THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS. MR. WILLIAM MURCOTT AT HAMPDEN. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT)

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

THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS. MR. WILLIAM MURCOTT AT HAMPDEN. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT)

A meeting was hold in the Schoolhouse, Hampden, on Monday evening, 30th ult., to hear the views of Mr "William Murcotfc, who is one of the candidates for the representation of that district in the Provincial Council. The attendance was largo, and Mr John M'Kenzie wcs called to the chair, and introduced the candidate. Mr Mnrcolt said that himself and other friends, about seven years ago, tried to get a member for the Moei-aki district, and at last one had been obtained, but as no local man had come forward, at the request of several electors he had made up his mind to come before them as a candidate for the representation of tho district. He was fully awaro that the life of a politician was not a bed of rcses. He thought that men who had acted as Wardens, members of Local Road Beards, und several other local committees, were the men who oimht to know the wants of the district. In regard to the Immigration and Public Works scheme, he siid that some persons live up to their means, and some could live past their means, and he thought the General Government scheme was going v>ast our means ; and he was not in favor of the Middle Island having !o make the roais, etc, in the North Island. Many did not think they had to pay for such works, but the money had to come out of the peueral revenue, therefore all had to pay. He thought some of the railway echemei ought to be objected to, while others — such as the Clutha and the Waitaki to Timaru— ought to be proceeded with at once. He was opposed to the sum sot down for immigration, and would strike off a portion of that and place it on the Estimates for bringing water on the different poldfields, as he thought the miners the the mainstay of the Province. The next question was the Land Act. Referring at some length to the Hundreds Act, he said many had bought land under the impression that they would haye a pasturage for their cuttle for some years to come. If he was elpoted ho would endeavor to pet a certain portion of unsold land in this district and Otepopo set aside for commonage, to ho under the control of managers aod a herdsman. He was in favor of free selectiou to the extent of 320 acres, on defeired payments, on condition that a man lived on his land and improved it, as he thought this would be nn inducement for many to settle down, while under the present system the small capitalist was oblised to go el«ewhere — where the land was to be purchased on cosier terms. He thouaht the Land Acts of 1869 and 1870 were a great drawback, and unsatisfactory to most of the settlers except the squatters ; and that Mr Marandrew had locked up the lands. That centleman had supported the proposition that, land in Hundrods should be agricultural before it si i mild be put in the n-arket, which wa« strongly opposi d by Mr Howorth. He thought some of the settlers hnd been unf drly dealt with, as come had pnid from LI to L5 per acre for their land when of late some adjoining lands had been put into the market at 10s. per acre. He would be in favor of country schools having a schoolmistress, ns he thought it would be instructive nnd beneficial to girh uoinp to school. Ho wns in favor of the Local Road Board system, and snid that the L2 to LI arrangement had proved of vast importance in almost every district. He would like to have a road between nompden and Otrpopo leading to Shng Vallev, to come out as high up ths Valley as possible, n* it would save a long distnnce in the carting of different things from here to tho divings on the upper part of Shng Valley. He hid no doubt but that Provincial Governments had been very useful, but that the time was now come when government could bo much more cheaply and effectively managed. He thousht 3s 6d. per head for depasturing stock "was too much with no protection, as it was as much as the runholder had to pay. He wns in favor of a duty on grain, to assimilate with Victoria. The brewer was protected, and why should not the agriculturist ? He was in faror of tho Reid policy, And, if returned, -would support "meaBurt 1 *, not men" — would like to see New Zealand the Britain of the South not only in words but in reality. In answer to questions, Mr Murcott said he would protect all local industries, and was in favor of bonuses being given to local manufacturei's He would try to get a bridge over the Otepopo River ; thought tolls essent al at present for the maintenance of roads. A publican, he thought, could be absent from his licensed house by obtaining leave from a Resident Magistrate. He believed some of our cleverest men had been hotelkeepers. He would not be opposed to the bottle license, but would like to do away with Sunday trading. He was in favor of the honorarium, as some clever men could not devote their time to the public service unless paid for it. He would not support the Oamaru Dock question, unless ho thought tho work would stand. He was in favor of a railway, and thought tin- Government should not charge tolls when roads and bridge* had been damaged by floods until they were repaired again. It was hard for carters and others to get along some places, and at the same time have to pay tolls. He was in favor of having the mnin street through Hampden formed to its proper width, and of a Beach Master being stationed at MoeraVi, who should have charge of the jetty — the Government to fix a scale of charge*, nnd a return to be sent every three mowtln to the Govc-n»»o«it of all fees received by tho jett) -keeper. He t'lil U'A know

why Mr Le?gatt had not been paid the money voted for him, and thoushtit was leading the people astray by voting money for certain purposes aud then not paying the same. Mr John Presland proposed, and Mr D. Peach seconded, that Mr Murcott was a fit and proper person to represent the district in the Provincial Council. — Carried. Mr Murcott then thanked the meeting for their patient hearing, and the meeting terminated.