JOHN EVANS BROWN, M.H.R., AT ASHLEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1230, 17 July 1875, Page 6

JOHN EVANS BROWN, M.H.R., AT ASHLEY.

[By Telegraph.] (by our special reporter.) Christchurch, June Bth. Mr Brown addressed his constituents of Ashley district last evening. After some preliminary apologetical remarks, he commenced to review of the Financial Statement of last session, and from that he went to the floating of the recent four million loan, with reference to which, he said that it would be rather premature to express a decided opinion about terms, &c, until after Ministerial explanation. His own impression was, that had not Mr Vogel gone to England the Crown Agents would or could not have placed the loan in the face of their previous, and said to be unauthorised, promise to English capitalists that the last £2,000,000 loan was all the Colony required to complete its public works and immigration scheme. The Premier's absence from the Colony had been rather severely commented upon. Many fears and doubts were expressed as to h's return by those who were uccused of sincerely praying they might never see the light of his (Mr Vogel's) face again. But, whatever might be the secret motives of criticism, none would deny that it was alike to Mr Vogel's interest and duty to be in attendance at the approaching session, though it was to be feared his feeble health might deprive him of the satisfaction of assisting with his able but patient colleagues in the decapitation of those innocent doves, ultra - provineialists. — (Applause and laughter.) This was far from acknowledging that the presence of the Premier was indispensable to the Government of the country however important he might be considered. In the unfortunate absence of the Premier, it would possibly be necessary for the Native Minister, fair Donald M'Lean, to lead the House, and it would readily be admitted by every member that the duty would be ably and satisfactorily performed. Schemes of dazzling brilliancy but of doubtful success, were not likely to precede the important detail of adminis tration, and the Assembly might have reason to congratulate itself on a respite. It would be incumbent on ministers to give cogent reasons for the reported stoppage of free immigration— (hear, hear)— just at the moment when strenuous efforts of the Colonial and, to some extent, Provincial authorities were perceptibly mollifying the prejudices of the labouring class at home. The tide of immigration was about to flow to the shores of New Zealand when the Government stepped forward to interpose a serious obstacle. The rapid absorp tion .of immigrants during the past year should rather incite them to renewed efforts to develope the resources of the country by the introduction of more bone and sinew and capital. — (Applause. ) The speaker then returned to a review of last session, and dwelt at length upon the Pacific Trade Encouragement Bill and Forests Bill, and the consequent North Island Abolition BilL Referring to the latter, he said that the Government were bound to act, and act they did in a manner that entitled them to the gratitude of every man in the Colony who properly estimated the importance of national government for the present as well as future well being ofthe people. —(Applause.) He then devoted a considerable period to the condition of the North Island Provinces, the history and finale of the debate or the Government resolutions, and concluded this portion of the speech by observing that it now remained for Government to endeavour to give effect to the resolutions by bringing in a Bill at the approaching session ; and allow him to say that if the measure fully and efficiently provided for pure and simple Government by municipalities and road boards, or shires and counties, if land revenue, all kinds of licenses and local revenue, were unalienably dedicated to those authorities, he would give the measure his hearty support. — (Loud cheers,) In saying what he had, they were not to think him unmindful of another phase, which the question had assumed, strange as it might appear, through the reasoning or threatening of provineialists. The South Island could boast of at least three impecunious ( —if not insolvent— Provinces, one of which last session had a special allowance of LIO,OOO, another L6BOO, and a third an advance of L4OOO to build a bridge.— (Laughter.) The same three were abo advanced L 34,000 in connection with the settlement of immigrants. To Nelson was. also loaned out of borrowed money £50,000 for Provincial public works. The Land Fund in the three barely provided sufficient to pay ordinary charges, much lees for Provincial works. With annual doles from

the Colonial chest they managed to keep up a Provincial form with a minimum of usefulne S?- 2° ordinary persons like himself it was difficult to understand the difference between the insolvent individual co-operation of a Province on the south side of Cook Strait and one on the north side, unless possibly the proximity of the reputed "two big brothers" (Canterbury and ptago) might account for the difference -(Applause.) But, supposing the usual declaration required of a bondsman was to be demanded from these two bolsters of a .Provincial form of Government, did those present, or anyone else, think that, in legal parlance they could "justify." A^suminthey could was that sufficient reason why the other three Provinces should merely exist instead of availing themselves of simple local administration of revenue, however small 1 ' At present he was reminded that they looked like two living bodies with three dead ones tied to them. He would like to know wiietner there was any good reason why Canterbury and Otago ought not to fall into the ranks of abolished provinces. Alter discussing purely local topics, more especially the comparative contributions of various districts in Canterbury to the land tunrtjie concluded by saying that in regard to .Provincial institutions, he was strongly reminded of the days of bull baiting, when the village blacksmith, who had a fancy for bull pups m training them, got his old father to go on all fours, ami while the pups bit the old man, the smith kept urging on the dogs, with "hold him, Growlers;" at the same time saying, bear it, father bear it ; it will be the making of the pups. "-(Loud laughter. ) Many of the people were urging on the Provincial Governments and at the same time calling on the General Government to bear with them.— (Loud applause.) He hoped it would soon bo reasonable to expect that the monstrous nun* te? i n? d laWS , in . the Colonial Statu te Book would be merged into two, if not one.— (Cheers Two races Maori and European, peacefully side by side, railways worked by one, instead of seven or eight authorities, and the whole fused into one great and influential people. -(Applause.) If it was his privilege as their representative in the Asseniblv to assist in ensuring for the Colony such a desirable condition, nothing would contribute more to his gratification.-(Loud cheers.) He begged to thank them for their attendance and attention, which was a great incentive to a public man, labouring to the best of his ability to serve the district.— (Loud cheers.)