JOURNEY TO OPHIR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 80

JOURNEY T O OPHIR.

MATER CONSERVATION. OPHIR, May 27. On Saturday morning the Right Hon. the Premier abandoned his drive from Naseby to St. Bathans. He feared that if he experienced a fog on the journey his throat would be affected; and the prospecte were that if he had. gone to that quarter it would have been late when he arrived at Omakau. Consequently, Mr Seddon rode to Hanfurly, accompanied by Mr J. R. Smith {(chairman of the Maniototo County Council), and took train for the interior. A stop for an hour was made at Rough Ridge, where, under the guidance of Mr A. C. jfclip, the Premier paid a visit to the IRough Ridge Curling Club's dam near the station, and opened the season by throwing a,, couple of stones on the ice. One he sent , jjwith great force right across the pond to Ttbe surprise of the spectators, and the other hit the mark that was aimed at. irater on the hon. gentleman received A DEPUTATION OF SETTLERS, of Messrs F. Harrex, J. J. Ramcay, R. Johnston, A. C. Islip, Boiling, Nicholson, and others. Mr Islip said thsfff some years ago the 'Government surveyed a site for a reservoir about a, mile and a-half from town, »nd at present there was >an agitation about (pushing on its construction. The residents "wid not want to stop the conservation of in the district by any means, but if inhere were serious thoughts entertained of feoing on with tlie work they would like «that an independent man should be sent to (the district to give a report on another site ithat had been suggested. This site was '■above the Idaburn coal pits. There was a reservoir there, and it was possible to make it five or six times as big as the ■other at half the cost. The water it would ■hold would give a great impetus to the

mining of the district and irrigate Che whole of Ida "Valley. In addition it would also work the diggings on German Hill, which were very rich. If an independent officer were sent he could furnish the Government with reports on both sites. The Premier said he would place the matter before the Minister of Mines. It was intended to increase the water supply so that it could be used for both mining and irrigation works. If Otago Central was to be a success at all irrigation was the thing that would make it so. Speaking on the matter at his meeting in iho evening Mr Seddon stated that an engineer would be- sent to report on the two sites. Mr R. Johnston, one of the oldest settlers of Blackstone district, interviewed the Premier with reference to the advisability of granting to Land Boards discretionary power in connection with the grouping of runs. Mr Johnston pointed out that he and his family held some 2000 acres of land in various " sections, ranging from 400 acres upwards, on the small grazing run system. Although the total area was less than an ordinary sized run, still, under the act, one man could not hold more than one run, no matter how small. Mr Seddon, in reply, stated that the fault seemed to be that the runs had originally been out into areas ihat were too small. He proposed to bring the matter . under the notice of the Minister of Lauds. ARRIVAL AT OMAKATJ. Omakau was reached at a quarter-past 4 o'clock. Here the inevitable deputation was again in evidence. Messrs C. Huddleston, Duggan, Jack M'Lennan, M'Guckin, and R. Poison waited on Mr Seddon, and Mr Huddleston (the spokesman) asked for a daily mail to Mafakanui in place of the present service of three days a week. The population was about 250. The Premier said he would mention the matter to the Postmaete-r-general (Sir J. G. i Ward), and inquiries would be made as to j the extra cost of the proposed service and the extent of the present business. Other postal inconveniences were brought under the notice of Mr Seddon, who replied | that evidently there were some matters that j required adjusting. J Mr M'Guckin mentioned the disabilities 1 of the residents of Cambrians in regard to postal arrangements, and the Premier remarked that he would bring these matters before hie colleague. j Mr Poison, a, resident of Bendigo, aeked '■ if there was any hope of any work being done "in connection with the Thompson's Gorge road «b an early date. At present the settlere had no reasonable communiea- ; tion with the train. It would take only a. trifle to make the road through the Gorge, and it would have the result of putting the settlers on a much better footing than they occupied at present. His own opinion was that it could be well constructed for £6000, though a road that would suit the settlere for a few years might be made for £4-000 or £5000. The mail services also required altering. If the road could be put in order to get the traffic through, a, mail could be taken to Bendigo and on to Tarras, and the other services now carried on could be done away with altogether. In addition, if rabbits could be sent from the district to a factory a great number would be caught and sent off, thus benefiting the district Teiy largely. There was also the fact that if the road were made it would enable tourists leaving Dunedin in the morning to reach Lake Wanaka at night. Mr Seddon, in reply, said that as a reciilt of his last visit to the district he had brought the matter of the Thompson's Gorgeroad under the notice of the Minister-5n-Charge. Work® that were iirgent or necessary must have first attention. This ioad had not been regarded* as urgent as other roads. That was the opinion of the departmental officers, vrbfi said that the settlere were already eerv^tf with a good road. No doubt the proposed road would shorten the distance to certarin parts; but it had to be remembered that there xver^ other districts that had no roads at all. That was why it had not been considered a work of an urgent ©haract&r. However, he would place before the Minister the arguments the deputation. , had adduced. If a sum of money were spent at each end it would no doubt mako the work already completed of some tuse. ADDRESS AT OPHIR. Ophir was reached about 6.30 o'clock, and i&t 8 o'clock the Premier addressed a meeting in the local schoolhouse. Mr John Wilson was voted to the chair. Mr Seddon said it was a pleasure to him to speak in that historic spot, although it j was not to-day what it used to be. It revived old and pleasing recollections in his mind, and he felt quite a-t home. — (Applause.) The goldfields of Otago had played a, most important part in the history of Otago. They lifted New Zealand 50 years ahead of what it would have been if it had been simply a pastoral and agricultural country-. What tad been done to preserve the^ history of the past and transmit it to posterity? Literally nothing; and in that way a mistake had been made, because those who coujd give accounts of the past were fast passing away. The traditions of the past would soon disappear, and it would I>e money wisely spent if the Government wereto encourage some of the older generation in various parts of the colony to record

their information, so thai a glorious past might be handed down to posterity. There was Mr Pitches, who had been 40 years in the district : what reminiscences could ho not give about the rise and fall of the different changes he- had witnessed? It was not fair to the children that this should not be done. Mr Buick had written a book on Marlborough; there was a book on " Old Manawatu " ,• and Mr M'Nab was writing a book on Southland, in which he had taken a great interest and made much research. He (Mr Seddon) was there that night to give an address on the position of the colony. He would at the same time refer to the adverse criticism that had taken place. He was in a free country, speaking to a free -people, and he was not built of that material that would stand to be attacked without defending himself. He meant to defend himself and the Government against the charges levelled against them. Half truths were worse than incorrect statements. It had been sought to make the people draw inferences by giving them mutilated statements, leaving deductions as to results which the speakers and the writers dared" not say actually existed. — (Applause.) It was now 25 years ago since he entered the New Zealand Parliament, and he had sat in it continuously ever since as the representative of a goldfields constituency. Concerning goldfields constituencies and electors on the goldfields, he would say, without at all drawing an unfavourable comparison, that they were just as intelligent as the ©lectors of other constituencies of the colony. — (Applause.) His bitterest opponents admitted that he had done some little good for the colony, and in that connection he would say that to the goldfields he owed his publio lif€j and it was to those on the goldfields who had sent him to Parliament that he gave the credit if some good had resulted therefrom. When the present Government came into office it found disaster widespread over the colony. But to-day there was prosperity, and New Zealand was the most prosperous part of the great British Empire. Yet it was said that a change of Government was necessary. The people of the country were the masters, and the Government had good masters, and, knowing that, they believed in continuing to , serve them. — (Applause.) And in turn they hoped the people realised, judging by what had been done, that they had good servants. — (Applause.) At the general ©lection about November next he supposed the two parties would be arrayed against each other. The Government of tho people, for that was what they claimed to be, would be on one side. When they came into office they were given a few months to occupy their positions. But they were there still. When he took the position of Premier on the death of Mr Ballance he and his colleagues were given three months. That took place 12 years ago on the Ist of . May last; and, despite all the Opposition could do, he thought there was still another three months before them. — (Applause and laughter.) Some of the papers said that the star of the Seddon Government was on the wane. But the people were now getting used to the cry and took no notice of it. He quoted figures to show the financial position of the oolonv, and contended that the country was safe, the finance safe, and the legislation progressive. The farmers of the country were never so prosperous or so well off as they were under the existing Government. — (Applause.) The commerce of the country was never sounder or more prosperous than at present. The industries of, the country were to-day in the best position they had ever been in, and capital invested in industries was giving larger returns and was safer than it had ever been before. — (Applause.) The condition of the workers of the country was muoh improved as compared with the wages paid during the term of office of the Atkinson Government. — (Applause.) The best surplus the Atkinson Government could show was £140,000, or £600,000 less than the surplus this year. And yet it was said there should be a change of Government. Speaking of the suspension of the operation of the Shops and Offices Act, he said that in ordering its suspension he tvas studying the welfare of the colony aa a whole, and if called on to take up the same position to-morrow he would do it. — (Applause.) The Law Officers of the Crown had advised the Government that under the celebrated or absurd clause 3 the Legislatuire had lost a night. It provided that on four nights of the week shops were to close at a certain hour and on one day they were to close in the afternoon. That accounted for five working nights, so that one night had been lost. — (Laughter.) Further, under clause 15 there were certain exemptions which were held to apply only to tho half-holiday. Here, too, the law officers had advised to the contrary. VViien, "* therefore, 1-here was complication of this j kind, tact and common sense should be J used, together with a reasonable compliance with the law until it could be altered, which it would be as soon as Parliament met. — (Applause.) With regard to th© increase in the publio debt, he admitted that it was now £57,000,000. But it had to be remembered that the reproductive publio debts of tho colony amounted to 30 millions, made up as follows : — Local Bodies' Loan Act, £2.227,100; Land for Settlements Act, £3,593,666; Land Improvement Act, £587,500; Stato Coal Minos Act, £107,000; Government Advances to Settlers Act

£3,190,000; New Zealand Consols Act, • £474,276; Dairy Industry Act, £1781; Railj ways open for traffic, £20,170,396;— t0ta1, ] £30,351,719. Th© railways were paying 3 per cent., &nd as the colony could get money now at 3 per cent, he included that amount. On the subject of local govern- , ment, he said there were too many local bodies in the colony which frittered away money. If they had an assured finance and greater power Parliament could, be divested of much of its- roads and bridges work, -which could be handed over to the local bodies. In Mr Massey's own district there was a stretch of five miles, and in that distance there were five local bodies. , Some of the local bodies, too, did not have ! incomes amounting to more than £100 a ' year, yet when a proposal was made by the Government only a few years ago that , ■would have had the effect of working a desirable change members of the Opposition on the committee opposed it and blocked it. ' At anyrate he would introduce the bill again, because he took it, from the admissions of Mr Massey and Mr Herdman, that in the past they had done wrong in opposing it. — (Applause.) At on© time members of the Opposition were not afraid to take up a position antagonistic to the Government. Now some of them were changing round and calling themselves Liberals. Was Mr Massey a Liberal? He voted against the Advances to Settlers Act and the Old-age Pensions Act. He said that the lease in perpetuity was in many respects better than thei freehold. Now he said that the lease in perpetuity was an iniquitous title. He was p-oing to give everybody the freehold. In 1891 Mr Massey said he opposed, and wo'ild continue to oppose, the compulsory taking of land under the Land for Settlements Act. Were the people going to subscribe to a party I or a leader that was against cheap money I to the farmers and the taking of land for ! settlement? On questions of policy, leaving aside ihe> fitness, Mr Massey was no Liberal, and never was, and his works had proved it. — (Applausei) Speaking of the exports and imports of the colony, Mr Seddon quoted the following figures: — Population (excluding Maoris and annexed ! Pacific Islands)— lß93, 672,265; 1903, 832,505 Total imports 1893, £6,494,279; 1903, £12,075,959. Total exports 1903, 1 £8,680,845; 1903, £14,971,926. Wool showed 1 an increase as between 1893 and 1903 of 45,000,0001b and a value of £266,536; frozen '' meat, an increase of 1,474,814cwt and a value of £2,111,877; tallow, an increase of 226,880cwt and a value of £334,283; sheepskins and pelts, an increase of 4,524,293 and a value of £296.675; butter, an increase of 226,9570wt and a value, of £1,063,422; cheese, an increase of 28,579cwt and a value of £95,372. Customs revenue had increased from £1,665,633 in 1893 to £2,501,896 in 1903. The estimated population on 30th September, 1904, was 847,824, and if Maoris and residents of the Cook and other islands w«>re included tho total population of the colony was 903,259. — (Applause.) After reading a long list of articles on which there had beem remissions on tho railways given to the farmers, Mr Seddon 6aid that the farming and pastoral community had directly benefited by the concessions to the extent approximately of £450,000, and in addition to concessions on articles which were directly prodxiced or mainly used by the ■farming and pastoral community- Material benefits, the value of which could not be estimated, but which, nevertheless amounted annually to a very considerable sum, had, been conferred on farmers, pastoralists, and dairymen by — (a) th« reduction in ordinaryfares, (b) the abolition of the extra charge of id per ton on goods carried over th© branch lines of the colony, (c) the abolition of the charge for an additional five miles for goods conveyed over the Rimutaka ' incline, and (d) the free conveyance on return journey of stud stock for breeding purposes. During the last 6even years ordinary fares had been considerably reduced on two separate occasions. Coming up in the train that day several gentlemen were advocating the construction of the Catlina River line. How, he asked them, did that line affect them? They said they ■wanted timber particularly for fencing. A. truck of timber 'for that purpose cost £13 • 10s. He listened attentively to the discussion, and as he was coming away he waa thinking about what could best be done, and the conclusion he came to waa this : Goal was a timber that was not used for building purposes, though it was one of tho 'best for fencing purposes. The farmers and the settlers, he thought, would appreciate a concession in the carriage of timber for fencing posts. — (Applause.) In Otago Central, where there was no timber, a concession of the kind ought to be very welcome.— -(Applause.) At anyrate ho would brinjf the matter under the notice of the Minister of Railways, and would see what could bo done, — (Applause.) In addition to helping the settlers in Central Otago it would be a good thing for the settlers in the Catins district, because-, instead of burning the timber they would be able to get a return for it. Mr Seddon laid other facts and figures before the meeting, and after speaking for over two and a-half hours resumed his seat amid hearty applause.

Mr John Pitches moved — "That this meeting thank Mr Seddon for his address, and expresses its continued confidence in

, the Government." He thought the colony owed a debt to the Premier that it was scarcely abla to pay him. He (the speaker) had been in the district for 44 years, and he had never before heard a speech like the on© he had listened to that night.—— (Applause.) He would like to >see a grand monument erected in honour of Mr Seddon. —(A Voice: "He's not dead yet.") Hs was glad to say that Mr Seddon was nob dead, but he believed in erecting a monument in honour of a man before he was dead, so that he coui<? s^e that the people appreciated him and his works.—(Applause.) Mr J. J. Ramsay seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Seddon, after returning thanks, referred to the past representatives of tho constituency, making special reference to its last representative, Sir John Mackenzie. He went on to say that he had always considered it a reflection on that hon. gentleman's memory that thp district should now be represented by a Conservative and an Oppositionist. He wanted to see the district brought back to the Liberal fold.— (Applause.) On Friday a convention was held at Nasebv. and out of the candidates willing to give their services the choice finally lay between Major Log-an and Mr J. A. MacPherson, of Ngapara. Mr MacPherson was selected, and wonld be the liberal candidate who would fight the election with Mr Herdman.—(Apnlause.) A vote of thanks accorded to the Chairman and hearty cheers for the Premier closed the meeting.