MESSRS. HAMLIN AND HOBBS AT BOMBAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5499, 2 July 1879, Page 3

MESSRS. HAMLIN AND HOBBS AT BOMBAY.

As per advertisement, these two members for Franklin were at Bombay on Monday evening last, and, considering that it rained heavily, there was a good attendance. Mr. T. Jones, sen., was called to the chair, and after stating what the meeting was called for, &c., asked Mr. Hamlin to address the electors. Mr. Hamlin spoke of the bill for dealing with or nullifying the former injudicious laws of primogeniture, (and explained what a good and equitable measure hod now been passed ; that tbe children of parents dying intestate were to have share and share alike. He explained what a good thing it was that the eldest son should be prevented from having all, while the rest o! the family wandered about the world comparativebeggars. He next told us of the new law that had been passed relative to illegitimate children, and assured ns that in the best of regulated families, as well as in colonies, illegitimate children were to be found. He told us that the old law was, that if an illegitimate child grew and acquired wealth the Government could confiscate it—take it A way; and leave such illegitimate child's children without anything, although the illegitimate one's may { have been duly and properly married. All this had been changed, so far aB New Zealand was concerned, but the new laws needed the Queen's assent. Mr. Hamlin next spoke of the land-purohase scheme, regrettipg_ he and his colleague were of different opinions ; on the subject; that, no doubt, was his (Mr. Hamlin's) fault, but he was open to conviction on the subject. He illustrated his objections to freetrade in Maori lands 1 thus : Suppose a man with capital should buy 100,000 or more acres of Xlaari land for [ 2s 6d per acre, in a short time the Government might take a railway right through it. The man would give the land willingly for railway and stations, then cut up his land in small farms, advertise them as first quality land near the railway, and realise from £5 to £20 per acre. All this was very wrong, because the man would be mainly enriched through the expenditure of Government capital, on account of the railway going through his property. (Mr. Hamlin also spoke at a later period, after Mr. Hobbs, but I may as well give the body of all he said at once.) Relative to the Education question, he said he was going to bring in a little bill, or assist in doiog so, to allow Episcopalians to enter schools half.ail-hour on Mondays, to give religious instruction to such of the children whose parents might wish it during school hours. Presbyterians J were to have half-an-hour on Tuesdays for the same purpose, Wesleyans half-an-hour on Wednesdays, and so on, until all were served. He did not think the thing was likely to work very well, but the main object in bringing in a bill of this sort was to silence those people who cry out about ungodly members and Godless education. Mr. Hamlin then offered to jinswer any questions that might be asked. Something was asked about the £500 recently granted to tbe Road Board. One gentleman got up and occupied some time in stating that he should have something to say, or ask, after Mr. Hobbs had spoken. Mr. Hobbs was then called on by the i Chairman, to which he responded. His opinion was that secular education, under existing circumstance, was the beßt possible thing, and he Bhoald support the present system. He did not think Mr. Hamlin's half-hour system would suceed. His views of the native lands-purchase question were different from those of Mr. Hamlin. There were two sides to every question. He asked whether any of those present, if they had a dark skin, wonld like to have to go to the Government to sell land 1 if they wished to sell it, to take the price offered, and shut out competition. He was sure they would not. The present Government was an impecunious Government, and yet had the power of shutting up large blocks of land, so that they could not be sold by the natives, and yet they did not actually belong to the natives, because the Government was negotiating for the purchase. This was shutting out capital from its legitimate channel, which was unwise. He hoped the Government would take the present opportunity of settling native disturbances for ever. Most of the Maoris knew that we could lick them, and there were only a few rebels who kicked up all the rows. Rewi said to him, at the Northern Club, "Bo you think I am a child." The natives, as a race, were quite as shrewd as the white man. It was not fair to prevent them selling their land to tho highest bidder. They knew it, and felt it, and it wa3 not fair that the Maoris should have to sell their land only to the Government at 4Jd an acre or keep it, or have itshutup as beingunder negotiation. He had been to tbe native meeting, and thought it was his duty, as a public man, to go. He had collected all the information he could get for Sir George Grey, and had imparted it to him immediately on h)B arrival, with the assurance that he was no 1 '; going to succeed. He described the King's body-guard as a set of half naked savages. One had a fireman's helmet on. Double-barrelled guns, oldmusketß, and horse pistols, were what they were principally armed with. Winiata, the murderer, was there. Te Kooti was there, a great swell, in a tweed suit, top boots on, and rode a stolen horse, a very fine animal Mr. Hobbs had been assured in Wellington, that the removal of the Drury railway station was all right, but it turned out not to be all right. However, he held in his hands a telegram in which he was assured that all tbe receipts to and from Drnry would be devoted to placing the station on the Great South Road. He objected to the cast-iron rule of the Government in regard to subsidising roads and bridges. He thought Dr. Wallis's Triennial Parliament Bill would have passed by a great majority if it had been brought in by the Government. It was felt to be a Government measure, and there was no wish to give Dr. AVallis the gratification of thinking thai; he had passed such a bill as that. He expressed himself as strongly opposed to tbe Counties Act being brought into operation. Ho said they would thereby be more heavily taxed. He spoke of what hard work attending Parliament was, and offered to answer any questions. An elector suggested the expediency of our members having a clause inserted in the Highways Act to the effect that when moneys were proposed to be sent to Road Boards, an the £500 had lately been sent to Bombay, they ought to have some previous understanding as to how it was to be spent, in order to avoid local quarrels, as there hsd been quarrels over this £500. The clause in the Act required, was to make it incumbent on the Road Board to furnish such particulars subjected to the approval of the ratepayers. He was then going on to detail the particulars of the quarrel, when he was interrupted by voices, "Sit down," &c. The meeting closed by passing a vote o£ confidence in both members, after which the meeting separated.—[Communicated.]