Mr Robert Stout, on the 13th April, gave a lecture on the above subject, in the Lyceum Hall, which was crowded in every part. The Mayor of Dunedin occupied the chair, and on the platform were Messrs H. S. Fish (M.H.R.), M.W. Green (M.H.R.), T. Bracken (M.H.R.), W. D. Stewart, J. W. Jago, A. H. Ross, J. Robin, W. M. Bolt, and J. Braithwaite.

His Worship the Mayor, in introducing Mr Stout, said: Ladies and gentlemen, I have to introduce to you to-night a gentleman who has been so long and favourably known to a Dunedin audience that I do not need to say one word to you about him. He has always taken a lively interest, both by his action on the platform and by his pen, in everything affecting, not only Dunedin, but the Colony at large. He has been known as a politician, as a Minister of the Crown, and probably as legal adviser to most of you here present.— (Laughter.) The only difference between his meeting you in the latter capacity and his meeting you here to-night is a difference against himself, inasmuch as he cannot charge you for the advice he is about to give.— (Laughter.) I don't need, however, to ask from you a patient hearing for him; and therefore, without further remark, I will introduce Mr Stout to you.

Mr Stout spoke as follows: Mr Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, if it has been recently admitted that there can be no good government, no progress nor reform, without political life, and if it has also been admitted that this political life can best be stimulated by public discussion, and by the public meeting of citizens, I need not apologise for addressing you. I congratulate Major Atkinson on the admission which he has made that political life is necessary and that it must be diffused throughout the Colony, and not confined to its capital. I also congratulate the party of which he is one of the leaders on their leader making such an admission. When I think how Sir George Grey was abused, and how he was denounced for meeting the citizens of this Colony in public meeting, and for discussing with them vital political questions, I recognise that we have made a great advance in our political education.— (Applause.) I think that this admission having been made, it nerves us all to publicly discuss public questions, for I believe that on their proper decision depends the future well-being of our Colony. In what attitude and in what position, it may be asked, did Major Atkinson address us? I recognise to the fullest extent that he did not make a party speech. I recognise also to the fullest extent that his speech was free from the personal criticisms that often form the staple of political utterances in this Colony.— (Applause.) I recognise, further, that his speeches are free from party bias. But he is a party man, he is Colonial Treasurer, and he is the leader of the Ministry in the House of Representatives. Therefore he is not an ordinary lecturer giving utterance to his political views. He is a political leader, and we must assume and believe that he thinks that these political doctrines which he has enunciated are necessary for our welfare. And then, what is our duty? I apprehend that our duty is to carefully criticise every portion of his speech, and see whether it is politically sound or not. If we fail to do so, we are not doing our duty as citizens. We have no right to take the views of any man, or to accept any political doctrines, without careful criticism — without turning them over, and looking at them from all points of view.— (Applause.) I therefore propose to-night to deal with the several political questions on which he has touched, and to see whether the positions he takes up are politically sound. He dealt in the main with six questions,—viz., with our Constitution, with our Legislative Council, with the functions of Government, with taxation, with land tenure, and with pauperism; and to-night I wish to say a few words under each of these heads. He says of our Constitution that it is almost perfect, and the only alteration which he might make is the introduction of what is termed