MR T. L. SHEPHERD, M.P.C., AT ALEXANDRA.

Otago Witness, Issue 851, 21 March 1868, Page 3

MR T. L. SHEPHERD, M.P.C., AT ALEXANDRA.

On Saturday evening last, Mr Thos. L. Shepherd, MP.C. for the Goldfields, addressed a numerously attended meeting of miners at Ryan's Bendigo Hotel, Alexandra. The Mayor, Mr Robert Finlay, occupied the chair.

Mr Shepherd, who was very favorably received, said that it was now nearly twelve months since he was elected their member for the Provincial Council, and he took the opportunity of addressing them, believing, as he did, that previous to another session of the Council it was his duty as their representative to come forward and explain something of his past and future public career. He would, therefore, confine himself principally to his own actions. It wa3 not to be expected that in the Council he could take part in everything that was brought forward ; but he had done his best, and had paid strict attention, as far as lay in his power, to all matters connected with the Goldfields and the Province in general. From the '" Blue Book," containing the votes and proceedings of the Provincial Council, he would refer seriatim to matters which affected their interests. He must, before doing so, however, remind them that he thought, their representative in the Provincial Council should also be their representative in the General .Assembly. Upon several occasions he had felt this to be necessary. The Provincial Council could not repeal existing laws, or m&ke new ones ; they could only act in the li.^ht of an expression of opinion. He (Mr Shepherd) was in favor of a repenl of the duty on gold, and of "vote by ballot." He was anxious* for its immediate repeal, but he knew that Canterbury would oppose, as they depended upon the gold duty for paying their expenses on the West Coast. They might agree to do so in the course of five years, following the example of Victoria. The miners had no right to be taxed more than other people. The gold duty was a -ax upon industry. His (Mr Shepherd's) motion in favor of the ballot, after a long debate, was carried in the Provincial Council, and very nearly in the Assembly. He believed that we should possess the ballot before the next two years. The next matter of general importance was the settlement of the lands. The present system was opposed to not only the mining and commercial, but almost every other interest. He was sorry to say that there existed a clique in the Council, who would rather see sheep depasturing on the land, than blooming cornfields. They (the meeting) must be all well aware of the difficulty that existed between the General and Provincial Governments respecting the management of the Goldfields. The Goldfields had been best managed by the Provincial Council, who still retained their management, but the Ministry made the HiOßt of the difficulty. Many of the members of the Council, were men new to their duties, consequently, the Ministry had it all their own way ; but to Becure good Government, it was necessary to have an opposition, and it was a misfortune that many good and talented men had not been re-elected at the last general election. Members representing Goldfields and farming constituencies advocated the cutting up of certain runs for settlement, but the measure was lost through the Executive voting on one side. There only being a small attendance of members present, the Ministry and the squatters voted together. He (the speaker) believed that some members had actually absented themselves rather than vote against f c Government. A second motion for declaring a hundred was lost by only a majority of five votes. These five votes were those of the members of the Government and one squatter. Here the Government were virtually defeated, and had it been in Canterbury, or any other Province save Otago, they would have resigned. The next day the House was prorogued, and the Superintendent mentioned in his address that the leases of the runs required had been

'renewed at increased renti, and it was ! necessary to do justice to all parties. He (Mr Shepherd) wanted more than two runs. A great many runs were wanted for occupation, and he would have them. He believed that, at the last election, the squatters had got their own men returned, and were following the same system as was adopted in Victoria, of getting Bquatters, or people representing their interests, to represent mining constituencies. The law was not administered fairly, and gave no facilities for settlement. He would not support any Ministry that did not give stich facilities. Upon one occasion he had asked in the Council if any land had been set apart for occupation at Roxburgh. The Provincial Secretary answered that immediate steps would be taken to do so ; the promise had not been fulfilled, but he would inquire at the next session the reason of the neglect. He (Mr Shepherd) had only come from Queenstown the day previous, where the Government had purchased a run from the squatters, and it was surprising to witness the progress made there in settlement ; he had seen fields of wheat of, at least, one hundred acres — the profits of which this season would pay, not only all the expenses of cropping and fencing, but the purchase money of the land. Many people in the Lake district had spent from L2OO to L2OOO in the cultivating of land. The purchasing of the land from the squatters had answered well. In the face of this, the Vogel Ministry propose to let these runs once again revert back to the squatters ; but, by letting things remain as they now are, the Government will receive ten times more in the shape of revenue from small occupiers. He was directly opposed to the sale of the Wakatip Runs ; it affected the people of Alexandra, as well as the people of Queenstown ; and there could t c no doubt that if the land policy of the Executive was not amended, it would drive the people out of the Province. Increased telesjraphic communication was higl ly desir-.ble. As an instance, about a fortnight ago, when at Qneenstown, he applied for a Miner's Right, and looking over it he found that it was issued under the Act of 1862, which had actually been repealed by the Act of 18G6. He went back to the Camp, and drew the attention of the Gold Receiver to the matter. Then he went to the telegraph office, and telegraphed to the Government, pointing out the mistake they were making. The Government at once took steps to remedy the defect. Had he not been at Queenstown, the error 1 might not ha^e been so readily corrected, or means taken to do so. He would recommend that at the next meeting of the Assembly that a Bill be passed legalising the Miner's rights issued under the Act of 18G2. He (Mr Shepherd) had supported a vote for the expenditure of LIOOO in the survey of the watersheds of the Goldfields, considering that the number of miners employed was not represented by the area of ground containing gold, but by the quantity of water that could be brought to bear upon it. There existed many streams at a certain level, which, if the Government, would only assist in making races from, as in Victoria, the outlay would be repaid with large interest. Up to the present time the Government had done nothing but send Mr Millar to Tuapeka. No steps whatever had been taken to survey watersheds elsewhere. He would remind the meeting that he was only one of a number, and they had but little support. The Goldfields were really only represented by six members out of thirty- six. The member for Clyde (Mr Fraser) always voted with the squatters, and they could not count upon him. They would thus see that the Goldfields did not possess too much influence. It was a great mistake when they elected Mr Fraser. "What would the squatters say if it was proposed to elect a digger to represent them ? Why, the idea would be scouted. A petition had been sent Home last session to the Imperial Government, praying for the separation of the two islands. There must be an alteration in the Government of New Zealand. Two Governments were necessary — one for the South, and one for the North Island. We should be able then to abolish the system of Provinces, and secure cheaper and better Government. Nevertheless, he thought it better to stick to Provincialism till we obtained separation. He had previously referred to the difficulties that existed between the General and Provincial Governments on the matter of the management of the Goldfields, and how the Provincial Executive had turned these difficulties to their own account, because no- ! body liked at that timo to oppose their measures. The Treasurer came down with a Bill which increased his salary from L6OO to LBOO per annum. The same course was pursued with the Secretary for Land and Works ; and the salary of the Superintendent was also increased from LBootoLlooo. The number of non-official members was increased from two to five, and their salaries raised from

LIBO to L2OO per ? annum. ,■ The intcrease in the number of non-official mexn^bers was not required! He looked upon. it as a dodge for the Government to keep themselves in office ; no member would vote against his salary, and the Government thus secured increased support. The Superintendent of Canterbury only receives L6OO per annum, but here we pay LBOO each to our Treasurer and Secretary for Land and; Works. Last Session, it was proposed to appoint a Presbyterian Minister to the chaplaincy of the Gaot This he opposed, as he disliked ch'queisin* and we should be thus indirectly giving State-aid to religion, which did not exist in the Colony. He had supported a vote for a track to the West Coast, knowing as. he did the falling off of the yield of gold, there, and the desire of people to return: to Otago, but who did not possess the means of paying their passage by sea. He believed that the Government woulc£ make the track. He h{id endeavored toget a small vote for finger posts at crocs roads, to be used, say 30 miles from Dunedin. He knew plenty of people who had: been frequently lost for want of somethingto indicate a required direction — a sum of money would be well spent upon such apurpose. He saw the urgent necessity for having a Main Trunk Road, connecting Queenstown with the other Goldfielda; Towns and Dunedin. A large sum had been voted for this purpose, but uot expended. He would use every effort to haver the money applied totthis purpose. Good roads meant cheap carriage and, consequently, cheap food. In the matter of Hospitals, the Miners knew -well their full value. These institutions were* formerly supported by a subsidy from the> Government, of L 3 to LI upon subscriptions raised ; lately, the Executive ha# sent circular letters to the Committees of Hospitals, asking if they could do with *> L2to LI subsidy. Such an alteration h& would oppose, and his brother Goldfleld* mcmV era would all do likewise. He had recommended the erection of snow poles? between the Teviot and Campbells, and: between Campbells and Alexandra. They all knew of the Goldfields Commission. He (Mr Shepherd) had spokea to the Superintendent upon the subject,, and recommended the establishment of a. central Mining Board, with a member from each Mining District. The Government had practically elected aMining Board, although for only a few weeks ; but they had done it toohurriedly. No time had been given for people living at a distance from the Wardens' camps to have a voice in the matter. He thought that pxrties holding miningleases should have had a voice in the* election of the delegates. Mining lessee* had oftentimes more money laid out int mining ventures than the holders o£ miners' rights. He believed that the Conference would work well and give? every satisfaction. As he would not be leaving the district just yet, and as the Council would not meet till the Bth of April next, he would be happy to receive suggestions upon matters of interest to> his constituents. Before he came up, some four months ago, he (the speaker)t in company with Mr Mouat, M.P.C. waited upon Mr Duncan, Secretary for Land and Works, purposely to obtain information about moneys expended upon public works on the Goldfields ; but they could obtain no information upon what had been done. Mr Duncan could onlyanswer as to what ho intended doing. It was important that they should keep a. strict watch upon the members of the General Assembly. He believed there was*, move on the cards for a new election. Twa of the members representing the Goldfields would not be re-elected ; and her (Mr Shepherd) hoped to have the opportunity of offering himself. One of the? Goldfields members was actually resident, in Wellington, and he would ask how* while living there, a member could b» im communication with his constituency. He was glad to find the people payingsuch increased attention to political matters, and would advise them all to obtain, the necessary qualifications of electors byregistering themselves : they had the opportunity of doing so till the last day of the present month. He (Mr Shepherd) had always stood forward as the champion of the people ; he was always ready to> protect their interests. There were plenty of people in the Province who asserted, that they would be better off without the Goldfields ; but that was an impossibility. He had been informed by numbers of old. residents how they had become enriched, and how their prospects had been increased in value, by the presence of the digger alone. The miners represented a permanent interest, second to none in importance ; and they must be acknowledged as? true colonists in every sense of the word. Mr O'Kane proposed, and Mr Iversoa seconded, " That this meeting has every confidence in Mr Shepherd as their representative in the Provincial Council, and believe that he has discharged his dutiea to the best of his ability, and to the satis— faction of his constituents."

The motion was carried unanimously*

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