The Postmaster General at the Town Hall.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 177, 3 December 1881, Page 2

The Postmaster General at the Town Hall.

Thb Hon. Walter Johaston, the lkte member for Manawatu, addreecsd the electors ou Monday uig,ht at its Town Hall. The chair waa occupied by His Worship the Mayor , who m & very nvat speech introduced the candidate. Mr. Johnslone, upon coming forward, was loudly cheered. When the applause had mbsided, he said — Gentlemen — What your chairman has told you is perfectly true ; and it is really a matter for surprise to ma to find m this town, wheie oh my last appeal I was met vt'vh such determined opposition, I should this evenreceive such a kindly reception. It is, I assure you, most enjoyable to ma *o exnerience tho absence of all opposition m a pl»c» which hitherto has proved the ?ery stronghold of it ; and my surprise is the greater when I recall a certain funeral procession which I witnessed on the last polling day, which purported to intimate that ray p 'litie.nl career, as far as this constituency was concerned.' was closed fer ever. Turning over m mv miad, as I *=■«* <*n ray jou nev hither, f found myself placed somewhat m a diffi ciilty as to the text of mv ad^r^ss, and the subjects upon which I sboutl -ipeak. and the matter was or.-- Vith which I experienced some difiUencft m deal: nowith. I a<d not feel called upon tr> reter atcreat lenjrth int<-> an sxp-.siMon r»f the views of the Government, fir t^° reason that th^v w?re so ea-bar.iivfly «?t forth and elaborately dc-tsiTed *he Premier, Mr Hall, before his cnn-H'npr. f « atLeestou ; comrntnted on by all sections of the Pre«s ; and the coun + ry surfeited with election addresses. But I remembered that this was a general election, and that general elections were m n erreat measure appeals to the counrrv for or against Governraental principles or policy ; m fact, a supreme Rt--nw<rli» t-->r party superiority, and therefore I felt bound to give some resume of the political history of the Colon? since I had last the honor of addressing you. lv t^e ye«ir 1879, a« most c^you, no doubt, are 'perfect!* awerf, tber? tpm z .<jre^t ■nirt," strujcsfifl in riichTtcok apart. Sr.- George Grey tbehe&d of fhe then Gorernms'if. was avrai^ned at the bar of jjub'i^ o t imio», and there were two ennnts m th- indictment preftrred against him— He was accused of overri 'ing the Vonttitvrtw. of ignoring the Parlinrnant, and carrym - ip. the Government nf the country at hi» Ofliffl swfet will ; the other count ae-'uspd hira ofmtl idministration He had so rev a *d'y maaif'ested the most ptrfect m T "fference to, and complete disregard of, the Constitution, by which leuis^tion should be guided, that it became absn'nMr neccs- ! sarv to take siome steps to make him rule acc*fdinst to the will and wishes) of the TK-'>nl<;. Mr. Stout, the Attorney-Gene-rsl m Bsr George G^evV A.nminis f . r «tion, brought m a Lar>d Bill — a most liberal measure --•which h« took charge of m fk& Lower Honsf, the Colonisl Secretary, C^louel Whitmore, performing * sjmj'ar office for it m- ths Upper. The Bill passed both Houses, but when the batch of bills "was sent to the Governor (or Ma approval, it wae found that the Land Bill was not amongst them, t>.ni a special jme&sage hud to be seat to Sir George Grey to obtain it Ik was tbeu discovered i that" that" gentleman bad b*en emltv of the fTOSBeat ■ deceit Bod deception — tbat while b.e was apparently m fa cor of the Bill, «d account of iia Hborali^y-i h« wa secretly acbemißg'td aappr«es it, m& *ct-

colleagues. I felt what the House felt, aud what, bo deubt you also fek, that for the head of *. Government and the leader of a people to act ill such a manner was thoroughly uncoaatitutioual, and a disgrace, which could not be tolerated. These were the indictments preferred against the Government— Repeated ignoring and overriding the Constitution, and m&Uadminisiration. Tne contents of the public puree weie used m the rao«t fiagrant mtmaer without authority, »nd the administration of the lands carried vn m the niO6t high-faanded ami r. intray way. Sir George Grey paid a visvi Co h : g old friends at the Thames, aad he aitthori iUe.l the construction of thirty milys of railway to Grahamstown, not OEe penny i for which had beea authorised by FarliaI tnent, and ths merits of which had never beeu discussed, or the subject heard oonf 'n the House. This was an autocratic pro- [ ceeding which could aot be gtoruacbed, v. | strong O()pasi;iou was organise ', Ms-. j Hall resigned his seat m the Legislative ! Councii to bicom. leadsr of the party, a | vote <»t waat of confidence m Sir George Grey's Government, en the grounds of mal-adrninistration, vau moved and crrie.i, and Mr, Kail bfcame the lu-ad of the present edniiuisimtioa. His pa tv took office pledged to carry eat many much Reeded reforms, r-fid X thic.k it raust b» admsttcdl iLey bay« perf.-msed the tack effectually and ccuceientioualy. <>ne of the clausea m the Electoral Biil of 1878, was that oaly those Maoris should hive a Tote whose names "V7Ci<J ou (as ratepayers' roll. That safeguard againsi fie evils which had previously prevailed by the prepoii Jeciacc of the Maori Tore, was favorably received by the people, commented on by the press, and passed both Houses. Sir G.orge Grey took offence at the Clause, and the coas..qaenc. was that the whole Bill was thiown out. and not wii.bstaudt.ng his anxiety for t:;e | welfare of the ■whole hansaii rsce, hi--favorite 70,000 serfs were cast &d>ift f. shift fur themselves If Sir George Grey's' wishes w..t« Ciiiricd oui, Natives living m the Waikalc, eks related to tribes m FoxtoE, if possessing the B ; ij?htisst triha' interest m ttee bitter couaiituen^y, woui;i be entitled to vote, and thus the white vote couid he ?zA'.r ewsiosed, and yonr property tas-.d by persons who werrcxera^i f:oto Uxp.ti&ii. W&cg *V- j ■* : vei"st JKCtivn was c.-..'i i-.ru and iht Eali Gi>vernißect to:k c-Si c, there' was tkea, as vow, a M..fc i diffi;ijlty. Tuere was a row a T^rdaaki, and ace putatioa wafted on Sir G.orge Grey a«k. ing him So pro rids ssOiHv rn^H^ure of protection fcr the secti-w.' \ut3a»&tiug t'"a.\ ifgr.ch prar-fmtioas w^ra rjot takes th-: result wowld laoot vrobabiy be ru'ia an.-i disaster. The aaawer receive--! was, tin* men should hesitate before putting their necks iv a nooss. The course arlootcJ had the effect of emboldening |th'-j yativ^-j, aud froiß threats they proceeded to oves*S acts of violeace. The settlers telegraphed again to the Prt/iiltr, and Sir <?er.rge'.s answer was that he remembered a risiair years before m Kent, and his experience was that things done m a hnrrv, were never well done. The settlers rhen intimated to the Government tb*4 if they were to be afforded neither security or protection, they w*mld uadertake th 9 responsiMlity themselve.'?, ar.fi dH go hv removing the Natives and their ploujjhwhich they had tre'sj^BSsd. Fortunawly the Maoris ra^de no resistance, and there WjS no war, but the Government of'V-.t ! l».y could take nocrgdif to itsvJf *r?* t'-" matter was esttia.i without blonrlgr. f They had exhibited a most ipn©S?e shrinking from facing their rssponaibiUtiea, they did not dare to grant the protection which had bean so eager]? s^r^Vft, .•md the Brif«>rtuu«te setflei-g w»re )&?■ >o «11 the horrors of war. Th*>y had shown — he wouli ant say c cowardic*— but a feebleness of purpose which rnude it most apparent that they were totally unfit fed to be m coarse of the sffdrs of the i country. When Bir Geor^r- Ci- rt}V <?o>i«r(t to get into office he {.joastfully psser'ted that m half aa hour hr ermld rerluce the expenditure by £loo,ooa. but the result proved that, when he had the command of the Treasury Cheft, the md bterlnpss of the colony ine'ead of being; dec;v«s£ j, w?c very raateriftlly increased. The;-€ was also the very gre&fr.st dissatisfaction m tjie public mm!? about the n-anso-omprtf. of Native Aff.iirs. When Mr. Hnll fook the reins of Government. Constitntiorw] rule was estab'isbed, no ciap-tr^papeeches were made, but the MimsS-y srt to work ?.nd carried the most liberal frano.bise ia the world. Theßlectoralßill was passed; but althoiisb tie ootmiry received wh»f has b--en cc rsrally consi-lered a-^ a areaf boon, Manhood Saffra?«, T cannot see *h=«t the elpc^.ors, or rather the noople r i I th,' Colon y. are very ra-iteriailv Vip n -fi>«"d | fhorc-.by, nr that fnnc'-'ise has had a ■vide-- ''i-°,(ribntioTc, Formerly it. was within tKecoinnn>r..l of the frpebolder.the rriner, the leM'-eboMor. and the lodger, m any mal" i>frs*E o^ tbe npe r.f rwentv one ynsrs who had been resident for twelve months m the colony and six months \n the ebctofa'ft was entitled to register his vote at the election. Ssch b^A'injr b ; 'r-n the c»se, then, I c&anof gee ibe n^crssity for the Act, as' T cannot think of any person whom it would benefit, or who b*d not previously p^iovedtha privile?^ Tn my opinion all Sir Grey*« lamentations shout the 70,000 serfs were nothing more nor l«ss taan the verrii:st buoknm. and tae in*roancHafl of the ."-at rl?--' r.r:- •: i.-! fhtt sliifi'iJrst ii < m tbe tbe as^nKiot *f | (h • rrntiC:iiM. I think it will be admit'ed thtt by tbe yins<»in"; of the EcjEulattion of Electors Act t.ha Governmtsnt conferred a most sinjsUubVi benefit on the wcrkiagr ra:',i v -.y cxtewdia ' the hours .%f j poilinsr from four to s;k Ii -wr.? ih^va-ktj • and Vi'itl*. e r> ai ,i';gt;.?f:. too, thai or cioijing the poll at four o'clock dhe.7iv worTcif^ men W4.e*lei)rived of the pnvilpgp which *r-9 at tbelr cocara&ni. The'Orrn'^ Practices Act w« snother measure whi k would miteri.illy benefit tbe poor m?n, wbo might bare tbe ambitio a^d ahiiitr to asnt'*" fo th^ ronreseotation o ' Sxis fellows, and carried nut every ostetu Bib!een« far which it was introduce^ By it bribery "as most effectntT'y utamped out. and ths Dartv irni'ty of it, would be U?,ble to a fineof £500, theflectiou would TO annulled, tbe name of tbp orTen^pr would figure m a black list, which would make him in«!igible for further cwlickture for three years., beside which the ofireader would be saddled with the coat of the pro<ecut.icv3. By tfee Act. then, it would he seen tip man of ability with j limited means had an opportunity which , other wine he would not t>:,>s-.esSj aisd it i -would &lwi eivc tbe eJectfrr a- wio : r j Choice, reducing tke a'Svftnt^-csrjf ff falti., i Hud ra'jj-.injE thxsn oi the workirgtnao. 3* Rfc.ex:arar>lew<;r'.' waoted, itjuisfitbefimad bi tib@ contest at preceat feeing carfiedoa

m the Foxtou electorate : which shows most distinctly that it has realised ail that has been exptcied of it. The number of candidates seeking the suffrages of the electors, wao au efideiace of its beneflcal effects, giving ac it did the constituency a wide choice of candidates. Of all the measures, hovrever, introduced by the present Government, there ars none m oiy opinion equal m importance to the Representation Bill, which under the old Act perpetrated oue of greatest anosaalies it wae possible to conceive. It always s- emiid prepoatervuia to me that elector. ates with a population of SSOO, should have rqual legis'ative representation i with Manawatu with its 90G0 inhabitants, and it waa impossible that matters cou'd j continue ao they were, While on thia | 'natter I iaust confess that I wae sar. { orit^d, vt.j startled, "when the sketch i na.ipe 01 the 6i?itfion of electorates. wer» published, to receive letters *»il telegr^rr.9 a -ai.v-t the eefceme. Re hi tie favor did the arrangement receive, that some of my correspondents asserted that, if they cou'.d not get dual representation, they would prefer to do with with one memher vather than see the electorate dismembered. Now, I confese lam woolly ! usable to lock at the mttf-er m thatHsht. Aithcu.^h the County of Manawato has ; beeu subdivided, I think it has been done • n suchi* manner &s to give iiicreaeJ representation, for with a member for Fox- ! 'on, another for the electorate of Manaw&tu. and the member for KansritiueS iojlsiug zS'itt the interest* of the Kiwirea'ai, it might \m safely said that the county bail three representativer — equal to Wellington -where formerly it ha^ but o;ie. I thiuk, however, that public opinion has undergone r great chansje since the Representation Bill was fi^ i> * tinted ty the Tfcriousctaa ituencies.and it is now m just a^ much favor as it was formerly ia disfavor. A.t the last general e'etiti -v the iate Gover»msnt stated tbat they thought it necessary they should raise a U<an of five millions, although no ii;i£f.cial statement was presented, and as might, have been expected the House was very much dissatisfied. Tae G-overn-.nent had begun with a balance m the Treasury of over £2,G00,00, and unless there had bsen aa excessive or unusual expenditure th>y should hava a very \i.cf : r) ere j.\t halftcsa. Notwithstanding thi3 thsy appr.ad for a loan, and althon^h it was granted upon the distinct un " '•- standing t'uat it should no" be touched until the meeting of Parliament, and not a penny ttrs to be spent without the authority of the House, would it '■>« fcal:«*e'3 t^-Rt m contsinpt of this siipulaiios, no^d'tions tsaon' which power to raisa the loan being granted was ignored, and a debt of £3,300,000 incurred. I consider there are certain cases m which it is well to exercise and ne-mit. personal Government, but it sho ild b^orry to a limits srlen f . In tfie oa.se under rerinw they had appropriated nearly three millions and a half, thus mildly outstepping the limits of theconeeaed conditions. Moreover, not only wai the loan gone, but m regard to trie rereiue We were m a very bad position — as m the land revenue *nr the quarter there was & d»fH* of £100,000. That was the state of affairs when the H all Government to^k office, and such the diffifMiJtiM which it found itself called upon ViS Taoe. v/;u>u-.y umi-. «■= « .. ■ •-- task ? No. The only pina^P for the rvil was. retrenchment; that was the only r »sort, and odious as was the task, to the work of retrenchment they set t^-em-seires with a will &ni as a proof of their eTeetiveneas, the TssHmat<»fl of this y?*r •ji'F some £300,000 less than last. T•) '%t:' worfr of retrenchment the rpdueti^tt of the Civil Service n^ a most painful ■-)T>eratior<. resulting; as it clir? m many aisnv^aU ; but that waa not all. Other steps bad to he HVen. sufb as imposing sxtrn custom ■■? r]ati<»« on ppirirs, tobqeco, aid hoav. Other changes werp also inrotvpd, and "mon^st tb?'n was *ne «üb**ihition of the Vrover*v for the L<vnd Tat ; and to ?lriw t^ifit the *M]nri nf +*,„ G-nve'-nmeTit had been a vise one, ha m\M <»tate fb«t rvheren? the LandTsr bad only r<=f)]is*>d £100,0<10 a Tfiar, fhe roneinfs from t^'e Property Tnx w?« £300.000, Rnc? last year by hnvir? a sorrilas at command they wsre aMe to off soms of tbt> duties. The Terv rhouehf: of further taxation excited discontent amnnffst pp.ople, and \t bad Wti said that the change was a tax unoa settlftrß* improvements and th«refore a bad measure. ! I confess, 'however, j T a-r> a T>c"ohant, a rnon<=r lender or a farmer, I cannot ?>«>« if I put mv to r>r*<> p^i'tipnlaT nse that tlinf: fom-nc^iil -intsirest should ero frae, ■cr-v] • bear the >>»»rd«»n of taxation. I? T px-Dond my msnsy on Bni?'isli <T^r,ev. ;t. Rhould bear its proportion of the burden a«< the ranital 1 lend out on ?««■«,.<> of. or p^v for the stock of mv store. The Pfnnorfv Tax wis a fair and equitable impost, as every one was taxed iinw <h« TeaUh be possessed over and above £s^°, no mitter what misrht the dpsf.ri'-pfion of his pTopprly ; whi^e tTio Lund Tax had faxed thf la.nd nf f%T. settlor and rt>* farmer, and let the banlcs g-n frnp. TVi^ 13 T'^ai* foreign Pftr>ital had Veen taxed, tha result b^ing tbai f ha, (^ or pi' run 'nit hi ] been ens Wed to reduce . th.» "Prop^rtv Tar by otip farthing;. On^ grand rpsuih had been ftchievfid sin^p th* M'ospufc •'rovei'jnme'nt had t»V<»« office, *?»-t? t.p.« Hjf;v'ir eicuri of enmm?^^ : ots w'nch hns hnnf l^rp a r>-ill ©r«r the Colon v had been o^ eared away, f?i>n.fi'-lf»Ti''e m th© financial stability of tha pountTv Kna hp!*i r^s^^ed, and the r«snlt-tv>s that the flouri shins prosnp^t* had benii the canse of au pnoT*nr>r»us innux of iTiOnav-. chins' indicated a (."h.vriS"? f-">r the? b?tt?r. fiTsil bo hope 'l sn «ra nf pr^'.nentr had set iri. The GovfiraTpent nsXt year would have to fiDpfv fer i mpw losin. aait was a matter of viral importance that the constrnp-Hon of thp trnik 7?n<»« of tha Colony ."hoTT'o: be prosecuted, and Crown Lands opened f.y i;^p formation of roads before the l;md wns put an for sale. At t^e T>re- | cent timi the exports of tH# Colony inuotintpcl to '£6,000.000. while fift.OnO.ooo of that arooußt h^lonsced to j the foreign creditor, lsain? th« interest jon the indebf.ednft.ss '«ff tha colony. In order to sustain tha present prosprrity, it was necessary to resort to im«J'B!ratian, so as to colr-nise th* waste lands of the nro»rr». >T,»xt yftar-theieasas of 4hre« million* of oc?es would fall m, «.ni it wftfl tfae iß*»nfi3n of the aaeat t'»»* xsjom«fit they cams into their h:ind» to put • tfcftvs np for sale, and throw t'h*>n op»a ta Battl<Kneat. In my oislinw tin* vzrr bast ftjjentt w» could tfc*e fo* colonising the laad is the 10- ---, eftl bodies, prori^insr they Jk&&^ th* ; laeaus to do so, and it was the aim of

means at their disposal. It w«s the aim of the Government to open up Crown iand before sal*, and that was the aim sought when th« hon. the Treasurer drafted the Local Works Bill, which I hop» will become law next session. It was proposed to have th« roads made, and the price of c^nstruohon added to the upset prie*. It was proposed m the districts not settled, or only partially settled, to give £3 for the construction of mam roads, for every £!■ contributed by the fettUra. Then again, for the construction of district roads, it was iatendad t j advaaee th.c "whole of the meixey, to* be paid m fourteen years. The scheme, curiously enough was opposed by .some members of the House, who denounced it as hurtful to local Government* and therefore hurtful to the best interests of tha colony. During the sitting of th* Sessioa last year & conferanoe composad of delegates from ilae v&riom snmicipsi bodies, county councils ani highway Wo&rds, was held m Wellington to consider the wants of the country m their respective districts and what would be of benefit to the colony at large. Unfortunately, however, they assembled together without having any definite programme, their efforts were desultovy Rid did njt prod ice* tLe result iatsaded or anticipated. I would, howerer, recemmerd that scch another meeting should t>e held bafors the essetribliaj of the next Parliament, and being coa»pos«d of practical men, met I together for an especial purpose, 1 feel .satisfied tkat any rsc&inmendatlons wineli would emanate from such a coaferonc* would carry great weight wit-b. tbe House and the Ministry, and most probably be carried into effect. The next matter upon which I will toucli is tbe Bailway Construction Act, a measure which, although it aro&e out of the financial position of the colony, ctflnot fail to exercise a most favorable influence on the well-being o£ the coun* try. If they had not the money for the the construction of lines, they had plenty of laud and by giving endowments to railway companies not only was a drain upon the State Treasury averted, but the Government, and consequently the people, reaped c. material benefit from the enhanced value ofthe land contiguous to newly constructed lines ; while also such companies were powerful agents m the work of colonisation. lam glad to say that the first company to take advantage of the proyisa»g of the Act, is that formed i&Hthe c^j^v\iotioa<§-the Wel-lingtou-Palm^ifeg^ine. But although it gives me very great pleasure to find that it is so, it occasions me very little' surprise, when I consider it ha« special advantage* over raott other Jfefg — it will connect Wellington with B'ew Plymouth and If apier, and I fsel quite oon^ viaced that. vritk»ut at ail taking into eonsideettfioa the endqftß&ents to b* granted, ths traffic alone V&\ warraat its conduction, and pay a good retuJSlt over and above the outlay. I will now say a few words on Native Affairs. When tbe Government took office there was a pretty general impression that the Natives had been treated with injustice—that they had received promises of reserves which had never been fulfilled, and blocks of land hjid been taken for whtaL. tLe monay J>ad sever b.-3n |S?*iel. I^hfi. Qf)YKTptn*Bii;-Tm3p&^_ Qiiujf Tippomted a Soyal Ootnnnsjft&n cojsistin^ of .s\*a William Fox and Dalou Bsll, and thos» gentlemen spent: morttbs m careful inTenti station of the allesftfd wrong- and claims of tlse-Maoi'is. In the report furnished by the former gentleman ho recommended that reserves containing 263,000 acres should b* handed over to the Natives, aad Sir . William Fox was vested with absolute authority to deal with th» matter, carry out tha terms of his award, and so fo;-----ever do away with the grievanM under which, the Natives of Taranaki had aoored. It was natu'-ally thon ? ht this Übera,! eondact would most effectually allay all discentflDton the West poa>t, tk* polittcal Native prisons m the LvtteUon O-nnl were set at liberty, and rhp constabulary stationed on the Plains were rained to half their itrenjtli. Matter* -wore a peaceful aspect, and the country was congratulating itself up™ ths peaceful settlement of the dijfi>n' j p when Te Whit? made a speech m tember which threatened w*r. Mr. Uolj leston iraTnedic>tf>ly went to Panhaka the Yolnntpflrs wera called «poa, and the constabulary rocmited m> to th»ir old number. Te Whifci ssnt h'n fearers to fence the Or<~wn L^nds ; M' 1 - Rollestone remnu'trated, bttt nothing oould (lonr, as Te Wl-^i would not listen to the Minister. Mr. Brvee was invited 'O ioia the Cabinet as Defence Mmist«r, ■vf' l \ »nlitnit'd powe - 'O deal with tbe difiio-ilty. A -or nlf afe <™ was issn^ calling; tite Maoris ajsemblsd at Pari» haka to disperse, failing which t.^ey would b» arrested and forfeit tn ?ir right to the land w-Wch. had been awarded t^ them by the Boyal Comnn'ssion. Dtt mar th*» fourteen days the f^nvermnent invited the assistance of the Volunteers, how they responded to the call is already a matter of history, and before the allotted time ttaoh a Wee wai ;%oncentrated at Parihaka as tDorougly ifered the Natives, if tl-ey ever <» «r. tamed hostile iat-'ntions. Te Whiti sK)I eonticueS his peace policy and gave ih« order of aon-resisiaTice. the honors of wir on the West Coast have b *n ■ averted, and we now enjoy the blo'sinffs o p peace The conduct ofthe Volun-; tepr« was beyond all p"aise, and^ there! ' Rfc 'H b© no question tbat it waaj rr'fe nly owins to their prompt resp^DW, the appeal of the Government that f^« sett.lem*nt of the difficulty had been affected without bloodshed. The Gor. rernssant entertained the hienest fft«l-j ir,^ of gratitude towards thera^ (them, 1 sea sura the country also j appreciate their services, and^ I feel sure when the question of capita;Hon comes to b j dealt wifc'a by the House the vote will not be grudjnnely giveni When the fourteen days . had expired. ! Mr Bryce found hiniaelf i» a most peculiar position. Whea lie marched upon Parihaka he fouad himself face to face with 2,000 men women and children, sqnatfcing on tho ground «.nd offeV•inghim a passive resistance. But he was equal to the occasion, and the manner ia which he had ' overcome a difficulty which at one time secured absolutely insurmountable, bad excited the. wonder, surprise and admiration of the whole colony. The manner m which the succeeded m dispersing that vast assemblage without a shot c i n .R &**& or * drop, of" blood. shed l argues the possession of wondrous ability m dealing with the Native ■ race. I.confet'« X'irof mad* rare& iurpris«d at r#ad^

ing m some of ths Southern papers that an opinion was prevalent that the Maorii -' hare been treated with Jk»rshh«WVimd injustice by the vhite man. la contradiction to such an assertion, w« have only to consider the condition 6f the Ifatives of Hew -Plymouth prior to the adveat of the white man They ••• were aj; the mercy' of the Waikatos . whose slaves they were, and to use the words 'of a celebrate d chief who wai evidently impressed with the benefit* which the presence of the Europeans conferred upon his ■ race- 1 -" with their advent the land- which tad bten de*^ sorted wag re-occupied, /and the ae* which had . recrfded, revived." As I hay« already saifci. the Natives of ftew^ Plymouth were at the mercy of their enemies, the Waikatosj a • chitf of chief of the latter tribe made ft propesai'tb dispose of his foes byeatinf them all up. To show how the advent of the White Man had contributed most materially to the wealth of the Natives, I may point out that land under the New Plymouth Harbor Board whoa* iatrinaio value had been about £100, was now rated as woVth £100,090. Were it not for the influx of Europeans the Natives of Tatanaki : would have been slaves, or fugitives, or they would have betn quietly' disposed of m the very tffactive manner indicated by the Waikato chief: I think -that is a.most unanswerable argunaentpto . the 'accusa« - tions published m the jonrnalfllalluded -:■ to. There is another matter with rej gar&to which I feel called upon to speak, that is " the bursting up" policy which at present has- so many advocates m the neighboring -Colony of Victoria. Persons come out from home impressed with the evils which are so dominant m the old couatey, end are anxious t©guard against them out here. Although, however, the principle msy be good and . be applicable to Victoria at the prestafc - time, it is scarcely so to this, as there ara millions of acres of Crown Lands yet to b& put into the market. Indeed, Messrs ffceuit and Foster, the Lincolnshire Delegates, state m their book upon the Colonies* that three-fourths of New Zealand is for sale. But although I do not tHiatthe " bursting up " policy n**»Jßftry for New Zealand, as I h*re already told y.<m -the Government ii malfe'gja wise provi«ion for the 'settle-* me*', ofthe land by farmersj foraceocd-? ing as the p%|toral leases, run .out th* land will be immediately placed-ln th« Biarket for : bona fifle -settlement. Per?. haps there is no country m the world where $tere are so many proprietors of the soil »s in France, an& this wai* ejected »y simply making a law debarriagjfsd owners making a will, and now on the death ef landed proprietor* that class of property is divided amongst the ! heirs-at*law. ' Tfiat took place at the time o£ tha EevolutioiQi and although :• three generations have passedsinoe thea the step has caused extreme > diittifcutiott of land, without the slightest injury to the investment of capital. By the introduction of "the Alienation of Lands Acfr the Government of this Colony had sought to effect similar results. As an. instance of the injury done to settlement, I may quote the case of fjie Rhod»i property m Eangitikei- which had b«ea Vested Inthe^n^B^aim^ne&tot persons yefr? VxatioW^ and ; consequentty tn»Tancl iwas tied up and could not be disposed of for the next couple of generations. .< It .was to prevent such a state 1 of things that thtGo'vernmentintroducedthe Act I have named, but although the Lower House was not averse 4dit,.tiwr Council would not accept the positioa that there should bend trust. Ido not go so far as to say there should; be n* trusts, but I think if testators wish to do so they should be only appointed, for personal and not for landed property; -"-It is the intention ef the Government dur* i ing next session to je-introduce the Sill, ! and we are very sanguine that we will be : able to stake it law. In my [opinion thifc^ [Bill is of far more iinportauca tliiut either manhood isuffrige or triennial Bwt. liainents; aa it would promote, the col»« nisation ofthe country, settlement o& the lands, and avoid those disturbing elements which are now agitating the - publio mind m both England and lrelandc The " bursting up " might be all very wall, but it should be done- without the - discouragement of capital." .Before een« eluding I would like to say a few wordi about the Ministry; and whatfthey have don« since assuming' the reins of goyetm*; inent. We are a hard-working Ministry^ for we have carried out the task of a***treichment m the face of the greateit_ difficulty, and we have passed the J2ie»* toral and other important measures wwu« out talk or clap-trap. But although ir» have ma erialiy reduced the expenditure of the State, it is to be further dtcrtased J>y £30,000. We have spent nope of the public money m triumphal marcher Of Maori feasts, but having -a surplui iap stead of a deficit w* are m a position to ; go into the English money Jmarket, and i borrow .for th» prosecution of pu» public. works. We can also claim to be a pro- ; gressiveGorernment.'for we are net only, going into the money market to procure funds for the coastruction of railway*, but to op«* up Crown L»nd», and aiding local bodies by giving special subsidies to s_pecial. works. Witn regard *o Mien matters, as I have already stated, our first effort was directed to find out the wrongs O* grievances under which they labored, or of which they complained, and then set ourselves to remedy them. In doing so, however, we always looked upon ifea» ft dwty paramount to all others the! ihe authority of the law should be upheld* and the peaceful security of the settleM m their homesteads maintained. THf we k&ve done, and I hope "we have cxc* cuted the trust m a manner t© , meet th« approval of the public; Of course til th» actions ox the Government had tft run the gauntlet of the most sevelf-v criticism of the Opposition Press, but oa the whole I think the poUeyoftheGo. vePnment, and.the manner m whoco.it has hem- carried out, is of a liftturi to merit the confidence and siipporfc ef colonists g»ner*Uy; Standing you : to-bight as a member of ;£he Ministry I am somewhat : loathe to ref erto any« thing which X may hay» done for the constituency; at- its-.wpreseiimkve. There ,isr however, one matter of su«a 'Vical impprtanee to Maniawatu, -that I may M pardoned if t refer to it-— laltudf to the r^Wtion oifethe carriage pi whiti pine. A representation -was made to me tHafeif the tariff were- reduced, a new md*stry iv that line would be initiated, and the Government ironse^entlyaaceded to the re^uest'kndf reduced thff Ikarifr % iray/ of experiinee; Jv an&K happy t<j h«« tiftiUh* d»yuf*tioo.^

delegates «ent to Victor» 'to /optett up a to fcarket for that com^odijyf-have for- 0 £ra*ded the aost favorable report of • p their success, and thare is fjtty. P.roba- : c< bility <rf million* of? feet of timber n being now now profitably utalued which jm before cost money to destroy? .- ;> : "« Me M'Weil asked Mr Jphnttone if ; I he would explain why .it was tHa^the. a Government had cut jup th^Colonj into .a •ingle electorate ?v :v, r Yv- .. Mr; Johnstoue; said Vthe' principal ;ii reason for single electorate? was that t it compelled ov«ry maa to stand upon £ his merits, and the elector*^eould "take a or reject any particular candidate with '<\ store certainty than under the • okL i 0/stem ; beside it brought the candidates ~i *nd the electors into closer . community. } Mr. M'Neil spoke m favor of the | land ovet the property taxi hut thought ) an income tax would be preferable to [' either. . .'■ Mt. Poole wished to know if the J Government would make arrangements , j } for the r^oidp-nta of'Wondville having tfcW judicial busiats.-f adjudicated ion itt> Paimerston. . . . Mr John stone replied that he ' thought that as that /ras a matter which affected the WoodvUle people most, the initiatory action should come from them; and he had little doubt that if such an application -were made, the G jvamaiaat w*ml4 . accede 1 to it. Mr Pool© asked if juch an application had not bees already made, Mr John stone could not remember that such had been the case. He had been spoken to or received some communication from "Palmerston residents, | but did ' not think - application had ' been made to the Government from L-Woodville. Mr "Walkley vwild Ifke to hare , f obns' on t. opinions with re? gajßis the Licensing Bill. .■..-,._ jMr Johristone said that unfortunately .he had cot the various clause* of the : iLet m relation to the police sufficiently m his memory to speak on . them. He however, thought the Act an improvement on the old ' Provincial 'ordinances, as it gave the peopW the right of saying whether or not -licenses should be granted to new houses, and alio the Tight to elect the licecsihgr commissioners. „■■'■' In reply to Mr-Eowler. Mr Jbhnitone said that it was intended to resume nominated immigration, that . £20,000 had been v»>dr|for that purpose, and that «o numeous. were the nominations, that sum had' been almost absorbed already-— a fact which he considered one of the greatest* signs of healthy progress which- could be .shown. Mr Ferguson then m a-n appropriate End facetious speech proposed a vote of thanks to, aod confidence m,, the candidate, which was t ßeconded' l \by.Mf J. C. Siy and carried amid great cheerio^, without one disßwtieotrvoice, and tie meeting termiuated. THE NOMINATION. Precisely at twelve o'clock yesterday, Mr. Ham*, EetHmius? appeared at thp Oourt-b use. Palmerston;-: to receive v. nominations £6r tbe T*c a nt; seat m the electorate of-'Maiiawata. There were not more than a dbeen gentlemen preaerit. and after Mn Harris had r-ad. the?wnt^ authorising the election, Mr; «Fames XmtoniTi * lengthy speech proposed l5 .tßat Utr. Walter ; . \ Wt»oiß Jobn<?t;ne we^a a & and proper, can - dida-e. to r^pferent MAt)*watii." v rrhe nbmiaation was seconded by Mr. Macarthnr wbo had come. »"rom Faildlng porposfrly tp*perfem that ' o£3o*. Bp*-\x g&ntleTtKn^paifl a bigb triba-e to the ability and' trastwortbiBess.of Mr. J^h'istbne and"hi« readiueßs to, s . attend tq the interests of the ennstitijency. ITiere being no other candidate, the 7*etarnJng <ffl-er dccla^d Mr. Johnstone dnly elected, and after that gentleman heid re turn -.-d thanks; and promised to do his best for the interests of the electorate, the pro ccc 'ings cloaeH with, a vote of thank-svtb the Beturning Officer.