Mr Stevens at Kiwitea.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 110, 31 May 1883, Page 3

Mr Stevens at Kiwitea.

A. good number of. the electors of Kiwitea responded to the invitation of Mr John Stevens, M.H.R., to meet him and hear his address at the Public Hall, Kiwited, on Tuesday evening last. Gn the motion of Mr R. Mcßeth, the Eev W. Stewart, of Marton, was voted to the chair, and spoke of the family interest he bad in Kiwitea, and which 'made him anxious for its prosperity. ► He believed Mr Stevens had done his best in promoting the interests of the «ettlers of the locality, and they should remember that any measure for the good of the whole was for the good of each individual^ During the Grey Ministry certain promises were held out to them, which Had never been fulfilled. A mat- .. tejc which, concerned them all very much ••* was *the question of the railway. Mr Hafcombe and others <nad strongly advocated a railway to run through that part k* bf -the country, and it was time the people of Riwitea were looking after their interests in this matter. Not that it was for *•' feW to say which was the best route, but Whichever was the best, that was the one that (Ought to be adopted He then "called; upon "' 'Mr. Stevens, who spoke for about three quarters of an hour, and whose • address was for the most part a recapitulation of the one given at Marton and other parts of his constituency, and with which most persons in the district are now familiar. Me apologised for not appearing earlier before the electors, and defended his action in attending the 'Opposition caucus, to which action he said the Advocate had taken such strong exception, and submitted that his past actions were .sufficient to command a > r -ponianuanee of that confidence hitherto reposed in him. He had objected to the Xand "Act" Amendment Act, because the leasing clause gave no power to purchase 21 years, which he considered an injustice. He had advocated the direct steam ' communication with Europe, . wluph he was happy to say was now an accomplished fact ; and he hoped they would live to see the day when the advantage of that and the refrigerating proceii would be almost incalculable. Mr Stevens then read the substance of Major Atkinson's Insurance scheme, and reiterated. his own very strong objections to At.' He contended that the less the State interfered with private affairs the better for our prosperity. The audience warmly manifested their approval of Mr Btereas* remarks against the Atkinson Insurance scheme. Referring to the "" Ebads and Bridges Construction Act, Mr Stevens considered this one of the very best measures that had ever been enacted, and whs a very great boon to inch a district as the Xiwitea, and whenever applications under it had been sent to Him he had done all he could to promote them, as he had felt it his duty to do all in his power to develop the resources of that district. (Hear, hear. ) As to the Main Trunk Railway he . ieonaideredjt the most important matter the House of Representatives had to ' consider. Government had said it was a question for the engineers to decide. He ' contended that to relegate such a matter to engineers would be to. commit a grave error, as it was one of the most important affairs of the colony. The line the Government wanted was a political one, and if°they persisted in it he (the speaker) would eertainly—ba one for getting them removed from, their seats. He contended ; fine to be of any practical benefit must be a. central one through the iakhdfbuiP wnether the point of divergence shquM-ber Marton, Peilding, or Bunnjv&prpe, . or ; any other particular thought should be left to the en'ltone^rs; v He should advocate the great «« central route and no other, but they l"woj»ld be stultifying their own actions if 'tbey contended for any precise point of •. divergence, deferring to the Education t^Act, Mr Stevens said the State should only pej> for primary education, but the higher education it was not the duty of State to provide for, and he had opposed - and still would do so all votes of money ,'' for, that purpose, as he thought those v who wanted to get it should pay for it themselves.- He considered it far more important that primary teaching should •^bej>rovided f or a place like Kiwitea than any higher education in largely populated centres. (Hear, hear). '"'' The speaker concluded by thanking 'fcis constituent* for the confidence already • ; pTaced in him which, he would do his best to retain,, but he would not seek to pofmote.the- good of one place at the ex* 'pense of another. Mr Stevens concluded amidst applause. -— $be—«kairmati invited questions, but none were asked: Mr B. Mcßeth proposed a hearty vote of thanks to, and confidence in, Mr j Stereos, wfio fee thought was a most fitting man to represent them in Parliateeit 1 This was seconded by Mr John Barrow, and carried unanimously. Mr Stevens again thanked the electors, and proposedVa vote of thanks to the chairman* which was carried. In regpoHdifcgi the chairman spoke in complimentary terms of Mr Stevens. . r MrIL Meßeth asked the ratepayers of the Kiwitea Biding of the County to remain l ora l ew moments, while he read a statement of the accounts of founding for the past sixteen months, .wjiich.being done the meeting dispersed.