COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET AT AKAROA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5588, 22 January 1879, Page 5

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET AT AKAROA.

[by telkoeaph.J [Fbosi Of it Special Eepobxeb ] AKAROA, Jan. 21. A complimentary dinner to Messrs Montgomery and the Hons J. Hall, E. Gray, and W. Robinson, was given this evening in the Town Hall. Mr Jr. Williams, Chairman o£ the Akaroa and Wainui Rood Board, in the absence of Mr Latter, occupied the chair, having on his right the Hon J. Hall and Mr j. Aylmer, on hts loft Mr Montgomery and Mr Tosswill. The Mayor of Akaroa appeared in the vice-chair, supported by Mr Barker, Chairman of the Okain’s Road Board and Mr S. Leo. There were about 40 present. The Town Hull was prettily decorated. Mr Beecher catered, and the banquet was tastefully served. The Chairman apologised for the absence of Messrs Gray, Robinson, and Latter. He then proposed the customary loyal and general toasts. Mr Waeckcrlo, Major of Akaroa, ViceChairman, proposed “The Legislative Council,” coupled with the name of the Hon John Hall. The toast was drunk with cheers and musical honours. The Hon J, Hall was greeted with cheers. He said that he felt strongly the cordial manner in which the toast had boon received. Ho had often heard the toast generally well received, but never bettor than on the present occasion. The Council had been censured in high quarters for raising the question of whether it stood well in tiro opinion of the country, and ho wos glad that the meeting had not endorsed those censures. The Second Chamber was important and necessary to constitutional Government. It docs not derive authority immediately from the votes of colonists, but is anxious to bo in harmony

with tho feeling of the people. When nominated, it is not so easily u(Tooted by the momentary popular feeling, which, if given effect to, miglit frequently came much harm. A body which can giro time for reflection must bo useful j but while absolutely independent of the Lower House, they wore equally servants of the country. They would send proposals, of the soundness of which they wore not persuaded, back to the country, and bo guided by the voice of the electors, though they wore not to bo intimidated by clamours from any quarter. Ho might hero refer to the proposals to elect instead of nominate members of tlio Upper House. He for ono would not object. The present manner might bo improved, but tlio proposal came with a bad grace from a Government which had nominated no loss than seven members during tho term they had been in office. In his opinion no sot of men were more inclined to abandon nomination than the sresent5 resent Government. Ho would not introuce a political party question, but when a body to which ho bad tho honour to belong had been attacked at both ends of the Colony he must take tho opportunity of replying. They had been accused of high crimes, and it bad boon said that they should bo driven off tho face of the earth. It had been said that they had crushed a measure to extend liberty. What wore tho facts ? Government introduced a Bill for readjustment of the Electoral franchise, accompanied by a flourish of trumpets. It gave special privileges to. the Maoris—who had already the right to elect four representatives. As they had this, and were exempted from duties which Europeans had, he was opposed to the granting of further privileges. When the Bill got into Committee of the House of Representatives a very important alteration was proposed by Government to give almost the same privileges as to Europeans, to depart in fact from the provisions so lauded by Government. This was carried through by tho extreme pressure brought to bear by the Government and their supporters. The weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth was most distressing. (Mr Montgomery : I did not vote for it?) Mr Hall was glad to hear it, but many members who disapproved did. It was passed, and sent to tho Upper House. Moons who know no English, and knew nothing of our politics except through Pakeha-Maoris, were exempted from burdens, and given the same powers as Europeans. The Council restored the Bill to the original shape in which it was introduced by the Government, and for this they were told that they must be reconstituted. He did not believe that public opinion was against (die Council. (Applause.) The question was now said to be remitted to the country, but Government knew too much for that. His opinion was that the proposal was against the feeling of the people, ana would never again be made. He had trespassed on their time—(No! No!) but be thought it his duty to refer to this. He again would repeat that the statement that the Bill had been thrown oat in consequence of the Maori vote on the land tax was untrue. On the whole the Council had done good service, and he believed stood well in the estimation of the people of Now Zealand. The Vice-Chairman proposed “ Tho House of Representatives and Mr Montgomery, member for the district.” Everyone in the room and in Akaroa would, he was sure, appreciate the services rendered by their representative. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr Montgomery, who on rising was greeted with loud applause, returned thanks. He deemed it a nigh honour to represent the people, and by his vote to influence the future of this great country. It was a high compliment to bo intrusted with the making of laws. The Assembly, he believed, had the good of the country at heart. The present was not the opportunity for speaking of politics; that he would leave to a date in next month. The last speaker had taken the opportunity very properly as he had no constituency to address. For his own part, at present, he would make no comment on what that gentleman had said, but he might hare to refer to it at a future day. For what more he had to say that night he would wait till he was called upon to respond to a toast which he saw lower down on the list. Tho Chairman proposed, “Our Quests,” viz., their representative, and the Hons J. Hall, E. Gray, and W. Robinson. He was sorry that so important a toast was not in better hands. Akaroa, though having a grand future, had been neglected, through no fault of the inhabitants but by the mistake of making Lyttelton the harbour of the district. Without the aid of its representative Akaroa would be as it was 20 years ago. Too much honour could not be done to a gentleman who had looked after their interests, as their representative had done. The railway had generally been looked upon as local, but was not so. It would benefit the whole Province if not the Colony. Ho coupled tho toast with the names of Messrs Montgomery, Hall, Gray, and Robinson. Mr Montgomery, as one of tho guests and their representative, felt much honoured, not only as being their representative but by being associated with such gentlemen. It was always a satisfaction for the representative to know that he was considered by his constituents to have done his duty. It might not be out of place to refer to what he had done with regard, to the Akaroa railway. They would remember that in 1874 he had been asked to interest himself in the matter, and he had promised to do all in his power to have a survey made, and in the event of that survey disclosing no insuperable obstacles, to endeavour to obtain from the Provincial Government the necessary appropriation. Ho bad been successful in his efforts, and tho Provincial Council had voted the money necessary for tho preliminary survey. That survey had been duly made in July, 1876. He had held a conference with Sir Julius Vogel, who was at that time Premier, tho result of which was the appointment of a Trust for the survey of tho Lake, and a scheme for its drainage. Towards meeting the expenses of this, tho proceeds arising from the sale of 50,000 acres were to be put into a Bank as an endowment, and the land at present covered by water, but which would be by means of tho scheme reclaimed, was to be sold as soon os reclaimed. Tho Trust had no power to do more than cause the preliminary survey to be made, and the consequence was that many people were inclined to think that tho appointment of the Trust was a matter of no moment, but ho could assure them that tho work done by tho Trust had been of great value j it had been the thin end of the wedge. A Bill had been introduced which provided for the sotting apart of half the proceeds of tho sale of 50,000 acres of land, and for the survey of land now under the lake, whereby £50,000 worth of soil would bo reclaimed. This Bill had passed easily through tho Lower House, and had been materially helped in its progress through the Upper House by the assistance of his friend, the Hon John Hall, who, at his request, had taken charge of it The first Bill had been passed, and the Trust had been elected by tho ratepayers of tho road districts and Municipalities. Much time had unfortunately been lost in tho beginning by the Trust Engineer. In this instance tho loss of time had been specially unfortunate, as tho endowment would lapse if tho sohemo were not matured in time for the session of 1878. As far u the members of the Trust were concerned, they had deserved the highest praise for the manner in which they had fulfilled their duties. They had had to travel long distances, and to incur much personal inconvenience and expense, and ho could not allow that opportunity to pass without paying this tribute to the monts of the Trust, but lor whoso exertions no action could have been taken. There was one of tho gentlemen in particular—ho meant tho Chairman of the Trust —whoso services had been specially valuable. Ho regretted to notice that he was not present. Mr Latter’s official duties prevented him being there that night, but ho (Mr Mont* gomory) was sure that the people of Akaroa would always remember how much had been done by him for tho interest of the district. (Applause.) H waß important that the report should go before tho Legislature, and ho must say that tho district should never forget the zcul and energy displayed by the

Chairman and members of tho Trust. At tbo commencement of last session of tho General Assembly tho Government declined to include in their scheme the proposed Akaroa railway, but avowed themselves os not unfriendly to it. A private Bill had therefore been introduced by him, which hod received tho sanction of Government, and had passed tho Lower House with little or no opposition. Ho might hero take Ihi opportunity to remark that it was not advisable for a member in charge of suoh a Bill to make long and unnecessary ipecches, which, so far from assisting n Bill, tended to cause tho alienation of votes. Ho was sure of a majority, and would not lose time by talking “ bunkum.” Ho could have said that Akaroa had tho finest harbour, and that justice had not been done to it, but it would have been lost time. In tho Upper House great difficulty had been mot with in carrying the resolutions, but, thanks to the exertions of Messrs Hall, E. Gray, and W. Robinson, tho Bill had ultimately passed. It was a very great favour on the part of Mr Hall, whoso time was so engaged on Committee work. He need hardly say how distinguished a position Mr Hull occupied, and what influence his words possessed. A better man to take charge of the Bill could not have been found. He did not take it as a private favour, but as a public duty. The Bill had been referred to a Committee, and tho Committee took evidence and decided that the railway might bo taken os far as Little River, but no further. An amendment by the Hon G. M. Waterhouse to leave the matter for tho consideration of Government during the recess, was nearly passed, and but for the exertions of the gentleman he had named, might have been carried. Mr Gray had wished to go by the foot of the hill to Addington, and impressed his views upon the Trust; but when he found that the Engineer recommended a course by Lincoln, Mr Gray gave up his personal interests and supported the latter route. (Applause.) Messrs Gray and Robinson had been most useful in carrying the report. However, the BUI had been lost in the Upper House, and he,, with Mr Hall, bad to consider what was best to be done. This was a veiy serious question, and they had put it to the Government that it was absolutely necessary the railway should be made. The Government considered the point, and an amendment was moved by the Minister of Public Works on the schedule of railways, involving an expenditure of seven millions. Mr Macondrew had first proposed to moke it by Little. River, but in the House he moved the important words “ thence to Akaroa.” fOheers.) It would take too long to detail all the interviews held with the Government. The BUI passed both Houses, but no money had been appropriated. He was happy to say that Mr Mocandrew had passed £30,000 on the Estimates for the railway, (cheers) but many said the vote was merely put down, and that Government had no intention to go further. From what he knew of Mr Mocandrew he could fully trust him. As a fact, Mr Macandrew had given instructions for the work to be proceeded with at once. When Mr Macandrew came to Christchurch, he with Mr Blair, Mr Latter, and himself went over the line. He had subsequently asked the Engineer to place him in a position to tell him (Mr Montgomery) and his constituency what he was going to do. He said that the line to Little River was weU laid down, but thence it would have to be carefully surveyed. He promised to put men on to that part which could be proceeded with at once, and that tenders should be called for as much as could be proceeded with before March 31. (Cheers.) They were in this position—there was a large amount in the bank and considerable money to come in from land on the hill, and there was land at Ellesmere lake which would sell at £lO per acre. [This was all of the telegram that had come to hand at the time we went to press.]