ROSLYN ELECTION.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2660, 26 August 1871, Page 2

ROSLYN ELECTION.

Last evening Messrs E. M'Glashan and J. M‘lndoe, candidates for the representation of Roslyn for the seat of Mr Driver, resigned, met tho electors of the district at the Schoolhuiise, Moruington, at eight o’clock. Mr Attwood was elected chairman. The room was full. The Chairman introduced the candidates.

Mr MTndob was the first t) speak. Referring to the Immigration and Public Works Act, ho said he bad assisted to pass it, and did not regret the part he had taken. He believed the measure was not thoroughly understood by the public, but in his opinion, if some such Bill had not been parsed, the country would have b en ready to take arms to obtain it, in order to employ tho population. Tho consent of the Superintendent and Pr,)vi;ici d Ooum.il were neeess -y to the introduction of immigrants. 11 o did not approve of a gt-ncral system of education, for it would only be secured by direct taxation. He objected to religious teaching in schools, and would not have the Bible read as a schoolbook He wished to maintain the educational system of Otago intact, would support the abolition of imprisonment for debt, and because of the vacillation of the Premier, as evinced in the Barton case, he would not give general support to the Executive as constituted. Although he dif fered from the Separation resolutions of Mr Macandrew in one or two points, he won d support them as a whole. Ho expressed strong opinions as to the Republican form of Government being best suite- i to the Colony. He did not agree with the laud resolutions passed by tho Provincial Council, was strongly opposed to the system of Hundreds, but was in favor of free selection, deferred payments, and depasturing cattle on payment of a license fee ; in fact ho. would make the whole Province a Haul red. He had not seen the draft of the proposed Water Works Bid ; but if what was stated of it iu the Daily Times was correct, he would strongly oppose it Mr F, M ‘Glasha k then came forward, and said that in consequence of a misunderstanding in regard to hiring the. school-room, it had happened that Mr MTn-100 and himself appeared on the same evening. He did not blame the parties whose want of concerted action had led to this clashing. He had taken tho room believing that it was no' engaged. The ?esdun of the General As*em bly now pr icecding was in some rospacts Han most important that had yet been hold Many questions of vital interest to the Colony would have to be decided in it, as hinted at in the Governor’s opening speech. Amongst them were an Education Hid, immigration, and the adoption of various railway schemes. Further, many matter* et local interest must bo attended to, such as the Land Bill .as passed by the Provincial Council, the Hoads Ordinance Bill, the Dunedin Water Works and the North Dunedin Cemetery Bills. Wirli regard to the Land Bill, he did not approve of that portion which proposed to appropriate large blocks to ho opened, believing, as had been already proved, that to a great extent they would remain unsold, and tho Province would be the loser through the hoary payment of coi • pensatiou to runholders. Ho believed in free selection, deferred payments, and a eompu'tf sory improvement clause, which would have the effect of compelling settlement on tho land. He considered Mr Cargill’s resolutions, proposed as amendments to Mr Reid’s, preferable to them, and likely to be more satisfactory to the Province. In reply to a question, he said ho wanted tho land for the people ami people for tho land. He would support tho North Dunedin Cemetery Bill as he believed it a necessity, as the old cemetery was being rapidly filled up, and in the midst of a population. With regard to the Dunedin Water Works Company’s Bill, if elected he should hr compelled to oppose several of the proposed clauses. No doubt water was a great boon to every citizen, ami the shareholders deserved every consideration— at the same time the company stood iu the way of its own interest by acting illiberally towards the City in not supplying water for flushing the gutters and for baths and washhouses Tiffs, iu a sanitary point of view, was absolutely noces-aiy. He believed a clause should be inserted in the Bill empowering the Corporation to purchase the Waterworks at a fair valuation, He had (suggested that to the Mayor. He could not support a dcnoin national system of education, and showed its danger in the evidence given by Dr Moran before the s -lect committee of the Provincial Council. He believed in the Bible being read in schoo’s as amoral class book, leaving it to ministers of the Gospel.and parents to impart peculiar doctrines, and objected to any denominational cateclvsm being taught. Ho approved of bonuses being given for the establishment of new industries but objected to a protective tariff, and would support a bonus for establishing fisheries iu accordance with the Bill now before the House, He would support any judicious measure for the reduction of the expense of Provincial Governments, and thought tho number of members much iu excess of what was required. Thors wa* mure real work done by the fist Provincial Council of nine than has over Iwen done since. He did not sec the necessity for so many political heals of d.prrtmunts ; and as a proof of their uselessness, ho pointed out that the Superintendent, Provincial Treasurer, Secretary of Public Works, and Solicitor, could he spared to attend the session at Wellington, for throe or four months, and the only remaining executive officer, Mr Gutter), was seeking their suffrages in order to be thorp also. If these could he sparer!, it was plain that the administrative work of tire Province would be efficiently performed by two or three permanent officers. After some observations, in reply to M r Barr, ho said he supported tho Hundred system in the early days of the Colony, but tho circumstances differed widely from tho present ; for now tho country was occupied by runholders, under lease, and large compensation would be

required to proclaim extensive areatdnto hundred?, A v«te of thanks was Jused to the Chairman.