THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD Napier, Saturday, Dec. 5, 1857. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S VISIT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume I, Issue 11, 5 December 1857, Page 3

THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD Napier, Saturday, Dec. 5, 1857. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S VISIT.

In our last ordinary issue we briefly referred to a meeting held at the Royal Hotel, on Thursday the 26th ult., which had been convened for the purpose of hearing his Honor the Superintendent upon matters of public interest. The meeting, considering the shortness of the notice, was numerously attended. The chair was taken taken by H. R. Russell Esq., who, after formally opening the proceedings placed before his Honor the Superintendent a list of subjects upon which it was thought desirable that he . should express his views. His Honor the Superintendent, after expressing regret that an hour or two had not been afforded him for previous consideration ; said that he might, perhaps, be permitted to avail himself of this opportunity to thank the electors of the District for the cordial support they had afforded him at the late election — support which he felt all the more ironi the circumstance of differ-

ences and misunderstandings having existed between the settlers and himself. He was aware that most of them were fully convinced that on the part of his government great neglect had been shewn to this District. He regretted this ; but if, as alleged, any sins, • either of omission or commission, had been committed, he trusted that, in future, ample atonement would be made, and that they would have no I reason to regret the confidence they had placed in him. He was glad to see that meeting ; and he hoped that its tendency would be to disabuse the minds of the electors of some misunderstanding, and to allay feelings of irritation, which he regretted to say had existed. He would only add that he would now be happy to oiler any explanation as to his past administration, or to answer any charge with reference to public works or other matters. His great object in coming up was to hear a statement of their wants and requirements, and to become acquainted with their views, with the desire, as far as possible, of supplying the former, and of carrying out the latter. They were all aware that he now depended for the means of carrying out his policy upon the support of settlers in the outlying Districts ; for a majority of members had been returned to the Council, pledged to a policy diametrically opposed to his own. He would now touch upon the various subjects enumerated in the paper before him although there were one or two upon which he would gladly defer speaking. He would not, however, shirk any question that might be put to him. He "was first asked for a statement of his views about deferred pay - ments for Crown Lands, and the arguments for and against them. His views, as he had frequently stated, were opposed to any system that had yet been propounded of selling land upon deferred payments. He had gone further, and declared that he would never be a consenting party to such a system. Some people imagined that such such a system was new ; but the fact was that it had been tried in every colony yet founded. For a long period it was tried in the United States, but proved a signal failure. It was found that the payments were not made — probably made the first year, and not afterwards. Year after year, bills granting further time- had to be brought into Congress ; till at last President Munro declared that the country could not exist under such a system. - He then proposed a measure, which was finally adopted, abolishing the system. Then in Canada, upon the authority of Lord Durham's report, instead of settling the country, the same system had the effect of turning industrious laborers into paupers. In no instance were the arrears ever collected ; and the government was constantly beset by small purchasers wishing it to forego the amounts due. Not five per cent, of the purchase moneys was ever received. What had taken place there might "be expected here. But that was not the only reason of his (Dr. Featherston's) opposition to the system. Not only the Provincial Government but I the General Government also, had pledged the lands to the public creditor. As it had been found elsewhere that the arrears could not be collected, would the tendency of the system not be to impair the security, and would any government, under such circumstances, be justified in sanctioning it ? Further, he could not see that it was any real boon to the working settler. At the ruling rates of wages, and with land at 10s. an acre, any industrious man could from his savings, purchase as much as he pleased. The only result of taking land on credit would he pauperism, for the holder would be forced to become a cultivator before he had the means of cultivating a tithe of his holding. He (Dr. Featherston) did not know of any arguments in favor of the system, for he had heard none that were entitled to weight. He scarcely knew indeed why they had been adduced, unless for the purpose of getting votes from the working '. classes. He knew in fact that some of these j had been told that even the shilling a year would never be demanded — but that 40 acres of land would absolutely be given them. He was next asked his views on the question of licensed occupation of Crovm Lands for pastor at purposes. He was not quite certain that he fully understood the exact bearing of the question. . He must say he had long been of opinion that the relations existing between the government and the runholder were most unsatisfactory . On the one hand the public had a right to complain that the waste lands of the Province did not yield an adequate revenue ; and, again, ©n the other hand, the runholder had an equal right to complain that his tenure was so insecure. He (Dr. Featherston) believed that, to allay this cry

and to satisfy the public, some adjustment would have to be made. The basis of this adjustment would have to be increased rsnt to the Province, and to the runholder increased security of tenure, One of his (Dr. Feather aton's) objects in visiting this District was to ascertain the opinions of I those more immediately interested in this question, • with the view of preparing a scheme that would satisfy them, and at same time allay the prevalent feeling of irritation. When he originally proposed as an acreage t ix, a halfpenny for the first three years, and a psnny for the remainder of the fourtee 1 , the Council was willing to act upon the proposal ; but, before that time, a 1 urge number of runs had been already' taken uprn the terms of Sir George Grey's land regulations, and, in order to induce such holders to agree to the acreage tax, the Council modified the terms — reducing: tho proposed rent to a farthing for the first five years, a halfpenny £>r the next five, aid a penny for the remainder of the time. fHs idea was that the rent originally proposed should now be levied ; and that, instead cf a licensee, the mnholder should become a leaseholder, but on the express condition that alllancl available for agriculture should be excluded from the leasehold. . The third question, — What advantages the settlers of Hawke's Day are likely to derive from a permanent union with Wellington ? — was rather ingeniously put, involving, as it did, the whole question of separation. He had no objection to enter upon the subject, if they really wished it, but he would ask was it fair that he, as superintendent, should be called upon to do so. Mr. Ferguson explained that his views were asked, not as Superintendent, but as member of the General Assembly. His Honor, — But unfortunately I cannot separate the one from the other. Mr. Ferguson said that the question was an open one, and he did not think there was any wish to press it. But in his capacity of member of the House of Representatives, it was their intention to ask his support in favor of separation (Laughter). His Honor. — Following this question he found the words—^-involving as it does, being made responsible for loans for which it does not appear likely they will receive any benefit, and the spending in Wellington of the greater part of the revenue raised here. Also, the difficulty of legislation on local affairs by persons residing 210 miles away and principally unconnected with the District, and the danger of sudden changes from time to time, seriously affecting the Ahuriri Districts, against the consent of the inhabitants, owing to the great preponderance of members in the Provincial Council for the town of Wellington and its suburbs. He . agreed with the principle, and had said so again and again, that the proceeds of loans, should not be spent exclusively in any one part of the Province. Each locality should have its share of the revenue, and of the loans for which it was in part security* The only question was, — Had he or any others the desire to deprive any District of its full share of the one or the other ? He protested against the charge that had been made against him of seeking to depriveAhuriri of any portion of revenue justly its due ; on the contrary, it had ever been his intention, in its infancy, to assist it to the utmost of his power. Unforseen circumstances had hitherto prevented him; from carrying out those intentions ; but he declared that all sums voted for expenditure in this District were still in the Provincial Chest, and, so long as he was at the head of the government, it should not only have these, but, so far as he could, further appro-v priations to make up its full share. The only question really was why the money had not been expended sooner — why the roads had not been made before this year. Many of those present knew that a line of road was marked out by Mr. Roy, with the view of immediately commencing it ; but that, from the obstructions thrown in the way by Hapuka, it was found impossible to proceed with it. No expression of opinion reached him (Dr. F.) in favour of the Te Aute line and the abandonment of that by Patangata, until April last, when he lost no time in giving instructions for the work to be proceeded with. And he was prepared then, and had given the overseer orders to that effect, to. place gang after gang upon the road until the £5,000 voted and any sums that might yet be appropriated for the purpose, should all be expended. He did say, emphatically, that he was not guilty of any . intention to ignore the claims of the Ahuriri District, or to deprive it of its full share whether of loans or of revenue. He had already proved his desire to advance the interests of the District by offering the Colonial Treasurer to advance