MESSRS SUTTON AND RUSSELL AND THE NORTHERN SETTLERS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5471, 28 August 1879, Page 3

MESSRS SUTTON AND RUSSELL AND THE NORTHERN SETTLERS.

Sir, — Messrs Sutton and Russell base •their claim to the support of the Mohaka and Wairoa settlers .on the grounds that they have always suppoited measures calculated to benefit those places, and, in order to draw" a red' herring across the ttail.of their past misdeeds, they now advocaterthe proposed Napier-Gisbome railWay, pointing to it.ag a proof of what they would like to see done for tho abovonamed, districts.

; Fowj,..,siri I am an elector of the njorthern portion, of the district, and being afflicted with an unbelief in these gentlemen's good, intentions, I have made it my business to ascertain exactly what they did for us in their day of prosperity, when their party was in, and when their revered leader, Mr J. D. Ormond, held t.ho reins of patronage and power. For the benefit of other electors I will detail the result of my researches. On 10th June, 18T4,'Mr Carlile made the following resolution in the Provincial Council : —"That a return bo laid on the table showing the amount of provincial expenditure on public works in the Petane, Wairoa,' and Mohaka districts." This motion was negatived, and among the "noes" we find the names of Messrs Sutton and Russell, and among the "ayes "Mr Maney !' On the very next day, Mr Kinross moved and Mr Maney seconded, " For leave to introduce a bill to grant remission certificates to the Wairoa Volunteers." In the debate that ensued over this question Mr Sntton is reported to have said that "he did not approve of the system of giving away land in the way it had been." Mr Maney spoke strongly in its favor, saying the petitioners had a very strong case, the district having been the scene of the Te Kooti raids. The motion was of course negatived, ,the time-honored names of JMepsrs'Oi'mond and Sutton figuring conspicuously among the "noes."

In the same session, Mr Cai'lile moved, '" That a sum of £200 be placed on the ; estimates to improve and extend the preseut inland road from Mohaka towards Maungaharuru." This motion was likewise negatived, Messrs Sntton and Russell voting against it. On the same day (17-th June, 1874) Mr Kinross moved, ' ' That the sum on the estimates for the road from Petane to Wairoa bo increased to £5000." This waa also lost, Messrs Ormond, Russell, and Sutton voting against it. Mr Maney voted for it, and in the debate spoke strongly in ita favor, characterising it as only an act of justice. Now I ask the Mohaka and Wairoa settlers, what have these men done in the paat that we should accord them our conlidunco for the future ? In atrong contradistinction to their conduct in burking everything not ia their own neighborhoods, Mr Maney's conduct appears. He was not a member for any of the northern districts, and, as far as I know, had no property therein , but every measure proposed for their benefit received his support.—l am, &0., Argus. Napier, 29 th August.