MR MACANDREW AT BALCLTUHA.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1994, 25 September 1869, Page 2

MR MACANDREW AT BALCLTUHA.

His Honor Mr Macandrew met his constituents at Barr’s Assembly Rooms, Ealclutha, yesterday evening. The meeting was well attended, and Mr J. W. Tliompson, M. P. C., was in the chair. More would have been present had the day been known on which Mr Macandrew would address the electors ; but it was not known at Balclutha until an early hour yesterday. This prevented many settlers from attending, who would otherwise have been present. When the proceedings commenced at seven o’clock, there were fully 250 persons present; and amongst them we noticed Captain Mackenzie, M.P.0., and Messrs D. Henderson, J, W. Thompson, and H. Clark, M. P.C.’s. Mr J. W. Thompson thanked the meeting for electing him chairman, and trusted he would be supported. He need hardly mention that there had been a great deal of criticism in regard to the conduct of their representative ; but that gentleman had taken an early opportunity of meeting his constituents. He had no doubt that the meeting would give him a full and patient hearing.— (Applause). He begged to introduce Mr Macandrew to the meeting. Mr Macandrew on rising was received with loud cheering and hisses, which continued for some time. He remarked it was scarcely necessary for him to say that he met the electors as the representative of the Clutha district in the General Assembly of New Zealand, and not as Superintendent of the Province of Otago. Ho deemed it right to call attention to this distinction, inasmuch as ho found that many were apt to confound the two positions and forget that by law the Superintendent of Otago was, to a certain extent, both in hia actions and his utterance?, bdund to be

guided by the advice and counsel of others ; and the member for the Clutha on the other hand was a free agent, and could act and speak on his own responsibility in whatever way he might deem most conducive to the public interests. He regretted that for the last two years he had been unable to follow up the example which he had sot on former years of meeting his constituents after the AsscmV.lv was over ; for he felt assured that his political conduct would have met with the same expression of approval which it had done upon previous occasions. It would be remembered that, when he formerly met his constituents, the most important point of approval was the action which he took in 1865 and 1866, with reference to the Land \ct In 1865 ho had succeeded in throwing o it the Bill, on the ground chiefly that its tendency would be to shut up the country against settlement, and that the resolutions on which it was framed were passed by the Provincial Council without the knowledge of the people of the Province. He anticipated that, if the Bill went back to the people for their deliberation, it would come up again in the shape of free selection ; however, as the people in the Province, through their representatives, seemed to take no interest. In 1866 the Bill came up again in the same shipe as before ; but as neither the people nor the Provincial Council took the slightest action in the matter, his efforts to throw out the Bill had been futile. Hence the Act passed as it now stands, and tho practical effect of it ho had perceived and endeavored to remedy, but in vain. Little did ho think at the time when it passed that it would fall to his lot to administrate that Act. One of the difficulties which the administrators of the Land Act had to encounter was the apparent inability of the people to distinguish between the power of legislation and the power of administration. Practically, he had found, as administrator of tho Land Act, that he had been held responsible, and exposed to public censure, for giving effect to the provisions of an Act which, in his legislative capacity, ho had done his best to prevent becoming law. As tho land question was apparently the one of all others which at present occupied public attention, and as his action in the Assembly had brought down upon his devoted head the vials of newspaper wrath, he would at once explain tho real position of th« question. He then at some length explained the action which had been taken by the Provincial Council at its last session respecting the dccla. ration of new Hundreds. He stated that the application had been forwarded by the Superintendent to the Governor, with an urgent recommendation that the now Hundreds should be immediately proclaimed; also that petitions against some of dho Hundreds had been received by his Excellency, and by both Houses of Parliament He explained that a Sessional committee, comprising some fifteen to twenty members of both Houses was annually appointed, to Inch all questions collecting the Waste Lauds of the Crown were referred. Many would recollect that Vast year a petiti n was presented to tho House of Representatives from certain settlors in the Clutha district, complaining of the maladministration of tho waste lands by tho Otago Executive, which petition had not been presented through the member for the district—a circumstance somewhat ominous, The result had been tho appointment at a great expense of a Commission, which perambulated the Province from Dan to Boershrba, visiting and taking evidence in every locality excepting that from which the petition was sent. The report and evidence wero far too bulky to rcncJ, nor would it be advisable to do so. The Superintendent’s application for Hundreds, the opposing petition, tho evidence taken by the Provincial Council, and the report of the Commission were all submitted to the joint Committee on Waste Lands, to enable them to decide upon what principle Hundreds should be proclaimed. During the first six weeks of the session, he (Mr Macandrew) had kept dunning the Government to proclaim the Hundreds as applied for by the Superintendent and Provincial Council. He was invariably told that the Government would take no step in the matter pending the report of the joint Committee on Waste Lands. At last the Committee reported, recommending that that the declaration of Hundreds should be regulated by law, and that the Government should introduce a Bill, framed upon the resolutions of the Committee. The Otago Hundreds Regulations Bill, as at first brought in by the Government, was the result. It had only come into bis (Mr Maoandrew’s) hands about half au hour before the second reading, and on hastily glancing over it, he could see nothing very objectionable excepting that there was no limit to the extent of compensation which might be awarded to the runholders, and no definition as to the nature of the improvements in respect of which compensation should be granted He voted for tho question, stating that he would endeavor to get these defects remedied in Committee. He at the same time gave notice that, when in Committee, he would move the following addition to the Bth section “ Provided always, that no such compensation in respect of the determination of any such lease shall exceed per acre, and that no such compensation shall he awarded for improvements other than fencing, land ploughed or laid down in English grass.” The Bill was read a second lime, with the tacit consent of the whole of the Otago members. Next day a caucus of the Otago members of both Houses was held to consider the Bill in general, and his amendment in particular. At this meeting the principle of his amendment was unanimously agreed to, and Mr Howorth appointed to see the AttorneyGeneral to get it properly embodied in the Act. At tho next meeting the Bill was gone into clause by clause, and when they came to fill up the blank in his amendment, all sorts of sums were proposed, from le 6d to 7s 6d an acre. Ultimately 3i 6d was agreed to by all present as the maximum rate of compensation where part of a run was taken, and 2s 6d if the whole should be taken. It was agreed that tho minority should give iu to the majority, tho object being to settle their differences among themselves, so as to prevent what was called an “ Otago free fight ” on tho floor of the House, When tho compensation clause came up in Committee of the whole House, the member for Invercargill moved that the figures bo reduced by one shilling in each case. Ho was supported by Messrs Reynolds, Mervyn. Howorth, and Bradshaw, contrary to the understanding which had been agreed to at the private meeting of the Otago members. For his own part, ho had voted for the highest figure, chiefly because such had been the agreement among themselves, but also because ho was and still is of opinion that there may be special cases iu which even the highest named maximum would not bo adequate compensation. There had been several

instances in which the Government had had to pay 4s or 5s an acre for the unexpired portion of the original license ; and when it was considered that 3s 6d was tho proposed maximum not only as resuected the old license, but the ten years additional lease, it would be obvious to the most unwilling comprehension that the Bill was anything but advantageous to the runholders whose compensation had hitherto to bo fixed under the provisions of the Goldfields Act. It would be seen that the adoption of his amendment took the sting out of the Bill as it was originally proposed, and rendered it a useful measure under which land could at any time be acquired for settlement, either without or within a goldfield, upon terms which were in themselves reasonable, and quite within the means of the Province to comply with. He next proceeded to dilate upon the actual provisions of the Bill, and in order to show the grounds upon which it was based, he read the preamble as follows: —“ Whereas by ‘The Otago Waste Lands Act 1866’ it was provided that nothing In tho ssid Act contained should bo doemod to alter or in any way affect the power of the Governor from time to time to proclaim new Hundreds And whereas by ‘ The Goldfields Act 1866 it was declared that except as therein provided any district proclaimed as a goldfield should not be subject to the provisions of the Waste Lands Act And whereas upon the issue of pastoral leases pursuant to the provisions of the said Acts certain instruments styled * deeds of covenant ’ were entered into between the Superintendent of Otago and certain pastoral tenants of tho Crown which instruments contained conditions on which such leases were issued And whereas the Governor was pleased recently to appoint Commissioners to inquire into the mods of administering the said Waste Lands Act in Otago and the report of such Commissioners has been duly made And whereas by reason of the various public and private rights and interests concerned it is desirable that the constitution of new Hundreds whether within or without any district proclaimed as a goldfield in the Province of Otago should be regulated by law.” The Bill then wenLon to provide that Hundreds may bo proclaimed in any part of the Province, whether within or witnout goldfields ; that one half the area should lie agricultural land ; that no Hundred should exceed 15,000 acres ; that upon application for Hundreds, tho Governor shall appoint one or more officers to enquire into tho circumstances of tho case ; that such officers have power to examine witnesses on oath ; that they should report to the Colonial Secretary ; that if the report he favorable, the Government; shall declare Hundreds within six months ; that if a portion only of a run bo taken, 2s fid shall he the maximum compensation. In respect of the determination of the lease, holders within 21 days, may elect to relinquish their whole run, in which case the maximum to be Is 6d—no compensation for bulll- - or other improvements, except fencing and land improved, and sown with English grass, and drainage—compensation to be paid within throe years from the date of ascertaining the amount; the remainder of the hill was chiefly of a technical character, and provided for tho mode in which arbitration shall be conducted. Section 13 legalised the deeds of covenants which by many were previously regarded as waste paper, but under which 300,000 acres were now secured to the Province free of compensation, iu respect of the ten years of lease. In a money point of view, their claim was probably worth all the rest put together. The last section provided that assessment should be held as Provincial land revenue. Such was the Bill of whiih he was said to have been the author. All he had been guilty of was, that in common with all the Otago members he had voted for the principle of tho Bill, and had succeeded in remedying what appeared to him to bo its really objectionable features, vijs., unlimited compensation, by which settlement might have been greatly retarded. But even assuming the Bill to have been objectionable, he failed to see why he should be singled out as the only Pilgarlick who was to be subjected to political crucifixion, while all the others were to "o scot free. The truth was that the whole agitation against the Bill had been got up for a purpose, and that purpose was not any anxiety for the public interest. He did not believe that those who had fanned the flame saw in the Bill any interference with the rights of the Provincial Council, nor any curtailment of the principle of Hundreds, The whole thing had reference to the next Superintendmtal election, and the fact of the member for the Clutha being singled out as the only one deserving of public opprobrium, strongly confirmed 0 that assertion. So much for the Hundreds Regulations Bill, of which they had been falsely told he was the father, and which they were told with equal truth was an infringement of the rights of the Provincial Council. He next, at some length, proceeded to show the inconsistency of these who made the charge, and that the Provincial Council had precisely the same power as regarded the declaration of Hundreds as they had under the Act of 1866. What the Hundreds Regulations Bill did was to provide that after tho Provincial Council recommended Hundreds, their declaration should not be left to the caprice or discretion of the General Government of the day, and that no matter who tho Governor’s advisers might be, the Hundreds must be proclaimed in compliance with certain conditions, in themselves reasonable. In fact, the General Government had denuded itself of all discretionary power in the matter, by laying down a cast-iron rule, the practical effect of which would bo to set free the country, which in his opinion was so unfortunately locked up under the Goldfields Act and Waste Lands Act, 1868. For the last eighteen months he had run tho gauntlet of newspaper abuse. He had been charged with being in league with the squatter—sold himself to them was the term—granting renewals of tho leases, and tying up the country. The fact was that that was done before he became Superintendent. And now that, as the member for the Clutha, he had deemed it his duty tp support a measure for unlocking the lands and enabling the Government to obtain Hundreds for settlement as required, bo was also abused—charged with some horrible corruption, a personal aggrandisement at the bands of the runholders. It was very hard line*s first to be knocked down because the lauds wore tied up by somebody else, and next to bo hunted down because be lud assisted somebody else to unlock them. But this was precisely the style of treatment that was supposed to bo the most beneficial for his health. He then proceeded to explain the provisions of the Otago Waste Lands Amendment Act, which had been introduced by him at the request of the Provincial Council, and which, when it came to be put in force, might very possibly

excite a great deal of dissatisfaction. He impressed upon the meeting the fact that this Bill was the unanimous emanation of the people through their representatives in the Provincial Council, and that, although ho approved of the Bill, he only acted as the mouthpiece of the Council in the matter. He observed that, in some parts of the country, the abuse which was being heaped upon him was in connection with this Bill, which was, no doubt, by many confounded with the Hundreds Regulations Bill. He then went on to express his regret that, in this young country, there should be even a few men who, through tho press and the platform, were striving to set class against class. None desired more earnestly than he did to sec a vigorous political life pervading the whole of the body politic. The political life, however, which was now being engendered was the life of prejudice and of passion, as against the life of raaaou and refle tion. It was a great sin—a spurious political life. He was very glad to say that ho had not used tho influence of his position to run a tilt against one of tho greatest interests of the Province, It was charged against him as a crime of the blackest dye, that he was a friend of tho squatter. He was not that he cherished any particular affection for that class—most assuredly the tho squatters as such had, politically speaking, been no friends of his. He did not therefore see what ho was to be grateful for. He should feel himself unworthy of being their representative in the Assembly, or of tho position which he hold, if he could suppose himself capable of being tho enemy of any one interest in the country. What necessary antagonism was there between the agricultural and pastoral interests ? Were not the runholders the same flesh and blood as the rest of the community ? Did they not contribute a very large proportion of the money which went to make our roads and bridges and to subsidise local road boards—a contribution in virtue of which they had acquired vested rights, equitable if not legal—rights which are bound to be respected—rights which he, for one, however much he might have opposed, and differed from the policy which conferred them, would rather retire to his cabbage-garden than be any party to the confiscation of. No doubt the popular theory would be to join in tho cry, “ Down with the squatter ! ” It was a very useless ery, and they might depend upon it that in politics, as in morals, the best policy is the silver policy of “doing to others as you would be done by.” He proceeded to say that the beginning of the session had been devoted to a trial of strength between tho Constitutional-Provincial-Peace party !Hpl tho Revolutionary, Despotic, War party. Fortunately for tho country, tho Constitutional party gained the day by a majority of c’oven, although that majority had dwindled down to four. Although seventy-two Acts of Parliament and no end of motions had been passed during the session, the greatest event—that which would exercise perhaps a greater influence upon the future of the Colony than all the others—was the downfall of the Stafford Ministry. By that downfall the Colony had gained much every way. It had gained peace instead of war in as far as the action and policy of the General Government were concerned. Instead of a dailyincreasing breach with the Imperial Government, friendly relations had been substituted. Instead of a standing army of 3000 men, at a cost to the Colony of LISO per man per annum, it had substituted an Imperial regiment costing somewhere about LlO per man —also 600 to 800 Armed Constabulary : altogether the saving to the Colony might be reckoned at L 250,000 a year. Instead of sowing throughout the Colony broadcast the seeds of disaffection with existing institutions —fostering a spirit of discontent—establishing a central despotism under the guise of protecting outlying districts—the aim of the present Government was to leave the people throughout tho Province as much as possible to themselves, to work out their own destiny in their own way. Instead of expending hundreds of thousands of pounds of the people’s money witho it their consent, the new Government had pledged themselves to call the representatives together should any emergency occur to exhaust existing appropriations. These were no small objects which had b-en gained by the change of government. Otago had also received a direct pecuniary gain by the change, in the shape of some L40,0()0 of sinking funds which had accrued, in respect of the converted portion of its loans, which was to be returned, to be expended on public works, not one farthing of which would have been fingered by the Province under the Stafford regime. The Province had also been empowered to overdraw its bank account to the extent of one-fifth of its previous year’s income, thus enabling the pastoral rents — which were not due till October 1, in each year—to be anticipated. They had also received crown grants for 100,000 acres of land as an endowment for the University of (Pago, which it was very doubtful if they could have got, if the former Government had remained in office, inclined, as they were, to transfer the endowment to a Colonial University, somewhere in the neighborhood of Cook’s Straits. But perhaps the most satisfactory feature in the policy of the Fox Ministry, in which they differed entirely from their predecessors, was tho determination to contract no further loans for offensive war purposes. Should any further loan be required for tho subjugation of the Maori race, it would be expended, not on gunpowder, but on roads, bridges, and public works in the Northern Island, and on the employment thereon of Maori labor. It was also laid down as au essential condition of such loan that it was to be charged against the special locality in which it was expended, and in order to secure against the allocation being subsequently shifted by any future General Assembly on to the shoulders of the Middle Island—as was once done before —the allocation is to bo fixed by Act of the Imperial Parliament. He then explained at some length the action which ho had taken respecting the imposition of an import duty on cereals. Unfortunately tho resolution of tho Government imp sing a duty on cereals was carried by a majority of three. He felt it was merely a question of time, and that the duty would bo imposed sooner or later. It was with very considerable compunction that he moved in the matter, because he had always bcou au advocate of free trade. Ho believed free trade was the true principle which should regulate commercial intercourse between nations. But there were circumstances in the case of a young community which rendered it politic to protect for a time native industry. He referred to tho fact of other colonies having [imposed a duty on our wheat; and ho thought it a very odd thing that this colony should stand alone. There was a variety of circumstances which induced him to vote for tho motion, but retaliation was the principal con-

sideratioa. He then alluded to the West Coast Settlements Bill under which he hoped to form two flourishing settlements on the West Coast ; the motion he had brought forward for the abolition of steam postal subsidies and the establishment of a line of steamers with San Francisco ; the annuities Bill, introduced by Mr Vogel, which enabled the Government to grant annuities, and to carry on the business of life assurance ; the ballot ; flax commission, and the Otago Loan Bill. With respect to the last-men-tioned measure, he explained that the allegation that it would have affected the declaration of Hundreds was absurd, and showed that a provision was inserted for the express purpose of enabling the loan to be transferred on twelve mouths notice to the Colonial loan for provincial purposes, which was borrowing on the immediate future. He concluded by saying that he had always endeavored as reprejentativc of the Clutha to act to the best of his judgment for the public interest, and the best assurance in hi* own mind that he had done right was that he did not think, were the session to begin over again, that there was one vote which he would give differently. The schooling of the Bruet Standard bad but little effect upon him ; for, afier all, were the writers known, it might propably be found that even his own humble political experience and sagacity might not bo far in* ferior to the'r’s. At all events, they might depend upon it that he should not sacrifice his own conviction either to ambition or self-interest. If the electors ef the Clutha were of the same opinion as the newspaper editor—viz., that he sold them and was ur.» worthy of their confidence, all he could say was that he was very sorry for it, and would, of course, submit, as many a better man bad done before him—proud, however, in the consciousness that he had acted rightly, and that the future would do him justice. Much as ho regretted the untimely end which threatened a political connection of long standing, he should continue to cherish a grateful recollection of the past; and it was some satisfaction for him to know that should he be ambitious of a scat in the New Zealand Parliament—which ho was not—there were other constituencies ready to avail fchemsdves of his services. Since the “no confidence” resolution was passed a fewwceks ago—in which he waa condemned unheard —he had received overtures to represent another constituency. His ambition, waa made of sterner stuff than to take that for granted without further eTidtnce than he had yet perceived. He did not believe that the majority of the Clutha electors had determined to throw him overboard—(A Voice : We will see about that presently). At all events, he could only say ho had a great m-ny friends, but there was a coterie ready to cut his throat—politically speaking. He had a great many other friends, but if he found it was the with of the majority that he should retire he would do so. He was ready to answer any quest’ons. Mr Jenkins asked if the squatters holding leases of lands outside goldfields were entitled to the same remuneration as those squatters who held leases of lands within goldfields. Mr Macandrew replied that theremuneration was equalised ; there was no distinction now. He had always thought that it was very unfair that there should he ai.y distinction. It was certainly one specific feature of the Act, that it abolished that distinction. Mr Jenkinson asked how Mr Macandrew reconciled his professions as an out-and-out Provincialist, when, after the Provincial Conned had agreed to recomm-nd certain Hundreds, he opposed the recommendations of the Council when brought up in the House of Representatives. Mr Macandrew said there must be some mistake. He was not awa e that any resolution had been pissed by the f'rovincul Council. The Council re:ommended the application for the proclamation of certain Hundreds, and he supported these recoinmeudations and applied for the Hundred- 1 , Privately or officially, he had not heard that any resolution had been posse I by the Council ; neither had he received any resolution bearing on the subject which was opposed by him in the Gcaieral Assembly. Mr Jenkinson enquired if the 6s per acre compensation was ever given ti the squatter to give a portion of his run 7 Mr Macandrew replied that for land within goldfields 6s per acre had been given for blocks for agricultural purposes. There had been a number of blocks arranged for at more than that price during the last eighteen months, in terms of the Goldfields Act, which provided that where land was taken in blocks, compensation should be fixed by arbitration. The arbitrators, in making the award, were to be guided by equity and good conscience. In fact, the Government had found it better to arrange with the runholders privately than refer to arbitration. Mr Jenkinson enquired why Mr Macandrew supported 3s 6.1 ? Mr Macandrew con idered that by having 2s 6d per acre for laud within goldfields, the runholder would lea very great loser by the arrangement, inasmuch as he had hitherto been receiving from 4s to ss, and as low as 2s 6d In this case they cannot receive more than 2s 6d if a portion of the ruu is taken, and Is 6d if the whole run is taken, and he might not receive 6d or Is. It all depended on" the extent of his lease, nature of his run, and amount of loss which he will be subjected to. There were o ;itain extreme cases in which the compensation would be inadequate. Mr. Jenkinson a«ked Mr. M'candrew, if at lhe meeting of the Ota,o Members when 3s. 6d. was agreed to, he used his influence to have a sum fixed below that figure? Mr. Macandrew replied that he did not. He agreed to 3s. 6d. It was a compromise ; in fact, a large majority agree 1 to it. Ho agreed to 3s. 6d. because be did not think it was too much in extreme cases. He did not say so as a rule. The probability waa it would not be more than Is Mr. Johnson enquired if it was true that, as reported in Hansard, Mr. Macandrew said that the Bill did not alter existing regulations ? Mr. Macandrew; Yes, precisely so. Mr. Johnson : Are yon of the same opinion still. Mr. Macandrew : Yes. Mr. Jenkinson : Did it nob strike you that you should have fixed a maximum price for improvements, as well as a maximum acreage compensation ? Mr. Macandrew ; No. Ido pot think it nossible to fix a maximum for improvements, it is practically impossible to do so, Mr. Johnson : Are you aware that Mr. Vogel introduced into the Provincial Council resolutions altering the principle in the runholders leases, and that they were rejected by the Council. Mr Macandrew : I was not aware of it.

Captain Mackenzie : Are yon aware that the pastoral tenants — I do net mean those persons representing constituencies—as a body exercised any influence with the General Assembly in regard to the present obnoxious Bill ? Mr Macandrew: I am not aware that they exercised any influence. 1 believe that the petition from the Clittha settlers, presented last session, exercised ns much influence as anything. I feel particularly confident that, if 1 had opposed the second reading, the Bill would have pased as originally brought in by the Government, in spite of my opposition and all I could bring against

Captain Mackenzie : Do you consider that, in consequence of the passing of the Bill, the pastoral tenants should justly be called Ishmaelites ? A Voice : Th .t’s not a proper question. Mr Macandrew : I don’t think it is. The BUI I supplied, because I knew perfectly well it would pass whether 1 supported it or not ; and it would have passed in very objectionable shape if I had not supported it. My object in doing so was to bo enabled to amend it. In politics you can do a great deal as a friend, which you cannot do as an enemy. Mr Johnson ; Would you vote for the repeal of the Bill next session ? Mr Macandrew : I am nob prepared at present to say that I will do anything of the sort. If I find that the Bill is practically all that is said against it, it is very likely I should vote,against it, I would like to give it a fair trial. . Mr Johnston : Did you approve of limiting the extebk of the Hundreds to 15,000 acres ? Mr Macandrew : Yes ; I approved of that. I believe that was the limit approved of in the Provincial Council. I was guided in that respect by Mr J. L. Gillies, who told me that 15 000 acres was the maximum quantity. There is no limit. After a Hundred is proclaimed, you can go on proclaiming them ; or hundreds of thousand acres. Mr Johnston : What is your opinion as to small Hundreds ? Mr Macandrew : I think they can be as easily and well managed as large ones. Mr Johnston : Are you in favor of declaring Hundreds of ha'f agricultural land ? Mr Macandrew : I deemed it immaterial whether it was one third or one half, inasmuch as I believed most land here is considered agricultural. As the arbitrators to be appointed would likely be Wellington men, and therefore they would have no interest in the Province, their ideas as to agricultural land would he different from ours. Mr Johnson : I find by the evidence given before the Provincial Council that it is slated that there are runs in the Province of only 2,000 acres of agricultural land. Supposing it carried over 2,000 acres pastoral land on it, could any further portion be declared into Hundreds at any future time ? Mr Macandrew': Not under the existing law. If all the agricultural land is exhausted no further Hundreds can be proclaimed under the Act. Mr Johnson : It has been dec’ared that it was designed to take out of the hands of the Executive, the power to proclaim and manage Hundreds and to place it in the hands of the Superintendent. Must the Superintendent act with the advice and consent of the Executive, or upon his own responsibility. Mr Macandrew : Certainly by the advice of the Provincial Council. The Superintendent cannot recommend any new Hundred except with the advice of the Executive as the representatives of the Provincial Council. Mr Johnson: It is not so stated in the Act. Mr Macandrew: It is implied as in the Waste Lands Act. Mr Johnson : Is it true that the Act gives more power to the General Government. Mr Macandrew : It gives less power. Mr Johnson ; In what respect ? Mr Macandrew : Because it takes away all discretion. Hitherto we have had considerable difficulty in getting Hundreds ] reclaimed. The Act declares that Hundreds must be proclaimed within six months. Mr Johnson : Had the Superintendent under the Act of 1866 power to decline to declare a hundred after having recommended it? Mr Macandrew : There i? no specific provision preventing him from declining. Mr Johnson : Do you approve of that part of the Act which gives the Superintendent power to decline ? Mr Macandrew : It is a very desirable clause. Mr Jenkinson : Had you been in your place in the House of Representatives when the bill was introduced for the reunion of Otago and Southland, would you have voted for it ? and if you had done so, would you not have considered it injurious to this province to unite with a province that was bankrupt ? Mr Macandrew : I was very sorry the Bill was brought in after I left. It was a permissive Bill, and was introduced for the purpose of saving time and enabling the two Provinces to unite if they could arrange the terms of the union. I should have supported the Bid, because I think that in every respect it is desirable that the two Provinces should bo united. I believe Southland has got an estate, which, by judicious management, is quite capable of being made to pay its obligations. It was an important thing looking at it from a colonial point of view If these Provinces were united, the southern portion of Canterbury might want to unite. Mr Jenkinson : Would you kindly inform the meeting what progress is being made towards the comp’etion of the railway between hei’e and Dunedin. Mr Macandrew: Some gentlemen may sneer at and hiss ah ut the matter, but it is no fault of mine that operations have not begun before now. I certainly have been a party to the expenditure of a considerable sum of money upon it. I was not in a position to overcome the legal difficulties which stood in the way. They are, however, now being overcome. I had rather that the question had not been asked because so many promises have been made, and there have been so many slips between the cup and the lip. I wished to say that 1 desired to see some progress made before I announced it. I may (jay that the reason why we did not succeed before, in Mr Young’s mission was that he could not get a contractor in England to take tip the contract within the limit of L 400,000, which was the limit entitled to he guaranteed’; and subsequently we found the railway copld be made, without going to England, under the limit. A private individual had offered to advance the money to the Government, but unfortunately the Government could not deal with him, because the law proscribe* that it shall be by private company only, and the interest shall only be paid on the paid-up capital of the company, A new Act has been pa'sed, enabling the inte-

rest to be paid on capital, whether paid-up or borrowed, and I nope the negotiations which arc now in progress will come to ahead. Last night, just as I was leaving my office, I received letters from parties in Melbourne offering to lend the money on conditions to be fixed by the Government, dhe Government is now engaged preparing the conditions on which it will give the guarantee. I am glad this question has been put, for it is of far greater importance than the Hundreds Regulations Bill. I had hoped my tenure of office would have been distinguished by the commencement of the line, and 1 hope it may he still. I intend to quit my political life by running the hazard of the die on this subject. Several other questions were put to Mr. Macandrew and satisfactorily answered by him. Mr. J. H. Jenkinson moved—“ That the thanks of this meeting are due to our representative, for his elaborate and satisfactory explanation of his conduct in the General Assembly.” Ho confessed he came to the meeting rather prejudiced against Mr. Macandrew for his conduct in connexion with the Otago Hundreds Regulations Bill, but thatgentleman had given fair and satisfactory reasons for the action he had taken. Mr Robson moved as an amendment, “That inconsequence of Mr Macandrew’s conduct in connection with the Otago Hundreds Regulations Act, this meeting is of opinion ho should withdraw from the representation of the district.” On being put, the amendmeat was declared lost, the voting being :—For, 18 ; against, 30. A good many present did not vote. Mr. Macandrew in returning thanks, explained that ho should prefer to see a local man represent the district ; in fact he looked forward to retiring at the close of this Parliament. He had always thought that a local man should represent the district, and there were many men quite competent and qualified to do so. However, in the meantime, unless he found Mr. Robson’s ideas were more largely entertained than they seemed to be, he should endeavour to attend the next Session of the General Assembly. He should again serve the district to the best of his ability ; avd he hoped to continue to merit the confidence they had that night displayed in him. After a vote of thanks to the Chair, the meeting broke up.