NOMINATION FOR UPPER WAIRAU.

Marlborough Express, Volume VIII, Issue 501, 21 May 1873, Page 3

NOMINATION FOR UPPER WAIRAU.

On Saturday, the nomination of candidates for the Upper Wairau District for the Provincial Council, took place at the school-room, Renwick. Mr C. J. W. Griffiths, the Returning Officer, having stated the purpose of the meeting, Mr Alexander Binning Monro was proposed by Messrs John Gibson, and M'Allister. Mr. John Dinuwall Ma'caulay Ava3 proposed by Messrs. E. D. M 'lsaac, and G. Mason. Mr. Mojrao then addressed the meeting, but as his remarks were mostly to the same effect . as those reported m our last issue, itisunnecessary to repeat them. He said the Roads m the Province were m a very unsatisfactory state, and trespass tracks all over were being stopped up by wire fences, and all the others might be stopped up any day. This was very unsatisfactory, and it was the first duty of the Council to have the Road question settled, hy bringing public roads m the most direct lines except where crossing swamps ; the road by Mrs Godfrey's was on a mere shell, and whenever the crust wears through it would become impassable. In many other places, where the public roads ran through swamps, they might very properly be diverged. The sooner the question was settled the better. Had it been done 10 years ago, it would, not have arisen now. Several years ago an Act was passed enabling owners of lands through which roads were laid down on their Crown Grants to take such road lines if the Provincial Government did not lay them out within the time. This was what ought to have been done, buthe understood the answer of theGovernment was the want of funds. For want of them they had made a free gift of the land which now belonged to the purchasers of sucli blocks, who were not going to give back the land for nothing. The best thing that could happen was for everyone to fence up these trespass tracks, and so force the Government to buy them. As regarded Drainage, he found that he had been under a mistake m his speech, and that it required threefourths of the population m a district to bring the Rivers Act into effect. It was therefore unnecessary to consider it further, as this district was too dry already. Education m various dis-

tricts was hardly fairly dealt with— for instance, m this district there were -no reserves to aid m the support of the schools. In Blenheim the publicans' licences were handed over to a committee to a considerable amount, which kept the schools m good funds while we were poor. He thought it would be better if all the licenses were put into a general fund and subdivided ; it was a matter which might be fairly brought before the Council. In reply to Mr Gibson, the speaker said he was aware that each district got its own licenses, but he repeated that his district was neglected, and the sum was insufficient having only two public houses ; then again they had no schoolmaster's house, while at Havelock they had got one, which they had no more right to have than they had, but he should try to get. one. Then the Council bad given them a grant of £40, which would lapse m June if not previously claimed, aud would have to be bro»ght up again, which he would do. He was strongly m favor of tramways, and when the Picton and Blenheim Railway was completed they ought to have a tramway constructed to convey the wool, &c. There Avas a large sum being borrowed to be spent iii making railways, part m the Picaud Blenheim line, and he did not see why they should not get some more, as all would have to pay the interest ; they ought to have part of the ten millions to help m making the tramway. He saw that it was intended to gi%'e Br ■ <g«l«ns :ui extra sum to make the railway bridge ■>*•••!■ tl^ Wairau se ye for the road traffic also. The nni'v deviated near Phillips' store till it eamo to Spring Creek, where it was shingly soil S'llvjpcfc 'to be carried away by the first flood, this was the ground over which the proposed road was to go. The cost of it would be nearly .is much as the costs of a road bridge over the river somewhere near to where the Ferry now is. There were several other remarks which he would like to go into would time permit, especially as regarded economy m the departments. He would devote as much time as possible to the others m Older to obtain justice to the district and Province. <fg Mr M'lsaaes asked if Mr Monro would advise Government to buy fresh roads rather than spend money m repairing fresh ones Mr Monro would recommend the acquiring of such roads as the Taylor Pass which might be closed at any time. It was the duty of the County Board ' to repair roads, and for the Go : vernmentto acquire and hand them over to the Boards. Mr C. F. Watts thought people should be willing to give roads to improve' property. The ' people who wanted compensation were those who were deprived of them. Mr Collie wished to remark that Blenheim had no Education Reserves except the ,plot on wh^sh the schools stood. Mr O'Sullivan asked on what basis he would divide proceeds of licenses, there were two, and the County Board divided them between the two schools. The towns receive great benefits from licenses while the. countries suffered. Mr Monro replied that the reporter said that he proposed to divide them on a population basis, but that was not satisfactory, because the school fees swell the town schools' revenues. He v would suppose it would be best to make almost anequal division, but it was a difficult question, „, •and. he would like to hear the views of others- " Where there were many people they required ' some argument before yon came at the opinions of people as to what way was best. Mr O'Sullivan : Theu your are m favor of remedying it m some way ? Mr Monro : Yes, as they get so mufth money. Mr O'Sullivan asked if he would be m favor of a measure for assisting other schools started by, religious bodies of a higher description of education. Would he support a measure by which they could claim it as a right ? . Mr Monro said the country Avas taxed tigive , a certain amount of Education to the children, but as regarded a higher class of schools, he did not approve that they should be taxed to further higher Education while their own children were pnly getting a limited education. .Mr O'Sullivan, — But suppofin^r they worn. opened on the same basis as Government schools ? Mr Monro.— Where private were opened on the same basis, he was willing to support them. ..'.'* Mr Ward asked if he was. aware of the boundaries of districts under the Rivers Act ? Mr Monro, had not studied the Drainage Act, and was not aware of its provisions, but he. was not m favour of taxing the higher districts for the beuofit < 'f the lower. Mr Wemyss,once said, But if you don't drain Blenheim you can't come to it iv a flood, to which he had replied, that m „ such case they must do without coining. I)r Renwick asked whether, until the Act was put m operation, it would not be well to put a sum on the Estimates, to moot equivalent subscriptions for protecting the banks of rivers ? Mr Monro. — Yes, Government would be justified m doing so. Dr Renwick. — W°uW you propose^ leaving it to the judgment of Government to expend the money ? He meant to spend it under the supervision of Government, which he thought was desirable. Mr Monro. — Yes, but he had a sort of idea that whatever Government was m force that the people would be likely to do the work better and more carefully. Dr Renwick. — If felt desirable by the settlers to do the work, they would submit their plans to the approval of Government m such a case. Mr Monro said it was more his idea that people would like to have a say m the wajr any money -was spent, but it might be judicious to place a sum on the Estimates for the purpose. Mr Macaulay said he had been requested by a few friends to come forward at the present time to stand for the district, and if elected he would do the best he could. As to Roads, ho would ask the Government to define and acquire trunk lines of roads, and then spend rates upon them, and not to expend them on private lands first. As for buying or exchanging new roads he had no objection to doing so where absolutely necessary, but he did object to the acquisition of roads just to improve the value of 4 or 5 persons' properties, and then give them com* pensation to the detriment of others. The Roads were m a very bad state, aud he would go mto get as much help from Government ho make them good as he could. Everyone saw the plans of their properties with the roads laid down upon them before buying, and altering them now

f<>r the licuefij: <>f the f-.».v to Mie v-t - : . •» >f ' ■ many, was wrong m pvvnerpiu. A; re ; :.-'.'d d Education this district was worse, off th.-v": any m Marlborough ; having five schools and no endowments ; it was the worst provided for. Other Counties had only one school. They had very little license money coming m, and the Education Boards were m debt until the year's rates were collected. He would try to get a grant towards Education. He considered all the licenses ought to go into a general fund, and then divided among the Schools, each getting its fair share. He would do his utmost for the welfare of the district m every way, assail his iuterests lay m it. Mr Goulter said he was not m a position to take part m anything of a political character now, but he wished to ask the candidates whether they would stop up Ren wick altogether, an I insist that there should be no roads made to the town. Mr Ward asked how it was known that parties bought with a knowledge of the roads ? Mr Monro said the roads were marked on all the plans. Mr Ward said they were bought with the understanding that where the roads were not m suitable places, they would be altered. There ■was not sufficient pains taken to lay them down on the laud. They were known as the R R blocks, and Government lost their right by-not attending to them m time. Mr O'Sullivan said about 150* purchasers had bought with plans showing upon them lines of road which they had siuce acquired, and now the settler 3 were mi.=- -led. Ma Watts confirmed tin's view, 5 per cent had been allowed m these blocks for road purposes, and he held it was .unjust, now to take away theso old roads and force them to buy new ones. Mr Monro said he considered it was a better policy for Government to have to pay £10 for a mad than that the people should be taxed' by the Road Boards to mend roads through swamps, of course old useless strips would he a consideration towards^the cost of those acquired. Mr Macaulay understood that there were roads to Renwick- m various directions which could not be stopped. Mr Watts said the roads were laid down on the jlans, but Government . was remiss m not putting them down on the land and acquiring them. Mr O'Snllivnn asked if the candidates intended to acquire roads. Mr Monro would do hin utmost to acquire them, and lay clown and define them, and then hand them over to the Road Boards. Dr Renwick asked how he would acquire them without purchase. Mr Monro said he should exchange land for* them, and then lay them down. He approved* of going m for what is for the general benefit of the country, and not of individuals ; where i! would be injurious to a man's property he would compensate him. Dr Renwick was. triad to hear that, as hr thought he, was disposed otherwise. Mr Monro thought it would be host to takf them all ;it once, arrnnsmg" with the owners, and riving. compensation m c.ipli or other land, and pled fed himself to have the land question settled at once. A show of hauds was then taken as under, nmu3 r persons making no sign : — Macanlay .. ... ... S Monro ... .. ... 5 The Returuinc Officer doclariug the show tv be m favour of Mr Mncaulav, Mr Monro demanded a poll, and the meeting dispersed.