Mr Cope said that he believed they all unanimously condemned the course adopted by the General Government, in withholding the delegated powers from the Superintendent, and the appointment of an agent instead. He, the speaker, considered the matter as a direct insult | to the peoj>le of the Province. The i miners were made a vehicle for the dis- ; play of personal feeling, and their in terests were prejudiced because the elec tion of Mr Macandrew was distasteful to Wellington authorities. With Mr Mac andrew's former acts we were not called upon to deal. It was sufficient for us to know that he was elected Superintendent by almost the unanimous voice of the people, and as such he commanded our respect and support; and any insult or •slight.....offered.'.to. him must be con sidered as offered to ourselves. He, the speaker, • did -not believe in Provincialism, but while it existed, its integrity should be preserved. A collision between the General and Pro^ vincial Governments could only result in disaster to- theY Goldfields; Public Works wouidin all probability be stopped*, and the usual grants and votes to institutions dial

continued, while to obtain redress to grievances,' tie sending to Wellington would be tantamount to an absolute denial' of justice, and we should be virtually disfranchised, for as we should contribute Nothing to the Provincial fievenue, we could expeeir to get nothing xn return. The act of refusing to delegate the powers was illegal, and contrary to *£» Constitution Act, which intended that the Provinces should make their own laws, and how could that be done when they had not the power. If the General Government had refused the powers in the other Provinces, we might not have had so much cause togrumble; but making it a special caseiwith regard to ourselves we should resist* to the utmost in our power.
