New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1876. GREAT PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 183, 29 September 1876, Page 10

New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1876. GREAT PUBLIC MEETING.

We can do little more to-day than publish the resolutions of the monster meeting held last night in the Princess Theatre, nor, indeed, is it necessary we should say much in reference to the object for which the meeting was held. Two thousand men were present, and, had there been room, probably as many more would have been present. The utmost unanimity prevailed, and strong resolutions approving of the conduct of Messrs. Macandrew and Stout, and calling on the Superintendent to summon the Provincial Council were passed almost without a dissentient voice. Mr. Macandrew's statement that nothing but the erection of Otago into a separate Colony can save her from plunder, aud secure her interests, was applauded to the echo. This is now the settled conviction of nine-tenths of the people of this Province, and there can be no doubt an effort will be made to carry the suggestion into effect. There are many who will regret this, ourselves amongst the rest ; many who would prefer two Provinces — one for each Island, and a Federal Government — but as there appears to be no chance of effecting this, we are compelled to join the ranks of those who advocate the entire and complete separation of Otago. The one and only object cf Abolition is to get possession of the land fund, railway receipts, and Custom dues of Otago and Canterbury, for the purpose of meeting the deficiency of the smaller Provinces. Under Abolition, there is not the 1 east doubt whatever that Otago will be annually bled to the amount of from £150,000 to £200,000, a shilling of which will never return in any shape to her inhabitants. And it is to effect this that the Central Government has really determined on the Abolition of Provincialism. This is a huge and barefaced injustice, and no one can be surprised at the wide-spread indignation, and determination of the people to resist such an injustice to the utmost.

We heartily wish the new agitation success, and hope no time will be lost in concerting measures to carry it to a successful issue. The members of the Provincial Council should meet at once and petition the Imperial Parliament for total separation and an independent government and legislature for Otago. There is not the slightest necessity for any violation of existing law. The Superintendent can send an unofficial and friendly invitation to the members of the Provincial Council to meet him on a certain day for friendly consultation on important matters. A petition, too, should be sent by the inhabitants generally, asking for separation from the rest of the Colony. At the present moment the interests of Otago are not safe ; her voice goes for nothing in Parliament ; her representatives there have no more influence than if they never existed, and by remaining in the House of Bepresentatives they are only losing their time, and compromising, against their will, the interests of their Province, by seeming, through their presence, to sanction what they oppose but cannot prevent. We publish elsewhere the resolutions, ! which speak for themselves.