CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2795, 29 January 1878, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Monday

Mr" W. Rolleston addressed his constituents of the Avon district on Saturday night. Ho explained and defended.' the action of the Middle Party during the past session. Ho gave reasons why it was desirable to eject the Atkinson Government, but said it was still never intended. In tact, the Middle Party stipulated that Sir Gca. Grey should no. be Premier. A fair trial would, however, be granted to the latter. Parliament would have his measures next session, and then would be t'-.c time for the House to judge. Whether the Premier remained in office or not, he (Mr Rolleston) thought a good and stable Ministry could be obtained independent either of Major Atkinson's Ministry or Sir Geo. Grey's Ministry. He reviewed the bills brought down during the past session, deferring to the Native Lands Bill, he said it placed native lands in a much more satisfactory position than before, but he considered tho Government ought to have taken into its hands the surveys of native land, and not allow that to bo done which had been \ done over again in the North Island, to a large extent, viz, the giving of lieas over lauds as security for thp j cost of surveys, which had been some I

times the cause of very improper transactions in respect to drink and otherwise. He referred tit leiu»tli to the Premier's retrial ks rt Auckland inspecting the terms of renewal of the Canterbury pastoral licenses, asserting that they were incorrect and misleading to a very serious extent. White admitting that some new arrangement respecting the land fund had become necessary, he said there was no finality about the measure introduced by the present Government, and he strongly objected to the arrangements by which 20 per cent, of the land was to be given to the Counties in which it arose. It should be allocated to the provincial district^ to bo distributed (o Counties in proportion to areas and rates levied in such Counties. Ecforring to taxation he strongly deprecated the Premier's suggestion of (using taxation off the necessaries of life to put it on to property. But ho agreed that if further taxation was required property should bear its share. He was strongly opposed to manhood suffrage, but the mode of registration should be simplified. The exceptional franchise held by miners should be abolished, and he would like to see the Maoris brought under the same law as tho Europeans. He objected to the proposal for representation to be on a basis of population. It was important industries which should be represented, and he thought education might fairly, as at home, be also represented. Efforts would bo made to split up the Counties into small prei'S, bat it would be a mistake, as they would become little more than large road boards, and would interfere with such boards. If Otago obtained a resident Minister, Canterbury and other districts would want one. and the result would be the creation of a bad form of autocratic superintendence. He ag;*red that the civil service required overhauling, and in the interests of the servants of the country there ought to be some sort of court of appeal to^adjudlcnte on any grievances that might arise. There must also be a better form of local government than now existed, lie was dissatisfied with the present stale of affairs, and Sir George Grey was certainly not the man to be at the herd of affairs. For these reasons he did not see any prospect of being able to support the present Government. A vote of confidence in Mr Eolleston was carried unanimously.