MR. MAIN AT NASEBY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 39, 29 October 1869, Page 2

MR. MAIN AT NASEBY.

A largely attended meeting bled at the Victoria Hall on the even-1 ing of Monday last, to receive from M"- I Main, M.P.C., an account of '-i* siv-1 iius and doings both in the Provincial« Council and in the General Assembly J Mr. Maitlaml, J. P., having- becifl called to the chair, Mr. Main proceeded to address thef meeting, and explained the relationship which exists between the General an t' Provincial Governments. The interest on loans, he statedj was interest on money thrown away in vain efforts to civilise or to conquer the Native racer Out of the aggregate revenue, ■ £ L,400,000 has been expended in , General Government services the Provinces; These services mainfjM represent the- cost of the law courts and of the tax gatherer—the cost of : raising the revenue. The portion handed over to the Colony for expenditure is net —is free from all charges lor collection. To the Provinces, for ' Provincial appropriation, £2.20(MX)0 had been given. Yes, out of n<sarlyj seven millions the Colony has yield* d ! u;> exclusive of territorial j revenue, for all' those purposes for which the Provinces have to provide — such as the maintenance of police ani ' iraols, educational and charitable insti- " tutions, immigration, and the construction of roads, bridges, and-public works ' of a reproductive nature. When we. ponder over the hisfcory these fhruresjj record, can we doubt that the Colony,-; owes to the Provinces that they have

saved for useful purposes some"portion Oc tne enormous.revenues raised within t.iem can we doubt, moreover, how powerful for colonising purposes the Provincial organisations have proved? Had t;ie Colony been colonised from one centre, would -Otairo have had the princely revenue of £399 SLI 10s. 9d. to vote, as was done last session; would we have had the spectacle which, ,fo re xam pie. Can te rh ury an d 0 tago afforded of communities rushing into vi porous life with incredible rapidity ? .!?. He then stated shortly the votr-s and proceedings in t'ie Provin ial Council w rich more immod a' el y affected this place, and which be pledged himself to see expended or resign his seat in the Provincial Council, and let another dog wso could bark louder than he go d. >wn and take his place. He st ited t.i it the.'Vote " liyde to iCyeburn " for a oridge over the Taieri,near the lake wis now beiiiir expended, and that a tender had been accepted for £2oi Rirt of jfche vote " Gold Fields Buildimprove the Government buildings. " Survey Office, Naseby, £150," was now spent, and a new survey .-office opened. " Sludge Channels, Naseby, &c., £2,350" —-he would see that Naseby had at least £SOO of that amount, without applying the two . pounds for one principle. With regard to telegraphic extension, it was arranged in the General Assembly that Palmerston would have an office, and it was broadly, stated that out of the vote of £1,0.00 for Provincial Telegraphs, an extension to Naseby and St. Bathans would be made. Without pledgin himself to accomplish the extension Vdesired, he would assure the meeting /that lie, would use his best endeavors to get a portion of the vote expended in that direction. Alluding to Native affairs, Mr. Main remarked that now Mr." M'Lean was at the head of that department we should have no more rebell ions—im mo re Maori YV-ara. Mr. M"Lcan V long acquaintain-e with the Natives—their customs and their lan-' g';ia: him out as a man eaiirently qualiried to hold the position or' Native Minister. -He (Mr. M'Lean) enjoyed the confidence alike of the Europeans and the Natives. The present rebellion crushed, the

fiirest spots in t ! ie world. In climate and soil it stood unrivalled—it simply wanted ateemiiiij: population to develope its vast resources. It was the policy of tie present Government to retain a certain iiuulber of Queen's troops ; these were necessary to preserve order. It was not their intentio 11 to act 011 t he towards the Natives, but to confine .themselves as far "as possible to the defensive, an 1 to curtail expenses and reduce taxation. The Provincial " system did not work so well North Mr. Main next alluded to. the manner iu which rebels had been pardoned by the late.. Government. Even the arch-rebel Patera' had been pardoned by Mr. Eichmond. The present .■Government promised to watch their movements well for the future. An act had been passed under which rebels : would be tried when taken. Tne Maories deliberately shot ail men taken in arms, saving none. This; would, no d o u bt, excite the Exeter Hal I people. . {Speaking pi the Commission about to proceed to ; England, Mr; Main expressed h ; js couviction that their mission would be attended with success. Proper representations would not fail to be successful. There would—there could—be no refusal. Should it, however, happen that Great Britain still continued to turn a deaf ear to our requests, then we must 1:0 longer look upon her as our parent country, but must proclaim our independence He would not allow himself to doubt that Great Britain ivould consent to i>ive us what we asked for. Mr. Main went on to state that, for the purpose of storing water for mining purposes on the Goldfields, the new Government would support Provincial loans to cover the cost. The honorable srentleman next spoke of the Ballot Bill, and entered ; into explanations respecting the steam postal service He had supported the Government Annuities' Bill. He looked upon the institution of Insurance * Offi res as calculated to encourage /frugality in communities. A Bil ( I had been introduced bv the Superintendent to establish a settlement at Preservation Inlet and Martin's Bay. The timber was fine, but the climate inhospitable. The Bill to, enable and Southland to re-unite was lost in the Legislative Assembly. The ' Public Libraries Bill would not do for Kaseby

u itil erected into-a municipality-. -Mr t Main- proceeded to tion in the Goldßelds Act relative to the taking out of miner's rights, &c. Mining leases can now be issued by the Superintendent, instead of by the Governor as heretofore. A Bill had been carried enabling- us to build a breakwater atOamaru, and a jetty at Waikouaiti. Mr. Mairi next referred to the Hundreds regulations Bill, giving an account of its origin and explaining its provisions, stating that the Bill had his approval. The Bill was entitled to have a trial ; he believed it to be a imod • o and wise measure ; but if, after a fair trial, it turned out not to be what it should be, then in God's name let it be repealed. But,, said the honorable gentleman, " I'll stick by the Bill." Mr. Main having thanked the meeting for the patient hearing they had accorded him, stated his readiness to answer any question. . A number of questions having been put; a unanimous vote of thanks for his attendance and address brought the proceedings to a close.