MR. SHEPHERD AT CLYDE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 524, 3 May 1872, Page 3

MR. SHEPHERD AT CLYDE.

—o—jlr. T. L. Shepherd, A1.11.R., M.P.C. [or the Dunstau District, addressed the ■lectors, at Hawthorne’s Clyde Hotel, on Thursday evening, the 25th ult. The Mayor (Mr. James Hazlett, J.P.) occupied the chair, and briefly introduced Mr. Shepherd to the meeting, asking for him a patient hearing, Mr. Shepherd said he was sorry to see so few present, and hoped it was not through a decrease of population. Out of doers it was said that Clyde was going down-hill. [At this stage of the proceedings only about a dozen gentlemen were present. However, in the course of half an hour, after, the Town Crier had gone round the town —at his own expense—from thirty-five to forty put in an appearance] He (Mr Shepherd hoped the press would take this opportunity of reporting what he said. He regretted his inability to attend Drybread and Black’s, but would endeavor to do so previous to the meeting of the House of Representatives. With these introductory remarks, be would endeavor to give them a resume of the business of the past Session. He should be compelled to but glance, as it were, at many subjects ; others he could not touch upon, as time would not admit of it: he would, however, endeavor to be plain, though brief. “The Gold-fields Bill” passed last Session, being crude and hasty, was, thrown out. The Bill intended to be submitted to the House during the co-’ing Sossien would be a good and a final ! it being agreed to embody in it the recommendations of the Gold-fields Committee. The meeting must not accuse him of egotism, r as it was his duty to speak of ‘ himself. He was expected to take a prominent part in debates, Silent Members for the Goldfields were of no use. The men sent should be competent, fearless, and bold, aril ever ready to vindicate their rights. He would trow refer to measures dealt with during the last Session. First : The Loan and Railway Scheme. Mr. Vogel, the Colonial Treasurer, went home for the purpose of borrowing 1,200,000b, and while there entered into two contracts to construct railways, on behalf of the Colony, with Messrs, Brogden, one for 4,030,000b, the other for 500,000b, which latter was to be ratified, in the event of the .Government declining No. 1 contract. He (Mr. Shepherd) had no doubt but that Mr. Vogel wished the Government to ratify No. 1 contract. He (the speaker) had carefully the subject, and had arrived at the conchision.that it was monstrous to give to any man a bonus of three million acres of land, as a beaus, to induce him to construct railways. He objected to it. It was too bitter a pill for the House to swallow, and Air. Fox and his colleagues came down and sai.l the Government would not accept Contract No. 1, but No. 2 contract would be accepted. He (Mr. Shepherd) took a bold part, and moved a resolution to the eftbet that the Colony have no part in the contracts. He looked upon the Duustan District as being second to none. It was one of the four largest in the colony, and of the most importance ; so, in a long speech, he moved a resolution against the contracts. Mr. Brogden has not as yet entered into any contracts, the plans and specifications not being ready. A arious other rumors were afloat, among them one to the effect thakMr. [Brogden is only a Government agent, who is supervising the work at a per centage of ten per cent However, Mr. Brogden is a clever man in his way, and. says he w ill give the preference to the Otago and Canterbury lines as the first for construction. He (Mr. Shepherd) had said that the Tuapeka and Clyde line was the most urgent, and had been supported in his views by the Hon. F. Dillon Bell, who produced statistics in proof that no other lines in the country (except Christ, church and Lyttelton) would pay interest. His (Mr. Shepherd’s) support of the Dunstau line was not tinged with selfishness ; but was part of his Colonial policy. Air. Shepherd here produced and quoted figures in support of his vote for Aliddle Island hues and in proof that the Aliddle Island ,s entitled to a larger amount of the loan uiau was allocated it. The “ \Vaste Lands Act” was next referred to. Air. Shepherd said the Bill before the House last Session was a good one, and would have been carried had the Otago members worked together. Air. Al’Lean, the member for Waikouaiti, spkoc against time, and ultimately got it rejected. AVas in favor of deferred payments, with occupation clause, and had strongly advocated it. The squatter, like the fable of “The Wolf aud the Lamb,” had supported free selection. With this system the eyes of the country would have been picked up by the squatter. He believed in free selection, conditional on cultivation and residence. He supported the abolition of the gold duty. The measure was lost by a large majority, making it clear that the feeling of the country was in favor of the duty. Would not object to it if the money was locally expended. Speaking of local expenditure, he would now refer to Provincial Institutions, a question that is sure to spring up during the coming session, he was a staunch supporter at own time of Provincial institutions, but the time has arrived when the system must be put to sleep quietly and completely, and Shire Councils and local Government substituted. The Gold-fields want shire councils, and public men must sail w’ith the opinion, under the present system it is difficult to obtain money for the Gold-fields He would ask bow much had been spent in this district—now—after great exertion he had succeed in having the Cromwell Court House. The “ Civil Service Pension Act” he would vote for its repeal, it is said that every voter carries a pensioner on his back and he consideTs the remark just, as the item assumes the modest proportion ofIOOOjOOOf. The Education question he was in favor of the National System, if is was not affected, by aided side schools but he would not be dictatedjto on this subject, and wrtild, when the time came, vote

conscientiously. The .question had often occurred to him—What becomes of monies lodged ill the Banka and not claimed ? . He brought the matter before the House and had obtained a promise from the Government that they would, during next sessicoi, bring down a measure referring to it. Ha, ■was not] Bill ” Men cannot be made sober py Act of Parliament, to prevent diink must educate them and supply public libraries. The new Insolvency Bill; will give it his consideration He opposed [the V Stamp Act Amendment Act,” it was a most obnoxious measure and was of the opinion it would defeat the object sought, the raising of [revenue. He was against the selling of large blocks of land, and did express himself warmly in the debates on the sale of the Moa Flat Block to Mr. Clark, and said, if alone he should vote against it. Regarding local matters he had persistently advocated the interests of thedistriet, Hadnegotiated with the Government for the setting aside of blocks for agricultural and commonage purposes. As to the Ida Valley block he had spoken to Mr. Bell, and arranged that for a block to be given by him without compensation. He concluded by brieflylstating that both from his seat in the[Provincial Council and the House of representatives, he had taken a prominent position in't’all debates for social reform, and he was pleased to say in the higher chamber he had been well received, and that his voice was treated with the respect due to the representative ofsojmportantant a district as the Dunrtan.

Air. Alarshall proposed a vote of confidence in Air. T. L. Shepherd, and thanked him for his attendance, [seconded by] Mr. Patterson and carried. In answer to questions by Air. T. Sims and others,-Alr.'Sbepherd saidjhe thought the Gold ifields would be better served by a Committee appointed for the special purpose.- -Was in favor of [abolishing Provincial Councils. Will introduce, a clause in the New Gold Fields Act regarding Aliuing Boards. Air. Poole said be could notjreconeile the statement of Air. Shepherd “That he was iu favor of National Education if the aided side schools did not interfere with it, and asked for an explanation. Air. Shepherd replied that he did not intend to express any definite opinion on the subject, lie had the confidence of the mass of the voters, and he was sure whichever way he voted would give satisfaction. The Chairman said, to the latter part of the vote in Air. Shepherds favor he was specially entitled to andhe had great plcasur in conveying the sense of the motion to him. Air. Shepherd returned thanks forso’kindly an expression of feeling, and said the like politically strengthened the hands of a member, and did a great deal towards neutralizing ill-natured remarks.- In a portion of the Press, Gold-fields members were called a low class, he would take the opportunity of giving a direct contradiction to so gross a calumny, and hoped in future a better feeling would exist between him and his constituents. He then returned thanks to the Chairman for presiding, and the meeting separated.