THE HON. J. CARROLL AT GISBORNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 29

THE HON. J. CARROLL AT GISBORNE.

Gisborne, May 27. The Hon, J. Carroll, addressing his con* stituents, replied at length to Captain Russell's speech here referring to his Uriwera trip. The statement that a coat of £600 was incurred by him for that trip was a deliberate misrepresentation, made for the purpose of damaging him. The cost of the trip was ouly £150, .and the Premier and himself had only received tha statutory travelling allowance of 30* per day for the 10 days which the journey occupied, the balance going in horde hire, guides, i£o. The £600 referred to included the whole year's charges on the civil list, covering the cost of the successful settlement of the Wauganui riper and other Native difficulties. . He considered the opening up of the Uriwer* couatry, which miut become a grand tourist retort, was well worth the cost. He claimed that iv settling the various Native troubles, aud earning the. couQdenc9 of the Natives, the Government had giveu the colony full value, and contrasted Captain ltufcsell'a WaDganui river trip, costing £419. The Russell military land grant wai referred to aud compared with the case of Patrick Cotter, a private in the 65th, who was refused a laud grant because he did not com* plete the full term of his residence in Hawke's Bay, having enlisted for service in the Taranaki war. He contended that Captain Russell and party had not shown themselves worthy trustees of the publio, but had conserved their own. interests. He claimed - that the Government had done real business -in extinguishing Native titles, and had bow 200,000 acres available foe settlement on the East' Coast. The remaindec of Mr Carroll's speech maialy followed on the. lines of other Ministerial addresses. Mr Carroll concluded fey again offering himself as a candi* date for their suffrages. A vote of thanks and of confidence in the Hon. Mr Carroll and tha Government was carried.

The Government have formally taken pos< session of the Atdgowan estate. Mr Scott has resigned the mastership of tbft Fairfax School on account of ill health,