the present Ministry. He was not aware (that he had sacrificed his principles for power of place. He did not in party Government without j>rmciples, and held that the system of^party Government being initiated in this colony by Stout and others would have a most injurious effect upon politics. Some of the resolutions passed by the Dunedin Convention were exceedingly injudicious, and, reading Mr Macandrew's address thereat by the light of subsequent events, the whole thing must be a very great fiasco. No doubt one of Sir George Grey's aims when he entered political life was to prevent abolition, but he also intended to get the land' fund of the Middle Island, for that had been his programme in every address which he had hitherto delivered. Even those around Sir George Grey, who had aided him in the object, were but minions in his hands. Sir George Grey having accomplished his object, was no doubt a most popular man in Auckland. The opposition offered to the late Government was unconstitutionally and dishonestly conducted. Then the Opposition had no policy and no principles, and when they came into power had to adopt the policy of the previous Government. It was dishonestly conducted, because an attempt was made to undermine the private character of the members of the late Government by insinuations and assertions which it was impossible to refute. The Piako Swamp and Waitoa land transactions were next commented upon, and the speaker proceeded to say that the supporters of the Grey party, when in opposition last year, wasted the time of the country purposely and deliberately and in needless talk. Referring to the policy of the present Government as indicated by the speeches of Sir Geo. Grey and Colonel Whitmore, he said that the Government had two policies, one demagogue and the other a Conservative policy. He pointed oat that, notwithstanding what bad been said against the financial proposals and bills of the late Government, the present one adopted .them when it got into power. The colonialisation of the land fund was referred to next, and he said that he had sworn to protect the Otago land fund the same as others had done, he would have retired at once and for ever from political life, rather than consent to the passing of that measure. Sir George Grey had said that the interests of the country would ba sacrificed by the Waste Lands Bill. If it were so, it would be the fault of the Minister who had charge of' the Act. If Sir George Grey believed that this bill is a fraud on the entire .people of New Zealand, as he stated in Dunedin; he should have endeavored to do everything to prevent its being*carried into effect, and not have waited till it had passed and then seek to get the Governor to disallow it. He would like to see the Parliament of New Zealand occupy a high standard, but he did not like the present political arena, and considered the tone of debates had deteriorated to a remarkable extent since Sir Geo. Grey's advent to Parliament. A motion expressing regret at Mr Beid's resignation, and strongly urging him to re-consider his intention, was carried unanimously.

The following entries aad acceptances were made to-night for the Queen's Birthday races:—Maiden Plate: Larrikin, 3 year 3; Camella, 2 years; Captain Douglas, 2 years; Endymion, 2 years ; Honest Jack, 3 years ; Contriver, 3 years; Blue Bell, aged; Mountain Maid, 5 years. Birthday Handicap: Oberon, Exile, Bide-a-wee, Camelia, Blue Peter, Contriver. Selling Eace: Red Eose, Lady Ellen, Jack the Flat, Merry Mac,

Telemachus; Momeo, Blue Bell, Mountain Maid, and Merry Monarch. The Directors of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, at their meeting yesterday, resolved to offer to the existing proprietors, at a premium of 10s per share, the unalloted balance of the first issue of 200,000 shares, about 350, in the proportion of one to every five shares now held, the whole of the premiums to be placed to the reserve fund.