SIR GEORGE MAURICE O'RORKE AT ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6259, 8 December 1881, Page 5

SIR GEORGE MAURICE O'RORKE AT ONEHUNGA.

A I'CBUC meeting of the electors of Manukau was held last evening in the Masonichall, Onehunga, when Sir George Maurice O'Korke addressed a large and enthusiastic audience, the building being completely filled. On the motion of Mr. J. B. Jackson, the Mayor of Onehunga (Mr. G. Codlin) was called upon to preside. Sir Gkoroe, on rising to speak, was warmly received and cheered. He said that he had not much to say, but as the advertisement stated, desired to thank the electors of Onehunga for the favours they had bestowed upon him during the paßt 20 years. The exigencies which arose under the new Representation Act had severed the exclusive connection with Onehunga. [A Voice: "Never!"] Hesaid "exclusive" because in order to make up the quota of electors in the new electorate of Manukau it w:us found necessary to take in certain districts to make it up. Panmure, formerly an ally of Onehunga, was one of these, aud with Onehiuiga and other settlements formerly formed the electorate known as the Pensioner Settlements. In liStjO, Onehunga had so prospered and progressed as to entitle it to be established as a separate electorate. The electors of Onehunga elected him—a person totally unknown personally to many of them —to represent them, and from that date had returned him at every election. He did not object to the change of the name from Onehunga to Manukau, for they still retained the harbour on which Onehunga was built. Panmure had a kindred origin to Onehunga, and would renew its friendship, while as to Tamaki West, Mount Wellington, Remuera, Epsom, and .Mount Roskill districts ho hoped to show their residents that their interests would be as well cared for, r.nd as faithfully represented, as had been those of Onehunga in the past. The electorate, they would see, was an extensive one, containing on the roll the names of 1200 electors. Hecould not eanvasssuch awidc area personally. He did not decry public meetings in the ease of new candidates, but he hoped he would not be considered presumptuous if he thought that he could dispense with them after 12 years'servicein the Provincial Council and 21 in the General Assembly. They knew whether he had or had not been faithful in tho past, and had endeavoured to do his duty to Onehunga, and on Friday they could deliver their verdict at the ballot box accordingly. It had been said his high position as Speaker precluded his doing his duty by them. Hecould only say that he had brought forward measures for the benefit of Onehunga, undeterred by the strongest opposition, and when they were introduced in committee they were looked forward to with interest in the Assembly. He came there that night, not to "canvass them, so much as to thank them for taking him out of the rank and file, by making him their member, and thus being the means of elevating hi:n to those places of honour and distinction which he had since attained. There was nothing more left lor him to covet. He had been a Cabinet Minister, aud retired from that position e.ith their approval. |(Cheers.) lie had the handsome present which they then bestowed upon him, aud which he would cherish as an heirloom during his life. His knowledge of their local affairs and of the wants of the surrounding districts would, he believed, yet enable him to render further good serv.ee to the people. He might say that his friends had obtained no canvassers, or appointed any election committee, but depended on tho spontaneous efforts of his 01.l and valued supporters, wiio had never disappointed him before, and would not now. (Cheers.J The exertions of the Onehunga townspeople had hitherto placed

him at the head of the poll, and he had been exceptionally fortunate in never having had to change his constituency. (Cheers.) He could only repeat his expressions of gratitude to them, and invite a renewal of their past favuurs. Oneiiunga was the principal polling place, and on l'riday he hoped they would back up their cheers with their votes. (Cheois.) —'The Chairman said Sir G. Maurice O'iiorke was desirous 01

any questions the electors might be pleaded to put to him. Among the questions asked, of public interest, were the following :—l. In what position was the iv-er\ c o; tiie slaughter-house paddocks at the present time? Sir (i. M. O Korke stated that efforts had been made to deprive Onehuuga of the benefit of tile reserve Ijy making it an endowment 01 the County of J-Meii. The present position of the reserve '.. as tins, that it was dedicated to the follo'.ving speeial purposes : — Recreation, cemetery, and ride range. It would he handed over to tile borough next duly, unless the new Parliament should reverse the decision of last sea.-'Oii. They were in a far better position in regard to that reserve than they had ever been. 2. A question being asked as to the Counties Act, Sir (leorge O'Korke replied that he opposed the Counties Act. He approved ot Oneiiunga being taken cut of the county, as the citizens were thus spared the extra taxation. Tliat stop caused the Act to be hung r.p in Kden. !?. Why ha<l not the slaughterhouse liecu built on the property purchased for that purpose at a cost of .{.'2200 ? Sir O. M. O'Korke said he had consented to that purchase, and he would hive been equally happy to have consented to thu erection of the abattoirs, i: the tenders had been called for. 4. Why did the Kemuera people go toll free, while poor people from Oneiiunga had to pay toll? Sir fi. M. (VKorke thought Mi-h a ol tilings a great wrong. Toe Newmarket toll-bar formerly caacht all people, but why the late Superintendent shifted it, and allowed the wealthy grandees of Reniuera to go free, lie could not make out. Toll-liars were a relic of barbarism, and should be abolished altogether. (Cheers.) Why had he not, on his return from Wellington, addressed his constituents? .Sir George O'liorke replied that under the Triennial Parliaments Act the member was brought face to face with his constituents very speedily and dealt with, and he did not believe in worrying his constituents. A slip containing three questions was banded up to the chairman. (1) What had ho done for his constituents for the last 21 years? •Sir (- eorgc O'Korke said his answer was that lie did not care to be his own trumpeter. Whether it was the railway, the lighthouse, buoying the harbour, or tho telegraph station, he had been instrumental in getting matters into train. The meeting would scarcely expect him to recount his Parliamentary services for the pa.st 21 years. Their renewed confidence was an answer to his unknown questioner. Was that gentleman satisfied? (A Voice: ".Silence gives consent." He had a right to know if his questioner was present. (A Voice: " He's gone outside. ') In that case he would not answer the remaining two impertinent questions oil the paper handed in. Let the man face him ! (Cheers.) In the midst of some uproar Mr. i)orc (the seconder of Mr. O. C. MeGee's nomination) called out from the gallery that he was the man, and came forward and asked (2), Why did he suppress with iron hand and heel tho stonewalling in the Representation Bill, when the Speaker knew that it would forever ruin the interests of Auckland ? Sir George O'Korke stated he was appointed Speaker to do his duty without fear or favour, and had determined to do so to the last. He did not blame the Nelson members so much for acting as they did, as some of their electorates were abolished. The chair, however,

■was defied. One member said he would commit a breach of order, and see if anyone in the Assembly was strong enough to bring him to account. He (Sir G. O'Rorke) was there to enforce order, and he enforced it. The House dealt with the matter, and fined the offending member for defying the chair. Onehunga would have been ashamed of him, the country would hare been ashamed of him, and he would have been ashamed of himself, if he had done otherwise than he did. (Cheers.) (3.) Did he receive £200 for the job (suppressing th■} stonewalling) ? His reply to this insinuation was that it was a base calumny. In the previous session 10 per cent, had been taken off the official salaries, but the Speaker's was docked 25 per cent. All that was done last session was to restore his salary to its former position, as the Assembly did not think it right that the Speaker should receive less than the Clerk of tho House. (Cheers.)

Mr. Hart.vett proposed, aud Mr. Henry llakdinotos' seconded, a vote of entire confidence in Sir George Maurice O'Rorke, which, on being put to the meeting by the chairman, was practically carried unanimously, only two hands being held up in dissent. Sir Gkorgk O'Rorke thanked the electors for this fresh proof of their confidence, and asked them to cement it by their vote on Friday. He concluded by moving a vote of thanks to .the chairman for his kindness in presiding, which was carried by acclamation.