HAMPDEN (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Hampden, May 24th, 1869.

North Otago Times, Volume XII, Issue 418, 28 May 1869, Page 2

HAM PD EN (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) Hampden, May 24th, 1869.

The ITiimpdcn Town Uoard have in oouroo of erection u bridgo ovor the Big Kuri Rivor, which will, provo a grout convenience in going to tlio cometoryl aa tho river is ut tiniOß bo flooded us to bo impassable to foot passongora. I observe that tho contractor (Mr l'roslund) has noarly till tlio piles driven, and tho bridgo bids foil' to bo completed at an early duto. Tho greater puit of lust year's crop is now thrashed ! out in this district, and a larger quantity ot gr.iin is finding ita way to the port of Moeraki tlmn I have seen in any provious year. Mr C. (J. Graham acldrossod a mooting of doctors nt tho ITampdon Ilotol, on Wednesday, tho 19th instant. Dr Hayno having been called to the chair, that gentleman brietlv introducod tho candidate. Mr Graliam said that tho pooplo in this district might porhups object that ho was not a local man, and gomo ulbo might bo found unwilling to support him because ho was connected with tho squatting interest 5 Out in reply to that ho wight cay that ho was also a freeholder to a very largo oxtont, und that his intorest as a frooholdor was of far moro importance to him than his interest as a uquattor. After somo other preliminary remarks Mr Graham detailed his viows as to tho Kativo war, which ho complained had boon grossly mismanaged, and declared himsolf an advocate of tlio Hoparation of tho Middle from the North Inland. In connection with this last, he spoke in favor of tbo system of County administration, stating that ho hud had aomo experience of the rihiro system, which ho had found to work well. As to tho railway qurtrtion, ho Buid that ho wua of opinion that tho construction of railways at the present time would bo prcmtituro ; they could not pay for eoino time to come, though a tnuo would doubtless come when thoy would pay well. Mr W. Murcott wished to know what woro Mr Graham'B viows with rogard to tho present Land ActP Mr Graham would bo inclined to lcavo tho law as it Btood. It had beon constantly altorod, and continual chango without necessity was to bo doprecatod. He thought tho present Act would work very well if wisely and judiciously administered. Mr Loggatt asked if further taxation should be found necessary what form of taxation Mr Graham would support. Mr Graham in reply atatod that ho would in such case BUpport direct taxation in the Bhapo of an Incouio Tax. In unswer to questions respecting Commonages, Mr Graham said that he bohored tho yuperintontondent had powor, with tho advico of his Executive, to make each reserves as might bo requisite for this purpoßo. Thorc boing no other questions proposod, Mr Krakour said that Mr Graham having clearly expressed his views, and satisfactorily außworod tho various questions put to him, ho had much plcanuro in moving " That this meeting is of opinion that Mr (J." C. Graham is a Jit and proper person to ropreiont tho Oamaru District in the General Assembly." Mr Loggatt socondod tho motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Graham returned thanks for tho patient hearing awarded to linn by tho meeting, and for thid expresmon of their confidence. Ho then propobed a vote of thanks to tho chair, which was earned by acclamation, and tho mooting thon dispersed. [Noti . — Tho abovo reached us too Into for insertion in our last. Kl>. O, T.] j