THE SUPERINTENDENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2799, 26 January 1871, Page 3

THE SUPERINTENDENCE.

» ■ MR MACANDREW AT TOKOMAIRIRO. In accordance with announcement Mr Macandrew, as a candidate for the Supertendency, addressed the Tokomairiro electors on Monday evening in the Volunteer Hall, Milton. Long before the hour of meeting the streets presented a scene of excitement and bustle, indicative of some great event, and when the doors of the hall were opened the place was soon filled to overflowing, about 400 being present. Mr Goodall, the Mayor, was called to the chair, and briefly introduced Mr Macandrew, who on rising waß received with applause. Mr Macawdrew said, he did not purpose making a set speech. He thought as they had already that day had a surfeit of politics he would best consult their inclinations by giving them a short address, and trusting to explain every point of doubt on the minds of electors by answering fally every question that might be put. Judging from the tone of'the local press that in coming to Tokomairiro he had got into the hands of the Philistines, he was there to answer for all the sins of omission and commission with which he had been charged. He was not aware of being a different man from whai he was four years ago, in so far as holding different political opinions. If he did not please them now, it was, .however, clear that either he or they must have changed.—(Laughter.) After stating his reasons for resigning before his period of office had expired by effluxion of time, he proceeded to show that the grand question now to be decided was—Shall we or shall we not avail ourselves of the benefits of the Financial Policy adopted at last Assembly f It was not a question of men, but measures. He had no doubt their local members were sincere in their belief that the people should be consulted, but they were misled and deceived. The policy had been approved by all the members for Otago in the Assembly, but it

was singular that a majority of the Provincial Council thought otherwise. It was a foolish and illogical argument to say that because the North Island was said to be getting undue advantage from the proposed loaa that therefore Otago should not accept her share of it. If the 19 members of Otago, in conjunction with other Middle Island members, were not competent to prevent an injury being done, it would be the fault of the electors in not choosing proper men. There was no manner of doubt that in the past the ' Middle Island provinces, and especially Otago, had been fleeced by the North Island to a considerable extent. After further reference to this subject, Mr Macandrew said that taxation could only be reduced by bringing out large numbers of people to share their burdens. To provide for this, the carrying out of a system of railways was necessary, and:this was provided for by the General Assembly scheme. He thought if a network of cheap railways was made, the province would easily absorb thousands of immi- > grants. He then touched upon water sup- • ply to the goldfields, and believed it was essentially a reproductive work. He was preI pared to oppose the turning of a sod for a ; railway in the North Island, if it could not |be shown that they were able to pay for it.—(Hear, hear.) He thought, however, | that the making of railways, bridges, &c, | there would be the "quickest, and most S effective means of settling the Maori difficulty.—(No, no.) After further remarks, Mr Macandrew said he was not j aware of having broken any promises— |(Oh, oh, and laughter.) He was certainly in no! getting the Clutlia jrailway constructed during his term of j office ,* but it was not* his fault.— '(Laughter.) He would now answer questions. I An indescribable scene of confusion jhere took place, which lasted for some itime, during which groans, applause, and ihisses were mingled in a most harmonious 'discord.' ■ ■■' ■■■ '• -:----~ ■■■■ ■■■ .• ■: !. The following are the principal questions and answers; but it was impossible jfor our reporter to catch the import of more than one half of the queries, as the noise and confusion were so great :— " ; In reply to Mr Kntin-y he said the sale of the Island Block was a mistake and blunder, and he thought Mr Beighton was a good deal to blame for it. He was not aware of Government townships being unfairly treated. • I Mr Houston ;Ia the Land Act of 1866 was there not a limitation:, of compensation for improvements, viz,, not to exbeed three years' rental, and no compensation for any improvements on lands proclaimed into Hundreds during the term for which the license was originally held? Answer.—Yes. | Mr Houston : In the Land Act, 1866, was ihere any provision for compensation for determination of lease when a run was proclaimed into Hundreds ? Answer.—l see no difference between compensation and deterioration of/lease. Mr Houston: Under the Hundreds Regulation Act is there any limitation to the amount of compensation to be paid for improvements to the runholder? Answer.—No. : : Mr Houston : Looking to the fact that many of the improvements made by runholders, especially in low sheep fences dividing runs into large paddacks for the purpose of saving employment of shepherds would be useless if the land was occupied for small farms; is it fair or reasonable that the public -should be called upon to pay for what the runholders have laid out simply to economise their own work? Answer.—lt was neither fair nor reasonable, nor was it the fact.—(Cries of Oh oh.) For what purpose were pre-emptive rights given? Answer : I don't know. '• m Do you consider that any compensation should be given for improvements when the pre-emptive right is unimproved, or, as in many cases, is not occupied as a homestead ? Answer.—l do not think it.should. - ■ , ...-...., ! Mr Gillies : Are- you aware that prior to your administration nearly 300,000 acres of land held as runs were cancelled within the goldfields, opened for agricultural leases, and providing grazing rights at a cost of about Is per acre I Answer.— It may be so. ; : ■: :. Is it not the fact that during your tenure of office, and with the Vogel Ministry, the policy that was pursued was to open blocks for agricultural leasing without, grazing rights, and in the agreements made to pay as high aa 5s per acre for sections as taken up ; and that, during nearly two and a half years of that Ministry's existence, only from 10,000 to 15,000' acres were opened ? Answer.—l am not responsible for the acts of the Vogel Ministry any more than for that of Reid.. Is it not the fact that during 16 months of the Reid Ministry's existence upwards of 50,000 acres have been opened up, mostly with grazing rights, and the highest compensation given, has been 2a 6d per acre, in some cases less—remembering that these mostly were choice blocks of land of 2500 or 5000 acres each ? Answer.—l think the average was not so much. It was nonsense. (Mr Gillies here said he would publish the list, after he (Mr Macandrew) refused to look at a document handed to him.)' Mr A. D. Duncan : Were not Mr Reid and the Executive obstructive in not allowing the payment of LSOO to Wilson and Birch as a bonus for malt ? Answer— I think so. Did you not informally sign a warrant for the same? Amwer.—No. It was also Bigned by the Executive.—(Mr Gillies : No!) . Was there any vote of the Council out of which it could be paid? Answer.— Yen.—(Cries of "No! they had all lapsed.") Did you not give a written memorandum to the effect that you thought the money should be divided between Birch and Strachan ? Answer.—l think so. Mr Fleming : The following serious alterations were made by the Assembly in the Hundreds Regulation Amendment Bill as forwarded by the Provincial Government, founded on resolutions of the Provincial Council:—lst. The clause providing that no compensation Bhall be paid for fencing unless entered under the Fencing Ordinance, 1867, was struck out by the Assembly. 2nd; The provision that the 640 acres was to include existing pre-emptive rights, so as to prevent spoiling the run, was s'ruck out, and the time during which they have the right of selection was extended from three to twelve months. 3rd. Priority of right was also given to the runholder to select agricultural lease under Goldfields Act, 1866. 4th. A clause was introduced giving power to the pastoral tenants who had not applied to come under the Act 1866 to have their leases extended, by paying up arrears of assessment. Can you tell me where in Hansard T can find that you, either as member for Olutha or aa Superintendent, protested asainßt such gross injustice as is contained in these alterations 1 Answer.—No, I cannot. Did Mr Reid not telegraph to you that if alteration were made in the amendments of the Provincial Council, the Executive would consider themselveß absolved from all previous compromlgeg ? Answer.—-He may have done so.

Did you.take an opportunity of fulfilling the Views of the Executive in the Assembly with a view to prevent these alterations being made ? No, If did not $ the alterations were made in the Waste Land Committee, and it was hopeless to oppose them. Mr Church : It ia nowneariy six months since the amended Hundreds Acfc passed. The resolution of fee Provincial Council, dated December lSfch. 186fl>, was as follows :—" That His Honour the Superintendent be requesteds to communicate with His-Excellency the Governor, requesting him to appoiat one or more officers, as provided by aec3. 5, 6/7 of the Otago Hundreds Regulation Act, so that on the Act being amended, the aforesaid Hundreds may be immediately proclaimed." How many Hundreds have been proclaimed up to the present date ? Answer.-.! believe there have been none. The Commissioners have sent in thoir report, and it is expected that Hundreds will soon be proclaimed. Do you approve of the principles embodied in the British Acts of Parliament with reference to borrowing money for drainage, and improvement of agricultural properties? Answer.—Most cer- • tainly. : \ If returned, will you pledge yourself to ;have the matter brought before the As* isembly? Answer.—Yes. - ''■ /■ Mr Gillies : What steps did the Superintendent take in the Assembly to carry out the resolution of the "Provincial j Council, dated Bfch June, 1870, having reference to Drainage and Improvement |, Acts ? Answer.—l do not remember of jsuch a resolution; but my attention was ; drawn to the subject by Mr John : Douglas. The Assembly was too much | occupied with other matters to attend ; to it. Did you not return a message in reply ito the recommendation of the Provincial [Council, requesting that the Mount Stuart jHundred be proclaimed, that you would ■forward the resolution, but would not ■recommend that they should be opened ? iAnswer. —lf I did, it was with the concurrence of the Executive.—(Mr Gillies : iNo:) -'■■ ;■••■ - ■■ l' ■■ '■" ■■■' ■ . • ■■' Mr H. White proposed the following resolution :—"That this meeting thanks ;Mr_ Macandrew '" for his address ; but, .taking into*''account his conduct during the past four, years^ it is of opinion that a change in the Superintendency is absolutely necessary for the furtherance of settlement and true progress in Otago ; and, also, in order to check the grasping policy of the General Government with respect to the revenue of the Province." The motion was seconded by Mr J. Mackay. ■■■■■ •".•• ; Mr P. Cunningham proposed, as an amendment,—"That the best thanks of the meeting be passed to Mr Macandrew for bis address, and for his able and satisfactory explanation." Mr Wm. Gray seconded the amendment. After some little delay from the confusion and excitement, the Chairman put the amendment to the meeting, when, as far as we could judge, about 50 hands were held up. To, get the motion put, however, was quite another matter, as it seemed the Chairman was so bewildered or unwilling, that at last he allowed the extraordinary proceeding to go on of Mr Macandrew reading and putting to the meeting the resolution condemnatory of himself. A forest of hands was held up for the motion, but to estimater the number was impossible. The deafening cheers for Mr Reid were sufficient to show that the motion was carried by a large majority. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr Macandrew and carried, brought the noisiest meeting held in Milton to a close. ,