WESTERN DISTRICT ELECTION. NOMINATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 302, 12 September 1857, Page 5

WESTERN DISTRICT ELECTION. NOMINATION.

On Monday, the 7th instant, the electors of the Western District assembled at Mr. Marshall's, Halfway Bush, to nominate one person, in the room of Mr. Smith, resigned, to represent them in the Provincial Council. Dr. Purdie was nominated by Mr. Lindsay, and seconded by Mr. Duncan. Mr. Langlands was nominated by Mr. Harris, and seconded by Mr. Shanks. Dr. Purdie having been called upon to address the electors, said — He had come forward at their spontaneous request, and quite unsolicited on his part. He did so as an independent elector, an independent candidate, and he would be, if elected, an independent representative, prepared, according as his own judgment might guide him, to oppose all bad measures and support all good one 3, come from whence they might. Since the parsing of the Reform Bill, indeed, since he could sign his own name, he had been a steady supporter of every liberal measure, the opponent of every species of bribery and corruption ; and bribery and corruption might be pursued in many an indirect way, as for example patting the children's heads and saying, • O what a nice child,' or trying to promote the adxancement of any public object the inhabitants' of a district might be set upon, all which proceedings were but a species of bribery. In a conversation held with Mr. Langlands, he (Dr. Purdie) had expressed himself to the effect that he thought his opponent had been actuated to oppose him from a spirit of revenge, in consequence of the part he had taken in the town election. He had been represented as opposed to responsible government, because he had opposed the election of Mr. Cutten. He (Dr. Purdie) never had been a supporter of that gentleman, and had steadily voted against him at every election. He was opposed to a salaried Provincial Secretary with £250 a-year. He (Dr. Purdie) had not been so unacquainted with public and Government affairs as not to be sure there existed no necessity for such an appointment. On that ground, then, as well as the other, he had opposed Mr. Cutten's election. As to responsible government : the king, the civil power — King, Lords, or Commons, were all respbnsible'to the public and to Heaven ; we were all responsible to each other: that was what he (Dr. Purdie) understood by responsible government, in which of course he fully. concurred. Having thus far stated his views, and again assured them that, he, if elected, should go to the Council an independent representative, Dr. Purdie expressed his willingness to answer any questions.

Dr. Purdie having been asked if he would take-off the restrictions on land, he said he objected to the restrictions} he thought they were framed with a good intention, although they had been crushing to many an honest man. He could not see how the conditions could equitably be taken off. One way of dealing with the subject might be, that those who were .dissatisfied might throw up the land. He did not propose to alter the restrictions, but would deal with cases equitably. He was opposed to the sale of land in large blocks at the south. He preferred 20 small to one large purchaser. Did Dr. Pnrdie not think it unfair that land should be sold free of restrictions at the south and placed under them elsewhere ? He thought the present state of the Land Regulations would, if altered, involve many settlements of cases, as he had said before, according to equity ; that was his opinion. Mr. Chalmers said he was evading the question put to him. After some further questions on the subject, Dr. Purdie said he was not prepared to propose any alteration in the Land Sales and Leases Bill. Would Dr. Purdie be in favour of the hilly lands, such as Flagstaff and others within Hundreds being reserved as cattle runs P Yes. He (Dr. Purdie) had bought his land from the New Zealand Company on that distinct understanding, and he thought it was a violation of failh to sell these lands now. Mr. Chalmers requested Mr. Cutten, whom be saw present, and who was acquainted with the settlement from its commencement, to stnte what was the case. Mr. Cutten said there never existed any such arrangement between the New Zealand Company and the Otago Association. The New Zealand Company reserved a right on their part to dispose of the hilly lands in question at any future time, for such price as might be agreed upon, the Association having the refusal of such lands. In answer to several other questions, Dr. Purdie stated that he disapproved of the appointment of Mr. Adam. He would sell all the Church lands, and apply one-half of the proceeds to the" Free Church, and the other to Education. He would reserve all unsold hilly land and bush. He would, if possible, have the Maine Law introduced at once. Mr. Langlands nest addressed the electors. He said — Having on two previous occasions met with the electors, he had explained the reasons which had induced him at this time to enter the field and contest this election. It might not have been necessary for him to state these reasons again, but as the present meeting seemed to him chiefly composed of the supporters of his opponent, he should again state that he entered the contest entirely upon public grounds. Up till the time he had seen Dr. Purdie take the position he "had done in the recent election for the town, he^had, so far as he had known that gentleman's views, thought him a political ally. The part he had taken in that election had opened his (Mr. Langland's) eyes to the fact that either, that was not the case, or his opponent's sphere of political vision had become so obfuscated that he had got confused and lost his way ; on either of winch suppositions he was not the man, in his (Mr. L.'s) opinion, to be entrusted with action in a legislative capacity. He begged to state the sense he felt of the responsibility such a position involved, in view of the possibility of occupying which he wished to express his diffidence/and felt sure the electors would agree with him that he who felt otherwise could scarcely be a fit man to entrust with their public interests. He wished a sense of the important duties had been more prevalent, then he should not have been shocked by finding men holding seats in the Council, shamefully ignorant of the most important provisions of those laws they had clause by clause considered and passed. But there was one subject upon which he had taken his stand, on which he felt the utmost confidence, namely, the necessity which existed for establishing a thorough system of responsible government. His confidence in the soundness of this position was unsurpassed by the intensity of conviction with which he had advocated the reduction of the price of land 3*ears ago, which reduction had effected a marked change and progression in the Province. What was meant by responsible government was ill understood ; it was plain his opponent was perfectly in the dark in regard to it. What he .had stated as to it was quite beyond his (Mr. L.'s) comprehension. Moral responsibility was not ministerial responsibility. At the previous meetings held with the electors, he had gone over the question at some Jength, and it was an extensive one, historically and theoratically considered. On this occasion he should confine himself simply to the enunciation of its practical working. Our Constitution was framed on the model of that of England. As to its Provincial arrangements : the Superintendent acts for and on behalf of the Governor or of the Crown, for it came to the same thing ; it was to represent such that he was elected, and he ought to be as such considered — the head of all parties, and allied to none. In matters of legislation the Superintendent should act entirely by advice and consent of his Executive Council, whose tenure of office should be the support of the majority of the Council. The moment they lose that support, out they should go, and in walk another set of men ; thus the whole business of legislation would go on under it smoothly and quietly; the Superintendent, as the representative of the Crown ought to be, is kept aloof, in order that, whether with an Executive holding one-set of political views, oran Executive holding another set of political views, the public business might go on quietly. Let the electors contrast such a state of affairs with the

proceedings of the first Provincial Council held here. The Superinteudent had not then realized to himself his true position as the elected representative of the Crown. He, on the contrar5 r , reckoned himself the representative of a C'y of the people. - A number of the Council dpparted from the views on which they had been elected, and the Superintendent refusing to yield to the majority, a scene of continual squabbling brought disgrace upon that Council throughout New Zealand. Under such a system it was manifest that to command the services of at least the working portion of such an Executive, the working part thereof should be salaried in order to ensure that the Provincial work should be performed. If retrenchment under a decreasing revenue became necessary, then diminish subordinates as they can be dispensed with. The Superintendent himself, under such a state of things, might be an honorary office, but never let them commit the fatal error of dispensing with leading men directly and immediately amenable to the Council both for their policy and work. But he (Mr. Langlands) would rather hope to see a rapid increase of population, resources, and revenues create a necessity for a far more able and extended service than at present existed or was required. Their circumstances and similarity of Constitution to that of Great Britain had been ridiculed by a figure beautiful in itself but sadly misapplied. It had been said the machinery of the leviathian steamer was rather too cumbrous for a cock-boat. True, but the principles of construction in the huge steamer and the smaller vessel are the same ; both are intended for progression : both, notwithstanding their vast difference in bulk and complement, are directed and held steady on their courses by a similar governing rudder, and when under the formidable threatening wave of some tumultuous popular opinion, the State vessel is let fall off to pass quietly through opposing forces. Here you have an appropriate symbol of responsible government. His opponent had, he should sa)', in bad taste referred to a private conversation which had taken place between them. The motive of revenge had been attributed to him (Mr. Langlands) in now contesting the election. He knew of no such feeling, and thought such language should find no place in their political vocabular]*. The part of the true gentleman is never to view political opposition in that light, nor consider his opponent his enem)'. He (Mr. Langlands) had come before them independently ; he "had met them, as many as chose to come, publicly again and again to express his views to them, and, he believed, had done so to the satisfaction of the electors. He had made no personal canvass, and solicited not a single vote, being only desirous of this, that, if elected, he should stand in the confidence of his constituency. His opponent had come upon the field heralded by. seventeen trumpeters as a Christian and a gentleman ; good qualities certainty, and he hoped the first was one to which many present could truthfully lay claim; but plainly, a man might be both, and yet a very unfit person to act as a political representative. However, if such a man could be found, courteous and keen in debate, able and comprehensive in his grasp of laws and their consequences, well acquainted with history, especially the parliamentary history of our native country, and thoroughly versed with the great laws and truths of political economy, then was such a person every way qualified to be their representative. If not, it mattered not how gentlemanly his bearing or Christian his virtues, you would assuredly have again and again by such legislators a repetition of such political follies as directing a man's capital, whether it paid him or not, to the cultivation of land under the cultivation or improvement clause of the Land Regulations. Legislation ought never to interfere in directing private capital, neither should it attempt to reguHte j prices of commodities, nor wages of labour; in all these matters the wise course is to let them alone, they will best regulate themselves by demand and supply. So also with cultivation and improvement of land ; if it pay a man, he will do it without compulsion ; if it does not, what is a loss or waste of labour to him must necessarily be a loss to the ' public. He would not enter again into discourse upon matters of a legislative kind ; he had already fully expressed himself on these subjects both in his address and at district meetings, and was now j ready to answer any questions which the electors might see fit to put. In answer to various questions, the inconsistency Mr. Langlands alluded to in the Land Regulations was selling land in one part of the Province without restrictions, and in another part under them. Was Mr. Langlands prepared at once to remove the restrictions 1 No. To make a wrong law was one thing ; to alter it hastily and .inconsiderately was another. Nothing was t more injurious than a constant alteration of the arrangements connected with the sale of Jand. According to the best legal authorities we had, the conditions were of no real force, and purchasers could not be dispossessed. Had never approved of the conditional outlay system, but, as they very well knew, was in favour of another mode of restraining speculation. It would be very unwise, in his opinion, considering our relations with the General Government, and the sums which had been borrowed on the faith of large land sales, to disturb the Land Regulations at the next session of Council. However, it might he very possibly I done judiciously at the succeeding session next year. Had no objection to the 2000-acre block system." There could be no reason of inequality, except in point of extent, not also applicable to selling in 50-aeres as compared with 10 and |-acres. To cut up these blocks into patches would only have the effect of enabling parties to pick up choice pieces here and there, the intervening inferior por-tions-remaining unsold ; besides, a large additional I expense in survey would be incurred. Again/there 1 was no lack of land for sale in small quantities. j

As to the sale of land unfit for tillage within Hundreds, or bush land — The existing Land Regulations threw all the lands in the Province open for sale ; there was no doubt of that : but the Superintendent had full power to make such reserves as were required for public utility. He would not like to see any tax for education levied, and hoped that by a flourishing and increasing revenue, we should be able to get on without that. School buildings should be provided out of the general revenue, as at present. Thinly peopled remote districts might, by raising one-half of the teachers' salaries, be supplemented for a time to the extent i of the other half. i In answer to a question by Mr. David Hood, how it happened Mr. Langlands stated the other night that all supporters of the editor of the Otago 1 Colonist were hostile to Responsible Government — That was not a political question ; however, for Mr. Hood's information, Mr. Langlands would correct him. He had stated at their meeting here on Tuesday evening last that the leading spirit of the Otago Colonist had shewn himself nnmistakeably hostile to Provincial Responsible Government, and in favour of one energetic and vigorous mind managing all the affairs of this Province, which need excite the less surprise when it was recollected that that well-known leading spirit had the inglorious celebrity of having ranked against it in Auckland at the first General Assembly, and having in that position remained with his colleagues ; twenty-fours in office as the successors of the Fitzi gerald Ministry, which resigned upon that very point. Mr. Macandrew : Perhaps Mr. Langlands would give the meeting the full particulars. j Mr. Langlands : These were well known. Mr. Macandrew: My opposition was to placehunters, not to Responsible Government. The Returning .Officer then called for a show of hands, which was declared to be in favour of Dr. Purdie, wheieupon a poll was demanded by Mr. Langlands. POLLING. The Polling commenced on Tuesday at 10 o'clock, and closed at 4, the votes being as follows :—: — Dr. Purdie 40 Mr. Langlands 30 Majority 10 On which Dr. Purdie was declared by the Returning Officer to be duly elected. Dr. Purdie, the successful candidate, then briefly addressed the electors, thanking them for the support they had given him, and the honour they had conferred upon him by electing him their representative. As before said, he held they were responsible to each other. He had not himself, during the contest, solicited support from any. (A voice — "Your friends have done so then.") He could not help the kind offers of his friends .Again he assured them he would enter the council an independent man, and should ever be opposed to every species of corruption ; but, as regarded the Secretaryship, he begged it to be distinctly I understood, it should be enquired into, and if the office was really necessary, and work to be done, he wanted no man to work for nothing. (A voice — " Oh, that's an open question then, is it.") Aye,that's responsible government. He "begged to disclaim the slightest ill feeling towards his opponent, and turning toward him they cordially shook hands. , Mr. Langlands then shortly addressed them. He was in the somewhat unpleasant position of the defeated candidate — defeated, but in no way discouraged. He would not now remark upon his late opponent. It was, however, matter of great satisfaction to him that he had not, up till the nomination day, asked one of them how they intended to vote. They were nearly all present, and he might 1 challenge any one to say that he had. (A voice — " Yes, Mr. Harrold.") No, Mr. Harrold had made offer of his support unasked. On the other part, the most intense exertions, by requisition and otherwise, had been used for weeks, and he was sorry to say, he was credibly informed, almost unwarrantable steps had been taken with some of the Harbour side voters. ("Name, name.") He would not name, he had not said unwarrantable, hut almost unwarrantable. He knew when he stood for this district he was entering upon hazardous ground, and (pointing to the North-east Valley) attacking one of his political opponent's ancient strongholds, but the result had justified his demandfor a poll. He sincerely hoped the electors would have no cause to regret their choice ; but he feared they would. He had now to thank those who had given him their support, and to express his hope to meet them again under more favourable circumstances. Sale of Horses. — Mr. W. H. Cutten held a Sale by Auction yesterday, and disposed of a considerable number of Mares at prices varying from £30 to ,£65, the average being rather above £$1 each. The result of this sale shews that horses of superior puality (especially of a stamp for draught) continue in full demand. The following intelligence from the Kelson Gold fields is of a later date than that which appeared in our columns last week :—: — The Gold Fields. — The quantity of gold brought over from Collingwood on Saturday evening last, by the passengers on board the Tasmanian Maid, was about 500 ounces, 144 ounces of which belonged to one party of four men. The number of persons flocking to the gold-fields is very great ; and, if the stream of population continues to pour across the Bay at the rate it now flows at, promises to drain us on this side very soon of the whole of our male population. — Examiner, August 12.