THE SUPERINTENDENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 272, 16 November 1929, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE SUPERINTENDENTS.

LAST YEARS OF PROVINCE. A FIERCE ELECTION. j O'ROBKE AND ABOLITION. 1 '(By G. H. SCHOLEFIELD, D.Sc., F.R. Hist.F.S.) i [Concluded.] I Tie next superintendent was Robert Graham, a well-known Auckland, merchant at the moment enjoying great popularity by reason of his conduct at the wrecks of the White Swan and Lord Worsley. When bis opponent (Joseph Newman) suddenly withdrew from the contest, Williamson again came forward, but was defeated by 1625 to 1141. The cry of "Wolf!" the threat of the removal; of the seat of government and of the British troops from Auckland, rallied the council for a while in the common causa and the demand for separation. Wben the next election came round Graham found himself opposed by Williamson, but the need for unity was so well recognised that they both withdrew in favour of Whitaker, whose great ability pointed to him as the one man likely to lead the province through its misfortunes. He came forward from a cherished retirement, was returned unopposed, _ and entered upon his office with high ideals of service. For some time it looked as if the two parties were agreed on minor points and were willing to compromise on major, but 18 months later Whitaker confessed to a sad disillusionment. Alas, he realised that once more "the province must bo governed by one party opposed by another, and that the acerbity which has prevailed in former times will not be absent from the contest." He resigned from the House .of Representatives at the 6ame. time, and remained outside politics for nine years. ()n returning to the General Assembly He at once took office in the Atkinson Government, and remained prominent until 1891, for some'time as leader of Jjis own Ministry.

Williamson Returns. The vacancy brought Williamson back from the obscurity of a private member of the Council, and he was returned unopposed (April, 1867), and saw out the term. At the dissolution he had the greatest-fight of his life. His opponent, 'Jp. B. Gillies, was an ardent provincialist of a family of provincialists. His. father, brother and himself had all been members of the Otago Provincial Council (of which all were in turn Speaker) before he removed to the northern province. Harsh things are said of this contest for the Superintendency, which reached its climax on the Thames goldfields. There all the legendary crimes of representative government are' said to have been committed. Electors found difficulty in getting to the polling booths unless they were of the right colour. Riots took place in the then flourishing mining town. The polling took place on November 18, 1869, and for ten days the result was in doubt. At first the omens favoured Williamson, but ultimately Gillies had a majority of 52 votes, and with a Council elected shortly afterwards he was able to serve the full term. Gillies did not seek re-election in 1873, and Williamson fought his ninth contest and gained his fifth victory for the Superintendency (against Dargaville arid Lusk). He died in office early in 1875.. Williamson was one of the outstanding figures in the provincial firmament; five times elected Superintendent; three times a member of the Council. St) wholeheartedly had he given his life- to the province. that Vogel singled him out for special consideration when the provinces should be abolished. All other Superintendents should be secured in their salaries for the unexpired portion of their terms, but Williamson should receive a life pension. He saw the provinces doomed, but not abolished, and his widow received £1000 from the province of Auckland. The' death of Williamson brought O'Rorke into office for the time being, pending the election of Grey, who came out at the very last moment of the provinces and only reached the House of Representatives in time to see them abolished;

A Great Protest. It would be a mistake not to refer here to the great speech of protest made by O'Rorke in the House of. Representatives when Vogel announced his abolition policy: "Sir, I could not do such violence to my conscience as to vote for the resolutions, for I feel assured that this is a scheme which can never be beneficially carried out, and that the sense of the country will revolt, against it.-Were I to vote for such a scheme I should feel that I deserved to be branded as. a base political traitor, and although great names may be quoted for political apostacy I do not want to shelter myself under any of them. I obtained admission to this House on certain principles, and I do not feel that I am at liberty to fling them to the winds either for the sake of office or to suit my own caprice. If such an occurrence as a change of political principle should take place with me I should feel bound to return to my constituents the trust that they confided in me, and abide by their decision. I should'never have occupied this seat had I known that the honourable gentleman at the head of' the Government had in his copious armament this treacherous dagger- to stab the provinces, which I thought he and I were sworn to maintain." And so saying he walked across the floor of the House and resigned from the Government. At that time, it should be remembered, Vogel represented an Auckland City seat. The Bill was passed in 1875, and the provinces went out of existence late in 1876.

A Galaxy of Talent. # Thus ended a very interesting, and on the whole a very creditable- in the history of Auckland. As training grounds for the wider politics of the colony the provincial councils had great value. Auckland's galaxy of talent is an outstanding one. Two of*her Superintendents (Wliitaker and Grey) became Prime Ministers. O'Rorke became the most celebrated Speaker of the House of Representatives. Swainson and Bartley were both Speakers of the Legislative Council, and the former AttorneyGeneral. Campbell, Sheehan, Pollen, Gillies, Henderson, Reader Wood, and Williamson were all members of colonial Ministries; Carleton was Chairman of Committees for fourteen years; Brown and Graham and numerous other members of the Provincial Council served in the House of Representatives. Dignan, Gilfillan, Harris, • Henderson, Every McLean, Morris,, J. O'Neill, Peacocke, C. J. Talyor, and Walton ail served in the Legislative Council. Not a bad array of talent.