ME. MAIN AT PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2000, 2 October 1869, Page 2

ME. MAIN AT PORT CHALMERS.

Last evening Mr D. F. Main, M.H. R., met his constituents at Port Chalmers, at the Bonded Store, at eight o’clock. At the hour appointed there was every appearance of a rainy night, and in consequence the number of persons present was lewer than might have been expected ; but, notwithstanding this drawback, it was well attended.

The Mayor, D. Rolfe. Esq., was chosen chairman. He said he had much pleasure in taking the chair. The meeting had been convened by Mr Main for the purpose of explaining the proceedings during the late session of the General Assembly. It was quite unnecessary for him to make any remarks, Mr Main had had the opportunity of addressing them at the termination of the session°last year, and was now anxious to give an account of his stewardship during the session just closed. Mr Main explained that he was not to blame for being somewhat late. It happened to be mail day, and consequently the steamer having had more than ordinary work to do, was later than the usual time of arrival. That was his apology. Previous to going to Wellington as their representative, he had the pleasure of meeting them, when they were good enough to arm him with an expression of their confidence ; and, being thus strengthened, he had more influence than would otherwise have been accorded to him in the Assembly. Many of his votes might not quite tally with the promises he had given them. He \vas there to explain thei’easons that induced him to vote as he did. He wished to place be fore them the policy of the late and of the present Government as in a microcosm, so that they might compare the two and say which would suit this distracted country. The session of the New Zealand Parliament just closed, opened on the Ist of June. The opening speech which the Governor was made to say, proclaimed war and ruin to this fair Colony, and lest he (Mr Main) should be charged with prejudice and only stating one side of the case, he would give extracts from the opening and closing speeches of the se?sion. The Governor said on opening Parliament—“ The great difficulty of the country must be grappled with, and a permanent remedy applied to a state of things that was paralysing industry, and in every way restricting the progress and settlement of the country. Any policy which fails of such a result will but abandon the country to disaster and ruin, which, spreading far beyond be scenes of conflict will be felt by all sections of the community of New Zealand. Correspondence between his Excellency the Governor and the Secretaries of State for the Colonies, in reference to the retention of

Imperial troops in New Zealand, and especially to the resolutions on the subject passed by both houses during last session will be laid before you. The question cannot he further pressed by the Legislature With any dignity cr self-respect, or any beneficial result to the people of New Z inland. The conquest of a permanent peace will require a exceptional expenditure beyond what it is advisable to levy in the shape of an annual revenue, and a ponion should he provided by loan. An application for a guarantee to such loan bas been made to the British Governnv nt. You will probably believe that the condition of the country requires a renewal of the application, and justifies the hope that the last prayer of the ( olouy to the mother country will not he rejected.” Those were the terms in which the Governor met the House. He was happy to say that a brighter <.l >y was about to dawn, and that belief was borne out by the closing closing speech of His Excellency, who said “ I have every hope that, strengthened by the countenance and aid of the Imperial Government, the colony will, under the blessing of Divine I‘rovidence, be restored to a condition of peace and prosperity ; that the settlers who have been molested by rebels will regain possession of their homesteads, and successfully resume their industrial pursuits ; and that insurrection will he finally suppressed,” That was the manner in which the Governor personally closed last session of the New Zealand Parliament, so that he (Mr Main) was justified in saying that the tocsin sounded at the opening of Parliament was war, loans, and ruin ; and at the close, peace, economy, and prosperity. He was about to shew that the change of Ministry had brought about a decided change of policy, and that had brought about what might be termed a peace. But ho would not plunge in medias res, but would give an outline of what had been d.uic, not in order of tho importance of the questions, but as they occurred in order of time. He did not reach Wellington until the Bth June. On the 10th he found a notice in of motion on the Order Paper with regard to Water Supply of the Goldfields. That was one of great importance to the Province, ns properly worked-out rich mineral deposits mb'ht have been obtained. He spoke on the question and assisted in Committee, but was sorry to say the gentleman who had charge, of the moti n was not very energetic, and the motion was not passed, though the Government were prepared to sanction measures for providing a permanent supply of water for digging purposes. The next question was the Ballot Bill. Mr Reynolds, with his usual industry, brought in a Bill for the fifth or sixth time. He (Mr Main) was in favor of the ballot, and voted for it. It was carried by a majority of 19, the numbers being 37 to 18 ; but he was sorry to say the Bill was so emasculated in the Upper House as to make it unworkable. A conference was asked by the House of Representatives with the Legislative Council, but the latter adhered to the amendments ihey proposed ; and as it would have been impolitic to have accepted it in its undated state, it was lost for that session. Mr Reyno’ds, however, had set his heart on carrying the measure, but none outside Parliament could imagine the difficulty private members had in carrying measures through. Those who voted fur tho Bill honed, however, to have tho ballot in full force before the present Parliament closed. On the 11th of June a Select Committee was moved for on a steam postal service. The members were named by the Government and the Middle Island members found that, as usual, there •was a large proportion of members from the North Island and Cook’s Straits. Only one result was thereto'e to he expected as to the arrival and depature of the English mail. It was consequently proposed to discharge the committee and appoint one by ballot, but notwithstanding that, the Middle Is ! ancl was in a minority. After they had sat two months they decided that the English Mail should come by the West Coast. Happily there were three consecutive mails in which it was impossible to land the mails at Hokitika, and it was found it would be doing injustice to the mercantile community to be second or third in receiving intelligence as to markets, and when it was found that no report would come from that committee, a motion was pressed by Mr Macandrew that rather startled steamboat proprietors, but which would be found to be the best thing for this portion of the Colony and every other; doing away with steam subsidies altogether. (Cheers.) Resolutions for making postal arrangements for the mail via Ban Francisco were carried by a large majority. Persons connected with steamboats asked with what regularity could it be expected that the mails would be delivered by unsubsidised boats ; but the Provinces of Otago and Auckland were each prepared to sulsi disc their own postal communication, though not to contribute to giving superior advantages to the unimportant provinces in the neighbourhood of Cook’s .Strait’s. On the 13th June. Mr Vogel introduced his celebrated resolutions on Government annuities. I his placed a coping stone on his character as an astute statesman. His speech was applauded on all sides of the House, and the measure would tend to foster pr.rvideiit habits among all claeses in the colony. A fortnight afterwards Mr Fox rose to move a vote of want of confidence in the Ministry. The debate lasted ten days. _ Much personal acrimony and recrimination took place. The late Government, it appeared, were spending money at the rate of a thousand a day. L 423,000 were spent in excess of appropriations before the present Government took office. It came out they were planning expeditions, apparently for the purpose of making a grand hit to show they had been successful, regardless of the interests of the Colony. The majority against the Stafford Government included five members who were afterwards known as “ the Gave,” and as the means of checking the policy of any Government, they became an independent body in the House. The next vote reduced the Government majority to four, and at a later stage, when one of the Government supporters went home to the North, it was reduced to three. They were all aware who the members of the Government were. The appointment of M r Gisborne, who had been for many years Under-Secretary, was a most fortunate one. The policy initiated was in direct opposition to that of their predecessors, inasmuch as the late Government determined to adhere to the self-reliant policy, while Mr Fox announced it was to be abolished, and that, instead of an aggressive, a defensive posit on was to be taken with regard to the Natives. The expenditure w»s to be reduced, the ISth Regiment to he retained, and another regiment, if possible, raised in England, selected from persons who were likely ultimately to become settlers. It was also resolved to bring the war expenditure down to L 150,000, to maintain

Provincial institutions, an I the Constitution of the country intact. It would be seen how these plans differed from those of the Stafford Ministry, whose expenditure in the prosecution of the war was simply unlimited, for they planned expeditious into the far interior, although the Maoris could retire into dense forests and live upon fernroot, while it was difficult for the colonists to fight without a commissariat. The present' Government; also, in deference to public opinion at Home, which is adverse to shooting a maovi taken in arms, introduced the .Summary Trials and Disturbed Districts Bill, but unfortunately tho Legislative Council mutilated i - to such an extent, that matters remain little better than before The trials of the prisoners were coming off, and ho had little doubt they would be dealt with as they deserved. About the time that the present Government took office, its supporters were usually ca'led Provincialists, and it was necessary to bring the Provincial and Colonial Governments into amity. Among the first things done to that end, a Bill was brought in to restore the sinking funds, which had become useless through the consolidation of loans, to the'jdifferent Provinces. Otago, by that means, receives L 40.000, which, had the late Government remained in office, would not have been returned. About D>at time, the now celebrated “ Hundreds Regulation Bill” was iutroducad. It emanated from the “Waste I.aims Committee,” composed of members from both sides of the Assembly. The origin of that Bill was best explained by Mr Ludlam, a farmer, living in Wellington, and one of those upright, honest men whom every one believed. He said,— “in reply to what had fallen from the honorable member for Taieri with regard to the Bill having been brought down in a hasty manner, and that he had attended the Waste Lands Committee without having been aware that a Bill of that sort was being prepared, that the honorable member must have been unfortunate in his visits to that Committee, because the House knew full well that a very large number of petitions from ruuholders of Otago had been referred to its consideration ; and it considered, looking to the large interests involved, that it was preferable to take ea hj of those petitions on their respective merits, and that they should meet the question by handing the House a certain resolution. That was the course the Waste Lands Committee adopted, and which he thought every member in the house would admit was a proper one. There were such a large number of complaints made against the working of the" law that the Committee thought it wiser to come down to the House and recommend them to legislate in a general way, instead _ of legislating for tor every particular petition. He was quite sure the honorable member would give the Waste Lands Committee the credit of having given every consideration to the matter; and, so far from the Bill having been brought down hastily, he believed three weeks had elapsed from the time when the question was first introduced until the report was brought up ” Some ruuholders wanted to show that land was not required for bona fide settlement, and wished to retain it for grazing purposes, notwithstanding seven new hundreds had been asked for by the Provincial Government. '.l he proposition of tho Provincial Council was referred to the Waste Lands Committee, but, instead of bringing up a report on each individual petition for a Hundred, it was thought better to bring in a general measure for declaring Hundreds to settle the ill-feeling that subsisted between the actual bona fide settler and the holders of pastoral leases. From the Otago members appointed on that Committee, were—Messrs Reynolds, Rich, Howorth, and Graham. Everyone knew Mr Reynolds’s opinions—MiRich was a farmer and no squatter. Mr Graham was a squatter, and Mr Howorth represented a large agricultural district, so that as far as Otago was concerned, they were fairly selected. They brought down the “Otago Hundreds Regulation Bill,” which in its first form put no limit to the compensation to be paid to run-holders on land declared into Hundreds. Mr Macandrew, in his place, objected to compensation remaining open, and would not agree to the Bill until it was fixed at a moderate sum. He gave notice when tin Bill went into Committee he should propose a clause which now stands as clause 9, requiring the compensation to be fixed. It was decided to be 2s Gd per acre on that portion of a run proclaimed a Hundred, as well as payment for improvements in fencing and laying down English grasses. The Goldfields Act provided that compensation for blocks taken out of goldfields runs should not exceed three years’ rental, but in several cases, instead of 2s 6d per acre, it had reached something like 5s atul Gs an acre. The Provincial Council had la-t session affirmed the principle, and took notice of the anomalous po-itiou in which ruuholders, without and within gol l fields were placed, runholders within goldfields being then entitled to compensation, while those without were not. The Bill in question affirmed the principle that runholdors without goldfields should have compensa ion, although it was not so provided by law. Certain persons at the Clutha had complained of the mal-adminis-tration of the Waste Lunds Act of Otago. A Commission was appointed to inquire into the matter, consisting of Messrs Domett, Strode, and Reynolds. They traversed the length and breadth of the Province, and took a large volume of evidence, which was placed before the Waste Lands Committee and the Otago Hundreds Regulation Bill was founded upon their report. The Bill passed the House of Representatives without division. The Otago members met together before the sitting of the House for the purpose of agreeing amongst themselves. A division was taken and an average of the different sums proposed was struck of 3s Gd per acre. M r Wood, of Invercargill, proposed a redaction from 3s Gd to 2s Gd an acre. A division took place, .and whether the Otago members were to blame or not, 2s Gd was the result for the hundred, and Is Gd fur the remainder of the run, if the ruuholder elected to abandon his lease on a hundred being proclaimed. When the Bill went before the Provincial Council Mr Domett took charge of it. Several honorable members attempted to interfere, but he would nob hear of it. It was the result of the Commission of which ha was a member, and he would not allow any one to touch it. The object was to allay feelings of animosity between the agriculturists and ruuholders. By it hundreds can he proclaimed throughout the length and breadth of the land ; it prevents the exercise of political influence. Hitherto the Colonial Government had power to refuse to grant hundreds without stating reasons, now it was imperative to proclaim them whenever a committee of the Provincial Council report that one is required. Tho tribunal would be an independent one. Some objected that 15,000 acres

was too small an area for a run, but there was nothing to prevent another hundred of 15,000 acres being declared next to it. (Cheers.) It was right to tell them, as members of a gold mining community, that the Bill might work injuriously to minors. There we e certain districts highly auriferous, and it might be the object for agriculturists to have Hundreds proclaimed, that the miner might say what shall we give you for permission to mine on your ground ; and as the greater part of the deposits of gold are on the surface, the whole surface would be taken into consideration, as by the peculiar mode of working not much would be left. On the other hand, it would open a door to a number of small graziers to become squatters themselves. The best ccitilicabe of the character of the Bill was from more than one runholdcr. One said it was the worst Bill for the squatters that ever was passed. Ho asked another and another, and they said the sanm, adding—“ For wo got previously os and Gs an acre.” He would tell them what he thought of it—it was simply ruination to him that he should only obtain Is Gd an acre. The best Bill for him was the old Bill, but now, were the whole of the country declared into Hundreds, they could not get more than 2s Gd per acre. Five years ago he gave 5s Gd an acre for grazing rights, and they were worth but little less at the present time, but be would bo bound to part with the run at the highest at 2s Gd an acre. But if be -were asked what was the character of the Bill, he should say it was a great boon to the country. He thought it a good Bill, although it acted prejudicially to a large class. He thought, without committing himself to a prophetic r mark, that public opinion would turn in favor of it. Before leaving the subject of land he would refer to a Bill entitled “The Otago Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill,” which provided that stock depastured on Hundreds should be assessed in the same manner as other stock. Finance ..was a dry subject, and he would deal with Mr Vo/el’s able financial statement as briefly as possible. It was found that the late Government had spent L 400.000 above tiie appropriations, and it was feared they must bring in a Bill not only fora loan but for contingencies. The revenue fell off last year, but the Auckland goldfields having attracted a great number of people from other colonies, it rallied at the close of the year. When Mr Vogel assumed office, the expenditure above appropriations was L 433.332, and the liabilities were increasing day by day. Treasury Bills were issued to L 150,000. Mr Vogel introduced several good measures, one for releasing the sinking funds released by the consolidation of loans Act, but locked up so as not to be available by the Provinces. Another, was allowing Provinces to overdraw to the extent of one-fifth of their annual revenue. By the first of these, the Provincial Council would be able to spend money in anticipation of revenue which could not he done before. The Treasurer hoped to take into consideration proposals from the Provinces for the construction of large and reproductive works, and to borrow accordingly. He also proposed to raise a sum of money for the North Island—the Middle Island to lend its credit, and to make those pay who reaped the benefit. It was proposed to settle the Native difficulty by openin' np the country, whereby settlers might he induced to go in-ido it, so that it mb'lit not remain a wilderness of fastnesses inhabited only by Maori trines. He proposed a duty on grain and flour, which he (Mr Main) supported. He calculated the revenue from it at L 14.000. On a division it was lost by a majority of 3. (Cheers.) He (Mr Main) was sorry for it, although he was not a protectionist, but he tuought it would have given encouragement to the agriculturists of the Middle Island. In was lost through the Northern Members. Canterbury snd Otago voted for it, .but it was lost by three —(cheers.) Mr. Vogel bad also put the Treasury Accounts on a better system than hitherto. In reference to a dispute between Otago and the General Government, whereby £40,00 ) had been deducted, it was said by some one remarking upon the claim, that figures might be made to prove anything; which, said Mr. Vogel, “ I take to mean that figures are capable of being abused.” In the course of his speech, the Treasurer made the following remarks, which were worth the heaving. As reported in Hansard, he said:—“ Let honorable members turn to the table and a k themselves what are the reproductive or colonising pur. poses there indicated. The interest on loans is interest on money thrown away in vain effort to civilise or to conquer the native race. To return to the first-mentioned tables, it will be found that of the aggregate revenue, L 1,400,000 has been expended on General Government services within the provinces. These services mainly represent the cost of the law courts and of the taxgatherer, the cost of raising the revenue. The. per ion handed over to the colonyforexpenditnre is net, is free from all charges for collecttion To the provinces, for provincial appropriation, L2 200 000 has been riven. Yes, out of nearly seven millions the c dony hayielded up 1/2,200,000, cxclvsive of territorial revenue for all those purposes for which the provinces have to provide—such as the maintenance of police and gaols, educational and charitable institutions, immigration, and the construction of roads, bridges, and public works of a reproductive nature. When we ponder over the history these figures record, can we doubt that the colony owes to the provinces that they have saved for useful purposes some portion of the enormous revenues raised within them ; can we doubt, moreover, how powerful for colonizing purposes the Provincial organisations have proved? Had the colony been colonized from one centre, should we have had the spectacle which, for example, Canterbury and Otago afford, of communities rushing into vigorous life with incredible rapidity ?” Those were some of the financial results to the Colony and the Province. The estimated expenditure was L968.G00, of which L 617,134 was general, and L 352.453 Provincial. The ways and means from various sources were calculated at L 1,032,000, deducting L 14.000 duty on grain, which fairly covered the estimated outlay. Mr Vogel regretted that immigration had been hitherto of a spasmodic and ephemeral character. The Northern Island was no doubt the finer island of the two, but it was inhabited by barbarous tribes, who would not allow Europeans to remain on the land, so that it was positively almost impossible to bring up families ; but although Otago bad not so fine a climate and soil, there was peace within its herd rs, and its inhabitants were safe everywhere from the tomahawk and the knife. Those were the principal points dealt with in the Treasurer’s statement. One Bill, a permissive one, he must mention, that had his support; the Bill to enable the annexation of Otago and Southland. He (Mr Main) supported that mea-

sure in the House of Representatives, as he had done previously in the Provincial Council. Mr M'Der.nid would remember that the Council affirmed the princple, and the Bill was, therefore, introduced into the House of Representatives. It was carried by a considerable majority, although it was thought by some members the intention was to give political power to Otago, and they had rather take some from the Province than add to it. Political power was the last thing he thought of. Southland would return its members as well as Otago, without regard to I'rovincial feeling. The members would not vote as a whole. The Bill was thrown out but lie did not think it would prevent a reunion of the provinces. There were at owe time three Native policies on the Order paper of the House of Representatives—Mr Rolleston’s, Mr Tancrod’s, and Mr Maclean’s. The Lit or was adopted. A division was taken on a clause adopted by the Government, and carried by a major,ty of three. The Legislative Council altered it, so that the Bill enables the Government to grant passages to B. items, and gives the C. mmissioners who are about to be sent to England full power to secure Ghoorkhas or other tribes. A Goldfields Act Amendment Bill enabling leaseholders to toke up 200 ames of land, instead of 50, was passed. The Otago Loan Bill was introduced, for spending L 50,000. It emanated Com the Provincial Council, and included the dock at Oamaru, the jetty at Waikouaiti, and the bridge at the Waitaki. The Bill passed the House of Representatives, but was lost in the Legislative Council. There were debates enough of course on the expenditure as well as ou the system of keeping accounts. In fact there were too many Treasurers in the House. It appeared that the accounts of the Colony had been kept in such a manner that no one could understand them unless persons gave exclusive attention to them. Unfortunately there were members who sat up night after night, poring over them, and afterwards brought in strings of resolutions that nobody could understand but themselves. It was something to the credit of the present Treasurer that he had initiated a system which so simplified the accounts that any one could comprehend them. The Comp? troller’s balance, and the Treasurer's could not be made to agree. At one time the Treasurer wanted money for payment of accounts, and the Comptroller would not allow him to have it. Mr. Vogel brought in a Treasury Bill, so that he could actually forestall sums calculated upon being re. ceived, before they reached the Treasury chest in Wellington. Other live Financial Bills were introduced by the Treasurer, all of which were carried. Mr Stafford, on the Appropriation Bill bemg introduced, after some very strong language, pronounced Mr Vogel’s Treasurership a gross failure. Mr Fox said he would allow the Treasurer to talk for himself, but withjregard to his success as Treasurer, he was the most successful. When he was Treasurer he (Mr Stafford) carried very few Bills, while Mr Vogel had carried all he introduced.

Mr Main concluded by relating some anecdotes of the session, and by a short summary of what be had previously said. Several questions were asked by Mr Dench. In reply, Mr Main said there was no necessity to bring the fort Chalmers Hallway Bill before the House of Representatives. He considered the railway an accomplished fact. A new survey had been made, and in a few days a prospectus would be issued. (Cheers.) The Provincial Government had full power to give the guarantee. Ifl reply to Mr M'Dermid, Mr Main did not regard the Otago Hundreds Regulations Bill as a declaratory one, but the reverse. It was a compulsory Bill.

Several other questions were asked, which were fully answered previously in Mr Main’s statement.

A vote of thanks to Mr Main and the Chairman terminated the proceedings.