No doubt, my friends will call that a waste of time for the country. The arguments adduced were all on one side, but the resolutions were negatived. After that, the next best thing for Otago appeared to me to be the proposals to which I have referred, and which, ir carried, would have left us where we were until the people would have had an opportunity of determining as to the form of Government best adapted for them.— (Oncers.) These resolutions, I- had every reason to be lieve, would be carried but for this letter. Out of a House consisting of 88 members, wa only lost them by 18.' Considering the question, this was one of the most remarkable divisions of the session. Now, gentlemen, allow me in a few words to endeavour to sum up our political situation. The moment that Aboli tion takes place, we lose our Provincial Council, that 'school for public men and statesmen, and the loss of which, I believe, we shall always ' regret. -We shall lose the stimulus wbish it gives '' to publicspirit and patriotism amongst us. That ■ is one view of the matter. But on losing it, our railway administration is at once transferred • to Wellington, and our railway receipts, instead of being paid into the Provincial Treasury and expended upon objects of utility all over the Province, will fifld their way to Wellington. ' L 90,000 of land revenue which has hitherto been devoted to making of roads and th« erec • tion of schools throughout the length and breadth of the land, will be applied for the purpose of paying interest upon our Provincial loans, the interest on which has hitherto been paid out of our Customs revenue. This is , a • matter which does not seem to be generally understood. These two items amount to a ' large sum of money when put together. '•' You may ask me what will become of that money? I will tell you. At the '• present time, and under our present system, the Colony is outrunning the constable at the rate of L 340.000 a year. Or. in other words, 1 the ordinary expenses of the Colony exceed the ©rdinary revenue in round numbers by about LIOOO a day. Now, gentlemen, that is a starl; 1 ling fact. 