PRE-SESSIONAL.

Evening Star, Issue 7162, 16 March 1887, Page 2

PRE-SESSIONAL.

[From Our Own Correspondent.]

QUEENSTOWN, March 16.

Mr Fergus had a largely-attended and enthusiastic meeting last night, a number of leading residents of the district being present. He spoke about thiee-quarters of an hour, and at the conclusion » unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was passed. He condemned the excessive legislation of the country, and the Public Works Department for not continuing the work of reform initiated by Mr Mitchelson. He accused the present Minister (Mr Richardson) of scattering the loans ovpr a number of lines —a system that had been condemned by the present Government when in opposition'. He pointed out that of the twenty-four millions borrowed for immigration and public works twelve millions had been spent on railways, including the purchase of district lines. He also referred to the shameful way in M'hich the Otago Central Railway was neglected. L 90,000 had been wasted on unemployed labor. He referred to the North Island Trunk Line, and asserted that the action of the Minister of Wmrks and Native Minister had rendered thiPsettlement of the King Country more remote than ever. As to the management of our railways, he said they were in a woful state. He blamed Mr Richardson for not bringing down last session the promised Bill re railway boards. H e Condemned the excessive freight changes, which had enabled Tasmania and Victoria to outdo our industries ; and specially alluded to the way the fruit-growing industry of Wakatipu Was handicapped. He spoke of the injustice of endeavoring to make struggling upcountry districts bear the expense of school buildings, as was attempted to be done last session by the Government. With rpspept to the Hospitals and Charitable Aid 4ot, he showed that, compared with the previous system, the subscriptions had fallen off, and the cost had been increased 30 per cent. He thought that the maintenance should be thrown on every property-owner, as was decided by the motion of Mr Pearson last session. One of the most laughable things that happened last session was the division on the Representation Bill, introdneed by the Government, and defeated by the votes of the Government majority. There was sure to be a severe struggle over the Bill next session, and he suggested that the Colony should be mapped into five or six provinces, each to return its quota under the Hare system, or some modification thereof. He. also advocated a redaction of the members to seventy-five or eighty.