MR. ROLLESTON AT PAPANUI.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 127, 28 November 1881, Page 2

MR. ROLLESTON AT PAPANUI.

LBt Telegraph.] | united press association. j Chris rcHDBCH, 27fch Novembor. The Hon. VV. Eolluaton met the Avon electors last night at tho Papanui Town Hall. Ho first alluded to a humorous letter, which had described him aB a steady old eliatt horse. He claimed that ho was a man that would not got tho bit in his teeth, or jump over the traces and bolt, but he waß not prepared to bo turned out. to grasß. He appeared as defending the policy of a Government which, hadjdeno its duty faithfully. 'Iho people generally wore satisfied with the work it had accomplished, and would renew their confidence at the coming elections. He had no faith in independent members, and, at the samo time, believed an Opposition to be absolutely necessary. Briefly sketching tho work of tho past SeaBion, Mr. Roileston claimed that tho crodit of the colony had been re-established, itfew Zealand was far better ad regarded its land s j stem than any oth* of tho Australian colonies, and the BtatetnttitM by Sir George Grpy with regard to tho lands in Canterbury were entirely erroneous. No ono oould have any reason to doubt, seeing what hia (Mr. Kolleston's) exertions had been in the past, that the administration of land would be otherwise than liberal. Tho statements made by Sir George Grey that secret information was given in connection with the Patetere Block were absolutely and wholly untrue. 'Jhero was no community of sentiment between the speaker and men who had such an utter disregard of truth. All through the country thare was novr a healtky demand tor land for bond fide occupation, and the applications during the past few months had been more thau in tho previous two years and a half. Tho coming monthly sales would ro» suit in an amount of settlement that oonld ecarcely have been anticipated. That the Government did not favour large holders was Bhown by the fact that in that distriot there were 180 settlers holding 22,426 acres, or an average of about 125 acres per man. It was the intention of the Government to go on with the plan of village settlements in Canterbury, and hereafter they would be prepared to cut up lands falling in and to lease them on pastoral and deferred pay* meats. With regard to Otago, plans were now being lithographed, and it was proposed to include a number gf tmall runs to carry 5000 sheep each. Mr. Rolleston next dealt with the question of electoral reform. Ho wa= not satisfied that triennial Parliaments were of advantage to ttie colony at large, but the Government of the day were not likely to propose a change to quinquennial Parliaments. There might, perhaps, be a farther onward movement to ■ecure • annual Parliaments. He thought that the existing system of Local Government ought to have a fair trial. On the Native question we had great reason for solf-oongra-tulation. and the Government felt that with referenco to affairs at i'arihaka, they had the support and sympathy of the people tUronghout the colony. The matter had been largely divested of party feeling, and had been felt to be a national danger to bis dealt with in a national spirit. It was * matter of surprise that Mr. Stout should ' have rushed wilaly into print, and have, '■ writtea as ho had done, lhat letter was " entirely unworthy of a public man dealing with so serious a quest on. Tho course taken by the Government was a reasonable and good one, and it was in consequence of that course that there was no bloodshed. It was monstrous to suppose that the Government oould in any way be privy to Te Whiti's speech of 17th September, as Sir George Grey had intimated. It might be the Government had token ou itaelf a seriona responsibility; but it would go on rheorfully aud firmly, knowing that numbers of defenceless settlers had to be looked to. Mr. K^lleaton spoke at length on the confiscation question, quoting from instructioDS given in 1805 and subsequently, to nhow how determined the then Government were to wipj out the Native title 'I he question of dealing with the land was rendered impossible) through the impracticability of the natives. In 18t>9 he rooommended the appointment of a Commission, but without effeot. V\h-,n he took offioe w.th the present Government, one of the first questions he put to Mr. Hall was as to whether he would agree to the appointment of a Commission, and the result was well kaown. Mr. Rolleston said that when he went to Te Whiti the latter took up his (Mr. Kolleston's) hat and said : "If your hat is cut in two what is the good of it?" He also said : "If you have come to share ths blanket with me I decline to help you." Mr. bo leston believed that at that time Te Whiti would have bee» glad to come to a settlement if he had dared to do so. A vote of thanks and confidence was oarried unanimously. AcckliAnd, 26th November. Mr. Alexander Fleming is out for City Wes.t.