Old-time Echoes.

Southern Cross, Volume 19, Issue 26, 21 October 1911, Page 7

Old-time Echoes.

THE PASSING OF ? PIONEERS

(By Andrew Kinross)

When I read of the death of Mr. J. S. Shanks I was reminded how many of those I met in public life have passed away, and I thought a i slight sketch of them would be of interest. In August, 1867, I was a candidate for the Provincial Council of Southland, for Roslin district, in which I resided. The population was small, the voting was open, and the franchi.se was confined to freeholders and leaseholders. The voting was : Johnstone 2-6, Swale 25, Kinross 25. Mr. Hare, the Returning Officer, gave his casting vote for Swale—all three died many years ago. In April, 1869, at a bye-election for Invercargill, the voting was : Kinross 80, Wright 50, Mitchell 17. Mr. Wright is dead, but Mr. Mitchell is still with us. At the general election for Roslin in October, the voting was : Kinross 62, Dalrymple 44, Webster 37. Mr. Dalymprle and Mr. Webster died long ago. This was the last election held for the Southland Provincial Council which consisted of 20 members. The members of the Executive were Mr. Wood (Superintendent), Mr. Wilson (Treasurer), and Messrs Calder, Johnstone, and Kim-oss non-official. Of the 20 members only Mr. Calder and I are left. In January, 1871, a general election

s held for the House of Eepreseniives, and I stood for Mataura, iich extended from the sea beyond anpbelltown to beyond Gore. At e election the voting was : Bell 235, '.nross 73, Denniston 70. Messrs D. Bell and Denniston died many ars ago. In January, 1879, I again stood for ataura, and Mr. J. S. Shanks was y opponent. The voting was: anks 309, Kini'oss 250. As I Iressed additonal meetings at Gore,

ataura, and Wyndham, this was my most expensive election. In the western portion of the district Mr. Shanks got the Conservative vote, in the newly settled eastern part, where he resided, he got nearly all the votes, as being most likely to get local expenditure. He was not a politician, but he was supported by all three newspapers published in the district. Not long ago I met him in Invercargill, and we had a friendly chat, so I was surprised when I read of his death. The Mataura was divided into two electorates, and in 1881 an election was held for Awarua—the western part. The candidates were : J. P. Joyce, Bain, Smyth, and Kinross. Mr Joyce was elected by a large majority. I am the only one now alive.

In 1884 there was another general election, and the candidates for Awarua were : Joyce, J. L. M'Donald, Kinross, Mitchell, and Hodgkinson.

Mr Joyce was again elected. Messrs M'Donald and Hodgkinson are both dead.

As there were many new electors who were strangers to me, and as little interest was taken in the Land Question, I gave up trying to be a legislator, and spending money and time for the benefit of others. I will now revert back to old Provincial Council days, after the reunion of Otago and Southland. In March, 1871, an election for Oteramika took place, the candidates being r F. D. Bell and Kinross. Many electors did not vote, and the votes polled were : Bell 39, Kinross 25. In 1873 another election for Oteramika took place, the voting being ;.: Kinross 64, Hamilton 57. Mr Robt. Hamilton died many years ago. I remained a member till the Abolition of the Provinces. I liked the work of the Council better than any work I ever had, and I regretted Abolition. I worked with Donald Reid, Robert Stout, John M'Kenzie, and other land reformers. Mr Macandrew, the Superintendent, died long ago. Ido not know how many of the 46 members survive. For many years I was Chairman of Myross School Committee, and most of my fellow-members are dead. I was a member of Lindhurst Road Board, and chairman till it was merged into the Southland County Council. I did a lot of other gratuitous work in many ways. 1 found that most of those possessed of talent and business knowledge were Conservatives, and for many years I took the lead in advocating Liberal principles. I had a small farm and a small income. I always worked the | horses myself and I worked long hours. Many a cold weary ride I had returning from meetings, with the horse wading through deep mud. The hardest of all was to be reproached for serving the public—and neglect ing the farm. However, before I commenced my public career, by industry, self-denial, and economy, I had provided a good freehold home, and owed nothing. Through the many difficulties I had to contend with, and the want of sympathy and assistance, I think I made greater sacrifices for my opinions than many others have done. During the twenty-eight years that I was a member of the Southland Land Board there died four Ministers of Lands : Hon. Mr Ballanee, Sir John M'Kenzie, Hon. Mr Richardson, and Hon. Mr Seddon. Four Chief Commissioners : Mr W. H. Pearson, Mr Spence, Mr Williams, and Mr Hay; and three fellowmembers : Mr Toshach, Mr George Lumsden, and Mr Denniston. I have been built of extra tough materia], and endowed with extra pluck, so I have never been absent through illness from any meeting of any description. I still desire more work—intellectual and manual—more amusement, and more congenial society. I have followed my own opinions in politics and religion, and I can look upon the future with untroubled mental eye, Still always being fit to live, and always fit to die.