MR. STOUT AT A YONDALE AND ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7301, 13 April 1885, Page 6

MR. STOUT AT A YONDALE AND ONEHUNGA.

On Saturday the President and some of the members of the Liberal Association drove out 'With the Premier to Avondale, Onehunga, Mangere, and Otahuhu, for the pur pose of showing to the Premier some of the districts immediately around Auckland. The following gentlemen accompanied the Premier :—Mr. W. R. Waddel (Mayoir of Auckland), Captain MoKenzie (Mayor of Parnell), Mr. H. W, Farnall (President Liberal Association), Mr. Grant (Secretary), Mr. T. B. Hill, Mr. J. M. Shera, Mr.. F. Jeunei Mr. E. 0. Morgan Morris, Mr. Otto, Mr. R. J. Duncan, and Mr. Blair, Assistant Engineer-in-Chief. On arrival at Avondale, the Premier was met and weloomed by Mr. John Bollard (Chairman Avondale Road Board), and Messrs. Gallagher, J. L. Scott, Douglas, Hunt, Woolgar, and Gray. Mr. Bollaed presented the Premier with the following address :— To the Hon. Robert Stout, Premier of the colony of New Zealand. -Sir,— embrace the opportunity on this your ftißt visit as a representative of the Crown to the district of Avondale, to bid you welcome in the name of the inhabitant*. "We are pleased toobi or through the public Press that you are voting Wβ different centres of population, and »•"»» JJ"g™ acquainted with onr various manufacturing and other lnanstrlee and hop* yeur time will permit yoa to visit other parts of the provincial district you have ant V»t mien We truit your visit to thl* p»rt of the Sftny'wufb. .iS»«d beneficial «g yonr S ,H and profitable to the colony at l» re --°« n , e V o , n behalf of the inhabitants ofAvondale.-JoHN Jolllrd, Chairman of the Boad Board. April nth, XBBO. In reply, the Premier said : Mr. Bollard, I have to thank you, and through you the members of the Road Board, for the address that you have presented to me, and to states, as I have said before, that I came -to the Auckland Provincial District in order to see for myself not only what it was like, but what its requirements might be. (Cheers.) Of course; those situated in Wellington, as many of us who are members of the House arid members of She Government are, have little idea of a place until we have seen it. We cannot even understand the best desoription that can be given of the place. For example, I had no idea until I saw it, wh*t is to my mind a most valuable and beautiful stretch of water which you have in your Kaipara harbour. I am surprised that it has not been more utilised and spoken of in the colony. I have also seen land which I have learned some people in Auckland say is not cultivable, and is bad land. I believe a great deal of the land you coneider bad, if properly worked, would be found to be excellent pasture land; and, in my opinion, it is just as good as land down South, which the people have to cultivate and make into pasture land. (Hear, hear.) I will ■ay, after my trip overland from Whangarei to the Wairoa River, that you have enormous resources for settlement, and that the north of Auckland should not be looked upon as it has been, and, in fact, as has been stated by Auckland members, as a series of clay hills, with kauri and kauri gum. I think the Auckland people have not half stated what Auckland may become; and in my opinion there will be the homes of thousands of people in the northern district if it is only developed. I believe this day land, if properly worked with manures, etc., although I am not a competent authority, I am of - opinion that it can be profitably farmed. It may not be profitable tor gram farming, but there are many things which pay better than that. In reference, to your manufacturing industries, you seem to have paid more attention to them than other districts have done, and I believe with greater advantage to yourselves. I thank you. for the address, and, through you, the many inhabitants I will not have the opportunity of Beeing personally, for the kindness you have manifested to me during the stay I have made in the district. (Cheers.) Mr. Bollard said that those present would like to break bread with the Premier. A table had been laid out in the Public Hall, bearing eatables and liquor.—"Yes, said Mr. Stout, with a smile, "I will break bread with you, but I do sot take liquor. After a light luncheon, the Premier visited Hunts brick manufactory, and'saw the procens of making bricks by machinery worked by steam. These works are capable of turning out between 20,000 and 30,000 bricks daily. £12,000 has been expended on the works. Mr. Hunt showed the Premier 6ver the works. ' , , Mr. Stout then drove along the road passing near Mount Albert, Mount Roiikill, and the Three Kings, and arrived at Onehunga about one o'clock. He was met; and welcomed by the Mayor (Mr. Jackson), Messrs. J. Lundon, Rowe, J. Chambers, Heskett, Danwoodie, Dr. Scott, Captain Yates, and Captain Parnall. Mr. John Lundon introduced the Mayor to the Premier. Mr. Stout inspected the Iron and Steel Manufacturing Company's works, and the various mechanical contrivances about the works were explained by the manager, Mr. Heskett, ,and Mr. Chambers. _ _ The party then, on the invitation of Mr. J, Lundon, adjourned to lunch at the Railway Terminus Hotel, the lunch, an excellent one, being provided by Miss Lundon. Mr. Jackson (Mayor of Onehunga) 'occupied the chair. Mr. Stout sat on his right, and the Mayors of Auckland and Parnell on bis left. Dr. Scott (ex-Mayor) occupied the vice-chair. After lunch the Chairman asked the company to charge their glasses and drink to the health of their honoured visitor, the Premier of the colony. (Cheers.) It was a very proud position for any gentleman to occupy. Like many others in the colony, Mr. Stout had risen from the ranks—(cheeri)— by his own energy, talent, ability, and devotion to the cause of his adopted country. (Cheers.) Three cheers were then given for Mr. Stout. , Mr. Stout, who on rising to respond, was received with cheers, said: Mr. Mayoir and gentlemen,—l have first to thank you very sincerely for drinking my health and wishing me success in my office. I can assure you 1 feel that the position I occupy is not only an honourable one, but is a responsible bnu, and that it is the duty of any person who aspires to hold political office in this colony Co see and perform that duty satisfactorily, or else resign the position; and holding that view I felt it my duty as Premier of the colony to visit those parts of the colony with which I was not acquainted. I can assure you I have been much impressed with my visit to this Auckland province. On two former occasions I visited Auckland—once coming overland from Napier down to Ohinemutu, Tauranga, and then to Auckland, but jo. that occasion I was only a day or little "nore than a day in the vicinity of Auckland, •> "aid on the last occasion 1 was only the same *me, and had not an opportunity of seeing nuch of Anckland and its vicinity, and had, erhaps, less opportunity of ascertaining' juoh about your resources. Xou are aware ;hat since I came here I have been north oil. Auckland as far as Whangarei, across to your great inland sea, I term it, Kiiipara,' and on to Auckland, and now to Onehunga, and X am pleased not only with the many natural advantages I have seen, but with tide energy I have seen displayed by the settlers, and the anxiety of one and all to have new industries etarted in the colony. Anil I am exceedingly pleased in my visit here to see the capital expended and talent displayed in what I believe, perhaps, to be one of the most important industries this colony or any colony can possess, namely these ironworks, and it will lead the way in a new career of industry in this colony, because it is in one respect a pioneer industry; it is the basis of hundreds of otheire. I think Onehunga is especially fortunate in having had men of capital willing to risk their capital in such an enterprise, and'men of skill to carry out the desires of the capitalist in this industry. So far as the Government is concerned we are, after all only the representatives of the House of Representatives, and the House of Representatives is only the representative of the people-(hear, hear)—and there is an old maxim which has occurred to mo, and especially when thinking of ironworks,— an old maxim of an iron distnot of England, that "if there is a cinder in the iron there ie cinder in the pay. So I am applying the same thing to the Government and the House of Representatives. If they have any shortcomings, the shortcomings have to be sought for further back, md they rest with the people, because if you find a people possessed of high qualities, and fired with a public spirit, there will be found the same in the House of Representatives and in the Ministry; but if you find a people careless of duties as citizens, and to ■ the colony in which they live, you will find the same carelessness by their representatives and the Executive; and therefore one has to come back to this, that the Parliament and the Government depends after all on the political education of the pfeople, and their having a single eye to the colony in which they dwell, and its advancemeat. I do not intend on this occasion to

make any political speech, bat rather only thank you for your kindness, and express the great pleasure I have had in going over your ironworks You will pardon: me, as oar time ie brief. I will propose " Success to Onehunga," and hops that not only will this industry be found in your midst, bat that there will soon be found other industries ; and I do this because—it is not an occasion on which I have said it for the first time, for I have stated it on many occasions—l believe the health of the people is the first thing. I do not believe in massing people and industries in one centre as the way to provide for the health of the people; but having industries in smaller towns, away from what may be called the capital, is one way of providing for the health of the people, and what may be called the good morale ; and thus tends to benefit the race, because it tends to benefit the health of the people. 1 feel sure those living in the large city of Auckland will not grudge Onehunga success in the industries it has. It has a noble harbour, and beautiful situation, and has what Auckland; wants, namely, a colder wind. What Auckland wants, I think, is two months of snoiw in the year. You have here the strong southwesterly winds bracing up the nervus of the people, making your children have red cheeks. Those who have read 'of the rise and progress of industries and towns must know that more and larger towns have arisen, and are depending on the iron industry even than in the digging days, I look forward with certainty to Onehunga soon becoming a thriving industrial centre, and I ask you all to wish it that success. (Cheers.) And 1 couple with it the name of the Mayor.— (Loud cheers.)

The Chairman begged to return his most sincere thanks to Mr. Stout for proposing, and to those present for so cordially receiving the toast, but it was simply an accident that his name was included in it as Mayoir. It had been his fortune—good or bad; it had been his happiness to live here for many years. As representing the people of Onehunga, he returned their sincere thanks, and hoped the Premier's wish would be a good prophecy and would be fulfilled. (Cheers).

Mr. Rowe (proprietor Onehunga Sawmill), related the early efforts by Mr. Molntyre, Dr. Purchas, himself, and others to start the iron industry at Onehunga. Mr. John Chambers (Chairman Board of Directors, Iron and Steel Company) referred to the reasons which induced the company to select the site at Onehunga. Hβ said the company was going in for iron :firat and steel would follow. There was everything here to make it with. They looked forward to the iron being used, not only throughout New Zealand, but exported to the old country through its superiority. He returned thanks to the Premier and those present for their good wishes for the prosperity of the company. Dr. Scott (Vioe-Chairman) had muoh pleasure in proposing the health of the Mayor of Auckland, and also the prosperity of the city. They all knew that Auckland at the present time was in a most prospetous state (hear, hear), and there was no doubt it would continue to progress in that state. In Onehunga they were quite proud of being one of the daughters of Auckland. Some people said they were part of Auckland. That was scarcely so at present, he supposed, but it might be so in future. He included in the toast the municipality of Parnell, coupled with the name of Captain McKenzie. (Cheers.) Mr. W. R. Waddel returned thanks. He was sure good would be the outcome of the Premier's visit. The present Government appeared to be desirous of looking sifter. the welfare of those whom they had been called on to take an interest in. Ho hoped they would continue to do so, and according to their acts he hoped the people would judge them, and if they were deserving well of the people, he could only say'long might they retain their position. (Heir, , hear.} Captain McKenzie also briefly returned thanks. Three cheers were then given for Miss Lundon for the lunch she had provided, and the party continued the drive, going through Mangere, Otahuhu, Rernuera, and Parnell, reaching Auckland at five o'clook p. m. The Premier expressed' himself as being highly pleased with' the beauty of , the country which he had seen. ' '. '