CAPTAIN MORRIS’S MEETING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 198, 29 July 1874, Page 3

CAPTAIN MORRIS’S MEETING.

AN ACCOUNT OF HIS STEWARDSHIP.

Responding to the inrit at ion of Captain Morris. Member for Tauranga in the Provincial Council a Very largo number of the electors met at the Masonic Hotel, Tauranga, on Sat urday evening last, the 25th instant, to receive an explanation of his conduct during the session of the Provincial Council, lately held at Auckland. Mr E. G. Norris was unanimously elected Chairman of the meeting, and performed the du'ies of that office in his usual excellent manner. The Chairman introduced Captain Morris in a few brief, but appropriate remarks, Captain Morris, in substance, said he regretted that, circumstances had prevented his meeting the electors sooner. Had he done so, occasion would net have offered, to certain individuals, to malign hia character as their representative. The only matter, be believed, he was distmc.lv pledged to the electors to obtain, was a pilot for ),lie harbour. He regretted that the Road Boards hud not thought it advisable to recommend anv public works to his notice ; he looked upon them as the elected of the people ia this respect, ai d hoped that in future, more decided steps would be taken by those influential bodies. He would remind the meeting that a house divided against itself, could not stand, and hoped that hfs opponents in the late contest would puli heartily with him for the general good of the district. He had to thank his late opponent {turning to Mr Edgcumbe) for the straightforward "and admirable manner in which he had acted in this respect : that gentleman hud assisted him in every way in his power for the public good. The first matter ho would touch upon was the Highway Act, in which he saw some decided improvements upon the old act; among which, the appointment of an Inspecting Engineer should not be overlooked ; borrowing under the restrictions imposed, he thought would be beneficial. He had voted for it on a more extended basis in deference to the wishes of his brother representatives of the East Coast, in the welfare of the southern portions, of which the meeting knew he was personally interested. Me regretted that no direct legislation had taken place upon roads enclosed by private individuals. He considered it would have been advisable to empower Boards to impose a rent upon these, ia that case, some protection might be given to the occupiers, such as a month’s notice that the road would be required. The matter of proxy voting had, he thought, been judiciously dealt with. Undoubtedly the most important subject considered by the Council was Education. His votes upon this bill had been against uniform rates, and ic favor of a sliding scale. The latter recommended itself to him, not so much as being a fairer, for he was opposed to the whole principle of the tax, but as a more likely way of obtaining the very large sum required for educational purposes ; together with others, he had given the subject, bis most careful consideration, and he admitted that he could see no solution of the difficulty. lo appeal to the General Government for funds to carry on Education would be absurd, unless the other provinces also decided it was desirable to do so ; meantime, there wag the immediate necessity for funds, not only to carry on the existing schools, but to repay the Provincial Treasury some £9OiC) advanced. '1 he only prospect he could hold out to the meeting was, a selection between some kind of household rate, and going back, to what, in his opinion, had been well called ‘ ‘the miserable past ” For his part, he would not willingly do so, thorough education for the masses was now looked upon as a matter of vital importance, and he asked them to be patient, at least for a time, before allowing ignorance and its followers, drunkenness and brutality, lobe the watchword of Auckland and Auckland alone. It was for their children he spoke. He would not have them left behind in the race of life. The parents had had a fair start, and it was their duty, in spite of hardships to themselves, to see their children had the same.

Before the acquisition of Native Lands, he held that the Superintendent should have a voice in their selection, as the £250,000 granted, was probably the last chance we should have of forming a Provincial estate. The meeting was aware he had taken some interest in the location of a special settlement at Katikati. He thought that it would have been more to the bene fit,'’ of the colony, if those unusual advantages had been offered to the old residents, instead of outsiders. He would, however, never oppose, from selfish motives, what he considered for the good of the district, and he hoped that, if the recomraenda tions of the Select Committee, which he had asked for upon the Was! e Lands were carried out, that opportunities would offer, for all desirous of obtaining land for iona vide occupation and improvement. Captain Morris then denounced the Native Department as a great bar to all progress and settlement. He briefly stated on what side he had voted upon the various measures brought before the Council, and hia reasons for so doing He paid a high tribute of praise to the tact and judgment of Mr Sheehan, the Provincial Secretary, as an able and wily political general, and concluded his remarks by expressing a hope that the provinces, except so far as division of the North and South Islands into two separate provinces was concerned, would speedily become things of the past. Upon this tcpic he hoped to address them at greater length when soliciting their suffrages for the House of Assembly, meantime, he thanked those present for the courtesy with which they had listened to him, and would be glad to answer any questions they might have to ask. Mr Edgcumbe asked what steps, if any, had been taken towards commencing the roads to the Thames and Waikato, and also if any arrange ment had been made for regular mail communication between Tauranga and Thames by way of Katikati.

As regards first part of Mr Kdgcumbe’s question, Capl ait» Morris believed that Merc Kuril generally became dyspeptic when roads were mentioned ; the feelings a f u lady of her rank tniist be considered. This was a Nat iva Office affair, and the convenience of a community

frequently hud to give waj’ so raw exigencies of the Depa tment. Mr Ktgcumbe might depend fchnt the Superintendent would not forget the i-oad. As regards sooono part of question, application had been made for subsidy pemfirg communication by eteani with Kafikati, which Lie Lioped would be successful. Mr Snodgrass here moved a vote of confidence in Captain Morris, which was seconded by Mr Bodeil.

Before the motion was put to the meeting, Mr Redmond asked Captain Morris why he” had taken such interest in having a road made to ti airini, whieh road Mr Redmond considered was for his (Captain Morris’s) private benefit . Captain Morris explained that influential names appeared on the petition for change of road. Ha could not compare his knowledge of road making with that of some of the signers of the petition.

Mr Redmond asked why Captain Morris had taken such interest in location of certain parties at Katikati, and their names.

Captain Morris said the names of the persons were Tanner, Thompson, ami others. He was anxious to have the settlement commenced as soon as possible, as a nucleus for the of the party when they arrived. Mr Redmond stated that any man who had voted for the uniform houshold rate, whs unfit to represent any constituency. Me would move a vote of censure as an amendment Captain Morris explained that the facts of the case wore, that he had voted against uniform rate. Mr Redmond expressed himself satisfied, and withdrew his amendment.

llio original motion of a vote of confidence in Captain Morris waa then put to tho meeting, and carried unanimously, A. vote of tHanks to the Chairman closed (lie proceedings, which lasted only a little over an hour.