MR STAFFORD AT TIMARU.

Otago Witness, Issue 1005, 4 March 1871, Page 13

MR STAFFORD AT TIMARU.

Timabtt, March Ist.

The Hon. E. W. Stafford addressed a crowded meeting this evening at the Mechanics 9 Institute. The chair, was occupied by Captain Cain, the Mayor.

Mr Stafford commenced by thanking the electors for the confidence they evidently reposed in him, as shown more especially by his having been re-elected without opposition. He expressed bis regret at not addressing them at the time of tte eleotion, but explained that he did not know of the writs having been iaaued till he was starting for Southland en urgent business. The oppositionto shown at moatof the elections was most creditable to the country, as evidencing that the people were arousing themselves from their previous state of apathy as to whom they should send forward as their public men. Apathy could no longer be oharged against them, - and one result of this change would be that their representatives would be more carefully watched. He trusted that no action of his would destroy the mutual confidence subsis'iog between his constituents and himself. He felt that he represented their interests, and in this he was the more assured by being paid , quite unintentionally, • ooav

pliment by Mr John Studholme, who j Kfed 1 Baiii "that Tie (Mr Stafford) j represented the antipathetic portion of Canterbury. If TimaruU was antipathetic of Christchurch, it only showed that he and his constituents agreed. He did not believe in the members for any province always acting together ; that would be praotically impossible. But if it were possible, it would be better to have each province thrown into one constituency, and elect membera as in the case of the Superintendent. Mr Stafford then entered into the question of railway gauges. He said that he was strongly in favour of a narrow gauge — a gauge which would suffice for all practical purposes, and which would be the means, by its cheapness, of rag up the country far better than broad gauge of 5 feet 3 inches. The construction • of broad gauge railway* throughout the country was impossible. This question of railway gauge was the only subject of importance in whioh he was opposed last session to the rest of the Canterbury members. He believed, however, that the first thing to be, done in the com try was to bridge every river, from Nelson to the Bluff. When he mentioned that since the colony was founded no less- than 1115 persona had been drowned in the rivers, it was evident 4 hut the bridging of the rivers was a question of the highest importance. If this had been done in the early days, many valuable settlers would have been saved to the country. In alluding to the existing state of the colony, he said that it was far from good. Since 1866 the colony had been' steadily retrograding at the rate of something like L 200,000 a year. The spending power of the country, both publicly and privately, had never been so bad as now. The former expenditure was enhanced by various causes. Previous to 1866 there was a large commissariat expenditure, a very large amount of private capital invested, and a large publio loan of three millions, all of which sources dried up about the same time. Coming more to present times, he said that Mr Yogel had vastly overestimated the revenue by something like L 290,000. The ordinary Estimates were proved to be excessive. In the Customs revenue alone there was a falling off of L 90,000 a year. He wished he could say that our expenditure had correspondingly fallen off. but there was no indication of retrenchment, and perhaps the Government were right, as nothing was so unpopular. But whether it were popular or not, some Government would have to economise, or this magnificent country would come to the Insolvent Court. With regard to the Native question, he said that he had never, when in office, attempted to delude the people into the belief that the Native question was dead and buried. The present Government, however, had lulled ihe people into the belief that it was so. When they assumed office, Mr M'Lean flashed a telegram to the Governor that peace was made with the Maori King. Why, there never was war with him. He did not believe that the attitude of the King party was ever more threatening than at present. The Government, he biUeved, would work hard to maintain peace, but he refused to believe that because the present Government or| Mr M'Lean was in office there would be' no further troubles. Of course every year diminished the chances of difficulties arising. He feared we relied too m"eh on the -friendly natives, and that the arms that were issued, to them soon passed into the hands of those opposed to us. Of the San Francisco Mail Service he oply knew what he had seen in the public journals, ' and he should not be surprised if the statements made.in.lhem were correct. The contract was unwise in every respect. Why should the American steamers be made to do the coastal work of this colony? ■ He was sorry, moreover, ' that a 1 positive- affront had been offered to! Australia in this matter, 'tie would support^ the very' cheapest line 'via America, but would not ■ wholly discontinue the Suez route; Ho thought that if Mr Yogel intended to extend his visit beyond Washington, it' iwould %et a great mistake^- as he would tn~6timske< such' a favourable impression in the • EngKah ' monß'y markety ; or among - those 'who rule the money market, as Dr Peatheraton had 'done. " <Dr Featherfeton. a political 'opponent of his (Mr! 4 8taftord's)jubuthe could not help • saying 1 ■ that if we are to have an Agent-General, ' hjs'appointmentiwal.the yery besti that; •could be mada. • On the subject of eduoa-: 'tton^Mr^Staflbrd expressed a; hope that) some- system analogous to that in force in /Nelson otf Otago might,, be adopted • for Ithe i colony. ,He .had had the utmost ' difficulty in extracting from the- Government a pledge that they i would take up and deal with this question. •Of the Publio Works and Immigra^ - tioriSehemeShe said :tha.t<there was, .«»der . f-ths; present) (proposal? -no surety^ that the \ people- it was < proposed id import would - 'remain, vdr. aettloj i&tthereounfji&T c Thftre| were quite enough unsettled people in the

country at present. The immigrants must be settled on the land. In two of the provinces three- fourths of the land had been alienated, and yet remained a wilderness. He would walk over the land laws where necessary. His suggestion was to have special settlements, giving an allotment to each person in the township, and ten acres of rural land with large inalienable commonage near each settlement. He did not say he would assimilate all the land laws. He would not be a hearty supporter of the Immigration Scheme unless he saw the country whs to be settled under it, for they would only be asked to put on a burden they could not bear. Otherwise, he would even go so far as a compulsory taking of land out of those large tracts whrti had passed from the Crown ; and he believed that in many oases the proprietors would be glad to "Bell it back at the original cost. ' Of the Railway Scheme he said that they must make short linesfrom the settled districts to the outlets — the ports. . He did not want to see a line running from one town to another along the seaboard to compete with steamers, for steamers would always carry bulky goods at a cheaper rate. He would always give the preference to lines opening up the country. He could not say why the Temukaline had not been commenced, unless it was that it was to be constructed out of borrowed money. It would be the duty of the new Parliament to shape the soheme from a wild and reoklesa gambling one in a safe and prudent manner.

On resuming his seat, Mr Stafford waa loudly cheered. In reply to a question he said that he would not promise to introduce a Permissive Bill.

At the close of the meeting, a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Stafford was passed unanimously, amid loud and prolonged oheering.

Blufe, March 2nd.

The s.s. Tararua, Captain Hagley, arrived here from Melbourne at 7.30 this .evening. She left Sandridge at 8.30 p.m. on the 25th ult. She brings 21 cabin and 32 ateerage passengers, and 509 tons of cargo for all ports.

Paßsenper List. —For Dunedin: Miss Huie, Mrs Greig, Mrs Simson, Mrs Lambert, Rev. Mr and Mrs Hungerford, Messrs Balf our, Cameron, Simson, Lam- ! Bert, and Reid. For Lyttelton — Miss I Compton, and Messrs Beeoher and Johnson. For Wellington — Messrs Wright, Wilson, Coates, Wondram, Ehrmann, and Tinsley. Cargo List : — For Dunedin, 223 tons ; for Oamaru, 27 tons ; for Timaru, 35 tons ; for Lyttelton, 54 tons ; for Wei- 1 lington, 66 tons. ! Melbouehb, February 25th. At the second batch of nominations candidates were numerous everywhere, except at the Ovens, where Messrs Kerferd and Smith were re-elected without opposition. At the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice awarded severe sentences to the criminals convicted. I Ellen Tighe, who was found guilty of infanticide, was sentenced to death. The weather has been wet, and floods have taken place at Sandhurst and ekewhere. Mr Andrew Lane, formerly a member of Parliament, has been committed- for! trial on a charge of larceny as a . bailee. He was admitted to bail. ■Mr Pinell, late American Consul, has sailed for California by the route via Sydney. In the Intercolonial Cricket Match between Tasmania and Victoria, the Tas'manians in their first innings scored 103, and the Victorians 71, with four wicketa down. The New South' Wales Assembly nega-i tived the amendment on the Budget by 12 votes. Another amendment, however, has been tabled, and will come on for dis- , cussion next Tuesday. Captain Moody, of the barque Tavistockj jumped overboard with ,a- life-buoy at Newcastle. He was picked' -up . after being in the water for six hours, ' and was placed under medical treatment.. , „ ' A new goldfield is reported to have been' discovered near Wellington. , , At Adelaide, MrTideman, auctioneer, has disappeared. ., His estatejrhas. beed compuiflorily sequestrated,, and a war-: rant- for his apprehension has : been, issued. , Arrive© I.—rAt1 .— rAt Melbourne : Zephyr, from; IJokitika. , ;At Sydney : > 'Novelty, fromi •Auckland; Tailu, .from, Fiji. / At,New-| castle: Haveraham, from Wellington. .A ti Adelaide:. Annie, Brown, from Auckland., .„ Sailed. — Frpm, Melbourne: Aborigine, f or , Hokitika ; >Ceres* for,;Greymouth.j From Newcastle : . Wentworth, forAuokland.: : „ '' • , I. j Commercial. — The markets hayeifluc-t tuated during, the week; , The: excitement 1 in Biigars resulted in an advance up -to L 2, both here and in Sydney, i Very! little bustneao ; was -done, however, and the sugar .companies ,_are, BejUjuag.atj.forloei .qw?fe>*M[nB < v} Theimarket is $&j i tl»ng dcd?i M%fet/l u^te; X ' il JBrej49t^;oloftad i e^BJej'J Sales have been effected during the week

at Ll3 itis to : U4 I^ - ; ¥eedin^gr4ins are without change. Kerosene is brisk, at a slight advance.