MR. MAJOR AT WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume V, Issue 110, 16 June 1866, Page 6

MR. MAJOR AT WAIMATE.

According to announcement, a meeting was held at the Waimate Hotel; on Monday evening, the 14th May. The attendance was large.

Mr. Leonard Price was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced Mr. Major.

Mr. Major, on rising, said that those who expected he would follow the example of his opponent, m introducing ]>crsonalities, would be disappointed ; such matters were out of place there. The speaker then gave his views on the subject of railways, quoting from Mr. Travers' letter, m a late number of the Press, m support of his statement, that the works now being carried on between Christchurch, and the Eakaia were absurdly extravagant. They were making a line almost equal to the costly Great Western at homo, which was preposterous m a country so sparsely populated as this, when it had been estimated that a railway at one-sixth of the cost would be sutlicient for many years to come. A speed of even fifteen miles an hour would be enough for us at present, and the saving by the adoption of this rate of speed would bo enormous. The ruling potvera m Canterbury were generally too extravagant. They would have everything too big— instancing the Cathedral, which was beautifully marked out m a ground plan of stone, when he saw it the other week. The foundations were nearly all that was to be seen for the many thousands of pounds expended. Had the authorities built a portion of the edifice complete, how much greater would have been the advantage ! But the Cathedral was only m keeping with the other costly mistakes. The tunnel, for instance, which it had been shown might have been dispensed with, by following the Stunner lload, the gradients being by no means unusually steep, was another of those mistakes. Mr. Major, while regretting that so much of the district's laud had been taken for the endowment of the proposed classical school, expressed his warm approval of the scheme ; for .not only would it enable a poor man to give a eleven son a splendid education, by means of the competitive scholarship, but it would bring the sous of Australians to the Province, which would give it a name. With respect to the pre-emptive right question, he (Mr. Major) thought the province suffered a heavy loss, and the great mass of the people an injustice, by a squatter being able to rent a large farm at Id. or 2iL per acre ; while one of those men whom the squatters m their arrogance called " Cockatoos " had to pay 4s. per acre— that is to say, 10 per cent, on the cost price of £2, and money was worth more than that even. Whilst deprecating strenuously the idea that he wished to set class ft.'aiust class, My. Major said, he was firmly of opinion that, until the run-holding members of the Council were no longer m the majority, the province would suiter ; iustaucing the difficulty exjierienced iv passing the " Sheep Hating Ordinance," previous to the passing of \vhieh_ a poor man m a cottage was liable to pay his 255. or 30s. for road rate 3, and several large ruuholders, who used the roads most, were not liable at all, through not possessing any freehold on their rims. Things were better now the squatter was rated for his sheep ; he (Mr. Major) had forgotten the sum pen thousand. Mr. Studholme stated that £70 was the amount. After sundry other remarks on the different topics of the day, Mr. Major sat down amiilst applause. The Chairman then called upon any persons present who wished to ask Mr. Mtfjor any questions, to do so. Mr. J. W. Freeman wished to know if, m the event of Mr. Major being retnmed, whether he would accept a Government situation. Mr. Major said, no ; as long as his firm could brew good beer, he should not want a billet. ■ Mr. J. T. Pain then enquired how it was that Mr. Major had beeu . asking for their votes for Mr. Lance, and was now speaking against the class to which the latter belonged. Mr. Major replied that he supported Mr. Lance for several reasons ; and that more than a year ago, when the latter had not been heard of as a candidate, he had refused to canvass for Mr. Moorhouse when requested by Mr. M. Studholme to do so.

Several questions were then pnt by Mr. John Manchester m order to force Mr. Major to state more fully his reason. for not supporting a candidate for the Superiuteniiency who was not a squatter. Mr. Major stated that he did not wish to disparage Mr. Moorhouse, for whom personally he held a very high opinion, and had endeavoured to avoid giving his reasons for opposiug him politically, but this would not answer his querist's ends. Mr.. Major stated, that he had heard Mr. Moorhouse, from his placo m the Council, call Mr. Rollestou, the late Provincial Secretary, a bare-faced boy, Mr. ltolleston being, m his opinion, one of the cleverest men who ever held office m Cauterbury. In a legislative assembly, a man should avoid such personalities. This, with the railway question, were two of his reasons for objecting to Mr. Moorhonse. Several remarks were then made by Messrs. Green, Gaitt, and Thompson, and a vote of confidence proposed by Mr. Mouritz, and seconded by Mr Thomas Ncwall, was carried unanimously amidst loud applause. d vote of thanks to the Chairman was passed, au the meeting then adjourned