MR STEWARD AT HAMPDEN.

North Otago Times, Volume XV, Issue 596, 3 February 1871, Page 2

MR STEWARD AT HAMPDEN.

Mr Steward met the electors at the Schoolhou.se Hampden, on Saturday evening last. The attendance was large. M. Gleeson, Esq., occupied the chair, and introduced the candidate, who was well received. Mr Steward then explained his views on the chief topics of the day in a long speech, which was almost a repetition of the one delivered on Friday night in the Volunteer Hall. The candidate was subjected to a series of questions, the answers to which (by the ocurtesy of th'e Hampden correspondent of the " Daily Times") we subjoin. In answer to questions, Mr Steward said : — He would be in favor of financial separation, were it practicable ; but the credit of the whole Colony had been pledged to the payment of loans, and he looked upon the withdrawal of any part of the security a3 an impossibility. We were bound to contribute towards the repayment of our debts, hence the necessity for guarding against any interfence with our land fund. He defined reproductive works as bridges on main roads, maintaining main roads, improvement of coastal harbors, where a trade already existed, and where it was known that facilities would increase that trade, and lines of railway in settled districts, to further develop an already existing trade. He would support the establishment of such work 1 ?, and thought m\l\\ ays should take precedence, when they could be shown to be payable. The information which he at present posseel led him to think favorably of the narrow gauge system. He would like to see experiments carried out with Thomson's road engine, and thought it was calculated to be of immense service to us, if all was true which was said of it. The engines cost about L850. His principle was that if we cannot achieve a desirable object in its entirety, and at once, do as much as can be done, and return to it with renewed vigor upon the first opportunity. Ho would support the construction of a line of railway from the Waitaki to Moeraki, if it could be done at a moderate cost ; — it might not cost as much as L5000 a mile. With regard to water supply on goldfields, he was entirely in favor of it, and instanced Maerewhenua goldfield, where there was a large area of payable ground which a copious water supply would render workable at all times of the year. An area of land which had been included within a goldfield for 3 years, and was found not to be auriferous, and he would accept the fact that no one had thought it worth while to look for gold there as sufficient evidence of its non-auriferous character, he would throw open for settlement, at the same time he would afford protection, to parties who had already expended money upon the land, as for instance in the construction of water-races, &c. He did not object to the principle of the Colony anticipating its future by borrowing. He objected to Mr Vogel's loan scheme, not because it was a loan scheme, but because it was an unfair scheme to ourselves. The contract for the Oamaru Dock was signed, and the work must now be gone through with. He thought the Dock would bo a reproductive work, provided it answered the desired ends when it was finished. (Laughter.) The Dock would give great facilities, if it turned out a success. He was favorable to railway connection between Canterbury and theBlufi*. If free selection were brought about, the prompt completion of surveys must be provided for. A difficulty had, he was aware, existed with regard to this in Canterbury. Ho would like to see the land sold in blocks of 200 acres, compelling the purchaser to occupy and improve. He would not oppose the blocks being 300 acres in extent. He thought we were over-governed, and would support any approach towards the foimation of one Government 'for the North, and one for the Middle Island, a legislative centre in each, and and the local administration of the local revenue. He would oppose any radical alteration in the land laws without appealing to the constituencies. The educational system of Otago he would preserve intact. He regarded that system as one thing at least we have to be proud of. A portion of the Timaru breakwater, he was aware, had been washed away. The blocks of material used in it3 construction wcie 20 tons each. It was intended that the blocks of the dock at Oamaru should be 200 tons each. He thought tramwavs might be constructed in certain districts as feeders. He would not, however, advocate their construction in any district where a reasonable hope did not exist that they would give a fair return for the outlay. He would like to see the claims for wages of men working upon Government works protected ; but did not see how to afford such security by legislative action. The laborer had at present a legal and preferential claim upon his work. (Dissent.) With regard to the constitution of the Upper House, he would like to see it made an elective body. He thought the number of members should bear a fixed projDortion to the number of members in the Lower House. The present svstem gave the Government an unfair advantage if it chose to exercise it. He was favorable to a defensive or non-aggressive native policy, when such could be maintained with honor ; but when it was found necessary to vindicate the law, he would at once take the aggressive. 2000 men, divided into small scouring paitics, would, he thought, reduce the natives in the North Island. He would pay such men well, and give them full and unrestricted power. With regard to sending our volunteers to the North, he did not think it necessary. If the necessity arose, he was quite sure our volunteers would not require to be asked twice to go. (Cheers.) He at one time thought that a boundary line might be fixed in the North Island between hostile nntivc territory and European settlements ; but he did not now think that practicable, owing to the configuration of the country, and other circum stances. He would give no protection to natives who had 0'itraged the law. If at the end of any session of the Assembly it was thought that he had ceased to represent the views of a majority of the electors, and a request to resign signed by a majority of the electors was presented to him, he would at once comply. He considered a general system of fortification for the Colony as impracticable ; but there were many points at which great protection might be afforded at small outlays. A federal union of the colonies he -was favorable to. It would be a work of time — at least two or three years — but meanwhile he would like to see all the

colonies regarded as neutrals in all European disputes. Mr Steward also spoke favorably -with regard to tlie San Francisco new mail service.