SIR GEORGE GREY’S MANIFESTO.

Evening Star, Issue 3756, 8 March 1875, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY’S MANIFESTO.

Q. n « , Auckland, March 6. Sir George Grey’s address to the electors states his willingness to accept the office'of Superintendent, which he considers a most honorable one :, yet, if elected, great personal sacrificesi will be entailed on him, therefore he wiU not feel himself called upon to make such efforts aa are usuaUy employed to secure elecMon. If elected, he would give his whole time and energies to fulfil the duties, and would strive to diow that it was his desire to servh his country and fellow- men that gives dignity to a public position, and not the title by which may beaded. Re office of be an executive and

not a political one. If, therefore, elected, he would not use the position for political purposes, but faithfully administer the laws and means placed at his disposal, and strive to obtain the rights of the people of the Province, whether pecuniary or otherwise. Although strongly attached to Provincial institutions, he wel knew it was the duty of every man to yield his views and wishes to a majority of his fellowcountrymen, when those views were ascertained by constitutional means, and clothed with the authority of the law. Whatever form of Government was introduced into New Zealand, he would endeavor to make it a success. He believed it was the duty of Government to state m detail the nature of the institutions tney propose to take the place of existing Provincial ones, and to allow the people of New time to consider them and express opinions on the subject. If the Provinces were swept away he should desire to see the change made a general one, and have such institutions ‘'stablished in their place as to secure Zealand generally those extensive rights in regard to legislation and other matters which the Provinces now possess, and to the country districts a large share of local self-government, and greater and more direct control over local revenues than now. To derive full benefit from the immigration and pubhc works now proceeding, from which, if judiciously conducted, great advantages must should consider it his duty to assist the Colonial Government in bringing the policy to a successful issue. The Superintendent had a right to expect from the Colonial Government an expenditure within the Province of a fair share of moneys borrowed for public works, and a due proportion of immigration, prompt payment of all revenues and other moneys lawfully belonging to the Province, rigid economy m the expenditure of moneys devoted to immigration and public works, strict prevention of all extravagant personal expenditure from these funds, and immediate relinquishing to the Provincial Government of all lands purchased from the Natives in the Province, for the benefit of its people. It was only by rigorous attention to these details that the immigration and public works policy could attain to that success to which it was justly entitled. It was the duty of the Superintendent to take the requisite steps for the reception of the immigrants in the Province, and for their comfort and well-being, and to secure their permanent location in the Province by inducements to take up land. Steps should be taken to induce laboring capitalists to settle,' and means adopted to enable children of established settlers to occupy farms, and so contribute to the welfare of the Province. Miners’ 1 ?t er ? 8 * ; 8 especially should'be looked after, considering how industrious and how useful they were, and how much they contributed to the wealth of this Province and Colony: measures should be taken to enable them to occupy freeholds while engaged in mining. The present restrictions should be relaxed, and unequal _ taxation readjusted over the whole community. The principles which regulate public education need not be re opened by the Superintendent, but the system of taxation should be reconsidered. All who draw wealth from the country should be interested in the welfare of the rising generation, and it wag the duty of all to contribute a proportion to the means. It was very hard for a struggling laborer to pay largely while others drawing large incomes and wealthy absentees paid nothing. With reference to Highway Boards, he was glad they had earned fresh concessions in the direction of self-government, and thought the Superintendent should increase their powers and enable them to do local acts, which now had to be done in Auckland or Wellington. Although he could not, for various reasons, canvass the Province, he had no wish to shrink any of his duties, or evince a want of sympathy with the settlers. In his retirement be had reflected much, under undisturbed and favorable circumstances. He had no desire to obtrude his views, but if called upon would address the electors of the Thames and Auckland, being the two chief centres of population. (From our ovm Correspondents.) Christchurch, March 6. At a special meeting of the City Council this morning licenses were granted to numerous owners and drivers of cabs. The cabstands are to be thrown open at once. The cabmen are to give the scale of fares a.fair trial, and, if found unremunerative, the Council will alter them. The cabmen have withdrawn the guarantee from their solicitor, and do not intend to have any more litigation. The ram fair yesterday was not such a success as anticipated. The prices were not nearly as good as last year’s, and theerormous number of rams in the market fairly glutted it. The ewe fair is proceeding to-day, and the sales are pretty fair. T , . ■ , _ Arrow, March 6. It is reported that Warden Stratford will have charge of Warden Simpson’s district additionally, during the absence of the latter Mr James Miller, who is leaving the district has been presented with a locket and address from the Miners’ Association. The - town people are subscribing fora gold watch to be presented to him. takenplace 818186 aUCtion saleß of P ro P ert y have