MR. MOUAT AT CROMWELL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 253, 1 March 1867, Page 2

MR. MOUAT AT CROMWELL.

Mr John Mouat, Provincial Secretary. addressed the electors for the Gold-fields, on Friday evening last, at the Sclico House, Cromwell. The Mayor, Mr.W. J. Barry occupied the chair 'I he meeting was well attended, and Mr Mount met with a very cordial reception, said—- " hat the present was the first time he had appea'ed before the people of : romwell for their suffrages though he had previously represented them in conjunction •. ith Messrs Brodicand Hughes, he w ulti not enter into long details of curt en! event-, hut would speak upon suljects which immediately affected their intcie<ts. Considered that the miners were labori) g under c*eessivc taxation, much mori bo than other classes «f the community fo, insfauioc, such an unjust tas as the export duty on gold would not be imposed upon any other people on the face of the earth, he the speaker had done his best to remove it, and would still continue so to do ; during the last session he had in conjunction with his colleagues, procured a reduction tif tolls levied upon waggons bringing up gooi's to the Gold fields ; considered that the miners paid too dear fev every thing

they consumed, there was nothing, but what was heavily taxed. Relieved that nothing was nior desirabio but that mining should be combined with agriculture; would like o see men amending their .spare time in cultivating the ground as a means of their supportin" their lamilies ; thought the present agricultural extern if properly carrhd out, nothing could be better, bona fide cultivatio was what he deemed the most desira. ble to encourage. Immigrati n waß a most importai t question ; did not thin-- it th duty of the Government to procure labor for any particular class, thought we wanted emigrant* with families aud possessing small ca, ital, would support any scheme for the ting of families Believed the Chinese to be an undesirable population, European emigrants were preferable. Wouldadvocateopeningup roads, and the formation of railways, at present however he considered that the population of the Province was too small for the successful carrying out of any railway scheme at the present time, the time would come when money could be burrowed fcr such a purpose, the last Debentures were sold at 25 per cent loss. A railway to the Gold.ields would doubtless le piofiial le ; it id not appear to him that the pii posed line to the Clutha would be. >r ouat concluded, by expressing his readiness to answer any questions put from the meeting. Mr U'Neil asked if ho, Vr Mouat th-ught a deposit fee of illO a fair am uiit when the area ef land ojiplicd for wta his than fifty acres. > r Mouat replied that great difficulty wo Id arise fnm deposits being any but fixed amounts, there was a regular scale of ft es for surviyti'C. aud which could not be exceeded. S.r lletherington asked if > r Mouat would advocate the placing upon the estimates, a sum 'for cutting a track to the West Coast Mr Mouat answered to the effect, that he was fully aware of the importance tf the irack ; some time ago the « tago Government had asked he co-opera ion ot the Canterbury Government which was refused, be would recommend that step.-, be taken to open up the track. A rapid succession of questions enuicd which were answered as follows. He supported measures, not men, although oppose to the election of Xi r Maeandrtw, if he epproves of his measures, he,-Mr Mouat, would support them. Thought that when districts became important, they should have every support. I'elieved that increased consumption would make up fcr any deficiencies in the revenue, caused by a reduciion of dutiesCould not. give a definite answer as to making Cremwell a separate and independent district; he had not been able to give much attention, to the re arrant. ment of districts. Last session :l committee had recommended the distribution of the goldfiekls into four districts ; ho would give the subject his most careful consideration, and if it was desirable that romwell should be made an independent district, he would not oppose the measure. It was not the idea of the Government to work the different districts from one place, the Wardens should anange ctnoi gst themselves the best places to work from. Would advocate the establishment of a mint in New Zealand. Vas in favor of voting by ballot. Was in favor of assisted immigration, to the extent of one half of the pa.'snrcmoney. Thought there was no probability of an indiscriminate selection of lard 1 eing permitted, but believed that the Goverrment would be able to possess themselves of many important blocks of land. ! clieved that the revenue caused from tolls might be collected by other means than turnpike. 1- . Was in favor of separation but believed such would be impossible as the public creditor would not be satisfied, til! the cla'.nisi upon the Colony were settled > othing con d be dene—under pirscnt circumstances the Imperial Government would not consent. Thought that telegraphic communication could only be opened with such towns as posscss-ed a Government post-cfTee. Great difficulties might arise fiom tl.o appointment of operators who v ere not government servants as use might le made of uke: ages in the course of transmission, on account of their 1 eivg able to be read at all sta'ions along the line. The lead to the Ktvis had gncn the Government a deal of trouble, there we re so many petitions on the subject, believed that a road via. the new punt at < romwell vaj; desirable, and thought that the Government, now that so much privato money had been expended upon it, sl.ci.ld givesome assistance. Would advocate the conveyance cf ;he

mail to the Nevis via. Prom well, if in that route the largest population lay, the Government should give that route the preference. • V r T. '* hanley proposed, and W. Green seconded—"That Mr John Mouat is a tit and proper person to represent the goldfields in the Provincial '"ouncil. The proposition was carried unanimously " A vote of thanks to the chair coucluded the proceedings.