NAPIER.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3011, 9 October 1878, Page 2

NAPIER.

this day. A large and influential public meeting was held last night in the Protestant Hall re Maori dual rote; and to petition the Legislative Council to excise the Maori franchise clause fiom the Electoral Bill. The chair was occupied by Mr J. G. Kinross. Among the speakers were Messrs Cornford (solicitor)^' Kennedy (merchant), Colonel Lambert, Thomas Tanner (lately returned from England), Knight, and John Begg. The two latter spoke in favor of the dual vote. Knight was howled down because he attributed the 1 movement to interested motives. With the exception of these two persons the meeting was unanimous in denouncing the attempt to swamp the electorate with Maori names. The following resolutions' were carried amid enthusiastic cheering :—" That in the 'opinion of this meeting in addition to the Electoral Bill introduced by Government in Committee and passed by a narrow majority of the Housj ofJßepresenlatives, by which a vote at'ordinary elections of members of House of Sepresentativesis conferred on all Maoris! irrespective of their payment of rates, who are te'zed at law or in equity of any interest inland the value of twenty-five pounds, is unjust and unfair as virtually placing the election of members of House of Representatives for this and the adjoining districts in the hands of Maoris and giving them double representation.' * " That a respectful address be prepared for presentation to the Legislative Council setting forth the injustice complained of and praying that the obnoxious clause be excised from Electo al Bill." At the close of the meeting the petition was signed by most of those present. . . .