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Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3527, 25 November 1881, Page 3

Tno new ferry steamer will be launched at 10 o'clock to-morrow from Mr C. Bailey's yard, Reclamation Road. ■ An attempt to burglarously enter a house in the vicinity of Kyber Pass was made tho night before last. The family had retired to rest when one of tho inmates was awakened by tho noiae of someone working at the window. Whether from fear or some other causo ho did not rise, but lay |awoiting further developments. Presently tho window waa opened cautiously but foil with a crash, the burglar having evidenty counted on it bein hung with sash-weights, which was not the case. Hearing no noiao, however, the robber returned and had again opened the window, when the owner of the houso jumped out of bed, and the burglariously - inclined individual made tracks. The peace of the household was not again disturbed that evening. Several panes of glass were broken byjthc falling of the sash.

tons and tons of Portland cement used, when equally good cement is made and is procurablo within this colony ai that imported, and the locally-made article should in all such cases be uaed. (Loud cheers). A few years ago it was contended that industries would not pay in the colony ; that we could not compete ■with the old country, but look now at the numerous profitable industries established throuKhout the colony. There is the filosgiel Factory, a manufactory which could turn out as aood a piece of tweed cloth as was produced in England, Ireland, or Scotland, and I remember well the days when we could not get an ordinary cogwheel cast in the colony. There was no foundry, and we had to send to Sydney. It was the duty of the Government to arrange the tariff and laws of the colony, so that locally-made articles could compete advantageously with the imported. (Cheers). (At this stage Mr Mackay expressed his fears that he was wearying the audience, but was warmly requested to go on.) ( PUBLIC WORKS.

I should like to see the Public Works Department and the General Government unite with the County Councils, and adopt a satisfactory system of laying off and constructing main roads and railroads. There would by this united effort be much less money spent, while there would bo more work done. (Cheerß.) I am averse ti pledging the credit of the colony any further, and in raising funds for works, would supplement the system of raising loan« for auch with provision for a sinking fund in order to arrange tor the debt being paid off. But there should be no political roads nor railway?. The Government Engineer should be allowed to examine into the merits of proposed new works, and only those deserving should be done. TAXING LAND AND PROPERTY.

They who have a large amount of wealth should contribute a fair share of taxation toward the revenue of the country. Ido not approve of heavy taxes on a mining population, nor on a man who farms his 200 acres of land; for the man who, with his family, cultivates such an area, contributes more to the welfare of the country than he who holds 50,000 acre 3of waste lands. I should like to see men with small farms under 500 acres paying nothing further, but approve of taxing lands on a graduated scale, charging large estates more, in proportion to their area of uncultivated land with a view to make them get rid of what they are unable to mako use of. At the same [ time I have no wish to inflict taxes which would oppress the rich; what is required is a little fairer adjustment of the Gurden. The poor man pays the same Customs duties as the rich on the coat he puts on his back and evety pound of sugar he puts in his tea. What he wears and what he eats are oil taxed. After expressing his views on the question of sub-contractors being swindled out of their money through the absconding of the contractor with the cash, and opproving of some measure to protect the interests of the former, Mr Mackay alluded to the EDUCATION ACT.

I refer- next to an Act which very few legislators care to speak out—the Education Act of the colony. After my second election to the Provincial Council, I considered this one of the most important questions brought before the Council. I had not received much education myself, and wished 1 had more. This led me to desire that the best possible arrangements should be made to educate the rising generation. The great problem the Council had to solve was as to what class of education should be provided. Should it be secular or>hould it be denominational 7 and they were at their wits' ends to know what was to be done to satisfy all classes. I approved of making it secular; that is, that the teacher should have nothing to do with the religious education of the pupils— (cheers) — and approved of a compromise of this nature, that a separate day be notified when the children ot respective denominations should remain for half-an-hour and receive religious instruction from the clergyman of the church to which they belonged, who could impart that information he wished them to receive, (Cheers.) If asked why I did not support denominational educatiou, I might allude in reply to the many districts where the children of the several denominations were too few to make such a proposal practicable. We will suppose there is a place called Cabbage Bay. We will suppose it to contain 25 children—lS Protestants, 5 Catholics, and 2 Jews. How is it reasonable that the State should be called upon to support three schools to educate 25 children f At the Thames there were schools of a denominational character educating 300 children, and he thought that where such special help was given in providing for the education of the rising generation some assistance might be given, (Applause.)

DEALING! WITH ABORIGINAL RACE OV H Z.

This is a question beset with great difficulties, and one which every thinking man should reflect on. That we, being strong, should not trample on our weaker foe; though in alluding to affairs at Taranaki I feel bound to say that I do not think Bryce could have pursued any other coarse that he has done. Ido not, however, think than our dealings in the past with the Taranaki natives have been quite fair. It is there the political horse-leeches of New Zealand have been seen preying and fattening on the colonists. The Maoris at Tauranga and other places have been treated very differently to the manner of treatment accorded those at Taranaki. The natives in the latter province have been indirectly driven into the arms of Te Whiti, and have been forced into a sort of hostility against Europeans. (Applause.) . I remember the day when the natives of New Zealand were the dominant power, and could have swept us off the face of the earth. Now,that wearethe greaterpower.let us temper justice with mercy (applause). I am fully aware of the fact that land on the Plains now sold to Europeans must-be protected, and I say that the rights ot the Furchaser must be maintained. Although object to the action of the Government, and to that stupid proclamation, for I can call it nothing else, still, after things had been allowed to drift, there was no other course left to be pursued, and that course, though an extreme one, was the best that could, under the circumstances, have been adopted, and I say this, though no supporter ot the Government, for I am a free lance. Taranaki was settled in an exceptional manner. [Mr Mackay gave a lengthy but interesting sketch of events in connection with native matters in the Tarnnaki Province, in proof of his assertion that th«i Maoris had not been treated with strict justness.] GOLDFIELD KEQUIREMKKTS,

I know that goldiield natters most directly interest this community. The question of roads on goldfields, tracks, tramways, and water-races were all of importance to the miners. Thongh the reqairements ot alluivial diggings were in some respects different to those felt on this field, yet miners usually roved about from one field to another, and were thus interested in all questions relating to mining. So important an industry should receive all possible support from the Colonial Government; roads and tracks should be made out of Colonial funds, leaving local revenue to meet the requirements of wear and tew. A road from Waihou to Mercury Bay was one of those works which 1 should be done by special grant. He had traversed this route, and coujd recommend it as likely to be beneficial alike to Mercury [Bay and Coromandel, at the same tima opening up the back country to miners. In days gone by Messrs. Cadmao, Groves, and myself were elected to the Provincial Council. The late Mr Cadman and I worked together in the moat friendly 1 manner when in the Council. I exerted myself equally with others on behalf of this district, and when a small anm was placed on the estimates for the HauraM Goldfield, and we were refused more, we agreed to stonewall them. The consequence 'was that Mr Hurst, the Provincial Treasurer, and Mr Juusk, Secretary, waited on ! us, but we would not yield until we gained I our point, and obtained double the amount ! first offered. Then we (the three members) met and divided the amount, Coromandel getting its fair share. (Applause). C. V. Mitchell end I fought the question of catting one main track along the summit of the range from Shortland to Cape Colville, and a good track up each leading spur. If they had the main range so opened up, Coromandel would now be in the position of Tiki, easily traversible. It was only by prospecting that gold has been got at Tiki, and had the tracks been made to Cape Colville, as mentioned, no doubt equal or better results would have been obtained. If I have the honour of being returned, I will, to the utmost extent of my power, get monies voted for the goldfield to aid in developing ita mineral wealth (loud cheers.) 1 regard it alias the goldfield from here to Cape Colville, and it is admirably Buited for quartz-mining, with its easy and cheap water communication and cheap provisions. Miners in the South have mush higher rates to n>ay for

provisions, &c. Special sums of money should be placed on the estimates to make the interior of this peninsular easily accessible to prospectors. Miners are entitled to special concessions, as they contribute to the general revenue, and they should share in its disbursement. Special grants he should like to see expended by consultations ' between the County and General Government engineers. This leads to another question, to the method of paying accounts in vogue among Counties compared to the plan adopted by the General Government. All the Utter accounts were passed and the auditor's seal attached before payment was permitted and the amounts charged to separate dis' tinct accounts. ■■. . ' v;J TIIK UPPER HOUSE.

There is no doubt that one of the greatest questions to be considered by the new par' 1 lament is "How the Upper Rorm of the Legislature is to be constructed." I think there are only two ways—fust, to have the ■ Upper House elected by the people; second to increase the number of representatives to 120, and take a number (30) of the most in. fluential of the members who enjoyed tho confidence aad respect of the House, cmd as they vacated their seats through efflaxiou of time appoint them to the Upper House. If forty members wero allotted to the South, and forty to the North Island, ai I have previously suggested, and this number was increased to 120—there are now 91 members without Maoris,—suppose the number of representatives was increased to to 120, to be chosen from the whole of the' colony, thirty of them to be afterwards removed to the Upper House, it would giva a feeling of confidence to the membeni of the General Assembly, who would lika to see some of their best men in the Legislative Council, knowing that all their actions would meet with some degree of intelligent consideration and sympathy when referred to the Upper House. MINING BOARDS. ' ;

I have been asked, am I in favour o£ a Mining Board being created for the manage^ ' ment and expenditure of all monies raised on the goldfield ? There were different acts in force in the Middle Island and. West Coast, and I do not think you would have power to elect such a board. Mr Gatland and I have gone into this subject together and saw it was not possible. They had, however, quite enough boards. I should I approve of an alteration in the boundaries ' 1 of Counties, increasing their number,Tand reducing the area of ridings, laying off. the " name more in accordance with the cob- I figuration of the country. By this means Highway Boards would be done away with, but there is really no need for the infliction of Highway Board rates, and Municipal rates, and County rates. I should like to see fewer rates, and fewer officials, and think that County Council and Municipal offices should be filled yearly (applause), I am asked about yearly elections of mem* bera of Parliament, but approve of triennial As a general rnle it takes fiveorsix monthi.of a man's parliamentary career to find out the routine of Parliamentary work. A man oc< copies a different position when legislating for the whole colony to that of a man acting merely in local matters. In reply to Mr Dyer as to whether I am in favour of miners' rights running from here toTo '-'; Aroha, I may say it was at one time arranged that a miner working say four months in one part of the district could have his * right endorsed, and the proportion of the money due on that term (6s 8d) was payable to that block and went to the natives inter.. j ested therein. Since that time a new law ;': has been introduced. In the early days Sir '■ George Grey and Dr Pollen made the ar« rangement that every resident in the gold' field whether mining or not should pay the ' £1. Another difficulty was that there were three interested in the Auckland goldfields, each of which desired to receive benefit from the goldfields. The only way outof the difficulty was to secure the freehold of the entire goldfield. I will, if elected, snp^ ;■ port a measure to obtain this, and to get a sum of money placed on the estimates with a view to buy the lands from the native). Mr Lynch : It is reported, Mr Mackay, ' that you came here to rob Tiki miners of the leading claims. : ' f)M Mr Mackay: Nothing of the kind; but 111 tell you something which took place respecting Tiki matters.' A, half-caste - named Brown came to me to get me to help him fix up the boundary line of Mrs Moore's ground, and when I said I would have nothing to do with it he bounced me, and I flung him out of the I room (cheers). I told him there was some I little difference about the boundary, but it did not affect the ownership of tho.ground I on which the claims were. I said, Mrs J Moore's boundary goes up thesummitof I the range, and he said I was a liar. . I said, you scoundrel, yon were working for E, Maclean at the time, and knew nothing \ about it. What advantage was it to me to come to rob the miners of their ground, I'd scorn such work. (Applause.) Mr Lynch: Well, the rumour was yon were to get £20,000 for it Mr Mackny (excitedly): No, sir 1 And I ..'■;. may tell you I have been offered larger sums than that and refused them. While Warden at the Thames I was offered by, I certain shareholders in ,a concern £25,000 to do a certain thing and I would not -take it. . (Cheers.) Mr Dyer: What about the miners' rights .■■ at Ohinemuri that got astray ? J: Mr Mackay (in a loud voice): Look at - the records, and you will see that a com- ■ mittee was appointed oy the House, and ■ that I was honourably acquitted (loud 9 cheeta). I defy any man in New Zea« I land to prove that I wilfully wronged any* body in my life, and when I was a man in ■ position I was equally approachable by rich and by poor. Mr Glover: Will you favour the abolition of plurality of votes T : Mr Mackay: I am quite prepared to carry out the view I expressed. ' ■ " m Mr Mackay was asked various questions touching on the abolition of gold duties and miners' rights, which he answered to -, the satisfaction of the meeting, ■■ Voice: Are you in favour of taxing Maori land?

Mr Mackay: The Maoris in the Middle i Island cannot afford to pay taxes. Many of them are in a state of pauperism. After 10-million acres of thetr land had been V bought for £600 was It right to tax tbemt " How could taxes be collected in this island until they could make the Queen's writ run through it? Would you tax the King natives? Would you go to wart-Why, one day of that would cost the country more than the tax could give for years. Look at Taranaki, what its little disturbances had j| cost the country, and how it had prospered in times of peace. In 1845, when he arrived, the vessel brought the whole of the English cargo for New Zealand, and they had been without a vessel for three months. If you . young men will only wait you wilf see the ■ Maori difficulty disappear of itself, and - it will not make much difference then whether the Maoris are taxed or not (applause). ' ; __ ' < Voice: Did you petition the House for a-1 large su m of money. ? Mr Mackay: I sent in a petition:for .; £8,000 dup to me, but it was not received. Subsequent events have put it out of my power to renew the claim. He had tberefora none now against Government. MrDnross: Will "you thrash your own : oats at our bam doora before thrashing

ours? ''"■;, "' Mr Mackay: No ; I have no personal claims whatever. lam astonished at .yon ■ who know me better asking such question. Dr. Hovell thanked the meeting for the orderly manner in which everything had been carried on. Nothing could give greater pleasure to a chairman than such be< havionr. Mr WiUiam Home said they had listened', _ to Mr Mackay for three hours with great pleasure, and had obtained a great amount of interesting information. He Weed'to propose a vote of thanks to Mr Mackay for his kindness in addressing them. Mr Duross seconded the vote of thanks. Mr John Fraser proposed as an amend* ment that a vote of confidence be given to Mr Mackay. This was seconded by Mr John Lynch.. Mr Hairison rose and said he hoped the meeting would pass the vote of thanks, and remarked that Dr Hovoll had at a previous meeting advised them to wait till they t , heard the different candidates Dr Hovell replied that such was not bia advice. What he said was that the 4th or sth candidate took advantage of the peccadilloes of the lst,2nd and 3rd,and benefited by 0> serving their mistakes, but Mr Mackay came out as the first and spoke manfully and from his heart. The amendment was put and then the original motion, tha amendment being carried. Mr Mackay, in reply, said that whether theivote passsed be that of thanks or confidence he tbanked them for it, and for tho patient hearing they had accorded him. What the nature of the vote was would probably be proved on the polling day» when he hoped again to meet them (cheers). The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.