is in no sense a
327
voluntary ex-
-pression of public opinion having been "got up by the gentleman to whom its inception is
generally ascribed, with the co-operation of a local barrister at law
Until it was circulated
for signature there was no suggestion that such a petition was even thought of by the Community and it is certain that they contemplated the possibility of
anything of the kind.
A draft of the petition
was handed to
me a fortnight
before the community was canvassed for signatures, and I was invited to suggest alter-
-ations and generally to criticize it with a view to its improvement,