MR HOLLOWAY AT ROXBURGH

Evening Star, Issue 3460, 25 March 1874, Page 3

MR HOLLOWAY AT ROXBURGH

[By Tblsuraph ] Invercargill, March 24. The, *Tuapcka 'limes’ special reporter sends ns the following Mr Holloway arrived here yesterday, and at the invitation of the Progress Committee, met about a hundred inhabitants in Beigbton’s Assembly Rooms in the ev-ning. Mr J. Brighton occupied the chair, and called upon Mr G. Mack ay, who read a very comprehensive statement embodying the complaints of the inhabitants against the ruling powers for years past in reference to the manner land in this district had been disposed of Mr Mackay explained to Mr Holloway the land laws of the Province, and the amendments which had been made on the same for the last ten years. Several settlers then replied the difficulties they had encountered in getting land in the district to settle upon and the obstructions generally placed in the •way of settlement. Mr Mackay and the Chairman challenged any one to gainsay the statements made. The Chairman thought Mr Holloway should be careful as to whom he entrusted himself for advice. I ven the > s uperiutendenfc should not be too freely trusted. Mr Holloway thanked the meeting heartily for their kind, welcome, for the address presented to binnind for the informa tion supplied him. He was not prepared to have had such a dark picture laid before him. In his journey he bad bad a very different picture presented to him. Wh- n he first came to. Dunedin, he was struck with the healthy and peaceable aspect'of the people and drew the inference that things Were Prosperous. He had no doubt the people of Roxburgh had their grievance. Re himsrlf was a laboring man, and therefore took a {treat interest in all that concerned the laboring classes, and was glad to do what he could for them. After all he had heard, he did not think they had so ainch to complain of, especially if they considered the class at. Home was endeavoring to benefit . Seven shillings a week was all the laborer in Dorsetshire obtained for six long days’ work to support bis wife arid family, and he thought even at Roxburgh they had not been reduced to that. The object of his mission was to see if hew Zealand presented a favorable field for his countrymen—to examine into the capabilities and resources of the country, and to see if a higher rate of wages was obtainable Also to ascertain if, after two or three years’ work an industrious man would have a chance of purchasing a few acres. Until his visit to Roxburgh, he had thought the Government had hit on the very system likely to accomplish the end in view—viz,, the system of opening up land on deferred payments He thought the difficulties brought before him by the meeting would soon be overcome. He hoped this system would be carried out in its entirety, for be believed the prosperity of the country did not depend on large landed estates,'but on numerous small holdings. If the Government wished to. have a large and prosperous country, the only way was to lay out the land on the deferred payment system, and instead of 30,000 acres, 100,000 should be thrown open, thus giving all an opportunity of obtaining in the jjOUfse pf a few years a freehold f*rm. He <hd n«t espfisrtp pave addressed the meetjpg. othprwisfche pave prepared himielf for it. He purposed, 'afrer completing pis tour of the Provinces, giving expression to his ideas regarding what be had seen u'aft He WPUlfi remark tM> hp allowed himself tp be influenced pndqly by any individual pr individuals. Tfie informs; turn he was obtaining was from reading, and from conversations with both large and small proprietory owners, and with people of his own class. On the motion of Mr J. Ireland, M.P.C., a cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr Holloway. At tho close of the public meeting, the .Progress Association resolved that a statement, showing the prospects held out to the working men of (>tago be forwarded to the different agricultural laborers’ unions and •l? e . fading newspapers throughout the United Kingdom. To-day, Mr Holloway and several of the Heading residents have gone to inspect the 'Celebrated -hingle and other blocks thrown open, and promised to be thrown open, bv the Government. ■ J