MESSRS. HAMLIN AND HOBBS AT MAUKU

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5497, 30 June 1879, Page 5

MESSRS. HAMLIN AND HOBBS AT MAUKU

Messrs. Hamlir'-aaei Hobbs 'suVi u meeting at the hall, Patamahoe, on Thursday evening, June 26. There was ■:,- ver.y gcd attendance, considering f-he wcttaer was so bad. Mr. G. H. MAuJ r DSK having t-aeu voted to the chair, c,ide a i'aw reuiaxijs, and called uyofi Mr., Hmyiiu t-o address the meeting. Mr. Fills r-Ai.;l there Was uo'ching' parlicu'.ar in the las c . lensi-jo. or Parliament that i2na<?n i.'; •:'..".oessar. fo:-Ltni to meet his constituents sot-ner, aud considered it better to meet taem just before leaving for the South than at an earlier period. He then went over the many Acts passed during the last session, and gave the reasons for his action on various subjects. Mr. Hamlin was pretty severe on the administration of native affairs. With regard to the Education question he would be quite willing to see an alteration, so as to allow half-an-hour during school hours to be dedevoted to religious instruction by a minister or others, but he felt sore it would soon fall through, as the Tperraission granted would, in very few cases, be taken advantage of. Mr. Hamlin went over pretty much the same ground as he is reported to have done at the meeting held at Otahuhu, aud then said he was ready to answer questions, if any one desired any pjint more fully discussed. Mr. J. Weelkr asked some questions regarding the land tax, which he considered very unfair. Mr. Hamlin said ho held much the same views as Mr. Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler wished to know if Mr. Hamlin could tell on what principle the Board of Education was guided in refusing assistance for a third school in the district, where they had not been called on to erect teachers' houses, while in Auckland and the suburbs, they not only appointed teachers, but dancing masters; in fact, anything, if it was for town. He (Mr. W.) know there w«re a largs number of children who could not attend either of the preseci schools. Mr. Hamlin agreed that there was too much don%'i for the town schools. Major Lusk asked several question on the same subject, and said he thought there should be some way of getting the country better represented on the Board of Education. Mr. H. Ckispe wished to know if Mr. Hamlin would endeavour to have the Highways Act so amended that there would not have to be two annual accounts prepared, one for the Government to the 21st of March, and one for the ratepayers to the 30th June. Mr. Hamlin considered it would be better to have the annual meetings in April, which would enable trustees to get in the rates in the bad weather, and begin works in the fine, and promised to support any measure of this kind. The Chairman then called on Mr. Hobbs, who was received with cheeis, and said he was glad to meet them on the present occasion, and did so in fulfilment of a promise made when he was soliciting their votes. He then touched on some of the principal matters that had engaged their attention during last session, and said there was a determination on the part of many members to force the Couuty system on districts ; but he still adhered to his former determination to do all in bis power to prevent is—(cheers) —for he felt surs it would only be the means of doing away with the Road Boards, that were doing so much gooi. The County system only, meant exl. ; axation, and the money spent in pa;;; :; chairman, engineers, 4c, instead of 1 .-v'.' put on the roatJa, Mr. Hobbs was very ..iii-ong in his C'jr..l:;,'ination if the reckless r -j.'jn:f)r which msss.! was squandered in the ixi.ina;;:.-ment of ntfv.ve affairs, and considered fhc: natives were being quite spoiled if it. He gave an ac-scv.nt of what he saw and hearo. at the native meeting at Te Kopua, where he had gene 5o see and hear for himself', aad he looked on that meeting »■ a greai failure, and in bis opinion Sir G. (ixey did t: wise thing wh?a he broaght it to n. termination. He explained to the meeting the eifect the Maori dual voting would have in many districts by allowing the native vots to quite Bwamp the Europeans'. This, he considered, waSi giving too much power into the hands of a lew who would be able to manage the natives, and he would oppose anything of the kind. (Applause). —Mr. Hobbs defended the Legislative Council from the accusation brought against it by Mr. Hamlin, and he would regret to see one Houie set against the other. The evil effect of this had been seen in a neighbouring colony. Mr. Hobbs condemned the manner in which Majors Jackson and Mair had been treated. The speaker was listened to very attentively, and at the close of his remarks stated he would answer any questions the electors desired. Many of the questions put to Mr. Hamlin were put to Mr. Hobbs. He was also asked some local ones, all of which he answered in a satisfactory manner. The Chairman then pnked if anyone had anything further to say. when Mr. Heywood Ckispe moved, " That this meeting deeply sympathised with their fellow - Bettlers at Taranaki in their very trying position, and hope their members, Messrs. Hamlin and Hobbs, will support the Government in affording relief to them as soon a3 possible." Mr. Crispe said, having had something to do with native disturbances, he could not help admiring the cool forbearance and patience shewn by those settlers, and they were worthy of every support. Mr. J. Wheeler had grc«t pleasure in seconding the resolution, which, having been put to the meeting, wsb passed UDanimousl f. Mr. Ckispe then proposed, and Mpjor Lusk seconded, \ r ote of thanks i'.nu dence tc tbsir jcTitrinber. The moti.-m was passed unanimously, and after a vote of thanks to the chiiiriaan had been passed, the meeting separii'.eU.—[Own Correspondent, Jane 27.] WaIROA south. The settlers of this district were honoured with a vißit from our popular representatives —Messrs. Hamlin and Hobbs, M.H.E.'s, on Tuesday evening, the 24th June, at seven o'clock, in the public hall,—Mr. James Bell was called to the chair, and, after a few introductory remarks, the membors addressed tbe meeting, and pave us a lucid account of the following matters:—The Administration Act, Land Tax Act, Beer BUI, Sheep Act, Education Act, the Broomhall land case, Counties Act, Native Licensing Act, Native Land Act, the Chinese question, Auckland Girls' High School Act, Trades Union Bill, Juries Bill, Maoris' dual vote, and the Public Works Act, re the £3,000,000 loan. Both members stated that they would like to know how the loan was to be distributed before they would vote for it, as tho North Island had not got its fair share hitherto. The only questions that the members differed upon was the Native Land Act, and the Maori dual vote.—Mr. Hamlin advocated that the Government (no matter what party w.is in office) should have the sole right of purchasing land from the natives, so as to keep land-sharks from buying np all the country, while Mr. Hobbs was of opinion that the colonists should have the power to purchase from the natives as well, as the .Government. —Mr. Hamlin was in favour of the dual vote, while Mr. Hobbs was opposed to it.—Several .questions were asked ', by a number of- the -electors, andwere answered to : the satisfaction.,'of the questioners. by Mr. Crawford,' ■' ; and 'seconded' by Mr, Thorp,

V That this meeting havo eutiri confidence in Messrs. Hamlin and Hobi™-.." The Tction was put aud -passed.cnan.-inoußly.—Ti- re~ present»t : vßS returned ttanks for iKe vote of confidence;. ind hoped, that tat) 'actors would occasion to regret r~u- confidence placed in them.—Mr. Hobbs moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which wad seconded by Mr. K:\mlin, and passed. The meeting then terminated.—[Own Oorresponr dent, June 26. j •■-.'-'."• ;