MR. DARGAVILLE AT DAIRY FLAT

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1127, 3 September 1873, Page 3

MR. DARGAVILLE AT DAIRY FLAT

After the above meeting was ended, a meeting of tfce electors was convened, for the purpose of hearing Mr. Dargaville's views relative to bis candidature for theSuperintendency. Mtijor Stoney was called to the chair, after strenuously objecting, on the ground that he bod taken an active part in Provincial politics.— Mr- Dsrgaville, on ooming forward, was well received by the electors. He went over the various items of retrenchment in the Provincial departments, on which he had set his heart, but as Mr. Dargaville has been fully reported on this head, it is unnecessary to give his views again in detail at this stage. He would show that he practised what he preached, by cutting down the Superintendent's salary to begin with; (Cheers.) If the pomp and paraphernalia of Provincial Grovornment were to be kept up, additional taxation would bo required. The money squandered by Messrs. Hurst and Lu9k on the Luke Road, which led to their own residences, would have made a large portion of the Great North Road from Stokes' Point to the place where they were now assembled. (Cheers.) The sum spent on the Lake Road was actually larger than the sum devoted to this trunk road running through the heart of the North. The pittance of £500 promised to them was, as he gathered from the preceding meeting of ratepayers, now to be reduced to £300. As ho came along the road to the meeting he noticed, after passing Lucu9' Creek, some feeble attempts at road-making, which soemod suggestive of pig-rooting rather than anything else. (Cheers and laughter.) That parody of road-making, he was informed, had cost £10, while the " survey expenses" on the same section during the year amounted to £40 —that was labour, £10 ; " departmental expenses," £40 ! He did not wonder at the just indignation of settlers like Mr. Fennell and Mr. A. Wilson, wearied with being bandied about from Superintendent io Profincial Executive without getting any satisfaction from either. Mr. Williamson had never accepted the faroe of Responsible Government, and he was right. The man elected by the entire provincial constituency was only responsible to the electors of the provinoe. He (Mr. Dargaville) desired to be in such a position that ho could give a straightforward answer to a deputation of settlers, and fulfil his promise, without reference to any responsible Executive. He would endeavour to get from the Provincial Council the best men possible, who Bhonld odvise and confer with him on tho various measures submitted, —not; political Bchemers, earning a wretched living in office by chicanery and corruption. None of the other candidates had grappled with the financial problems of provincial finanoe. He bad asked other gentlemen to come forward, but they refused to do so, as " Provincial politics were rotten." There was no credit to any man for coming forward when money was flying about and pickings were to be had. He had oome out when the chest was very low indeed, but ho hoped to excise the rottenness from pro vincial politics, and inaugurate a healthier and better state of things. The Auckland and Drury railway, which cost £117,000, had been banded over to tbe General Government for £26,000 —a Bum which the Executive could not resist the temptation of handling. He believed there was still a good claim against the General Government on that account, and he would not fail to urge it on behalf of the Province. As to Mr. John Williamson, he might say that he could never think of him save with feelings of regard aud respect; for that gentleman had sacrificed- the ccst years of his life, and his entire fortune, through bis devotion, to public affairs. (Cheers.) Mr. W. 0. Wilson, his former partner, was a keen man of the world —Mr. Williamson a patriot. The result was that the former was now a man of substance and wealth, the latter far from being so. It was the duty of the country to see that Mr. Williamson a declining years were closed in comfort, by making such substantial recognition of his past services, not only to the Province but to the Colony, as he well merited. (Oheors.) If he (Mr. Dargaville) were elected, he should uso his best exertions with tho General Government to that end. Mr. Williamson's best days were over; neither in mind or body was he the man of yore ; times changed and men changed with them, and be would now have to give place to mon who had jouth, energy, and "go" in their favour. Still he (Mr. Dargavillo) dosired to see Mr. Williamson plaoed above and beyond the toils of the Wyndham-street clique, who would consign him to oblivion after he had served their purpose, as they had done others before him.—Various questions were put relative to eduoation, assisted immigration, rocove»y of highway rates, abolition of provincial institutions, Ac., by Messrs. Wilson (North Shore), Fennell, Beaumont, Geo. Stamen, and Bond, and satisfactorily answered by tho candidate. On the motion of Mr. Inglis, seconded by Mr. South, a vote of entire confidence in Mr. Dargaville as a fit and proper person to fill tho office of Superintendent, was passed unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Dtirgavillo, a vcte of thanks was accorded to the Chairman by acclamation. — Hernld.