THE ELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 585, 14 February 1863, Page 3

THE ELECTION OF SUPERINTENDENT.

Cth February, 18G3. A most numerously attended meeting was held in the long room of the Quccu's°Arnig Hotel, last night, for the purpose of considering what steps should he taken regarding the election ot a Superintendent for the Province. Great interest was evinced throughout the proceedings, and though the rain poured down upon the meeting, through the roof, this involuntary shower - bath passed unheeded. It was almost impossible to take notes, as the paper immediately became saturated, and not capable of being written upon. The meeting comprised all the leading ■torekeepers and residents.

Mr Sraithers was voted to the chair, and said that the meeting was called for the purpose of considering a political question. It was uncertain whether there were two candidates -or -not for the post, namely" #ajor liichardson and Mr HydeHwi? (Hear,

hear). The welfare and prosperity of the country depended very much upon the ensuingelections, and they had met to give expression to their vidws upon the subject! They would have to say, whether they approved or not of the candidature of Mr. Harris, who he would state had come forward in compliance with a numerously signed requisition that had been presented to him hy the people of Dunedin, (llear hear). 11U duty as chairman was simply to state the objects of the meeting, and he would further, merely read the address presented to Mr Harris and his reply as it apreircd in the columns of the Dai y Times. The chairman then proceeded to read the address. Mr Moses sat], they might almost call this an open air meeting' under canvass, and he would therefore request to be allowed to keep his hat on. The obiect of the meeting wa9 to support and loud Mr John Hyde Harris such moral influence as they pos c essed. Most of them were aware iltat this gentleman had been for the last ten to twelve years identified with the Province, — in fact, from its first settlement. He had been chosen several times by the people to responsible offices, and elected a member of the Assembty, and had proved himself both a man of firmness and ability, (Hear, hear.) He was the most capable man they could find at the present moment, and was not one of those who came to the Province to make a " pile" and hurry off with it. One and all agreed this gentleman had peculiar qualifications for tins office, and one and ail agreed that the present Government had not done their duty. It was a very inconvenient thing to be holding meetings day after day, f> show the Government the way they should act. He believed that they would be unable to vote for the Superintendency, though registered under a Miner's Right; but they would lend their moral support, as the Chairman had stated, to one tide or other of the contcsr. lie believed that the present Government had done the best they could to meet the difficulties that had necessarily pressed upon them ; but they evidently had not the ability to manage the State properly. Ample time had been given them, but they had failed in prolucing any satisfactory policy, and the whole country was now in confusion, and a change was, under these circiiTis'auces, desirable and required. (Cheers.) The resolution he held in hand was to the following effect :— '• That this mueling fully approves of the candidature of the Hon. Mr. Harris for the Super.ntendency of the Vro\incc, and will fully support him iv that obi <ct."

A Voice : " What do you know of Mr. Harris ?''

Mr. Moses : JTliat he is a gentleman who will give saU-jfiic'ion as a Superintendent ; is intelligent and clever, and will place the gold-fields and roads upon a sound sjstem. Mr WcMi had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. He believed with the la«t speaker that the time Jnd a- rived when a change of government. was required to protect their interests on the gold fields, and he would firmly asseit that" no better man than John Hyde Harris could be found as a Superintendent to carry out a new and more suitable policy. (Hear, heir.) Mr Bruce moved—" That the policy lately pursued, whether as regards the gold fields, the formation of roads, the extension of the telegraphic system, in the sale of townships on the gold fields, and of suburban allotments around them, has proved the incompetence of the present Government, and shown the little sympathy they feel with the new development of the Province ; and this meeting views with satisfaction the prospect of a change." He thought that after the previous speeches he need not enlarge upon the present resolution under the uncomfortable circumstances they were placed in.

Mr Thompson seconded the motion.

Mr Bradshaw said the Government had no power over the Land Regulations, as it lay with the Central Government, and he therefore thought the resolution was out of order. The government should not be blamed. He was in favor of townships on the gold fields, and would give them every assistance in obtaining them. They should go in for farmers' rights, like the miners' rights, and oppose the grasping policy of the squatter and capitalist— (Cheers.) At present they were jnmping at a straw, and supporting Mr Harris belore they knew his views upon the land question.— (Hear, hear.) Mr Moses said a bill had been passed by which townships on the gold fields could be laid out and sold, and be would refer as an instance to the township of Lawrence, at Tuapeka, which had been both laid out and sold.

Mr Bradshaw : But you cannot purchase it, but merely take it up and occupy it. Mr Hill : The resolution does not say anything about the system, but that no action has been generally taken by the government in the sale of townships. Mr Moses : Mr Bradshaw docs not understand his position or the question. Mr Bradshaw would quote Castlemaine, Ballarat, and other Victorian gold fields townships, where the business license gave a pre-emptive right over the ground when sold. He thought the Victorian system a better one than this, and that if we had that system and farmers' rights it would settle everything. It was not the fault of the present Government that a better system did not exist. He had called and pressed the matter upon the Government when in town, and aho pressed upon their notice a more vital point, affecting the mining interest. On another occasion lie should have something to say on these que-tion", and would give them every assistance in his power; bu let them be careful what they did. (Hear,, hear, and cheers.)

Mr Welsh : This has nothing to do with the objects of the present meeting. Mr Hill considered that Mr JBrad&haw's arguments were beyond the question. (Hear.) The question now before them was, had the Government used every means to alvonce the interebtsof the gold fields? The question of the General Government, formers' rights, and squattcis., had nothing to do with the present resolution. lie did not beli>vc in continually going to the Council, praying and begging for that which they should have done for the interests of the Province. (Hear, hear.) Jt looked as if Mr Bradshaw wanted to shift the argument. He agreed with the resolution in the main, but should have an amendment. Had the Council faithfully exercised their powers, they would all be in a better position, but they had done as little as they could well do. (Cheers). Mr Moses would (ksire to correct the statements of Mr Bradshaw, and could produce evidence to support his views, lie would say that the Provincial system was far superior to the Victorian plan of selling gold fields townships. After a long residence upon the latter, your buildings were valued by the government, and put up to auction. Here when a township was proclaimed, assessors and an arbitrator were appointed and the value of the land once fixed, the freehold was your own, without competition, giving to all classes an equal privilege, and securing the person who bad the humblest residence upon the ground. What more fair and impartial could be desired. This was the answer he should give Mr Bradshaw, (Hear, hear.) The Chairman when about putting the resolution, was again interrupted, and an irregular conversation of considerable length ensued, during which the Chairman considered that Mr Bradshaw did not allow him as much action as he claimed lor himself. (Hear, hear, from Mr Bradshaw, laughter.) '

An amendment proposed by Messrs Hill and Moses was adopted by the" mover and seconder of the original motion, as the substantive one, which' now read :— " That the policy that this meeting deajres to see puraued for

the interests of the Province, is a better administration of the gold fields, the extension of the telegraph system, the formation of the roads to the gold fields and the the interior, an amended electoral act, the immediate survey and sale of townships on the gold fields and the settling of suburban knds for the benefit of mining interests." Upon being put to the meeting it was carried by a large majority, three hands only being held up against it. A committee, consisting of Messrs Hill, Smithcrs, Moses Bruce, Welsh, Thompson, Bracken, and Bradshaw, was appointed for watching over the election, and were requested to place themselves in communication with Mr Harris's central committee, and take such steps as might tend to accomplish the object of the meeting. A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman for his kindness in " sticking" to his post under the delude of rain and talk. MiBracken called for three cheers in favor of Mr Harris, the future Superintendent, which was heartily responded to. Everyone was thoroughly wet through, at the close of the meeting, except those provided with cloaks.