ADDRESSES TO CONSTITUENTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1499, 5 December 1878, Page 3

ADDRESSES TO CONSTITUENTS.

MR MACFARLANE AT AUCKLAND. [By Telegbaph.] [pbom the cobbe9pondent of the pbes3. j Auckland, December 4. 1 Mr J. S. Macfarlane addressed his constituents last evening. He said the Piako swamp had already cost £IOO,OOO, and five hundred miles of drains had been constructed. He condemned the Government for repeatedly breaking their promises to introduce Native Lands Bills. He also condemned the Treasurer's proposals, which he said were miserable. The Tariff Bill would be a fatal blow to the Auckland timber trade. He characterised the Government as " a poor miserable Ministry." If the late Government were land jobbers, the present Government were doubly land jobbers. The feeling on the East Coast, in consequence of the Native lands being locked up, was fearful. Auckland did not receive a fair share of public money. He condemned the Land Tax Bill, and said the talk about the unearned increment was preposterous and silly. He went on to say, Sir George Grey is a very clever man in one way, but, my goodness me, as a business man and a man of plain common sense he is nowhere. [Laughter and cheers.] Mr Macandrew looks after the money, and gets as much as he can for his own district, while we are going to the wall, while Sir George Grey is settling down at Kawau. It is a most extraordinary thing that he allows this. Last session was the most barren -session I ever saw in Wellington. I can only say that I am as disappointed as a man can be with the present Government. Up to the present they have done nothing for Auckland. Sir George Grey has lost many friends and supporters, and that will tell against him next session. Ho promised to sell the Ministerial residences. Ho said £2OO a year was enough for any Minister to have* He has not sola one residence, and Ministers continue to draw the same salary. The whole session was occupied with long speeches, but when it, came to the consideration of money matters, those wretches went home to their beds. [Laughter.] The Natives, who paid no rates, could get money for roadß, when Europeans could get nothing. £SOOO was paid for the final settlement of Native claims to the Dunedin Prince's street reserve, which was originally worth £lO. Mr Macandrew had formerly said they were entitled to nothing. Mr Grace got £2OOO for property destroyed twenty-eight years ago, beeause ho supported Government. Mr Farnall had received £l4O in payment of his claim, but now he got £250 more and an appointment. Sir John uoode, who was a wtek. in the colony, received £IOOO and travelling expences because he was a friend of Sir George Grey. All Governments were horribly expensive. Mr Macfarlane concluded amidst applause and received a vote of thanks. One speaker referring to Mr Macfarlane's statement that Mr Macandrew had ordered sleeping cars for the South, wanted to know if he would vote for sleeping cars to put Auckland members into. Mr Macfarlane treated the question with silent contempt. Being asked what he did in reference to Mr Curtis' Education Bill, Mr Macfarlane replied " Voted against like fury." In reply to a question as to the claims of of sons of old colonists he said he thought the daughters of old colonists had an equally good claim.