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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Rare Volume

Note VIII. p. 14

Note VIII. p. 14.

Evidence of the unanimous opposition of the colonists

VIII. Evidence or opposition or colonials to Governor Grey'S provincial councils of 1848.

towards this measure is to be found in the despatch of Lieutenant-Governor Eyre to Governor Grey, Parl, Papers, August, 1851, p, 37 :—'The present form of council," he says, "is so unpopular, and daily becoming more so, that there is little probability of the Government being able to induce any gentleman of sufficient character, standing, and ability, to join it. The prevailing impression among the best educated and most respectable portion of the community being, that it would neither reflect credit upon themselves, nor enable them to serve the public usefully, by becoming members of a legislature which is so distasteful to the public generally," Yet Governor Grey had, on forming this council, not hesitated to declare to her Majesty's Government, that he bad the concurrence "of a large portion of the most intelligent members of the community." (Parl. Papers, 1850, p. 22.) I may add, that a petition to Parliament again at these councils, signed by 800 out of 1200 male adults, including nearly all the most respectable colonists, was sent home from Wellington within a few weeks of their establishment.