CITY ELECTION. —PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 865, 29 July 1854, Page 3

CITY ELECTION. —PUBLIC MEETING.

( Communicated.) On Wednesday evening, pursuant to advertisement in (ho New Zealander , and also a similar notice by placards numerously and prominently circulated, a Public Meeting was held in the Odd Follows’ Hall. At the appointed time, crowds of people were assembled in front of the Hall, where this question was frequently asked, “ Will Brown be here?” Same said, in reply, that, he would, and others that he would not. The doors were thrown open—the Hall having been well lighted—and much better arrangements for the accommodation of the public were observable as compared with those ol Saturday evening. Ihe attendance, also, was still more numerous. Mr. Jerome Cadman was again called to the Chair, and commenced the business for which the meeting had been convened by reading the advertisement.

Mr. C a dm ax said—He was free to confess that lie considered that meeting, in every sense of the word, a very proper one. (Hear, hear.) Each candidate who was soliciting their suffrages should, he thought, embrace every opportunity to make known his opinions, and give some statement of the line of conduct he intended to pursue in the event of his being returned as a member to the House of Representatives. He (Mr. Cadman) observed that most of those present must be

aware that the circumstances of the City of Auckland and of the colony’ were very different to i what- they were even but twelve months ago. j (Hear, hear.) There was at this lime a very hn- ! portant Bill before the House of Representatives called the Waste Lands Bill, with regard to which i it was his opinion that each candidate should be i prepared to state distinctly to (he electors whe- | tlier, in (lie first place, he was agreeable for the management of the Waste Lands to lie handed over to the Provincial Councils; and whether lie was in favour of a property tax being placed on all (lie uncultivated lands, and tints make the absentee holders of land hear their proper share of the burthens of the colony—(hear, hear). lie thought it both unfair and detrimental to the interests of the Province for capitalists, cither in England or Sydney, to he allowed to traffic in land for speculation only—(hear, hear) —and he wished to see such regulations made as would encourage die working bona fide settlers. If some such plan were not adopted, the great capitalists would purchase large tracts of the best lands in the country, for the sole purpose of making money—and every stump rooted up would add, perhaps, a shilling an acre to such property. Very little labour was required to give land a pound per acre additional value; and he wanted those who did tlie work to derive some advantage, instead of allowing the great capitalist or tie absentee to monopolise all the benefit,—(hear, hear). Each candidate ought (o say how he would treat the mere land-jobber or the land shark—(cheers). They, the electors, ought to know from each candidate whether he looked with favour on the proposed alteration in the Constitution as would deprive the electors of the Province of one of their dearest rights and privileges, by handing over to the Governor the power to make the Superintendent a mere nominee—a principle which we have always denounced—instead of continuing to make the office elective, and therefore more in the power of the electors, and thereby to hold him in check, or to cashier him in case of a breach or neglect of duty. Dr. Monro had “ let the cat out of the bag’’ by asking the Ministry whether it was intended to attempt such an alteration. Mr. Sewell was of opinion that the office should e non-elective. Mr. FitzGerald thought it was rather too soon for the Doctor to have “ let the cat out of the bag.” lie thought that Messrs. Williamson and Brown ought to he able to answer any such questions to the electors—(hear, hear). They, the electors ought to take nothing for granted. Li order to facilitate the businass which was about to lie brought before them, lie trusted the meeting would assist him in keeping as good order as possible, and whoever came forward to speak, to let them have an impartial hearing. They were met to gain information, and if any remarks were made by anyone which others present considered at variance with truth, the fairest way would be for them to come forward and refute it, idstead of merely making a noise—(hear, hear). He again begged that they would allow every speaker, no matter on which side, a fair and Impartial hearing. The Chairman having sat down, Mr. David Graham advanced to the table, and presented a letter, addressed “To the Chairman of the Public Meeting called hv several electors, advertised to he held in the Odd Fellows’Hull, 2flfh July, H504.” Tiic Chairman here delayed the business for a few minutes whilst he perused the letter, in order to ascertain if the contents were of a private or public nature —this dune, he proceeded to read tlie following letter of apology to the meeting : ’To the Chairman of the Public Meeting advertised by “ several Electors,” to he held at the Odd-Fellow’s Hall, 26th July, I AVI. Sir, —1 perceive from the advertising columns of the New-Zealander of (his morning that “ several Electors convene a public meeting to lie held in (he Odd-Fellows Hall this evening,” when the two City Candidates “arc invited and requested to attend.” The notice is not signed by any one, and there is no guarantee therefore for its authenticity. In ease, however, it should he genuine, 1 deem it right to inform such of the Electors who may lie present, that I think it not right towards the Electors, or towards the Candidates, as it is wholly Irregular and unusual, that political meetings of such a character, inviting the attendance of opposing Candidates, should he anonymously called ; it might he for secret and improper objects, f am induced therefore not to attend, i need not add that it -is not out of any disrespect to the Electors that I adopt this course, or from any unwillingness to afford any information which maybe desired, though I could scarcely hope to make my political views better known than they already are, and I should scarcely think it necessary to give any assurance of the same principles and consistency which have hitherto guided me, remaining unchanged. Begging the favour of your reading this letter to the meeting.—l am, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, \Vm. Brown. Auckland, 20th July, Iliad, The letter, judging from the manifestations and expressions during its reading, showed that it g was regarded as any thing but satisfactory as an apology, much less as an excuse for the absence of Mr. William Brown as a candidate. It was looked upon ns too much begging the question, or as a lawyer’s ([nibble. Mr. Hansard rose and said that ho was about to put questions to Mr. Williamson, which he had also intended to have put to Mr. Brown, had he been present. Ist question—“ Will yon, if returned to tlie 1 louse of Representatives, abstain from occupying the time and attention of that house on subjects personal to yourself, and devote yourself exclusively to matters directly connected with the interests of the colony 1” 2nd question—“ Will you support every measure having a tendency to advance the moral and intellectual advancement of this community, as it shall he submitted to you in such a shape as to evidence its being the general opinion that such a measure will have such a tendency !” flrd question—“ Have you during the last five years used your endeavours to advance the moral and intellectual welfare of the community, by aiding in (lie establishment of Mechanics’ Instilutos, reading rooms for the people, land associations, benefit societies, and other establishments of a like nature 1” Mr. Williamson answered the two first questions apparently in a manner satisfactory to the meeting ; but preferred that the third should he answered by others. (Hear, hear.) Air. E. King next rose, and wished to have put a question to both of the candidates had they been present ; as it was, however, he would beg to ask Mr. Williamson this question—“ln the event of your being returned as a member of the House of Representatives, and the customs’ tariff coming under consideration, will you vindicate the reduction of the taxes upon articles principally in use by the working classes, so that the burthen may justly be borne by tlie wealthier classes in paying duty on articles of luxury—silks, satins, wax candles, &c. Answer.—Ho was of opinion that duties should he imposed on hut few articles of import, and only on articles of luxury. The necessaries of life should not he taxed in a young colony. A sufficient revenue could he raised from other ources. Mr. Georoe Me Kin-ley wished to put (his question to Both the Candidates, and he would put it to Mr. Williamson—- “ Will you, if returned to the House of Representatives, support a tax on all uncultivated land above 200 acres, upon an equitable sliding scale, so as to afford protection to bona fide settlers •” Answer —He believed that legislation on this subject would be lelt to (lie Provinces —and he already stood pledged to support a measure on that subject in the Provincial Council. Mr, Rowe next came forward, and put the annexed question — “ Would you, Mr. Williamson, support a measure to grant sums of money from the revenue of the Government for the purpose of European education! Answer— I This question, he thought, would he one for the Provincial Council, lie would support a measure for Government aid to schools, by

which competent teachers to educate children of the middle classes of the colonists might be secured. The funds granted to he administered by a Board of Education. Mr. Ci.aeke, put the next question—- “ Will you do all in your power to support the interests of Auckland manufacturers in preference to those of Europe i” Answer —Yes, ns a general rule. Mr. Ghii cin wished Mr. Williamson to answer this question — “ In the event of your being returned a member of the House of Representatives, would you do all in your power to oppose, and if possible to defeat,* by fair and legitimate means, any and every attempt at a violation of the constitution, by handing over the power to the Governor to appoint the Superintendent, and thus make him a mere nominee of the Government, instead of his being subject to be elected to the office (as now) by the electors of the Province i” Answer—He thought that the Constitution Act might he beneficially amended on several points —but the power to elect their own Superintendent having been once given to the Provinces, he did not think it should be taken away. Mr. Coolahan said he had been asked in the open street, whether he could give a satisfactory answer in reference to the question, as to whether Mr. Williamson did or did not sign the private petition that was got up and sent home, calling upon the Home Government to withdraw the municipal charter from Auckland on account of the liberality of the franchise. He had been so asked by two respectable electors of the City, whose names he could give if required. lie (Mr. Coolahan) took the earliest opportunity of putting the question direct to Mr. Williamson, who at once utterly denied having either seen or signed the private petition; and then, holding at the time the New-Zcalander in his hand, Mr. C. proceeded to read the subsequent correspondence in reference to that matter, —the result of which was, that so far as such a serious charge was concerned, Mr. Williamson came out perfectly clear. The speaker in strong terms denounced the conduct of those who had taken such a presumptuous and unwarrantable liberty as to privately assemble, for the purpose of endeavouring to curtail the powers and privileges of the people, in order to concentrate more power in their own hands, simply because they are the possessors of property. The sum and substance of their action in this affair was—to ask more for themselves, and to give the people less. It was evident that the present Candidate had not signed the private petition, and he would say this, that if the other absent Candidate (Mr. Win, Brown) had done so, lu was sure that every independent elector present would agree with him (the Speaker) that as a candidate for their suffrages, he did not deserve their support. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Several persons from the body of the meeting asked again and again—“ Did Mr. Brown sign the private petition 1” Mr. Coolaiian said lie was not prepared to say positive]}’ that Mr. Brown did sign the petition. But judging from the language of Mr. Carlcton’s letter, which says that it was confined to a small circle of those who were considered as loading men, and believing that Mr. Carletonlooked upon Mr. Brown as one of the leading men in Auckland, it was, lie thought, only a fair inference that Air. Brown did sign it, or lie otherwise would he one of the second or third-rate nun. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman having repeatedly enquired, rom the meeting if’ there wore any more questions to he asked, or if any one had any observations to make, and no one being forthcoming, Air. Hansard moved this resolution—u That the best thanks of the constituency of Auckland are due to Mr. John Williamson, for the manly manner in which he has come forward at their request and answered the questions submitted to him for their satisfaction.” Seconded by Air. Coolahan, and carried hy r acclamation. Mr. Williamson addressed the meeting, after which a vote of thanks was given to the Chairman, and the meeting separated.