The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 26.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 324, 26 August 1879, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 26.

Sir George Grey has been so persistently and constantly denounced as an " autocrat" by those opposed to him that numbers will be inclined to believe the charge in consequence of its mere iteration. Under these circumstances, it is only fair that ho should be heard in reply. The folloAving are a few extracts from an eloquent. speech made by the honorable gentleman on August 5 on the motion to go into Committee of Supply: —

" With regard to my being an autocrat,, and endeavoring to set up an autocracy in New Zealand, I can fearlessly ask in what respect my conduct has been that of an autocrat. I am sure no explanation of that epithet as applied to me can be given. I am sure that no no one can point to a single act of mine Avhich would distinguish an autocrat. I have not hesitated to mix with my fellowmen in public conflict. I have not hesitated to mix with all classes of society. I have not hesitated to do my very utmost to educato my fellow-men in Avhat I belieA'e to be truths, and to direct their attention to great principles. I cannot tax my conscience with having committed one single act such ad an autocrat would have committed. And then, Sir, Avhat is the system of autocracy I have tried to set up? The honorable member Avho made the fiercest attack upon me said that in this House all Avere Liberals now. But lioav has their Liberalism been shown ? That party has ruled this country for five-and-tAventy years ; and what is the state of the electoral franchise now ? What is the state of the representation of the country noAV ? What rights have been secured to the people at large ? I say every right lias been secured to their own party. I say men who had nothing have, through belonging to that party, realized enormous fortunes ; and I say that in behalf of those fortunes all power is now attempted to be secured. That is what I call an attempt to set up an aristocracy in the country, and an aristocracy of a very bad kind. Honorable gentlemen cannot deny this. I say that in 1875 that party had a splendid opportunity of reforming the representation. They brought in a Bill for the purpose ; but what did they do ? They made the represention Avorse than ever, in order to secure seats for themselves. During twenty-five years they have had many opportunities of altering the electoral franchise ; but they have not done so. During twenty-five 3 ears they have had the power to make fair and equitable land laws, and to administer them with justice ; but they have not done so. I say that by their administration of the land laws they have secured enormous Avealth for theinseh'es and for their friends. Is that Liberalism ? Are they all Liberals in the House? I say there is no true Liberalism Avhatever on the other side of the House, or they would have carried such measures as I myself have proposed to the House. And what is the autocracy I am seeking to set up in

New Zealand ? I ask for a fair and liberal franchise ; I ask for true representation of the people ; I ask for triennial Parliaments; I ask for fair land laws; I ask for tho abolition of those odious laws by which the Natives have been robbed of their lands for the benefit of speculators, and that those lands should be sold for a fair price, and :bo open to ail. Is' that to set up an autocracy in. New Zealand? No; honorable gentlemen know it is not. They aro perfectly aware that, if they bring against mo the charge of being an autocrat, they do it with the desire of defeat-' ing the objects which the people of New Zealand have now so much at heart, and of securing all power to themselves for another five years... Let them point to one. single Liberal measure they ever brought forward. I say they have brought forward none, hut they have defeated those brought forward by others •, and at last, by one grand coup, they think they have secured all power in this House—that, having routed myself and my friends, they avbre safe in power for another year and a half, or nearly two years ; and during that period they Avould make themselves safe in the elections that would follow. Now, Sir, I Avould just ask, again, what act of autocracy have I committed ? I appeal to every man in New Zealand, Avhether the whole of my life, in whatever capacity I have been, has not been a life of work, a life of toil, a life of no assump tion of power whatever. These are undisputed facts. Whether in New Zealand or in other countries, the same account will be given of my life. But now the lion, gentlemen opposite are banded together to destroy me. Unable to work against the Liberal party as a whole, they have singled me out, and think that if they can get rid of me they will strike a blow at the Avhole party. But if I should be got rid of, I ' should care nothing for it. I have this confidence in the sense of justico of the people of New Zealand, that, if I were got rid of, it would hereafter lend an additional charm to my name. The people would think that I had been injured, and greatei sympathy Avould ha excited for the man who had been so treated. I believe the best thing that could be done for myself Avould be that the honorable gentlemen opposite should succeed in their object. lam persuaded that hereafter it Avould secure renown to inc. As long as I have been in the public service I have worked for the cause of the people. I have not Avalked in an easy path; I have walked in|!a difficult path. I know that I have not fulfilled all expectations that have been raised : that would be impossible. I believe the honorable gentlemen opposite ■have for the last two years been sedulously endeavoring to prevent me from attaining my object, and to preA r ent the party acting with me from doing anything ; and the moment they believed Aye were about to do something they attempted to destroy us. But I shall still continue to work onwards in the course I have entered upon, and my friends will still continue to work in the same cause. I believe we shall triumph, and that the people of New Zealand will gain every one of the advantages which it is hoped they will obtain. . . .

But let honorable gentlemen look around them, they will find that many of those who made the laws and administered them haA'e acquired vast fortunes from the public lands, by means Avhich I believe to be unjust. I trust the country will support my assertions ; but these are the facts, and papers have been laid upon the table of this House which shoAV that many of those Avho made the laws and administered them have thereby realized large fortunes for themselves. It was only the other day that I read a statement made by the director of a large company in London, in Avhich he said that they had secured 141,000 acres of land of the finest quality for pastoral purposes that could well be seen ; and that the freehold land around this pastoral land had been so selected as to prevent all competition for their leasehold land, so that there Avas no chance of the public securing the leasehold land when the lease fell in, because of the skill with Avhich the freehold land had been selected. If that is true—and the statement is made by a man iv high position—l say a fraud upon the public has been ( perpetrated. The land regulations Avere'so made and so administered that the public Avere wronged by the rich. .That cannot be denied. Let any honorable gentleman read, and say if what I have stated is not absolutely correct. Upon our side of the House, Aye have determined that the people shall put an end to these things; and, having come to a determination of that sort, how can it be said we are endeavoring to set up an autocracy? It may be, as the honorable gentleman said to-night in terms of derision, " Greyism ;" but, at any rate, it is an "ism" which is about to prevail over the whole world. A nation Avhich can be treated as the people of this colony have baen treated by a portion of the community, is a nation of slaves. You may say what you like—it is a condition of slavery. . .

Notwithstanding everything that has been said ; notwithstanding the spiteful attacks I have been subjected to, and which I have had to sit and patiently listen to ; notwithstanding the bad condion of the system of representation Aye have for expressing the public opinion of New Zealand—l stand here firmly convinced that, though there are comparatively few electors, and though the constituencies have been parcelled out by those honorable gentlemen opposite so as to secure their own return—l believe that myself and my friends will come back to this House with triumph. I believe, too, that in eighteen months from this time all the Bils recommended by the Governor in his Speech for the consideration of the people of New Zealand will be the law of the land.

The following telegram from the Resident Engineer in Christchurch, respecting the state of the survey of the Akaroa Railway, has been placed at our disposal by Mr Montgomery : — "Christchurch, August 22, 1879. W. Montgomery, Esq., Akaroa, —Mr Hardy Johnston delivers the plans complete of the first ten (10) miles to-day, and promises to haA'e everything done to the Head of the Bay within a month.—A. D. Austin." The nomination of candidates for this electoral, district takes place on Monday next at the R M. Ccurt, Akaroa. Unless there is somo very dark horse in the background, Mr Montgomery will be the only candidate. We understand that that gentleman will take the opportunity of addressing the electors on the present situation.

We understand that a very interesting and exciting boatiug contest will take place this day, at 10 a.m. sharp, starting from French jetty, round Red House buoy, and terminating at starting point. This contest is exciting considerable interest, as four of our oldest residents and experienced boating men are the competitors. Notwithstanding the hard times, a good deal of money is likely to change hands on this event. The winning post is fixed as near the Bank as possible for the convenience of those interested.

The Assessment Court for hearing appeals against the A'aluations under "The Land Tax Act" for the Borough of Akaroa, was held in the Court House on Saturday last before J. Aylmer, Esq., as judge. Mr A. I. M'Gregor appeared on behalf of the department, and also as valuer of the Borough, in support of the valuations. Mr George Armstrong, as an objectorjjook'exception to a circular sent by Commissioner, intimating that his objections were not alloAved, and argued that the Court could not Bit with perfect freedom if the decisions of the Commissioner Avere to. be brought before the Court. It Avas pointed out that the Commissioner was acting in terms of the 31st section of the Act. Mr Armstrong claimed that part of section 16 Lavaud street be reduced from £150 to £50. Claim alloAved. A claim by the same gentleman, that section 7, Beach road and Church street be reduced from £300 to £70 was disallowed, and the valuation sustained. Mr G. W. Nalder asked to have section 104, Jollie street, transferred from his name to that cf Mr A. R. InAvood. Allowed. Mr Nalder also applied to have part of section 7527 reduced from £230 per acre to £200. After some discussion between the valuer and Mr Nalder, tho application was allowed. Reduced accordingly. Mr George Kearney applied to have the value of his property part section 32 Benoit street, increased by £55. Mr Kearney did not appear. The valuer acceded to the request with pleasure, and the necessary alteration Avas made in the roll. Mr E. Ditely objected to be inserted on the roll as owner of the Municipal Reserve at the back of the Catholic Church, as he was only a yearly tenant. It Avas pointed out that under section 5, sub-section 7 of the Act, tenants of Municipal lands were to be deemed owners, and the entry in the roll Avas confirmed. Mr E. Bouriaud applied to have tbe amount of acreage of his property in Grehan Valley corrected from four to five acres. The claim being informal, Avas not allowed.

The quarterly meeting of the Financial Committee of the Presbyterian Church, Akaroa, was held in Mr Billens' house last Thursday evening, nearly all the members being present. It was reported that after all accounts due Avere paid, there Avould be a deficiency of £3 0s lOd for the quarter. This deficiency Avas mainly due to the church collection not having come up to the usual amount. It was stated, however, that their were a few subscriptions not paid, and that these Avould probably square the balance.'

A special meeting of the Akaroa Borough Council was held in the Council offices yesterday at noon.- Present —His Worship the Mayor, Crs Meech, Henning, O'Rielly, and Wiggins. The object of the meeting was to receive applications for the post of Returning Officer for .the Borough. Three applications were ) received, viz., from Messrs A. I. M'Gregpr, J. M. Wood, and W. Sims.' Cr O'Reilly proposed the appointment of Mr M'Gregor, which was carried, and the meeting adjourned. At the last meeting of the Board of Education, a letter was read from the German Bay School Committee stating that Mr Chappell, owner of the land on which the present schoolhouse stands, had offered one acre of land at £25, which would be suitable for the side/school. The letter was referred back to the Committee with an intimation that the Board considered one acre of land too small, and the price named excessive. In consequeuce of the nomination of candidates for representation of Akaroa in the House of Representatives being fixed for Monday next, Mr C. W. Bridge has postponed his auction sale, Avhich was to take place on that day. Mr Bridge notifies elseAvhere that his sale will come off on Tuesday, September 2.

The sittings of the Assessment Court for the County of Akaroa under " The Land Tax Act," were continued yesterday in the Court House, and occupied the greater part of the day. J. Ayhner, Esq., R. M., presided as Judge, and Mr A. I. M'Gregor appeared for the Department, and also in support of the valuations in the Akaroa and Wainui, Port Levy, and Pigeon Bay Road districts. Mr D. Wright, the Valuer for the Okain's Bay Road district, appeared in support of the valuations in that division of the County. A large number of objectors put in an appearance from all parts of the County. There Avas no case of special interest unless that of Messrs Hay Bros., Pigeon Bay, Avhere the principle of increased exemptions it was contended, increased the capital value in the fsame ratio, and the same view was taken by the Court. None of the rolls Avere finally signed, as objectors will have a further opportunity of prosecuting their objections : at the Courtfjjto be held at Wascoe's Hotel;

Little River, on Wednesday (to-morrow), after the sitting of which we will present our readers with the full details of the ppeals and the results.