TUB SUPERINTENDENCY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1604, 20 February 1867, Page 4

TUB SUPERINTENDENCY.

MR J. MACA-NDUKWd OPEN-AIR MEETING.

Last evening, Mr Macandrcw addressed un open-air meeting on the North Recreation Ground} Great King etreet, which wai, by a btrange confusion, advertised as " the Caledonian Ground." When the asHenibl<fge was nt its prcatest, there were, trobably, about 2500 persons present, A wa^on served as a platform for-the principal supporters of Mr Macandrew; and that gentleman was enthusiastically cheered when he mounted it.

Mr Uur. was chosen to preside ; and he very briefly commenced the proceedings.

Mr Macanwbew who was again loudly cheered, said—Before proceeding to the real business of thia meeting, which ~\3, to give expression to my political sentiments and views, perhaps I had better polish off certain questions of a personal character — (applause)—which have been very kindly put to me through the columns of the Daily Times newspaper.—[Two men who | stood near the wagon, bore each a stick, upon which was spitted a copy or copies of the Tim?s. There were now cries of " Burn them ! burn them !'lj la order that there may hi no raittuke [By this time, a match hud been. Htruck ; and the papers were burned atnid&t cheers and gwana. There was also aperitive cry of "AH the questions is answered, now."] la order that there may be no mistake as to my answer, I have written down what that answer is io be ;. and I will hand the paper to the reporter, if neeesssary. I have already, at the meeting atthe Theatre, .explained the matters referred to in these questions ; and in wldition to what 1 then stated, I have now to* say—With regard to the payment for the Cintha Coal Plant, that tae Government' holds, or, at all event?', did hold, a voucher far the payment, signed by Messrs James Paterson and Co.; and that the plant was shipped and delivered, ir» terms of said voucher. As to the subsequent remittance of the money to England, that was punly a matter of private arrangement between myself individually, aod '■ Messrs ■ Janus Pateraon and Co. with which, iv point ot fact, the public ha* nothing .whatever to do;—(" Hoar, hear," and uOhI oh 1") If any Irregularity occurred in the tra!ismiision of that money, that irregularity wan. made good by my self, masm rich as I have paid it personally, years ago.—(Cheers.) As to the question, What became of the money, from a given period to a certain other period '/—I have not got the dates put down—that i* a matter with which the public has reallyno concern. I may state, however, for the information of my friends, that it lay in the hands Of the Provincial ■TreaßUfet.—(Glieera.) With regard to the exchange, transaction under the head, I " ItavTier," that certainly has, w'-yti* i turrVcdont a loaa to the Province j And no 1 QRfi can regret It wore tliau I do, aod so

one Buffered from it more than I did (Hear, bear.) Dot it was the only low to the Prm-ince during ray administration - antl it remains to be proved, that that loss was any gain to me, rjtr.-wally.—(Hear, hear.) It arose in conmction with the aile of dihenturea at Home, And was entered into with the concurrence of at least one, if nut two, members oJ the Executive. T*6ay more about it, would he to rake up the ashts of the dead, and to harrow the freltaga of the living,—(" Oh ! oh !'* ntuJ applause.) Sufiieeit to sny, that it was a transaction— and Ihcft you to mark tin*—in some respects similar to one entered upon by the late Government-, of which Mr Moss was then the head—that, namely, by which they handed over L 15,000 of debentures to the Bank of Otaso.. Mad the Bank of Otago succumbed to the pressure at the time when the Commercial Hank, and Overends, nnd other great concerns, failed the other day, it is quite possible, I think, that those Ll.">,000 might have been lost to the Province—(hear, hear)—ami, in that case, Mr Dick's na-nc would have figured, quite as justly as mine, under the head, " Defalcation."— (Cheers; and a cry of "He's a shareholder. 11) No doubt, had he had !ho mine hind of oppo.-ition combined to crush him for ever, as I have had, such would undoubtedly have been the we.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to Use other quca-ti'-.n, Wheth'.r I will Htate the name of the party who ottered me a bribe of L3OOO—E thiuk it was " fiuinean," I said—to put a cc-rtiitu phco of land in the market—gentlemen, of cour.it, No.— (Cries'of "No, no," tnd " Yec, yes. 1') The individual was too wise a inun to put it in my power to prove it—of ours", he was not going to mitke the tflkr before witnesses.—(Oh! oh !) The ofli;r was mnde in such away th-t I could not resent it at the time— though my iiwtinct was to have done co, and, in point of fact, to have kicked him— (laughter) ; but had I chosen to make my own terms with him, instead of L.'tOOO, I could have made 1.20,00!) by the transaction. Thwc in not, I think, the slightest doubt ol that.—(Applause.) I must confeba that it is with considerable tliflidei:co I appear before you now. I have never addressed !*uch a meeting as this before ; I have never r.d'!r<s.»cd n public meeting in the open air at all ; and pir He speaking is not my forte— (Laughter.) Moreover, for the last 1() days, 1 have been a-idrcsMn^ so many meetings, that, I co:ife.-s, my ideas are fj<.ttittj; somewhat txlnusUd—(hear T henr); nud, therefore, I don't expect that I will be able to I<ll you aujthir.g you. don't know already.—(Lnunhter.) You. are stl! a wire that my political opiuionH are of the pro^rc-Mve order.—(" Hear, hear," iitid I'lugha-r.) Tlit-y have been jeerlngly described h* Inhm^uni to tbe "go-ahead. Fchool." Xo doubt, you are all aware, tlr.t I am one of the old oiiginul fbinu'era of this «t-!t!einent; and that, fur ii,any year**, 1 look a ka'ling part ia in public aitaira.—(A Voice : That's the ol i story.) I mid t* at I could not tell yr.u anyfh'iiff you did not kno.v alrtady. It is huoau'C a l.irae number of the electors are of opinion that my removal from office iv laGI, was a great public loss, and that my rcirjitat- rutnt wouid 1-e a f»reat ! public «iiii!—("' Hear, hear," and cheers) —that, I may tay, is one rta<on, amongst many (it hers, why I nppctr b*.-fore you as a candidate for the Suptrintendtncy.— j (Chiers.) Hid I studied my own convenience, and pence of mind, and personal comfort, I should have remained at home* di»{;ii»jr in my cabbage garden ; but, where the public in'ertbt required it, then, like I Cincinnatua of old, i felt it to be my duty 11) sacrifice my punion&l inciiuatious, and to respond to the call of my fcllow-citi-zeijw.—(Chcera ) I did not do tbii withouf caunlirifj the cost, I knew perfectly well the ordc.'il through whicii I {■hould have to pars. I knew that the vials of the concentrated wrnth of f-qua'ocraey and of self-rijjhteous hypocii*y would be poured out on my devoted head. —(Applause.) I' knew that the faction which arrogates to itself all the ict-pcclnbi'iity aud all the patriotism of the Province—although it jf». itbtlf, but a wliitcd st-pulchie, full ot" rottenness and of dead lmiii'a bones—,,(ehfeis and latightcri—l knew that thisfnction would move htuvcii and earth— that they would rake up the very infernal regions—in order to maintain thur supre-rna.',-y. —(Cheers.) 3'uf, I do hope and trust that, before to-morrow's sun thall tet, that supremacy ahall be pcattcrtd to the l'->ur winds of' heaven. — (Loud cheers.) I rejoice; in the contemplation that, let tbe result of tint election be whit it may—whether IT am returned or not—(A Vou;k: You're bound to be)—it will bo a grc.«t benefit to this Province. Let the reiult be what it miy, ibeie is ont." result already—it haa c.'iited forth info life, the political drybones of the Province—(htar, hear) —andhere they arc, an exceeding gr^at army— (loud chcerfi) —an army vvhiib, I hope and trtiMt, will rißcue this Province from thelethargy which has characterised t!ie mca in high places.—(Hear, hear.) There ia a. class.of people in this Province who eec-m. to think that ths I'rovince belongl* to them, entirely. They teem to thiuk that. there exists no virtue or patriotisml,,' t-cyond their mugie circle. I say, that that class have been tried, and they have been found wanting.— (Hear, mar.) Where are our docks? Where are our d<-cp-wa<er wharves? Where are our manufactories ? • 'Where is the Panama termini)* ?—(Liiighkr.) Where are our railways? Where ere the proceeds of the half-million lo'tn ?— ("Ifear, hear.) lt H ;: h» answer?, ' Where ?' " Where are? the millions of poiinJa which have "bee; i dug out of the bowels of tlie. Proviao», aud which tbould have been devoted to rec);timirig the waat.e places, to filling the plains with honricfttea^s. arwl the pastures with flocks and with herds ?.' Tbe-getters of that gold have been driven frow. the Province by thouottnds, bec!iu>«ofiV,e letharcy and inaction of the Executive G jvemmeiit. Ihaveno behitalionin $?,y'mg tAiut, had not my political sun set wh<.-n it d id, we ahould, have had railways, and dorks, and deepwater wharves, and the Put,ania terminus • we should have throe timers the population? which1 we now have ia/the Province, and reraunerative employirif.-nt for them all. (Applause.) I can, at y.\l events, safely cay thut I should never, have paid the pasisagea of two tiiousantl meo back to Melbourne, which I and-crstaucl my immediate successor did,^(l/«agUter.) With thews considerations spring me in the face, should I havo been justifled in holding back ? I shon id u ave been A trwtor ta, ivy adoptedl country imd. I jrefu«!4:;.ttt come forward under each. circHm«t^cc«, and to take ndtaat«i»

61 the opportunity which seems to be offered tonic, ol fulfilling the aspiratioua ■which I have cherished for years gone by. —(Hear, hear.) It must be apparent to the most ordinary observer, that there has been a want of energy and of Ijosincestact about the Executive of this Province ; and that the result lias been that hundreds of thousands of pounds have been squandered and waited away. I might refer to a great runny things which would prove the truth of line, but I should be wearying you by alluding to them,—(No, no.) How much. liav« jou got out of the balf-million loan, 1 should 4ike to know? I do not believe that the Province bns realised more than 1,.'? 50,000 or L-380,000, at the oistfcide. Thtn there is Tormia'n Ac-— (Hear, hear.) Why docs that Act remain ■a dc&d'ktttr on the statute, book—why has it not he n put into force?— (A Voici:: ■fkcti!i*e there tire too many bwyer«.) The other day, I went over » bridge, which I -wan told had cost the Province L2-l,600; I j believe that hzd it been erected in my j time, it would not have cost nmre than LSOOO or LfJOCO, at the utmost Now, ■•there isa biid^e being erect-.d across the Glut ha, which n.» hood m the railway *lmll be marJe. will b« ju.'it equivalent to fi lo"-3 to the Poro vines of X 20,000. — (Hear, lienr.) I hold thi-t if tire Executive had done its duty, we should hnve 3iu«l a railway by this time,— XApp)iusC.) One of my ;;reat hopes is that if rrmy he my l'>t to initiate a system of railways in thic Province. I hope that my reign—if it U my di-stiny to reipn— T,ill bj distinguished by the whole ProTince bting ir,iernucte'd by the railway (system. I hold that the influence of a Superintendent cannot be over-rated in its bearing on all thefe matter*".- ft is said that he has no influence—that he is a mere round O —a puppet in the hands of others. TJiot ro«y be the con-

alrtiction which «ome have put upon the

-office ; but that ij not my construction. I will he no puppet in the handn of any men.—(Cheer".) 1 bold That the Superinttndent can brine; (i very gnat influence to bear upon th<: f-ysUm oi Government -which is now grinding us down find keepirifr us back. f hold that, in'tcad of n Llejf-irp, Clovernnirnt is to ii^ a cnr»-c— (lltor, hcr.r.) We huve infinitely too much Govfrr.mciit. We have two Govern-

•merits prrforuiiri'r the work which one anight effect. My policy vould be to converge the power.«, and to dtpjirnß^ with the one Gov. rr.iiH'i.t or the other. I •aj»;rovo *»t Provincial Governments.— (Applnnrc.) I f*'n what i« called an out-and-out ultrn-i'iovii»ciali:.t; and that i« one enwe. ot ibo miserable opposition I am njce'inir with—the cnV.urdly menus that arc beini' hud recourse to (or the purpose of dc-f a'iiiri mc.—(Cheers,) Should I be ekefc-'i, F will exert all my influence •towards pi-.Ui"?: the country p':o,»!«.d with men and v.-oipoij. There i.« n ccrta:» run at th'J Wi tt Tak-ri, wbiJi hz* been the •means of liriii'.'in;' down upon me the wrath of" Mr Fulton, in a letter which has Lccn published in to-diiy'* paper. What is the c;uie of t!;n(. r The recrct of that letter ii!, tiiaf. th* moment I pt-t info r;flico, that run }<o<\<t into the- market.-— (Loud app!nu"f, and iiui|jht<.r.) T hold tint the Provincinl rysum hi:* been abided, nnd I •<3o not wonder at people oi' centralising sympathies «?''ui;i in to destroy it. ".My object at>d ulrn v.iil he to rtclify •those "abur-.s, ami f<> curry on the •Govtriuui t fur one half of v.hut if, nov; ■cost". I cori'iikr f'.ut v.v have twice n» oi»ny ofiicin!1) »'.!■ we need to have.— f Heir, bear). It i'J ■'•'' utter nh-urdity that, in n ■community of -lv»,000 ?<;ul r —a mere villj^e in Ei^hsnil—« v :!.<>uld have all the p-in-ph&rualia af "ovcriuneiit which we now have. Another matter on which the -SupcriiiUndcut am exercise great influence, is that cf the relation oi'iie O.nu-ral aiid P;o\iw:ial Cov/rnnierits. Jf returned, I will devote a:l the if.nnencc of n:y odiaj to ncconif.H-ii H-paratiou httween t'io Northtrn and the Middle ishititl^.—(Cheera.) I LcJUve that: that is the only cure and paiiaccr. for the evils under which wo are now labouring.—(Hour, hcar.)^ Although i claim your s.ifiraijui on public grounds, yet I think that ua ?o much has b.eu said and vviittm duriiiji the lant. fixr^cn days with regard tn my ptrroniii chunicttr, 1 may he pardoned it I m«kv! <mc or two allusions to that i-o'ttit. — CMr .1. Daniki.s : Time groan? for The Times. — Oroans wtre «iven.) 1 have been accused of hi«;U crime i ati'l miH:.i<-:nta:;o:s. A!!'.,"a::-jn3 have bcfnn-.adc— they iiro mere ns•.. r;ioiu*: they seem to keep within the rounds oi thc'hiW ;ut all fvtnt?, if thty tioii't, I hope to have a shy ut them 'Oini.1 of t! t.<2 unys (lmi;;Ltcr); —but it is fid tint I \;na rtmov:d from o'Hcc in \iiVA, in cou".q'icno(! of tln-FO lii h crimes ai:<l mi'il'j'iic.'itJorH. I wm r«.moved in eor.Etquerci; of no Mich thmjr, but in co::atqnc!:cu of niyov.ii p-.r-.onfil misfortunes — (jptihi'iM1) — lai-if.rtmuH broupht about, in the first instance, ti.fiinlv, hy airtach ot fuith y.fernctruU;n —pcrimp", ns pi'o.-s f- breach of laiih hh v-a°> i-\<-i' iilt. pctrate.-l— t'jwini" me by no )t.'-s un institution t!:nnthc l.'nior. B.r,k vi Au^trulia.— (Groav.".) llad I suulietlmy o-vii i".t':rt9ts more, and t'.o isrer^-:?-! of th? Province k"-s that breach oi' l:'.ith v/o'.i!(i not have ■been committed. I compelled she Bank to gnr.;t intf.c.-t on (JfciiO;-iiM, end 1 M.ryed tlit'^nurcnnlilc cniiuiHH.ity by bsir.^iu;: ■anotlurll." -k if.totl.e ;iboe.—(Hcnr,hcftr.) But for that, J h::ve no hc-:tiHion i.i ny'jilT tfcut I sbould ::nW h,;vi; hf.on Rliiiii'ff the mr-^irtt-.s of l!'c Ir.id— l frhould have bc'-n fnv.-icd v,»<m nnd flalf.-rea by t }j" e ("aVoi'-k: Would-be arist-ic/ncy, Jiiiue--; ths;Vtht! right word.—L-iurh-t.r.) I .«av tlir.t 1 shoub.l have b' en f,;v, netl upon arid'ibutcrrd !>V the .'■cii'tii of rusiKet.-.bility tlu -.vorthipptrs of RL.mmou—She contCT.'/tible Pc-iri^itH by whom I un now deVpiscd.—(-Vpj.-biHirf./ Taut bn-ach of fa:th i'.c.k out of my hands, when it was in my ",rv^p, LGOOO, at a time when I way rclyinjr C"?on it; an a it led to my propcrtvl'iktV' wirifn ar.d fleeing aw<iy like ■Job's, y^ny ca'i testify to this.—(Hear, hear.) Sinmlfitneou-'iy wiib, that, I hecame the obj'-ct of hitter animosity on tiic part of the self-:e:ki;'.q, bveiid-snd-buttcr politician", whom I hnd always .th war Jed I was the victim, simuitaiicoua'ij' witli thi-, to a politio.il conppirucy tw"diabolical us it wasunccm^ulc-us; and, if need be, I could name the conspirators.—(Cries of " Name ! Tjumt'!") Well, guutlancn, it is no use fcrin" mt'tly-mouthed—(hear, henr)— and I will mime them. Mr T. «- Giilies was one. Another v/as, Mr Wilnum. Henry Cutten, Commissioner of Crown Liuds, editor and proprietor of the Witness, writer of the article which appears to-day, as written seven years ago—a man whom I aaved from destruction. And last, but Hot least, was Major, now the Honorable

Major, Richardson, who baa raen to rank and emolument upon my niißfi.-—(Ap-plause ; and a cry of " Three groans for Richardson," which were given.) Unfortunately for me, at the time when 1 held office before, I was mixed up personally in large and heavy transactions with the Government. I soon found the incompatibility of the two positions; and I lo:t no, time in getting rid of one of them, in one instance at a loes of thousands of pounds personally. But there ia no doubt that the loose .way of doing business in those days—an irregular way, at least, that had come down to us from

pa«_t agog—has given my enemies a peg on which to bang certain alligations and statements; and I confess that it is very difficult for me, now to refute them. But I deny—and it has never been proved— that I participated to the extent of a shilling in anything that happened. I staud here now, great in my consciousness of rectitude and integrity of purpose. I will put my moral character against that ol any man in the Province.—(Cheers; and a cry of " Gillies not exceptcd.") Aye! Gillie* not exceptcd. Had I been the rogur and vagabond I am alleged to be, I must have bet-ri the greatest fool under heaven, not to have given free scope to my propensities. Had I been co, I should have been roliing iv wealth—one of the richest mtn here—and, no doubt, greatly rejected!— (Laughter and applause.) I should have been included amongst the "excellent of the earth." I have not the slightest doubt of it.—(Laughter.) I have no prettnmon whatever to the immaculacy winch is so loudly arrogated to themselves by my traducers; but I challenge comparison, as to niy moral character, with any one of them. The reporter, it is suggested to me, cannot see to report any longer; and I will not detain you- I have only to say this: that, if I know myself, I <Jo not come before you to solicit your auffragee upon any mercenary grouuds. I do not sctk office for the sake ol a piece of bread. I think that hot!) myself and my family have shown that we can subsist without being pensioners on the Stute.— (Cheers.) Iv soliciting your suffrage?, I am animated by a most enthusiastic desire to he instrumental in promoting those interests which I believe to be the interests of this Province —a Province which I be!i>:ve is destined to be a great and powerful Slate, yet. It is this enthusiasm thnt animates me; and I believe it ia this enthusiasm which animates hundreds and thousands of my supporters—(cheers)—an enthusiasm, to use the language ol " the | old man eloquent,*' which " flourishes in adversity, which kindles in the hour of danger, and wakens to deeds <;f renown."—-(Cheers.) The crascktH .slanders of a blackguard press, only serveto quicken the energy of its purpose. Jt fiwcHs io proud integrity; and, great in the purity of its cause, it will scatter defiance orwd a hoHt of enemies.—(Cheer?; followed by a call from Sir Daniels for " Three gronnu for 7'ln Timcx," which were given.) I have done. It row restH with you, the people, to see to it, that the days of rtd-tnpeism are em?ed, and to sec to it, that the upas tree of officialism, which hap hitherto been retarding [A couple of lighted candles were here brought forward to the wagon; and the speaker waa interrupted by their holder clambering up bti-i'.ic hint.] ft rests with you, to-morrow. at the poll, to pee to it, that the days o! mis-government are ended; and, if elected Superintendent of this Province, I shall consider that T represent in my own person, while I vindicate, the Majesty of the People. — (L«ud cheers.)

Mr J. Jl'lnijoj: proposed, " Tbat Mr Jf.mcs Macondrew ia th« most fit and proper person to fill the oflice of Superiutendent."

JMr Thomas Birch seconded the pro

position. A show of hands v/tu taken, and, as far mi could be seen, was almost unanimously in favor of the motion.

Mr Macandhew moved a vote of thanks to the Ctiairmati, and thanked those present most sincerely for the very cnthu- ; i:i9tic ami unexpected reception which they hud given him.

Alter "Three Cheers for Macandrew" the meeting dispersed.