ME STAFFORD AT TIMARU.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2705, 14 February 1876, Page 2

ME STAFFORD AT TIMARU.

At the opening of the line connecting Timaru and Christchurcli the following speech, was made by the Hon. Mr Stafford, who on rising was received with applause, said that when lie accepted the hospitable invitation of the Mayor and Borough. Council of Timaru, ho did not anticipate that he would be called upon to respond to the toast of the G-eneral Assembly. He thought and he believed not improperly, ihat the junior member of the Assembly present, Mr Walcofield, would have been called upon to perform that duty. However, as they had done him the honor to ask him to return thanks on behalf of the G-eneral Assembly for the toast that had been proposed, he would perform that duty to the best of his ability. He thought that the toast was one which was not at all inappropriate on tho present occasion, and for this reason that it was owing to the action of the G-eneral Assembly that railway comnmnication beI tween Christchurcli and Timaru had been established, and that the opening of the line between these points was being commemorated at so early a date as that day. Pie thought they would all agree with him in thinking that had it not been for the action of that body people would not at the present time be enabled to traverse the long distance between here and Chris ichurch by rail, and thus avoid the clanger and inconvenience to which people had hitherto been subjected in travelling over the stretch of country betweeu those places. A.worh suck as the railway between Christchurcli and Timaru was a sample of what could be done by a united people. The peoplo of Auckland, the people of Wellington, the people of Southland, and the people of Dunedin, had all assisted in the construction, and opening of the railway that they travelled upon between Christchurch and Timaru that clay. The strength and means and credit of every man, woman and child in ~New Zealand had been given to the construction of this railway and similar works, and in like manner the people of this part of the colony had assisted the peoplo of Auckland to construct their railway from Auckland town to the Waikato, those of Wellington to construct their railway from the town of Wellington to Masterton, those of Southland to construct their railway from Wiuton to Kingston, those of Otago to construct their railway from Dunedin to Oamaru. Had it not been for the united pull-together that the colony determined upon making, in carrying out a trunk railway throughout New Zealand, they would no doubt have seen

fragmentary here and there, and tho colony would not have been in the position it occupied that da}'. He felt the greatest pleasure in retiming 1 hanks for the toast on that occasion, and he hoped that tho work oi: progress, the accomplishment oL ; which they wore commemorating that day, was only one oC a gvoat many that (hey would sec resulting from the action o£ a united Legislature of New Zealand. It would be very impropn* for him to go into what might be called partisan politics. The next session and the session following would probably be the most interesting periods of the history of jSTcw Zealand. The whole general election was now completed, with the exception of one representative of a Maori district. He had watched with very great interest, as all no doubt had done who took an. interest in politics, the course of the elections, and he was very glad to say that the resultshad been thatopposite opinions would be very fairly represented in the House of Representatives ; indeed strongly represented by earnest and intelligent men ; and that the best men would win they all prayed. There was no use concealing ifc, bhcre would be two very strongly opposing sides iv the House next session, each being very sanguine. He for one was very sanguine for the success of his side. (Hear, hear.) He had no doubfc that members who held different opinions to those ho held were equally sanguine as himself. In fact he judged them to be very sanguine from what he saw reported. There was a great battle to fight, but if it was fought as he wished to see it fought, it would be with no desire to benefit any particular localities but for the good of the colony as a whole. (Hear, hear.) He believed that the result of that battle would be for the benefit of jS"ew Zealand as a whole. That the differences of opinion that he alluded to existed in the country was a healthy sign. They showed that a groat interest was being taken in the colony. That such interest was being taken was fully exemplified by the - fact that in the late elections only six members he believed were returned unopposed, two of whom they had' before them to-day — himself and his Honor the Superintendent of Canterbury. Only six members being returned unopposed out of eighty- eight which constituted the Parliament showed them the interest which was taken in the political welfare o£ the colony was very satisfactory. He should be very sorry to think that the reason why his friend Mr Rolleston and himself had been returned unopposed was because there were no better men to represent the constituencies which elected thorn. He believed that they elected their present members because they considered that they held opinions so identical with their own that a contest was unnecessary. He would remark that he and Mr Holleston, had always been personal friends, and had always entertained the greatest feelings of respect towards another, and hehoped that' whidh ever lobby they might each be found in, Mr Rolleston,- whose public usefulness was undeniable, would not at any time be long separated from the administration of public affairs. More especially did he hope so in view of what he believed to be the inevitable change in tlie position o£ affairs, wliieli ■would for a time at least render it necessary for the colony to dispense with the services of Mr Rolleston in the capacity which 5 lie had so honorably filled. After repeating that he considered the toast was one which was very appropriate on an occasion like the present, Mr Stafford resumed his seat amid loud applause.