THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4422, 16 July 1884, Page 2

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

SIR MAURICE O'RORKE AT ONEHUNGA.

Siu G. Mauukie O'Roiike addressed tho electors of Manukau at tho Masonic Wall, Onehunga, last evening. There was a largo attendance, the building being crowded. Amongst thoso present wero sovoriil ladies. Sir Maurico was accorded three cheers on entering tho hull. His Worship tho Mayor of Onchunga (Dr. Scott) was voted to tho chair, and brietly introduced tho candidate to tho meeting. .Sir MaCKIOK OR'ikke came forward amidst enthusiastic cheers. Ho thanked the Mayor for presiding and tho audience for assembling in such largo numbers to hear his political viows. It was only right that ho should appear beforo them when about to entor upon the campaign. He had to thank them for their many kindnesses, and for putting him forward in a position from which ho had been chosen to till some of the highest offices in tho country. It was now nearly a quarter of a century siiico they or thoir fathers first selected him from the ranks of tho peoplo to represent them in the Houho of Representatives. It was satisfuctiry to him that, no individual hud yot como forward from tlio 500 electors of Hint town to ehallongo his position. Last year, the man who opposed him caino from Mangero, and the your previously from Ellerslio, and so it would lie at the hustings tomorrow, tho man who was to oppose him having come from 0110 of tho country districts. Ho did nut wish to challenge the right of tho country districts lo put forward a man against, him, but it was gratifying to him that, no man bad coma from Onohunga to contest tho scat with him. The speaker proceeded to refer to the events of last sossi.m. He said the outcome of the session was only what had been expected. Sinco 187!) tho Opposition hail been divided and split up into two sections, ami oven in the lust session tho Government itsolf was in a position of embarrassment. In ondeavouring to romody a mistake which had occurred two years ago, in re-imposing tho grain rates, they hud sot all Canterbury in it blazo, and a large section of tho Houho against them. Hut they had manfully dono their duty in preventing tho loss of treasure that was occurring. Tho siieakor proceeded to refer to the unjust distribution of tho expenditure on railways, and pointod out that tho North had received tivo millions and throo-quartors Ichs than the Smith in this direction, and yet there was great hesitancy in entering into n contract for the construction of tho North Islund trunk railway, and thus giving us soino portion of tho public works of which wo had been defrauded. All wo had got yet in this direction wore engineers' reports, Hying surveys, and inspections. Sir Maurice O'Korko mentioned the thrco proposed routes for the trunk railway, and said that whilo tho Southern people wishod tho Rangitikei terminus lino to bo constructed, ho trusted that notwithstanding tho notorious d.Hsoiislotis which occurred amongst tliem, tlio Auckland members would bo firm in insisting upon tho construction of the lino via tho West Coast, that would open up tho good Taranuki lands. Anotlior question of importance nt tho proBout time was that of nntivo lands. It might bo said, Why interforo with tho freo purehaso of native lands? but ho asked what clmnco would suiallsottlorfl have of obtaining lands, seoing the chicanery and jobbery in connection with tho Native Lands Courts, unless tho flovornmont nequirod tho lands und disposed of them to settlors at fair prices. They would probably wish to lienr his views in roforenco to tlio recently imposed proporty tax. Thoro woro at tho prosont timo forty thousand persons oxomptcd. Ho considered that tho man who was worth £500 ovor and above his lawful debts was not a very needy person, and hodid not think itwashardon the man who possessed £500 that ho should bo compolled to pay something towards maintaining tho credit of tho colony. Therefore, ho thought tlio proporty tax was a fair one, seeing thut it did not roach the poor man. Two other questions of importance were thoso of annexation and federation. Ho could not say that ho was smitten with a grcatlove fur annexation, which was perhaps a milder name for tillibustering. Ho asked if wo had so far fulfilled our duty to tho natives that wo should go annexing theso islands of the South Pacific. Wo all expected, no doubt, that the day would soon como when theso islands would bo under tho British Hag, but to most colonists this question would appear to bo inoro an Imporial than a colonial one. Tho scicuro of thoso islands by Australasia would load to largo oxponditure and responsibilities, and ho could not sco that there would bo much ultimate goin. Tho question of federation presentod itself to his mind in a much more pleasing light. Wo woro now throo millions of souls in theso colonies, and ho thought wo should bo drawn togothor by closer tios. But ho thought that some of tho proposals of the Sydney Conference wero of nn iron-handed character. Ho would profor to sco tho Federal Council In a linger city than Hobart. It should bo in a largo city, whore it would bo omonnblo to tho pross nnd strong public opinion ;or ho thought tho Council might sit in the larger cities of each of the principal colonies periodically. Ho did not nr>provo of tho proposal that tho Council should havo tho power to intcrfcro with tho luws of tho colonies under its jurisdiction. But ho was not thoro to propound any system of fodoralion. If ho had boon hero last month of courso ho would havo heard tho cry, " Register, register, register 1" That, of courso, was a duty thoy owed to their country. Ho did not know how many would bo equipped with that weapon on tho polling day, but he cared littlo how tho privilege was exorcised so long as tho doctors gavo thoir votes to tlio host of their judgment. Thoro was another cry similar to that he had mentioned, and it was that of "Educate, educnto, cducato!" But ho thought it a pity that tho instruction in our schools should bo confined to tho rudiments of learning, such ns reading, writing, arithmetic, and a littlo natural science. Learning was n powerful lover to advancement in this world, and ho thought it was the duty of parents to endeavour to havo thoir children sent to the Grammar Schools nnd thenco to tho University Collogc. It was his lot to have helped somo to pass into highor positions than they had beon born to, and ho hoped that ho would still have the opportunity to do so. Peoplo who wore not swayed by a desiro to provide for themselves a compotoney in a freehold homostoad and elevation for their children in tho ranks of socioty woro unambitious and unenterprising colonists. Ho was not content to sco old colonists continuing to dig and dolvo instead of retiring to a competency in thoir old ago. It wnß said that brain work was harder work than manual labour, but he denied it. There could bo no comparison between the man sitting in his study with the aroma of a cigar around him and the man who had to plunge into tho Waikato swamp. Ho commended literary pursuits to tho young men of the colony. Ho was not thoro to ilincli from fair criticism, aud what objections thoro wero to bo brought against him ho did not know. (A voice : Thero are nono). Somo peoplo said ho had been too long in his position, but ho was scarcely to blamo for that. They who had kept him in that position so long should participate in tho blamo to some extent. Ho aid not want to recapitulate what ho had dono for Onehunga, but in reply to his dotructors ho would ask what had ho not dono ! Ho could point to the rosorvo ho had obtained for tbom nt Green Hill, and tho bridge erected between Mnngoro and Onehunga at a cost of £18,000, tenders for which were called for by the Cabinet, of which he was a member. Had ho not obtained for them an expenditure of £8,000 for a railway wharf! Was it not he who obtained tho reserve on which thoir town hall stood, and who prevented the two ncros at Bycroft's springs from being cut up and covered with littlo shanties, saving tho water from pollution ? He claimed credit for having saved that roservo, at a time when they were offered 500' acres at Te Aroha. Ho was now bearing up for Mount Smart. It cost him a year's labour to got a station at Rout's Corner, despite the protestations of the railway people that no train could stop there. 110 could take credit for tho fact that there woro threo railway stations within the boundary of Onehunga. It was not in a selfish spirit, but for the good of tho town, that he had secured the scoria deposit at Mount Smart.' Then he would remind them of his latest achievement in securing a roservo of fifty acres. Until recently this town was without a place to play cricket or football, to hold a race meeting, or even to bury the^dead. Fierce opposition was mado by somo of tho Auckland members to the granting of this reserve, and it took tho exorcise of all his tactics and determination to carry it through tho'Houso of Representatives. And even then tho opposition was so intense that the hostile feeling was carried into the Upper House, ana it was only by the efforts of his friend Mr Dignan and that gentleman's friends that they secured the reserve by a majority of one. He mentioned all this to show that it was' not such an easy matter to get justice for'the town of

Onehunga. Then again, when he was down at tho last session of the Houso, he introduced a bill providing for a Harbour Board for Onehunga. He had to thank the Mayor und tho Onehunga Chamber of Commerce for their assistance in promoting the bill, and he trusted that whoever was sent down would bo instructed to push that measure on. It was true that tho Auckland Harbour Board had promised to take over the harbour and manage it free of charge. But if this woro to happen, ho hoped that the first work dono would not bo to erect a wharf at tho White Bluff, construct a short lino to tlio Kaiparu, and thus shorten tho distance to tho Waitemata. If this wero done, and the steamers and trallic were to stop nt tho White Bluff and thenco bo diverted to Kaipara and Auckland, then ho could say " Farewell,Onehunga,to all your future prosperity.'' Probably then tho Auckland City Council would bo prepared to tako over their municipal affairs, and givo thorn v tasto of their popular & rate. This would bo an advance of only Is in thoir tuxes. Sir Maurice proceeded to refer to the telegram of J. P. Maxwell to the Government, in which he said that the proposed loeul charge of tho Onehunga harbour would be detrimental to railway interests. It was, ho asserted, by the vexatious churfjosof this gentleman that tho railway interests wero prejudicially oHbdwd. Ho was strongly in favour of I lie vesting ol tho haVljour in a local Harbour Board, which would have a revenue of fully L 1,500 or L 2.500. If thoy found that, they had not sullieiont revenue to maintain llicmsolves, then it would be for them to amalgamate with tho Auckland Harbour Board and City Council on their own terms, and not on those proposed, lie did not wish to refer in detail to all the services ho hud rendered tho constituency, but he reminded them of tlie establish men t of tho lighthouse at the Heads, despite the assertions that it would bo a snare to tho unwary, the connection with tlio Heads by electric telegraph, and the effectual buoying of the harbour. He would not detain them longer ; already ho farcied he saw the Hush of victory in their faces, but he trusted that they would roservo their energies till tho polling day, and then acquit themselves like men, dealing honourably with their adversaries. Tl oir watchword should be, " Advance Onohunga, advance tlio harbour and advance Manukau electoral district." Tho speaker was loudly cheered on resuming his seat. In reply to questions, Sir Maurice said : (1) He was not in favour of any alteration in the education system, but if any parties had a griovunco in tho matter of division of grants ho would bo prepared to hear them, and if thoro was a grievance to endeavour to rectify it. (2) Ho was not disposod to substitute a laud tux for tho property tax. (.')) Ho had never yet boon bound by any pledge to follow any man or party, and ho declined to do so now. (-1) Tlie oniy dilferonco botwoon himself and tho Chamber of Coinmero in reference to the Harbour Bill was that he did not think that the Government should be relieved of tho expenses of tho pilot department. But whtn ho was assured that thoro was ample provision to meet those charges, ho conceded tho [»int and bocatno a hearty supporter of the bill. He would rather that the harbour should continue to remain under the control of tho General Government than that it should be vosted in tho Auckland lf.ifbour Board. (5) Ho would support a grant of 1.'J.000 for division amongst tho Horticultural Societies of Auckland. Ho bolioved it would not bo impossible to havo a small botanical garden in their fifty-aero reserve. But at all cvonts thoro was a placo admirably suited for tho purpose at Ono Tree Hill, which ho hoped oro long to see laid out as a botanical garden, pleasure grounds, &c. (6) He had kept no tally of the times ho had mot his constituents, but he bolioved ho had mot them as often as they desired to see him. Ho had often received their thanks, and had been accorded substantial rewards from them. But ho had met them often enough for tbom to renew their expressions of unwavering confidence in him.

Mr J. B. Jackson moved a voto of thanks to tho candidate for his address, and ulso a vote of confidence in him as tho represontativo of tho Munukau district. Sir Maurico thoroughly understood tho business of a member of Parliament, and ho had repoatedly been choson by the House of Representatives as tho best member to preside ovor tho proceedings. Mr G. Vaczk seconded the motion.

A forest of hands was hold up for the motion, and only about a dozen aguinst it.

Tho excitement attendant upon the taking of the bliow of hands culminated in a personal combat botueeu partisans of tho two candidates in tho body of the hall.

Tho vote of confidonoo was declared carried almost unanimously, and Sir Maurice O'Rorko having returned his thanks, tho mooting concluded with a vote of thanks to tho Chairman and cheers for tho candidate.