ELECTION for SUPERINTENDENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 252, 22 February 1867, Page 2

ELECTION for SUPERINTENDENT.

Macondrcw. Dick. Dunedin, 869 521 Clyde, 17 50 CromwcH, 52 8 Teviot, 40 7 Waitahuna, G8 46 Tokomairiro, 106 46 Lawrence, 126 70 Alexandra, 57 7 Arrowtown, 2 85 Quecnstown 12 58 Macctown, 20 21 Cardrona, 8 8

Mr John Ilislop, Government Inspector of Schools, is expected to visit Clyde early in Varch, and will during his visit, take steps to declave the district an "Educational f'istrict", under the ordinance, which will necessitate the election of a new >chool Committee Mr Ilislop has kindly consented to deliver a Lecture in aid of the School funds, particulars of which will be advertised. The Mayer, Mr J. D. Feraud, has re ceived a telegram from the Provincial Treasurer, Mr Julius Vogcl, (o tho effect, that His Excellency will visit Clyde, about Monday or Tuesday week next. Quarters will be prepared for His Excellency and suite at the Dunstan Hotel. Mr Fuller addressed the electors for the Goldfields, on Saturday tho 16t.h inst. at tho I'oyal Mail Hotel, Alexaudra. Mr J. S:vndi3on occupied he chair. The attendance was a large one, and Mr Fuller was well received and a vote that ho was a fit and proper person &c. was carried. The Clyde Town Council held their usual fortnightly meeting on Tuesday last, at the Town Hall. The business tr.uipacted was unimportant.

THE GOLDFIELD9' ELKCTIOSS'

MR MOUAT AT CLYDE. A well attended meeting of Electors was held at the Council Chambers, Clyde, on Saturday evening last to hear from Mr John Mouat, Provincial Secretary, an exposition of his political views. The Mayor Mr J. D. Feraud occupied the Chair, and after explaining the objects of the meeting introduced Mr John Mouat. Mr Mouat, who met with a most cordial reception, said, in the first place he had to explain the reason, for the present being his first appearance at Clyde. Mr Brodie, the member for the Gold-fields, a gentleman who had resided on Clyde, and who was well acquainted with its wants, was a particular friend of his, also his colleague, and having great faith in that gen. tlemau's abilities and of his earnest desire to further, in as far as lay in hia power the interests and welfare of Clyde and the district generally, ho had considered he would be treading on delicate, ground, iu fact, he thought he would be poaching on on another man*i» preserves to visit Clyde, but as that gentleman had resigned, and as he numbered amongst those who aspired to represent the Gold-fields, he appeared before them that evening ; not dnly to state hi!lv%ws for the but to account Wk P?swure for his jujts during the past session. On the Land question, Mr Mouat said, itx(*s the aim o|the Government of which h$ was a member, to secure a better tenure than had existed, a'so to secure to intending purchasers a greater amount of land from wbjch to select their homes, the present Government have ta ken advantage of every clause in the " Waste Lands' Act" that tended to that object, among which was, the clause that vested the power in the Superintendent to grant pastoral Leases for thirteen years to those tenants, who would agree to certain portions of their runs being set aside for agricultural purposes, without compensa tion, and already eighty were lodged for Leases on those terms ; consid erod the system would work well, even better than bringing into operation the twenty eighth clause of the " Gold-fields' Act" which was especially framed to attain a similar result. With these new Leases, the assessment on sheep and cattle was high, seven pence for sheep, and three shillings and six pence cattle, and when it was considered the vast increase in the stock that was taking place, it must be seen that a veiy great revenue will bo derived from that source. Ihc improvement clause, by which Crown Grants could not be issued until improvements to the amount of £2 per acre had been made, he was happy to say had beeu repealed, the existing Law on the matter allowed the taking up of the Crown Grant on purchase. The Government considered it their duty to carry out the present Act, though it was admitted not to be without fault, as it was undesirable at the present time to bring forward any fresh measure on the subject, feeling convinced ihe General Assembly would not be troubled with it. In referring to the Gold Export Duty, he said the Provincial Council had become alive to the fact of the Duty being an unjust one, and he doubted not but that within- a year a reduction, if not its total abolition would take place; he would not mention names, but he wou'd say, had it not been for several members, who, when the question during the past Session came to the vote turned traitors, a reduction would have been carried ; if returned he wouliurge the question en with all his energy; he would say, that generally he was averse to, and had strenuously advocated a reduction of taxation. The system of Railways, on which so much discussion had arisen, he wa3 in favor of seeing inaugurated; steps had already been taken in the matter, in £;ct ncgociations were actually being carried on; he did not say that the Railways would pay, but he considered the indirect benefit accruing, would over-balance any pecuniary loss sustained. The dredging of the Harbor was a question that brought out a deal of discussion, and various schemes were proposed, one was to dredge a Channel through to the Ocean beach, and others equally as ridiculous, the Government did intend to dredge the harbor, but what they purposed doing was a simple necessity and had been regarded as a want it was to dredge a deep channel up to the jetty, to enablo vessels, say of about 500 tons, to discharge alongside, the cost would be about XI 0,000, and it would be completed within a year. The subject of Immigration had also been well ventilated, and the Government had made arrangements with the emigration agents in London and other parts, to send out a suitable class on the half-payment system ; it was very desirable it was admittted, to have cheap labor, but the purely laboring man was not the emigrant that was wanted.

in his case, the old practice of rambling to other scenes immediately that a fewpounds were pocketed would be carried out it was the small capitalist that would settle oh the land that was required, and it was the object of this Government to introduce them info the country. Touching on the administration of the Goldfields Mr Mouat said, that an entire redistribution of Districts would bo made, upon this subject, they would be materially assisted by the Civil Service Commission that had lately been laboring; the object was to give a greater impetus to public servants to do their duties strictly and with integrity, by holding forth to them a rewaid in the future for past services; each would be taken on his merits, and no favor would be shown to any. Mr Mouat here said that he thought he had touched on the principle subjects that were affecting the publicmind, and conclnded his address by stating that he would be most happy to answer any questions that might be put to him. Mr Patterson asked—" Whether, in the opinion of Mr Mouat, the Stamp Duties was a fair and equitable one 1" In reply, Mr Mouat said—" That in aa far as he was concerned as a member of the Provincial ouncil, his opinion whether pro or con mattered nothing, but a3 his intention was to contest the seat in the General Assembly for the Manuherikia, vacant by the resignation of Captain Baldwin, he would give his opinion, and if returned for the District he would use his utmost endeavours to have the dutieson cheques and receipts abolished ; not that the cost to an individual was a serion matter, but because he considered it a wearisome and most annoying system of taxation ; in every other respect he agreed witli it, if for no other reason that its cost of collection was a mere trifle in comparison to any other tax imposed. v everal other questions respecting miners' rights, a track to the TTaast, &c, were put, all of which were most satisfactorily answered. Mr Hastie proposed, and Mr Bnylev seconded—" That Mr Mouat was a fit and proper person to represent the Goldfields in the Provincial Council.—Carried unanimously. Mr Barlow proposed and Dr Shaw seconded—" That the thanks of tho people of Clyde, be accorded to Mr Mouat and the other members of the present Govern ment for their urbane and courteous bearing on all occasions whon waited upon by any resident of Clyde—Carried. Mr Mouat briefly thanked the meeting for the indulgent hearing they had given him; also, for the kind reception accorded him, as well as for the vote of confidence to him and his Government. On their part ho believed they had endeavoured to do their duty, and it was a proud moment in his life when informed that his exertions were appreciated. After tho usual vote to tho chair, the meeting separated.