THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2854, 31 March 1871, Page 4

THE PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS.

KAIKORAL On Wednesday evening Mr Martin, one of the candidates for the Kaikorai district, addressed a large meeting at the Foresters' Hall; Mr John Blair in the i chair. Mr Martin said the principal topics which agitated the community at present were immigration, the land laws, and public works, to each of which he would briefly refer. Regarding immigration, he was partial to the old system, namely, allowing persons to send for their friends and relations, assisted passages being granted. This system had hitherto worked well. He. was opposed to the grand scheme propounded by the General Government of having a population brought in indiscriminately, which would result in introducing loafers from all the towns of Europe. Free passages to respectable single women, would be advantageous by inducing the floating population to get, married and settle upon the land. To men with families he would afford every assistance, as they would prove the best settlers. An efficient immigration agent ought to be sent home at stated periods, to select suitable immigrants, and diffuse information on the advantages gained by settlirisj in this province. Respecting, the land laws, it was really difficult to express an opinion upon them, aa they were, now telassified. He though*, however, *it would be preferable to have one sound general law for the whole province. As we could not have iar^e Hundreds as formerly, a good natural boundary, irrespective of acreage, should mark the definition of a Hundred. Of the cry against the squatting interest he did not altogether approve, for the Government was now deriving a large revenue, not a small one as formerly, from the squatters. It enabled the government to be carried on, and saved the province from' bankruptcy. But he was decidedly opposed to jfche mode of selection, for the Government of the'provirice were better judges of the land, suitable for settlement' than any Commissioners appointed from Wellington. With free Be'leciion, he entirely disagreed,.it being^ squatter's cry. Under such a system, the settler would be hampered, by restrictions j" the choice spots would be alienated, and the end ;wouldbe confusion. He decidedly, thought it would be much better to sell the lands at 10s per acre, and give Crown grants at once. He did not, however^, put this forth as a cast-iron rule, ,and was open Ho ! conviction. No one was more ansibus than he to. see the land" kettledi and laws, tending towards " that ~ object Would meet his warmest , aupport,; Cohcernipg the great financial scheme, Ee' was not hi favpur.of it as a wKdle, ,feut. would not object,to borrowing onalimited' 'scale. The schemiE) was^decided; «pbn,r and it:was tibe duty of members ,6f tbV 1 Assembly to Bee carefully that; jwe' obtain . jsin equitable 'share. Sortie persons.had; ;mwty about bprrowing money.'? 11. taoneycould be p'ofaained atfiyep^rcent.,' and bDly one per cent obtained in. return' from that laid oiit on reprodiictite works, the province would be this gainer, •and would prosper through it. , He would strenuously object to money-being bbr-; rowed largely, and squandered, recklessly upon rail ways, without fiir at ascertaiuing |that they- were absolutely : reqxijn&l','' and Would recoup a per centage, _ However amall. ■ IChbae who argued , against railWays might as well argue againat thrash-' ing, or any other, machines which/saved labour. If returned, would advocate strict economy. There was far too much money spent on officials. He remembered the time,, when the Superintendent had only L4OO per; annum, and the Executive! membera salaries in proportion, and'yet the work was as efficiently -done then ..ia, with the large salaries.now. , In answer to queßtipns Mr Martin said he would gb in for recommending cheap lines': of railways.. Even if 1 per cent only were pbtained; 6n money expended,.' the province would \ prosper. He would learn. and ju^ge for/ himself respecting the propriety of bringing water to goldfields; He preferred immediate payment, to the deferred payment system, for the last would create a class dangerous to a free community, by its supporting Government interests. He did not approve of the Hundreds Regulation Act aB a whole, al hough on the first flush he thought it would conduce to prosperity. The commissioners under the Land Act were a great obstruction. A vote of confidence in the candidate was, on the motion of Mr Allan King, seconded by Mr Henry Carter, carried unanimously. PENINSULA. The following are the returns of the polling, which took place yesterday : Anderson's N.E. Porto- T , Bay. Harbour, bello. A " Seaton ... 36 26 44 106 Tolmie ... 59 3 7 69 Roas ...24 5 12 41 Robertson ... 5 2 3 10 The official declaration of the poll will be made on Tuesday, 4th April, at the Anderson's Bay School-house. bmjeskin. The voting for this district took place yesterday. The official declaration had not been made when our correspondent's letter was despatched j but we believe the subjoined figures will be found correct:— Blnoskin. Merton. Total. Green ... 33 32 65 M'Lean ... 43 19 62 Majority for Green.,. ... 3 Mr Green returned thanks to hia supporters, and praised his opponents for the manly way in whioh they had contested the election. Mr M'Lean also returned thanks to his supporters, and assured hia opponents that he still regarded them .with goodwill, although he had not received their support on the occasion. r IKYEEOABGILt. The polling for Invercargill took place yesterday, and resulted in the return of Mr Go Lumsden. The numbers were— : Lumsden ... ... 131 j M'Ciure ... ... .2G I Majority for Lumsdea... 105 j