MR. MACANDREW AT CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 251, 15 February 1867, Page 2

MR. MACANDREW AT CLYDE.

A Publio Meeting was held at Hawthorne's Clyde Hotel on Monday evening last, the 11th hist., to hear from Mr. James Macandrew an expression of his political views, and of the course he would pursue if elected to the office of Superintendent. Mr. J. Dod3 occupied the chair. Mr. Macandrew said, though a stranger to the district and the inhabitants, he doubted not that his name was well known. It was scarcely necessary for to enter into any long statement of his past career, but he might say he was one of the oldest inhabitants of the province, havin» been one of the original promoters (in London) of the settlement of Otago. Had he followed the bent of his own inclinations he should have remained in comparative retirement, and not have contested the honor of holding the office of Superintendent. The numerously signed requisition he had received, and the entreaties of his friends, had induced him to come forward. If he was defeated, he had sufficient philosophy to bow iii submission ; but i. fortunate enough to be elected on this occasion, he would not be the mere cipherer automaton that a great number of people consider the Superintendent to be. He w;is no untried man, and did not hesitate to say, without the least egotism, that he had done great and good service for the province. Prior to the opening of the goldtields he took a prominent part in the affairs of the country; in fact, he might say that he had done all he could to promote the welfare and benefit of the province. Marvellous progress had been made within the past few years, but it must be allowed the right man hail not been in the right place yet, or the province would have attained to much greater perfection. If elected he would leave no stone unturned to make up for the lee-way that Otaf o had been making. Ho did not appear as the personal opponent of Mr. Dick : on the contrary, he had great respect for that gentleman and faith in his principles, but he opposed him on purely public grounds. Mr. Macandrew then entered at some length into the question of railways, and said the only thing Otago wanted to make it the happy home of thousands, instead of the great sheep-walk it now is, was the carrying out of the grand system of railways introduced years ago. The Provincial Council, in an Ordinance which was sanctioned by the General Assembly, guaranteed eight per cent, to any capitalists who would construct a line of railway from Dunedin to the Clutha. He had used his whole energy to attain that much desired result, and would again work diligently and persistantly to set the steam horse in motion. It wanted but starting, and it would, as a natural consequence, soon diverge in every direction. Another object ho would endeavor to carry out was the construction of a dry dock at Port Chalmers. It would keep in the country many thousands of pounds that are now taken out of it. The introduction of salmon he was in favor of; also of increasing the facilities to intending emigrants : in fact of a multiciplicity of improvements. He was in favor of repealing the gold export duty. District road boards, he bought, should be subsidised at the rate of £2 to L. I. He would give premiums for prospecti.ig and also fcr the introduction of new industries. The present Land Law he was averse to, but to attempt to frame a new Act to regulate the disposal of the Crown Lands would simply bo waste of time, as the General Assembly, from having the matter so frequently before the House, would not take it into consideration. He was averse to the Stamp Act. Mr. Macandrew concluded by saying that, if elected, he would not only strain every nerve to develop the resources of the province, but would institute a system of clipping the peacock's feathers of redtape officialism, which was. the cause of so much just complaint. Having thanked the meeting for the patient hearing accorded him, Mr. Macandrew expressed his readiness to answer questions. Mr. W. L. Bailey asked if he denied thn charges made against him in the "Daily Timei.' Mr. Macandrew distinctly and with emphasis denied them in toto, and further remarked thai he did not consides the up-country residents, oi new-comers as ho called them, had any right meddle with and ttir up affairs that took place before they e:ime into the country, ami there-

fore lie did not feel juttified in answering tie questions Separately. In answer to questions relating to the town road and other matters, Mr. Macandrew replied that he was ashamed to say he was un» acquainted with the up'country districts, and therefore tould not answer them, but Would, if elected, place himself in a different position relative to his knowledge of the country and it» requirements. Proposed by Mr. Coubrough, seconded by Mr. Jone3, That Mr. Macandrew is a fit and proper person to fill the office of Superintendent. On the show of hands being taken it was decidedly in favor of Mr. Macandrew. Mr. Macandrew then returned thanks, and expressed regret that, through having to meet the electors at Alexandra that evening, he was unable to give them more of his time. The accustomed vote to the chairman concluded the proceedings.