MARLBOROUGH'S JUBILEE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 652, 1 November 1909, Page 8

MARLBOROUGH'S JUBILEE.

THE CELEBRATIONS COMMENCE TO-DAY.

- GREAT PUBLIC ENTHUSIASM.

; / SQME FEATURES OF THE, FESTIVAL

THE PARLIAMENTARY PARTY'S TRIP.

:y, (ijyTclccraph.—Spccial Correspondent.) n ' Blenheim, October 31 BriUiant sunshine! taupercd by a light breeze, and coapled with & fairly smooth sea,' went to make the Parliamentary tap to Picv,'4 i:v tho .Tutanekai .'on iSatui'day, in . connec- £ hon with the Marlborough Jubilee celebra extremely enjoyable?. Au-.caig the visitor. 1 ] We tho Hons D Buddo and T Mafckorfzlo (representing the Ministry}, find tyfr. Massey ~ .. (X.eflder of tno^. Opposition) iMTheyUpper-;House: had two delegates, the 'Hoiis. 1 C H. Mills and —, .. .F.'.-TrasK.,. Of tho member3 Jf of'- the House ■■' of . ; Representatives;, there wtfre. present Messrs *t : Hogg.. (Masterton)j.; (Forbes (Huranm),-'- Poolo (tuckland West). Green lade (Wailato)ii Smith (Wellington East);-Allen (Southern : Nosworthy _ (AshDUiton), Dillbn (Hawke'= Bay), Gninncas (Grey), Hardy (Selwyn), Alison (Mafcvura), i Davey (Chnstchurch East)/Scott (Tmipeka , g Lauronion (Lyttelton), and < Colvm (Boiler) .: ■ Quite a. number of the 1 members ''.were' liicbmJ pawed by their wives <It had been hoped that !(?*)! ,thl( Prime Minister (Sir' Joseph Ward) would bo; able to go, but he- way l prevented'from bepresent by urgent business* > < ucavingi Wellington at, 10 m;tho Tutane- « mi made Tory Channel shortly after 130 p m :,Cap6-.i-TiJrftwhitr Slight roll - wos cxperienced, and m view df the wrtck ill that locallty* of 'the Penguin with:, such-.deplorable loss ; :'in for i'Mfejclase j^tudyJby' thci^^gte^WSome 'of ;on^ciuchiit' iji'■■■y'W;. , held;.:that-;thei'iH-fntcd-:vessel.' strnclc; but.' v they, had -to (be,', satisfied ai>prDx»iaate nbjte 'in tdis comection that several members win I, had not previously puirt special attei,tion tc it as their'opinion, that : - r^ : wfts needod. on Tonguo Point nr siino jii.f;',pother,..suitable spot vicinity. . Upon ■ on-'- !?;; . ; ,vtoiing'.rTory Channel a-capital -V'/H scived ' Here and there 'en routo to Queen .'LCharlotte -Souhdirtveryr prottyifispots ■ came 11 • light, Li x i V k ' Cove. ( ( j Instead of prdceednn; dircct to Pictcn, it vc waa decided to.tako a run down the northern igKgi entrance,• ; ; as: : .it:; i .contains':Wmfi. ;l of~! the ' finest , - scenery m the Sounds 1 A Halt was niado i A in the vicinity of Ship Cove- vliich will ever|®^':,Dß.;a: .'memorable/,Bpo(f : owißg!.tii-'the: fdct:that. i:tjiereitfat j|^,^:Boverei^^i.ofTifoat:"porti o South' :Is- ' M{.?» land for .. .lus , Majesty Kmg George v IH • m '®1, January, 1770. To < the Hon, Mr. Mills the /< passengers ■Rare indebted for his ,courtesy m I'ft -i-fe pointing out the' various historic places m that 'Among other things, Mr. LPi.eMills i mentioned that all; tho money : required v, to erect a memorial at Ship Cove m honour t- 'ißof Cqolr. ;had been-subscribed, and -at. early date the design of the , monument ' ''.would be' dofinitely settlod. Doablmg on' her ' - tracks,; the -Tutanekai * .then* proceeded direct , tp Picton ,whero she berthed at 515, just a few . minuter aftor 'tho' Arahara from I anditt- feiy : mmntesi before -tho Takapuna,. whose" from'.Nelson/was horalded-.by tho'-play-- 1 ivii'-: ;ing.:of,.;a; selecticn :by u .tho.,two -Nelson banos, 1 ■ anu, ttlifi; •W.estport band, which vero on. board on way'to the band contest. 1 :. ;Dunng. the. hour ..which, had' to - bo ,filled in '(! • till . tram time,, those who. previously M. i ;^Picton-hai a, Jook • round: the seaport. 4 j .wete deeply'strnck;.with'' ; tia eof; phaie 'in; the' Jr.', future ;.of- their >to«n;'2.-ItOS'* iji:. rcall that Picton:at one time:stood a good chance' ■I ill : . 's'.-cf .being.' mado.,the>ganeral 'seat- of t . Government in,' iHew .'Z«ilaDd. .. Prom what ono can • ga*h&»y , it siiems that ere long further agitation will .ii;:;.take-.place with that-end in"view, ;and it was' • ,1,: ....contended.; by. .some ithat ;Preton's- central- posi«' ■:..ution,: deep, water, • sheltered.'portj and ■: equable c '' , en titled ■ (i t vtor'the-hcnoUrv af-'being-:-,j, v ;tho. Beat - of. .Government.■■■: of ■: thffvDomniion „( • .'No oue-.was more strenuous:iii ihri' advocacy, of . the proposal . : than Duncan, the■ meniber :;; . . for; W(iirau,lj-ho sees'm Picton -the cortheniJ , terminus of tie South Island. Mam Trunk,lmb, - the southern (terminal . point cf /tie suggested :> i;: - State; ferry ■ service, antl the shipping port m •vj . connection,wii Jvj valuable coal, seams yoc to ba worked, and the .products.of large'areas-yet to be closely settled. "But there doesn't seem .toi'ibe-.any .room.:in,:.PictonL.to. pJit' the'ParTmi' j.(V. BuildingSj.* was.a;romark which HI / (amid e .laughter) •from '.the lipa 'of . a northorr. member, as - the tram sped'oil*for, BlenHeim-' Mr Duncan explained that if that was found to bei the icase he iknew/ of: a^.number : of ideal Bpots not far ont- of the towa. • ■< , "" ' Arrival at Dtar jieim. . < ■I ■' Blenhikui was found.-.to> .be -gaily. ciocoratedfa keeping with its position as the-capital :of 5 of folMFO.odorn the business promises, whilst flags, banners, < ij, and. streamers ; pre i displayed.; in, tho: streets end on. most ,oJ the /btfldings It was\fortuiiite \ "at ategjyiimmber of the Visitors had wnitod) V ■ iOr. the wcefc-cnd, as'acoonuDodaticm obtained at Blenheim with the i ; '; - from : cfiatncts,^ ttlk) arrived later-,in theiovenmgj" had- 1 ' ■ P n7ate families/ for :'lodgihgsj ii ' ■ Theee was a large at the station to honour of the arrival of his Excellency the Governor, who made tho trip to Picton on . H i'p® Awmura, and 'took special, train, which . left some, tune before the ordir.fcry train for i To the disappointment of the j assemblage Lord Plnniet did not alight at whoro he :. ,|. staying until. to-morrow, on■ Air. Vavasour's j fine estaie i > T f r^o. 'j. n ordmacy tram, arrived, its 1 trogent of visitors weftf heartily wsjlcom-Q, scit- • ableI mnsre being supplied by the local bands .'■ , AltJionon,, the jnbileo,vwcck .does;,, not i 'commence till to morrow tW/streetb were crunded , last nigirt, with thatsbusiness wo , plo record heavyrfiiggi-egate sales t 10-day tho Parliaimintary visitors at Picton l W 1 68 t51 L 8 ""P 111 vflUl=*-41IC^ , i 'W Blenheim had a: pMas3.nt -motoring-tour-Tho united sarvice m the Tev,r Hall at Blenheim this lifternoon . was \ cry largely, attended,' and .isermoni 1 wero n preachcd m ijll the chuic|,,es, Archbisliop Red,! i wood occupying tho pulpit of St Mary s to [ night. , i i, • j

0 The ProflMiame. ~ . ~, " ' „ ,official- ixmogTiraiion- tif 'the cekljr'ationa •- ■■, A«fH taka the .form'. of .'a; fall : 1 iy the,bolfc in, Blenheim o'olock :to-morro\v- .;: o rTUDg^/ , At: l(X30 ai , , cession, to be followed by. the! Governor's rei • ception an hour, later at tho Market Place . : : rotunda., Die-old identities' banquet .in the Town i ■ Hall. -at-. 1 - p.m. -promises- to bo-i.a-big affair, v . <-fin the.;; afternoon theje wJI -.be a' .children's. '.fate on r the show gromida.'. One "of the'features ' on the, progftiinme'.win be,-tho imearthing and > iiitustnbTinoni r.ofvv-rettstcd l ! bullock' >'m"" Maori v- -j, ■ jsfagbnm,; s Prior, .to the final item j for. the • day, ; - . grand, caniata, I "Magna Charta,'? and a dis* play of foeworta - will take • place. • .Chief among •:the.. ; events arranged for the iiiweek'.will.'be the'-Aencultnral I 'and- Pastoral; Show and tW Band Contest, ■■oil- day,in connection :a ; *ith the. celebrations. •• In the. morning thero '■v .-Sffill-beiboth:,water and land processions: with i.»n :old identities'- luncheon to.follow. Special -'arrangements, which will include a luncheon , :Md.- sports,-have, been nvuto .to, heighten tho Is jqoysjont -. of y the, *yonng j Ipeople.- ■ -After - the '■'9V: ;:i!aying of tbo;-fo.nndirtion:jstono for. the-new .: : brigade v station,.:- ; a. i ma;ine • explosion will :. .. - 1 take , plnce -mndor - the supervision ot officials • 'Of the Marine Department. H.M.S.-. Promevi'-: i-iihetis,v as -. well- as. the -Nw Zealand training „ nhip Amokura, will -be at Picton on Thurs* :■: day.' 1 To ' conotade the day's colebr&tions ; >a .grand jubilee-bill- will be held. v. - , >An Examlnallon of Constionco. ■!In. 'conqluding .-its, editorial .on ,tbo jnbileo - • yosteittlay.. afternoon, the "Herald" rem?irked: i -'it,-ty-td';-tne purpose for. tho people of Mail- ■.- borough, .to' hat. tnemselves wlmther 5 their; in-: >■tofniil ' enterprise.-and spirit of . public bensfeii whether all i .that, couldrjbo done .'is 'done for. tho.advancesient amt development-: of. the-district; v and - , nihether v our cmo,. social,and ■ aDucational, aro worthy of a community do-. ■ ?ivcd from snch a virile stock, and pos&esi--v-:v |ng 'stich inspiring; traditions and, ; such - rich ' - natural ;rcsourecs.: •: An:- eianlination ;of , conccicnco on vtliis Tray/ rcveal- 'rnaiiy -slKirt- '' . 'seining',:'and may, -not |lcavo a completely .sat- - Mod feeling; but. it .will ftt least, bo profit- > Bble;:;i Oflate years : the vborn. of oornncopia ■ has.-bpen.generously bltjd. in these parts, and. jnbileo crowns a penod of. .imesafflpled ■. ' .prosperity : but though.- we enter- upon the

-'V-; - V •'. .' .>, «jj jii'^ ; {, 'X- . ,fi ■ ; '" '■ •"'* i -: . ; ' -t • ''. -fflstiTftl" Hnder-the;.happi<J6t' of ausptas let us' ■ r •Mj ! .:i?»^ s ' l^rfMOol f it .-not' i ™ Supposed", tbo summit of achievement has \ been reached,;; and... tho ' future is. a path' :'of ?•• ■*>**! A T nere .Js work; and' hard work, 'to'bo - .done -af'cthecommunity.- and; its institutions ;aro _'a healthy ■ eroTrth, and- the fifty go to make up.the.second half: , sot.,the, centenary must .bo regarded:as a period : ,of strenuousness, calling-, for, strength.'of chars' i, a «? r i anQ_iie; oiercise .of , the best human inl>: atinots. The . jubiloo is. a sentiment—a thin* V- ■?f ; } he ; p A sc: - / - to;:b©'.mado.nov"is l. -.that: of. -the ' f( - — • FIFTY YuARS' progress. 1 '' 1 , A GLANCE AT HISTORY. t ■' ,1 ,v SOME . PIONEERS / AND STATESMEN. ■ ; Tho Prpvir.co of Marlborough, which , came / j'lnto, esistenoo. ;aa.:.6uoh 50 years ago 'to-day, ,i 3 [ Mt.. tho ; largest,: nor'tho most populous, nor ' the .'richest; of. Jhe\ proiihciai districts of New , Zealand), but- it is a region of considerable and v wealth,; which lia.s been, succei^i ecme. of the worthiest of ~ and-cblomsors. : It 13 a country of , beautitul-fnills 1 .and. valleys, romanticoays^ • a.\d ( wmding inlets of thq sea. It has a clnnato i. as,genial.as:xt-is invigorating.- And ft,has soon" h worthy to'be held.in' j' Its ; .people, have , ample j reason, for, tbs.pndo ,with wliioh. they, aro now ' their of iLarlborough's good .'fortune '• Erncl^--arable >Jarlwwilgii,'"' be^fns 1 with the Vofj tP;d;rocsß. Ci tho Silurian Ajje, aod ends vr'th the election-ofj'tho author as M.ILR. for Wairau » "It : will1)9 fitting <for. tho purposes' of tho pre--(sent jirticlo; to .take a 'rmi ; .osfrfnl. :• star>' : f'ajua;~M ; mformaiiQtt'as'iriay: be appoint© and available.' Captain Cook, 1 ;muoh',ofythe:-his£or7}'imn3t,';be' skipped..' 'The .:Moripri..Hio6toatioßj-:. flw'-ioaniiiig.- of tho Maori • centuries' of' tTLbaI. wart are, ,csn:brily ,bt>. noted in 'passing.. , Becorded > history begins with Capiat Cook, Jtho, on tho morning of January 14, 1770, ■ toofced. oyer, iho waters of tho Strait that bears :his:: name:;,: ardf/iawpthe .'pleoaant; hills and °"7 S ,' Pf.' iWe:<district.j which was afterwards to • > .'On .the morning'of-. ■ /■n® i 5 ,! 1, -,£ o P ut : tb« EndsaYour into Queen .Charlotte.., Sound, ' and,- was thus, /among. Euro- ; pean cavfeators,.'..the first that'ever-bctst into that silent f sea." Beside,'.-his ...anchorage - at: ■ Ship. Covo, ;he erected a flagstaff and tho.; Union ~, "thus cbnferring ,-.on.' Marl-. „ OorongK the'-.dißtiDction of being, the first soil; ' in ;,Nepf, i7itsi onvhioluth'a■ emblem ':of. the- ; Brinsh-33mpire."ftbate(j."j .'. ,• j." : . "And he, perchance, hath joy of thee to-day, j'v; Who :won:-thae; from : the unrelenting',gate' . The . hopeless calm and' the'inconstant : breeze; - - ■■//■ :■ ■■■ . , ! 5 beyond 'Death's sea-track,'worlds ; _ Oi- '-\ i The-winds . are-wooed' ,by his trmmphant ' o:';:-V . lo symphonies.'' l Raupardha anf the.-,Wairau Massacre, i >Another half-century of inter-tribal : wars, ' the,; whalers' began. to'estqblish< their settlemenis :,on; the shores oil the. Sounds. The : earlier of : these .dep'ots 'waa that'' planted by ■ Captniuj Gtiard~-at T« sAwaiti in 1827. Kau-. paraha's HnVMioavttaS: then at its-heiriit, and' rew'years-later, the''whole of llarlborongh. j .was' iMrey.' -'Colonel;.Wakefield arrived at To Awaiti iii 1839,•' and "enlisted the 'help of .the. fam<m''2i<iky-Barrett as his agent and iirterpretor'. in''tho (i vast- land .pnrchfise , xclK,irics ; ; '' Company. . Missionaries > ' 'came;'soon;,td',X2iristianiso the "itaoris, and tho 1 lewiesa-whalersi'who'iiocded it quite as much, i ' lii ,18<W; .Major/jßunbDxy and Captain Nias, acting.mderrthe Instructions of Governor Hob- • ; son, - landoil at ' Cloady Bay, and proclaimed ' soveritigity..' of iiiQueem •.Viotoria.';over the ! - thns'.in'cident-. - . ally 'another, claim to his- > ~toric- distinction. .. i , 1 ' J " i Vv.The" WaiAu : i»iftssiicro was tho sequd to oni i of. Colonet WttkeSeld's/dispated purchafes, but ibis; .'Wakefield,: was more "re- I s sponsible;,' for/.the; ' culpable: ■ mismanagement. ; which ' was "tho moro ,immediate cause of t,he" : disaster.- ; v : It : deeply^imbittered : ; the .'be- ; tw«en : Maori I ,and" .iSnropean, and ] ateplntely the.'settlement of tho discrict.: /Biit " , : tmio.soft&as all : snsii : ills. There is.probably '. 1 only .oac perpon living. to-day wlio Vas in the. ' neighbourhood 'on that' fateful .wintor^,day',of ' 1843, ;when:four. or-.fivo.Maori men and women . ; and IP- Englishmen lay dead beside tlio. Wai- : ran. persoh'ik ths venerable and esteemed, i iMrs. Jjjlzatosth Enhapatj"Bore, Q'j ' : .Chief. Kore' Piikokohfltu; of , I !V*airan. , Je ; tarly Setilers . : Amung the first settlers 'to in'ake. a; systsai'aind: i ' effort :-'to..stock : the . .pastoral couatrv' of Marlborough iiwere .- Sir • Charles ; , Cliffor3 and Sir ■' Eredenck Weld,, who .brought 3000 sheep from • Sydney, ; and:'placed : them on the Flaxoonrne*!,' run. . Governor : Grey paid Eanpar;>ho. • £ieoo' f for tho. Wairau , ?lailiß,t .'which, had l been ad-' ' judged (after, the .massacre) not to have bte.u ; !parchai«d by?company,and therearter settlement progreacd more rapidly. In';. 1843 ■ 'ith'erei:w«re • arilyy.lfl^ l Etfropeuns- \ntl\Ws&iho'. -, whole province. > ' ' While tho, hill conntry , was bfcing converted into sheep runs, agriculture was gradually get■'.ting established on the. plains.. M'.\ fl, frod»&ey> Mr;'C."Murphy, and Mr. H.. Gouland ■ ■ wow among,the ..earliest pioncersof thii\ phase iOf. dsyelopraent.; vMr. .SLurfVy built tho first iljilpitaiill in : the district and Mr. Goulaiiil i 'was; ; "invested -/with ■ som'.V: sort? of' magisterial l author- " iCyi;'thus being the administrator of her Majesiy's Justice, ia Marlborough. His assist-- ; ant,.in keeping crrder- was "lifajengo"v.Waison, .an old soldier, who acted as a sort, of imofiicial " constable. : Whcu ho had to make an .arresi he tho "spres",-»-ith tho party 'who waa wanted." Law and ordro were more adequately .provided for in JSS7, when Dr. , Tvas^sent^dowTivfrom-Nelsdn as resideat ' 'raagisi-rato and postmaster, .trith tun police officers .aiid ;a,.'clerk: of;;the court The small ' wooden courthouse frequently served the piir- ' I»sea <sf Chm;ch . and Styte; In 18C0, Blenheim, itften a iroU-orgamsed; town wiih a popolatdan : of 300, isaw the establishment of rts £ist news.paper, tia j'Harlborongh Pi'ess.", Bfenheim became a .borough in : 1869, with Mr. F. J. Litchfield as, tho first Mayor. Tho town has ■ ; made, gieat j; ,progress, ;.in' spite of Masters. "Three tiine/i it; nas bcen consumed flame, ' . 'and .more tiines-than.one'can tell ii-has been : submerged by flood. S-Still it has 6flonrish#d steadily. if'iilowly, and ai'ter each 'conflagra- > :tion it hastecn robuilt upon more substaariiaJ lines, uninl tji-day it resembles-nothing go Ty/I '-' ll as a rauuature Ghristckurdi." The Foirnding of tho P*ovtac«.

: ; jyiatlbiifomh dates - its anniversary, and the . jubilee which is'- now' being cdebrated, from November .1, 1859, the daj; on ' which it came ■into existence as a province, in accordance iirith a proclamation on October-4, of ■the . sam« 'year. Tho district . had previously been part of 'Nelson Province,, but the residents believed that: separation.,would lead to a fairer adirmriatratiori. of revenue; also -the slieopfarmors objected to, the increased assess-ment-of., their lands proposed by the Nelson Government.. Tho name of Marlborough was decided on by the Government in Auckland, on the'/obvious ground that the new province on .Cook Strait should bear, like'adjacent Nelson and Wellington,; the name of a great fighting hero, The names; of Blenheim, Picton, and HnvelocK-'foilowed nafcnrally. v The first Marlborough Provincial Council .was elected: early in 3860; and assembled at the Blenheim; Conrthbnse on May L The. members : wrj'o:. Jlr: William ■ A»lams arid Captain Baillie .(Wairau ;.VaU<Jy),' .'Messrs.; Cyras 'Goulter and' ■foliu Godfrey. (unpijr Wairan), William Henry ■ Ryes: and Honry JJbdson. (.Lower Wairau),' James Sirclair'(lttehheita), Arthur'Penrose Soymmir {Picton)', Charles'-Elliott {Aw'aton). and Joseph :Ward 1 (Clarcnc?). Adams ■ was elected and Mr. Qotilter, being placed ;in tlie' Sfwutauf'a' choir,' " ; c6mmenccd an 'official careor dnime'TrMch,' with one brief interval, he wa3 im? without some Bublio ajjpoiaty

■meat-until't]io abolition, of" the ; Provincial Government. ' Only.two- members: ofc that!' first Marlborough Council how; survive. •' '-One-; '.is the. Hon, captain Baillio, AI.L.C. (concerning whose caraor. more i.will. be. said • -inanother article), and the' other is Mr. A. P.' Seymour, ,who. now resides at Picton, in the! enjoyment of a- hearty old age, and- stall practises as 'a' surveyor. "The later Councils have but three survivors to-day—Dr. Decimus Trrjw, Mr. J. O'Sulhvau, and Mr. Arthur Beauchamp. • .

Political Storms. ... ; Provincial politics o were marked . by . vory keen ./contests and ; There were, roughly speaking;. two.' lines of party cleavage. The first: nas between, the pastorahsts on: the one; side and: the small farmers and townsfolk on the 'other.; and. the .'second.;was".'between Blenheim and Picton. The competition be,tween the; ; two chief,, towns,' of the .provinco -was, for years the dominant: issue. .The 1 seat- of government was; removed . from Blenheim to Picton, and back again. One of the'favourite reminiscences;• of ©e.' .veterans.' is tho ' ''great speech of-Mr; Arthur Beauchamp ■ against the removal of ■ tbo. capital from Picton.- The debate. had resolved itself into a stonewall, and Mr., Bcanchamp built the-biggest part of the ■strtcture in a. speech' that lasted'. 10 hours 40 minutes. It is remembered that , when he had been speaking for most of the day, ho observed: ''With these few preliminary remarks X 'will now proceed- to sneak to the subject under discussion." /This redoubtable .oratoriis .still a _ much-respected resident of/the town iwhose interests ho so heroically, though fruitlessly, defended. . . Mr. Harold Beauchump, chairman ot the Bank of New Zealand, is his son. .;.

The End of. the Provincial Days. The .debate which was made glorious by the exploit of Mr. Beauchamp'occurred dnring the snporintendency of Mr. A. P. Seymour, whose then term, of office was short and unquiet, but ,he ~was twice subsequently elected to the same position, and he has'' also sat in both Houses of Parliament, being: Chairman of Committees in. tho lower House for several yeaw. He waa the last Superintendent of; Marlborough; but he : never, dreamed . that the office would haveisuch a'sensational termination. "November 1, 1876, was the date fixed for the abolition of ,the provincial institutions, and on the'ie'arlyi morning of that day a, mysterious fire occurred in .the Provincial Offices, .which spread with /fearful rapidity, the whole of tie busiiwM ■ portici), of'the town, "and thus Marltoropgh's system of Provincial^Government expiit?d amidst !fire and smote; eiactly seventeen years after, its institution." .. ; ? ' In Rational, "as in provincial, politics, Marlr ;borough has been served by many able men* among whom mention.'must be made of the late Sir Frederick Weld, some time' Premier •of New Jfcaiimd, 'and the; late Sir '■ David :Mbitro, .Speaker;of.the' House of Representatives. Several Ministers, of the Crown have •represented.'-, Marlborough ccnsMfwniiiies.. ; ~ The Pre-eminent Obligation. : 0/' the later cconomic/developments. it must .-suffice; to say''that 'the province has had its share of the material progress experienced by the .wiKile; country. Its -development—hastened a.t one . cenod by the,outbreak of i the "Wokaniariria gold diggings-has ;for the mast part' proceeded. steadily 1 and snrely, and its prosperity rests' .uj?on : a ; solid "basis .of enterprise .and ? V. industry;- The; :Pictoii-Blenheiin ■ railway, which v.'as opened in;-1675, . has- boen aif important: factor m the trade of tho province, i and the residents are now lrirtung forward to I ,tho; completion : of: the.'.South- Island Mam iTrunk;-line, with Picton as the'terminal port Yet, whatever Governments may do for Jlarl- -- boTOCgh,. sha will never-forget her pre-eminent ' i obligation 'to hof p'oneors, and ; she will look i'to men like them to serve her in tho future. :"Lo! '.here/ wliere'.each 'league ,'httii its foun'-' : .' tains : ■'■ >'■ ; In isles of deep fern and ,tall pine, .■ ..■"- , ' ;And. l breeze3,'snoWKiooled on the mountains,. • .Oi;, keen from tho .limitless'brine,V v.. ■.' , See. men '.to. the " battlefield pressing ' - ■.v'To, conquer one. foe—the*stern; soil' - Their_ kingship, in labour expressing,Their lordship in toil. Though young. they are. the ages, .. :■ Though. few, they are freemen and peers,. , .Plain. "workere-ryst 'sure of the. wages ' : - Slow Destiny pays with the. years." A PROVINCIAL LEADER. CAPTAIN BAILLIE'S MARLBOROUGH' .. CAREER.. • 'Hie Hoc. Captain Baillie, who is now. the senior member of the Legislative Council- was.a Marlborough pioneer, and ono of tho most prominent and influential figures in the political history of the province.y Thef.infirmities of age—he is : over 83—have obliged- him, "much to' his regret,: -to decline' a 'number." of . invitations' to parfcicipato in tiie fiinctions. connected with the; Marlborough-Jubilee, but''he still : take3i a keen interest' in .the affairs of . the province with which, he has been honourably associated for more .'than half a; Century.. The writer of this and''the preceding article 'is indebted to his courtesy oind to his accurate and retentive memory for oome of tho iribst, interesting details of this., and the preceding a jticle. ..

Wh^'Captain. Baillie,arrived at■ the.Y/airau in 1847, there' were '.bat three; dwellings'. upon the sifo.of Vha± ismw tKo toirti of Bfcnliemi. It was called "the Beaver"yn tbow.days, and Mr. James Sinclair. was knoicn m the "King of tie/ Beaver.'* jv Captain aiid/'Mts. Baillie have., the,, most graieful' reco&xitions of the hospitality, he extended to them at that ,fpjoff . time. They had ccane froin'fNeleoa in' a email boa±, having only riscejitly arrived from England, where ' the captain, who had previously eeen active service'*in the Punjirab, ,had been, commandant at : Chicheefcer. ITrom the Beaver to tho pastoral ran, in the Wairau Valley,' which. Captain Baillie (like so many othOT early, settlers) had bought before he hail ever set/ eyos. upon it, was a rough journey of 22 miles.- ,-v . ' ■■■.... '~...

First Prcv'mrlal.Coantil. j'Captain Bsdliio book an active part in ths mo'iicmeut which .led to tbo cieation. of the province its a separate political entity. He felt ,tho injustice of'the land ■ revenue of "the. diß- - going -to the proraxrial capital at Nalsan,. and being spent' chicly in that vicinity. Governor (IOM-Broft-Ee travelled through tb« neK province s,t the end of 1859, just after, it waS ' constituted, and Captain Baillie vta one oi\ a deputation which -waited . upon him and presented a loyal address. . , v • ... When the first . Provincial Council- was elected, early in 180), Captain Baillie was returned; as^one'of the representatives of : ,the Wairau. Valley, and .be oontinued to be &■ member of tlie Council until its abolition in 1876. On the resignation of tbo first Superintendent of the province, Mr. William Adams, in October, 1861, Captain Baillie was elected by the Council to' fill the/position. Early in his Pdmini&tiation, a severe strain was nnavoidaoly placed upon the provincial finances' in the first endeavour-to cope, with .the".Opawa 'Breach, through which the Wairau Uj.ver had : broken, causing .disastrous floods. The ; population... of? ■ the province .'having - appreciably increased,'-the Superintendent •, brought in ■ a Bill . to increase tlio membership of-.tno Council..but in tho inevitable strugglo betweeoi the Picton and Blenheim parties, his: original proposals, were con-. '.'sidorably 'modified;''He also authorised a fresh assessment' of 'the land; which, resulted in'.a" considerable, increase of. 'the . provincial irae;' The': end. of Cirptarn Bwilie's ;torm ,as Superintendent was - marked 'byexciting inci'-.' deilts. - His opponents, moved partly, by .resentment of his' aotioniii 1 regard to the .reassessjcmit. Tvara<wti<Un tly. expestinj to t :'C, 1..... J ...... . ,;i ;x : a..Vb

change of administration!, He wished to gain 'time, to test the validity' of. the election of two of -tiip incmberu.:s^s;-^therefore,, played' a 'part reminiscent of, that. 'C f ; Cromwell when he thundered:,'Take..awaj'that' baublq!" It was scarcely, so dramatic. The., Superintendent', after: formally- opening the- Council, simply .read' from a document that, in ; pursuance of the powers vested in him—and eo. forth—he declared the Council, prorogued.'

Taken by Surprise. The Opposition wore, completely tafcen by surprise, and they proceeded indignantly; but ceremoniously, to elect . Mr. Gouliind, .Speaker, and.Jilr.'i'W. H. Eyes, Superintfirident . When' they went .back to tho Council Chamber next nay, they found, it.closed against- them; The dispute lasted,; six'~months,. during which period provincial administrative affairs - ,were • at-, a. standstill. Tile . Supreme Court • decided' favour of Captain Baillie, but the real solution of the .difficulty came through , the Governor • dissolving;., tho Coimcil. .... Captain' Baillic's friends wsre in, a majority iu tho new .Council;'(lß63),. but it. was "net thought exipediont; that..he 'shouTd retain the positionvof Superintendent. His successor was. Sir. Thomas Carter, while Oaptiin Baillia: became Speaker and-a member of tho Executive.:A writer in the, "Marlborough Press" eulogised Mia thus "His honourable and gentlemanly conduct on all occasions, with: his ooldicr-like firmness-in i standing . to point. of ■ duty/ recommended, him as one to . whom we could well tiUßt the office ,of greatest responsibility amongst us." ■ ', Captain Baillie was Speaker, of the- Pro-',! vincial Council for some ten or twelve years.' He was appointed in 1881 to the Legislative Council, where he wa9 for 22 years consecutively Chairman of. Committees. He was a member 'of the Marlborough Education Board for 19 years.. H® sold his run in the Wairau Valley a good many, years ago, and went. to. reside on his estate near Picton, but: of late he. has liv«d ohiefly -in Wellington. -■ . In regard to the system of Provincial Government, Captain Baillie considers that it wasthe right thing for the early days, when communication. was comparatively, slow and' it-\ regular, and when the capital of the colony, was at distant Auckland, bet when telegraphiocommunication and its accompanying development? came into being, the time'was ripe for,' centralisation,, and though one Tesult has been the . burdening - of Parliament with .a. number' of .local Bills,-.there.has been,more than com- | pensalsion' in- the substitution. of' colonial in . place of-provincial finance. In-particular, he, is. as,firmly Convinced now; as. he was 50 years | ago,- of the wisdom'of establishing the province of Marlborough, - i