PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

Grey River Argus, Issue 68, 19 June 1866, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

PUBLIC MEETPTJ&. . ' On Saturday, evening, a public meeting of the inhabitants T pf Greymouth was held in Kilgour's Union Hotel, for the purpose of hearing the report of the committee appointed ; at the Jast meeting to canvas the town for subscriptions to defray the expenses of- sending|a^ member to the Provincial Council of' .Canterbury. It was also announced that the gentlemen who had consented to stand as candidates would be present to .address the ■fleeting. There wer^e nearly, two hundred persons Mr De Costa was called uj>on to take the chair. The Chairman : Before proceeding to the ■^direct business of the evening, I trust you will allow me to review the proceedings of the last two or three weeks, principally be-, cause it has been circulated by certain newspapers on the West Coast, that we cannot find a representative to come forward, unless tempted by a full purse. I wishVto remove that stigma from amongst ais. We can find men of standing and ability tacorne forward, without any reference to being'paid. Among the gentlemen who will address you to-night are a professional* man, a merchant, and others, who are now standing as candidates for the representation of this town. plause.) The committee appointed at the last meeting wjpl, bring 'forward -their report of the steps they, have taken iiirthe matter. They were requested to collect a. certain sum —£100. They have collected very little *shorb of the sum t named — (Applause) — so that nothing is now^wanting either in men or means to have this town properly represented, in "a manner that, shiill do us some credit. (Hearf hoar . ) I ani sorry -that anything like a bargain with one of the candidates .should have been entered into.at the commencement of this matter. I know not whether it emanated frotyi the lniproveiAeii|i pommittee or the gentleman who first himself. But it now appears that if we wanted three times the number of representatives, we could get them. (Ajiplause.) The Secretary of the Representative' Committee will read his report, and afterwards the gentlemen who offer themselves sis' candidates mil address you. I hope you will give them alia patient s^xLx ~D. Girdwood : As secretaryor^hT committee recently appointed by the citizens, I may state that we met several evenings and discussed the matter which was referred to us. It was deputed to Messrs Wickes and De Hammitt to canvas the Government Township to see how much money they could raise, and it was likewise* deputed to Mr Fisher and myself to canvas the Maori Township.- So f sir the Government Township*has shown very little, spirit in the matter, because they have only subscribed two guineas, while the . Moari Township has paid over 62 guineas, and there are a few gooi.l names on the list which will be paid, so that the. amount raised up to the present time may be considered as £%2 ss. (Applause.) % , - On the motion pf Mr DAyres, seconded by Mr De 3 j ammitt; the reiVort was received and adopted. Mr Harrison said that, having already addressedfaYopnbtiemeetiiigs, he wpttld waive ■airy right which he might-. possess as the senior candidate to address this meeting until the other gentlemen who had just come forward had spoken. -. . .-■#'■.-. Mr Wiialt- Avas then; called on. At first he was very indistinctly heardj but he was .understood to say I have consented to stand asfyour representative in' the Council, in consequence of the infliientiallysigned requisition which has been presented to me. Considering the fine town which we have already reared here, and the enormous amount of' revenue drawn therefrom by the Government, 1 think it a disgrace to them that they have not come forward and carried out those public works which are so necessary. Ihave no doubt 3'ou have all thought that we have beeii paying an enormous revenue^ but through the difficulties of obtaining the correct amounts, we have not previously been able to ascertain them. I have obtained returns which show that the. average per month of import duties received at our Custom-house is £4558,' making for the six months, £27,35(5, while the export duty collected on gold during the same period was £18,854, or an average of £3142 per month. From import and export duties alone, the revenue may be considered as , £7700 per month, which for the last ten months makes £77,000. . Add Jo this the revenue frgm the sale of miners' rights, £1676 ; from business licenses, £1640 ; - hotel licenses, £3000 ; wholesale wine and spirit licenses, £300— making a total revenue for the period mentioned of £83,616. In consideration of all this revenue, the Government have given us a magnificent Custom-house to, keep the accounts in, worth £450, a Post-office worth £500, and a magnificent but useless wharf worth about £2000— in all they have expended about £3000. You have been told that this meeting, convened with reference tp r the election, has nothing to do with the miners. But I maintain' that the prosperity of the miners isldie prosperity of the town. (Applause.) To assist these miners in their labor, the Government has only expended £700 in. making tracks to allow them to prospect the country. His- Honor, the Superitendent has intimated that he will advise his Government to vote the whole of the money to be expended on the West . Coast to be administered by a. Board of Members resident on the coast. One of the candidates who has come fonA^ard has informed you that he will oppose such a measure. I consider it is the duty of every one to support such a measure. t— (Applause), — as it would prevent a repetion of such disasters as the overland road and tHe wharf . (Hear, hear.) Itwillbethe particulai* duty of the gentleman who is elected to see that^we get an equal amount of "the revenue ; tiiat municipal privileges should be granted to this town ; that something should be done f or the occupiers of the laud in the Maori ToAvnship,.so,that the land could be sold, and could become .one complete township ; and; that tracks shotild be cut to allow .the miners to^pspect the* country.. (Applause. ) I can scarcely find words to express my gratitude to those gentlemen who signed my requisition, aud I can only assure them that nothing will be^ wanting on my part to watch over the interests of the district, and I think I know a little about _minmg matters. " (Applause. ) Mr T.vL. Shepherd was next called upon to adch-ess the meeting. He said : In the first place I will give you the reasons which^ induced me to come forward as a candidate to represent you in the Provincial Council. I was first asked to'corueforwai'd about a, fortnight ago, but I then refused- from pecjaniary motives, because my election will be a considerable disadvantage to me in money matters. But on re-cgnsider4|ipn of. the subject, and obsei"ving*that no candidate came* forward^who did not Wish to be paid for hi 3 services, I came forward and consented to stand for the honor of being your representative. '( Applause.) Subsequently other cancliclates ca.m,e forward, but then I did- not feel inclined to. desert the; gentlemen who had done me the honor of 'iisking me to stand. : (Hear^ hear. ) It is important that the best man should be elected, no matter Avho he should be jnp V matter he : lives" next door to you: or in tfie*; next street; ibo-you, (Hear, hear.) This ;s no matter of

streets, but ; tiie. m.itter of Jhe district- at large ; itisAur last card, otir kest trump, so let us playii .properly. (Applause, and a voice: "Kp#m expect the £10(K? '0 Ido not, sir. The wealth and importance of the district are wellteiiown to -us all. It is Hot necessary for me. to dilate upon that subject here" j but*it is necessary that a good ip.au should go from this place and let other people -know rfc. (Hear, hear.) The Hokitika members will not make the people in Ohristch'ureb acquainted -with these facts, because there will be.so much money voted for expenditure on the West Coast at iarge, and whateyer proportion of , that goes to the Grey district is so much the : less for the Hokitika district, .We must: make no mistake in this, that the interests of the two districts chisly (Hear, hear.) For the last session of Council two members ; were elected for the Westlanxl district— ; Messrs Prosser and^Barfe. What .did they do for ibis district ? W-e asked them for bi-ead, aud they gave us a stone. (Applause.) But nnce then Mr Moorhoiise has been here, has been elected a tnember £>f the General Assembly for the West Coast, and has pledged : himself to do all in his power to advance our interests. lam informed that he is a man . of character and^eciskin^ a man of his' Avord, and «wiw> keeps his premises. " (Hear, hear.) I only trust that his promises will be fulfilled, that; .the member from this place will remind him of his promises, and that he in his : place of Superinteiyieat will lend all his influence to obtain *f or us that justice which we have hot yet succeeded in obtaining. (Applause.) I shall now endeavor to ; speak upon <the various topics which strike me as 'being, of interest to the district in their due order. First, there* is the question of separation, ; I admit 'toT you that.l am not in favor of a separate Province being established named Westland, and for these reasons— first, because we want an imine"fliatc outlay Jier§ion..public works, and ff. we wei*e declared (v separate Province now, it would take a long time before any money could be expended, and the very fact of endeavoring to obtain separation would cause the Canterbury Government to lock up the money in the meantime. Secondly, bsca»se if made into .a new. Province it would requ:'r3 suchia large outlay for Government officials, thatwie entire revenues of the district would be stamped f orithe.next two years. (Hear, hear.) Closely allied to this there is; anothe* 1 matter— that "of annexation to Nelson, which at the present time I am opposed to, for this reason, that at ..present we are^sending a member tothc Canterbury Provincial CounM^^^^^^HlHMNiVß^MHMMflflMfe^i2U)Crinr tendent that our wants^ will^ be •■ supplied. Wej»will go to them and say, "We will give you one more, but Ihe last, trial ; we^wijl "remain with ybu "if you give us justice ;"T>ijt ..; if they do not give us justice after that I will go in for annexation to Nelson. '(Loud applaus.^ Then there is the question of the spending; of the . revenue raised^ ou the West Coast. You heard Mr Whall give you the amount raided on this Coast. '-' I believe : hjs gross figures are right, but he fprgot to tell you that the Canterbury Government does hot receive the entire amount, but only three-eighths. (5V voice : Of the import duties.) I will advocate that the revenueraised on the West Coast be spent on the. Coast— (Applauses)— in a fajr mid proper manner, not all in Hokitika and that dis- • trict. ; (Hear, hear;) ;: lam in favor of the j districts being mapped out, such as "electoral districts, and. that the money 'be spent equitably, according to the amount raised in each' district, aud. I should see thattheGr^ got | a fair share. (Loud applause. ) ' Next comes •] the question' of the mining interests/ This qu3S"tion has been stereotyped for years. F^r^two years. <l advocated the foniiation VJ of .rpails in Otiigo to . Queeustowii, for I believe that, the f pnnatiori of roads iig!.' a new country is the uig^'ihipoytantmatter. 'On that depeuds ; the^uccess ' and prosperity of the '' miners, and oil the prosperity of the miners depends the prosiierity of the towns. (Hear, hear, and applause.); /The first interest to watch over and advocate :is~ the mining interest, because without' miners ■ where : would be our torais; ; H ' We depend upon the 'miners, and should support the Srodueer in the first place, for if^ the proucer/prospers so will also the consumer. (Applause.) If elected I shall advocate the formation of bridges and ferries at proper places, in order to prevent'' the very large^ loss of life which at present; continues to take place,. Now no man's 'life 1 : is safe. (Hear, Htar.) .Valuablie lives iure lost every week through the' : want of "ferries."*-' To prevent this, leases; of ■jfemes should: be granted, and if necessary, "sul»suUsed Government ; and the f erfyjnen shmild be bound to take passengers over'atlow'rates; aiid at all hours. (Applause.) Closely upon the mining interest is tl^e question of rppreseiitatioii:: The present representation" of of the West Coast is totally inadequate to the auS&population of the district: Wefitid the West Coast of Canterbury producing more wealth than the East Coast, and yet we have only five members for the whole Coast.' If elected I shall bring in a bill for the purpose, and shall use all my endeavors to have the number of our representatives increased to teni -(Applause.) I propose to divide these ten members :.as follows :— Two for the town of Hriki^ tika,' two for the town of* Greymoutfi, two for the Hotifcika electoral district gold fields, two for the Grey electoral district gold fields— the dividing line tobe the^ere--makaxi—and the remaining two members for Okarita and the Southern district. (A'-voice: " Eight. ") Ido not think that in asking for ten, I shall be asking for too many members. We require that number to give us due weight in-tlie Council, and injprder that^re-. presentation shall be niadeequanvith taxation. (Heai^ hear). I shall not touch upon the subject'of tli6 sale of the lands ori^he West Coast. I am entirely opposed to'the sale of these lands. : Farmers would not them for the purpose of farming, and they/ must be taken up by speculators' who hope to 'reap a large han r est from mining leases. I am in favor of agricultural leases of these lands being granted," but with a clause inserted to the effect that should the land prove^auriferous, the lease shall be cancelled, ; and the lessee entitled to compensation for his improvements. (Applause.) Then the agriculturalist would have" j land cheap, andithe: miner would be protected. In selh^ig^Hihe fee of the land, yon cannot placeaiiy reservation with regard to the right to mine on it. Even the Crown cannot do thaj., --'I; shall en : . deavor to obtain the i appointment of another Warden for the iip-icountry disMct. ' It has jcome to my knowledge that?freo;uently the miners suffer manj^grieyances silentlyrather than; incur the losses and expenses of travel-.^ ling down to Greymouth;* (Hear, hear.) With reference, to the Hospital— l lived for two years in Queenstown, where we had the best hospital in New Zealand. It was never in want of funds. And, if tshall endeavor toiobtadn for our ; present Hospital some of the privileges which exist fpr similar, establishments in Otago, where the Govern^ ment gives £2 for every £1 raised by'sub-^ s,cription. ;( Applause, j ' I should support the"? appointment of t a jMiniefcer of Slihes resident on the West Coast, who shall be a responsi-. ble minister, and the superior head^ in all ■ miiiing,.matter«.- (Loud applause.) Such an appointmSiit >vorked wefl in Victoria, and would Result in muoh good* to. this district. lam inform^- that it is intended that a commission shall travel round the various diggings in the Province, for the purpose qi taking evidence as to the working of the present :•miniug■^r^j^l^tion■8 i /;^■:^^tinlnigut"■■\bj.,,p : ro-^■ ductive M good ; ? 'tnit,.>if J elected^ I; shall eii-. eiicle^yQ^ to '-cause 'that to^e ihixied com- ■

mission inifts memliers, -and to take evidence \ where necessary. (Applause.) Witt referenceto the coal«pmpanieS within the Province of Canterbury, rtw-ouldhe to the advantage of the Province that the coal should' he developed, for at present\a great source of wealth is ly- f ing hidden ancflunproductive. Any comp4|JM^fc corning forward for the purpose of WorKn^^ these mines should receive every possible encouragement from the Government • but I should endeavor to secure the proper«wbrking of the mines, and that the leases should not be obaken up by speculators. (Hear^heaf.) There are many subjects which affect Greymouth as a j tow». Our wants are Well known, for we have all suffered through the same neglect., • lam JxHujnd to refer to therfi,;and will do so shortly. It is no use our meeting to-night and speakingjof our past misfortunes - -we must look forward to the future With hope, and doQuy he6t to have pur l ' remedied for if a (people do not help themselves, -flp^e^on^^ieip. them. (Applause.) I should ask the .erection of an embankment to protect .the whole <course of the; river through thek/xim, -in •order to prevent thedemoHtion of I^Le bank" which is rapidly- going on. I believe that in twelve months, if this » goes on at the same rate, the river wilkbe in the shops. (Hear, hear, aiid laughter.)- I know for a fact that the river has encroached thirty feet within the 4aet ten months. '(Hear, - hear^) I will also endeavor to obtain the removal of i&esnags from the fiver. :Many valuable lives haverecently been lost through the penuriousness of the Canterbury Government in refusing ; money to, /rempveijthese snags. -^(Applause.) They have been partly removed by $ie iibCT&iity venrment, and I will endeavor to accomplish the '.-.-rest.- Another matter aifecfiig the interests Both of thisiown and Hokitika .'in the extension of the jurjs^tion; of ';the Magistrate's Court from I^o to LlOO^and I • should endeavor by - every means in my power- to hs^e. the Jaw put in forcefbr the •appomtmentof a District Jiidgej so that the many questions of commercial importance, andmbre especially with reference ; t6- shipping, may be properly heard and dealt with. . (Applause.) Withorit any disrespect; to- the present Magistrates^ snch question's require men of trained skill; Hi large a^d important matters we require trained ./- and experienced workmen,, and for work su^h as this we require a solicitor; of the Supreme Corirt, and one of^srapißripr'skflliv'^'-^VpicE- : And of common sense.) I .should' advocate a liberal salary being given "jfco $nch agentleman. It is immaterial what salary we pay, for a good lawyer and a man ,6£ sound Cerise j^^ I say that LI2OO a-year is noi^tOo^mffl^lr^B such a man— if we could -get sucli 'a man-as the recently appointed District judge i of Otago, Mr Wilson Gray. The publican interest in this tbwn.is a very large one, and ought to be protected, for 'they contribute very largely to the revenue. I have, heard it said l)y sppiethat they are not safe;sn:cler 'the aiesv Licensing"A<^ ; ;but I teUthem^at they are equ.ally as safe as nnder the Gold Fields Act; y The publicana of this town may thank Messrs Prosser and ' Barff' for looking after their interest in this respe.ct. "Another local matter is, that several gentle^inen haye told me thafc o because I.do not five on the Goyemment grpnnd I •wall npt be elected.: I gay-to tbem?^ait yhieiiher or not I hope tfiey wilj send the bjesl^ man in—(applause)^oiid if they send a better "mjm than me I will be^ well represeiited,'atid'"my'interests will be prptepted^ I have a large interest in thjg plape, anjil will returrt^tp it as soon a? I possibly can. , -I will dor,illin -my power to plead the 1 cause of the tqwjl^nd to advance its interests V brjfc I tell you '''that thepositipji $ your representativewill be no bed ;j)f /fQses, for attached to it there is a _ certain amount of r:espon.4bih>^-*s^ Telurii from' fhe 'Coiincai^you -tfiil be^Bayujlr 7 tome. "Whathaveyoudoneforus— letus see thg results of- senfliiig yoji to the Provincial Council ?" I i)ronii&) you -that if you .send me as'ypur representative, | -wilfelp all «that 3bs in my power to advance the interests of this towii and disfrict. '(Loud applause ) •,..- MrSiMMONS: If -. you r are retuhieil;Swill ' you accept office if it is bfiered you-? "- •Mr S^EPHEiiD • I \irill not; . (Applause ) Tliere'were a number of frivplpjis questions asked, and a good deal, of confiision "caused oh by a person "who Wpuld not be put do\vn:» Ultimately, the Chairmiin called upon . ■. •--:;■ /-^ ■.• - ">■,■■■ :--;;:.-f Mr J. ; A. Kee^a^V- • who pa?ne : forward amidst applause, and said— Beforerrpiating my political principles, I wish to r>pel a statement which is being 1 circulated in town that I acted as chairojan at a meeting of the • friends of Mr Sliepperd, when I intended to .stand;. sis his opponent. That'is iintru'e-r I then knew nothing about b>ing hroiight'-for-ward any more than the man in the moon. (Laughter.) v It was at an early hour this morning that I was called out of bed- to receive': this Vaddress.;; I • Wai aslegp^rioud laughter)— it is a fact ; I turned onf ofibed to come out receive, this siddiess (Laughtei\) I received it becsiuseit was ih'»niientiaUy signetl-by the pancip^inerchants and residents^in-Greymputh. (Applause ) lam not prepared 'to i address you to-night in the manner I shoiildhave. done if ?lh{id had more time. I am, the thiifd "cafididate to speak to-night .I am in favPrV^a^ liberal .representation of the . Coast, which it never yet; ha^had. (Applause. ) At a future ineetnig, which I intend tocallioV Tuesday e »,i^®:go through^l^think should be donfi ; fo£-Westland, and d^site- pn them at length. "(Laughter and applause:) Ido not iw intend to give you a lengthened Speech. \ have a very great stake in this town— more Jhan most men imagine;* and >I%me forward here to represent you and 1 yout^el-Jare^(applause)-f ftp. yquf good and f 6r-i my ow^' (Laughter.) -I like my -breadKand butter as wellas most pf;you- (loud laughter) —and I will dp; all for you in my power I wrll go down to Cliristch^chvnT4|ri;h6nest andindependent purpose to ; : serve^ youand to serw roypelf, (Hear, hear, and laughter ) There is^no use of ~denying,it.:: I yiU no i accept office : lam not anxious for it ; Igo i^wnfoT (me puipoaeonly-^withan^honest and, independent intention to v seiye- you all, and myself in particular, v IrLoud ; applause and laughter. ) By serving myself I serve you. (Heary hefvrv) . I have sto interest bojihyv the. Government and the MaorLtowuships,,and I will do all in:my power ta serve yf^V^f^^M PMcukrly the interests of the Maori Township— (Laughter and ap-plausel-ebut^ I will do # in my power for the ( interests of the whole' of *the^ town Well, you understand lhavepnly beenspeakin| ]ocularly v l am honest;iii^ wyiexraessions. (He?,!., .hear,) I will tose a~ gpp<L:deal by ■going down tQ Christchurch j but *tlo it for the reason that I believe it is necesssiry to , have" a. good, honest man atlOhnstchurch S^-^^SSS 1 who 8 '*he requirertfents of the inhabitants.. (Applause)" I vwiU not now make a. speech, ■; for I will have a meeting on Tuesday evening; when, I will Aivri]ge to you my •ppU^. creed. (Hear, hfiar^).. -.■■■-■--■ • ■■ v' -■■-ivY; \.'l. r '-■':. -." The follbwing questions were asked>— gi K elected will you erideayp^to' destroy all the ra^m town? (LaughtervJ^Ye^and aU the loafejs and^^ puppies at the sametime. (Loud laughter.) ; : ;^ '! , .^-. t If elected, will you try to ; destroy^ail^ik. Jews Hi-town? ■ ;••- %:■:■:; - ;-..' 1-s jXf&^^"~ ■ ■JJ The CiiAiKauis; rlhc^eyoi^wiUiMrt, I ; belong to that creed. : ■■■.'::■ ■:'■": ■' r .■:■;■:.:,■: v •. - Hav^ you come : forward so tha^Wou may " resign pn: the day of election in fayor of Mr Shepherd ?- Ihave ;not.V (Applause;) ; ;MrHAEiusoNsM to other topics hegfeltc^ledu^ menton the remarks ivwKch^ ha^fallen from i

the.lips of the Chairman in ofciihg .the \ meeting. He trusted that neithepthe meetr x ing nor the Chairman would Wonsider he ttesifedin the slightest, degree t|fc<ist reflections.on the chair, because he/believed Mr De, Costa had not intended j his -words to ysaypey the insult which indirectly they did. j^sw' Chairman had thought proper to travel j "" out of his province and to comment on what he (the Chairman) termed a "stigma" that attached to the district in that it had been deemed necessary to collect money to pay for the services of a member. Considering the delicate position in which he (Mr Harrison) stood regarding that matter, and considering also that he had previously explained frankly the circumstances, under which the idea of payment was mooted, he • thought the chairman had been guilty of a want of courtesy in referring to the subject in the terms he had done, more particularly as the Improvement Committee had to a • certain extent approved the . proposal* and that a Committee had been appointed by a public meeting for the express purpose of collecting the money. "He would also remind the meeting that before any of the candidates who had addressed them this evening came forward, he (Mr Harrison) had publicly announced his determination to '.. abandon any personal considerations, and come forward as a completely "independent I ', man. He then said— Sir, - when I saw the formidably signed requisitions whush. appeared in this morning's p<vp er » addressed to my opponents, I began to think that I had been guilty p| an act pf great temerity in coming forward as I \a,ye done. But a little scrutiny of the ljst of names, appended to the several documents convincedme that a requisition was a very questionable element of strength, as I found that several persons had signed the whole lot, promising each and every candidate to do their, utmost to secure his return. Now considering that only one candidate can be elected, it will be a difficult matter for those persons to fulfil tiie solemn pledges they have given (laughter). lam .thankful to the previous speakers, and you also must feel grateful to them, for having saved me the trouble of going over again the : ground which I have previously travelled. | For with the exception of- a few immaterial ad litions made by Mr Shepherd, the speeches of Messrs Whall and Shepherd jvre but a reilex of those I have previously had the honor of making to, the public. With regard to Mr WhalTs speech, I may apply, to it the words of a celebrated critic, who in reviewing a certain book, said ."there is little in it that is new, and what is new is not true." (Laughter.) The portipn of Mr WhalTs „ . spefeiHTthat" is'not new is not true. He has committed that Y er y g^Y 6 niistake for a Eolitical beginneis, of plunging into a sea of gures, and I think it is' a pity'Mr WhalTs : friends did not prevent him committing himself as has done He has quotpd^a number pf statistics bearing oh the revenue/ pi the district, and drawn therefrom certain conclusions, which I am prepared tp prove are '•:. absolutely and grossly And Mr Shepherd, wliilst assuming to correct Mr y Whall's estimate has, amusingly enough .•. adopted also his errors. I will remind ■ gentlemen that the* export duly is divided ./between the two provinces of Nelson and r Canterbury, according ta the ratio of the production pf gold iii each province, Nelson getting just now by far the largest share. The import duties also— at least that; portion pIE them which remains to be enjqyecl by the provinces, is divided according to the number, of miners' rights, and business licenses. > issued in each portion of the' G^ey- district. I* is aU very well for Mr Whall to talk about the very large reyenue the Canterbury Go is deriving "from tlus district, and to. compare wjth \t the sniallness of the \ amount expended on its requirements, but ■jkjuch: arguments to be of weight must be leased on facts, and not on inaccurate esti.'mates. With respect to the reii\ar'% made by Mr. Kecnan, th.U "gentleman appeared to be in such a. complete state pf_ fog, that I doubt much if he has any" opinions at all (Laughter. \ X wu\no,t avoid the temptation which" otters itsiif ftf cori-ecting Mr Shep-.. herd's remarks about the coal field, pis gei^raphy is sadly at fault, for the only coal hiine is in the Province of Nelson. I may also tell him that tliera is already in force an Ordinance whjch enables th.c ; coal seam on the Canterbury side to be leased in portions on certain conditions. That seam B,till remains unopened, and has not ip. any way fallen into the hands 01 the " unprin- . cipled. speculators" Mr Shepherd talks about. (Mr She._nherd : " D.o yo.iy represent . the unprincipled, speculators?") Really, gentle- ' -nien, so much has been said by ' Messrs ■\Yhall and Shepherd which I have before given expression to tha^ but little re-, mains for me to say. Th^e prosecution of. public works } the remoyalof the snags ; the increased jurisdiction of .the Magistrate's (3ourt ; the opening up of the qountry by roads and tracks; the appointment of an extra Warden ; — and in short all the merely local necessities of the district tp which the previous speakers have referred, have already been dilated upon by myself. Not that I claim any originality jn ths matter, because these subjects were such as inu^fc occur to the most ordinary observer. But I have one pr two. other subjects, of great importance, as affecting the colonisation of this part of the country, and 'the. social interests of'tlie" community about which it is necessary you should have my opinions. One is the question of the agricultural settlement of the }aud, upon which, much depends the permanent occupation of the country. The .existing land laws of the province, however Suited to the circumstances of the Eastern division of : the province, are utterly inapplicable to this part of the country, where the agricultural occupation of the soil is attended with such tremendous difficulties, I wpuld like to sea. some j^an proposed by which such land as is fit' for agriculture should be open p.n easy terms tp those who might desire to settle upon it-rO.sierw^Be the country can never be made available foR its grand purpose, the labor and occupation of mail, (Hear, hear.) Another subject of importance is tbst pf education, and it is really incumbent bn the Legislature that s.pin.ef fitter, provision than now exists should b'^n^de for the education of the children which are growing up around us, uncared for and ignorant. The existing Education Ordinance provides facilities for the inhabitants of such districts, as may desire to avail themselves of them, for foriningtbemselves intoEducationßoards, with power to raise mpney by. rates for defraying the, cost of the" necessary schools ancl teachers. -That may be a very suitable arrangement on the other side of the province,, where the inhabitants are for the most part domesticated, and composed of fannies. But here, where eight-tenths of the population consists of adult males, without families, and continually moving about, suclM' law is quite inapplicable. I would wish to see some provision made for gran.faof njoney for schools and for their endowment, SP tjiat the; children should be properly educated. The present position of the cause of education in, this town is something deplorable ; only 1 a / short time ago, _, the estimable pastor.of:the- . Roman Catholic congregation in this towny . Expressed to me his anxiety on. this subject, and , complained of the. difficulties that are . '■■' experienced in obtaining the education of the ■>■-. children, If elected I will endeavor to obtain some adequate provision for this important object. ~ There is another matter, whidhl am. surprised has escaped the notice pf Mr WhalL particularly, as : the publican interest is so important and {powerful a one here. >v- 1 allude to the necessity /pf amending the licensing regulations; as applied to this

district with regard to the closing of hotels at eleven o'clock p.m. It'raay be very well in the domesticated portions of the province to enforce, this jrule, but it must be borne in • mind that here the hotels are the homes of three-fourths -of the population. On the grounds of public convenience, as well as of publio morality, I think that, for the payment of an extra fee, and en certain conditions, the -hotelkee,pers ought to be allowed to keep open till twelve o'clock. As it is, the law is systematically violated, and we have the scandal of a number of persons, lawfully disposed, continually and even necessarily :e.vading. the law, and the, officers of the law being compelled to wink at the infraction of the very law it is their duty to enforce. (Hear, hear.) I must make some reference to the question of annexing, this portion of the Grey district to the province of Nelson, and I so far agree with Mr Shep,perd as to feel convinced it would be wisesto defer presenting the petition until after we have given Canterbury another ckaiice. , I must not be thought inconsistent in thus advising delay, although I was the first to : moot the proposal, and have strongly supported it since. But you nmst remember that, political as well as, Iqcal cpneerns area s often to be regelated by .questions of expediency as by abstract principles of right and wrong. There are many cogent reasons which give us what we may call an abstract right to the measure we demand, but I think a little consideration will show that .it is not expedient that we should urge our demands at present. I will explain why :in the first place the agitation in favor of annexation to Nekpn was the fruit /rf the gross . inattention and monstrous imbecility of an executive that had no adequate idea of the requirements of the district, a.ud which showed "no desire tb improve. And had not a change in the. Government taken place I would have iirged you with all my might and main to . strive and separate 'yourselves from Canterbury. But a new regime has been established; the head of the Goveniinent has visited Westland, and made himself acquainted with its needs, and he has promised to institute a liberal policy. If you goon with the petition, I cannot predict for it the success which, under other circumstances, it might obtain, even if it were to be supported by the advocacy of the most able man and most eloquent speaker pi the House. Mr Moorhouse, who, you must remember, is the only representative of Westland in the General Assembly, . will have an answer that will be sufficient for the House. He will tell the House that he fully sympathises with all the petition contains, but those various grievances had sprung up under., a. Government wfeich no longer existed, and that be would remove them by a liberal administration. And there probably the matter wpuld end. You must also bear 'in mind that a persistence. }n the petjtipn now would seriously impair the usefulness of your memb,er.in /(jhe Provincial Council, because the Gbvernmcnt and Coimcil might hesitate to expend money on public works in a district that meditated senarating from the province. I can. qnpfce an instance to illustrate my meaning. The district of W.-nogainui has long agitated for separation from Wellington, and the consequence has been that money voted long ago for certain^ works in that district remains unexpended. Gentlemen, I have little igcre^tp. say further than to warn you and jtlie s : electors "generally agiiinst being led awajr^by personal cbhsiderations in the choice of your liepresentatiY-e. There are occasjons on wiiich the post of jepresentative may, without jeopardy to the public interests, be bestowed on an individual more as a token of" personal esteem than that pf his political fitness." But I tell you, gentlemen, tln,s is not ftne. of those occasions. You must bear in mmd that this is Greymouth'a advent to political distinction, ami that you have toJgo •to the Provincial Council with large demands, and yqu. must.send as your member the man that yputthink has the most comprehensive views of the requirements of the district, and is most fitted to give expression to those views, and to obtain for you at the hands of the Council the justice you have a right to expect. ' , (Hear, Jiear. ) And I tell you also, gentlemen, that the part of your representative will be no easy one. You must bear in minil |hat the Canterbury Council is an exccption'to perhaps any other provincial body, in New Zealand. Its members are for the most part men of, exclusive prejudices, of high education, and disposed to regard "us of the West Coast as a community of a lower standard than themselves. No doubt much of the first prejudice has been removed, and with Mr Moorhouse as Superintendent, doubtless much more will melt away ; but thefact remains, that the West Coast members have stiil much to contend with, and many obstacles to overcome. You remember the difficulties encountered by Messrs Pros--Ber and Barif whei\ they first went down, and it was ~npt until nearly the end of the session that those gentlemen could make any headway. I say again, beware of being influenced in. the" choice, of. your member by any other considerations but public ones, and send trie, man whom you think will best further the public interests of the district. I have nothing further to add, except to state that as I was the first to enter the field I shall be the last to leave it. (Applause.) Mr Heaphy : What plan do you propose regard to the agricultural occupation of thecpnutry? Mr Hakrisox : I am not prepared with any definite scheme ; but I would apply conditions similar to thoseof Canada, the uatnre of which country mostly resembles this. I would be favorable to allowing the occupation of land at a nominal rate, with the right of purchasing at a low prices. The three candidates who had spoken first here rose and claimed the* right to reply to the made by Mr Harrison, .which was accorded to them by the Chairman. Mr : The last speaker has told us that my fibres are wrong, but I know, that I obtained them from the proper authorities ; and after, all deductions are made there still remains a surplus of something like £GO, OOO of our revenue to be spent by the people of Christchurch. There is no doubt about the correctness of my figures. (Hear, hear.) Mr Shepherd: Mr Harrison appeai-s to have kept back his speech to the very last to-night in order to make some very queer statements. (Hear, hear.) He takes upon himself to assume a superiority over every ether man, lam not afraid to compare my intellect with his, and leave you to judge. (Applause.) He has laid the claim to origir\ajity in his remarks, but nearly everything he has. stated was previously stated by Mr Prosser— (hear, hear) — and when he comes fojrNyajd on that I leave you to judge if it is not a very low foundation. (Laughter.) He Reems to have been portraying to us what sort of a man should; be sent down to the Council, and painting his own character as he sees himsefi in the looking glass. (Applause and laughter.) It was a prettily touched-lip portray, but he left out all the dark shades. (Loud laughter.) From the remarks of Mr, Harrison , one would think that the members; pf ijhe . Provincial Council of Canterbury were so verj' aristpcratic that they despise all the men on the West Coast, but I beneve there are too many gentleipen among- them to do anything . pf the kind. (Heav.hear,), Messrs Prosser and Barff'did much good ; they put in the wedge, and it is for the niembers l^ow^to be elected to drive it home. (Applause.) Mr Keenak : I have also, a few remarks tb.make. *M± Harrison forgot to remember, : or remembered and forgot to mention it, that I said I did not come here to address you. He also said I had no ideas at all. -He : spoke pf honesty. and iiidepcndence, but if

my honesty and independence were placed in one scale and him hi the other, and the beam were long enough, I am afraid he should go tp the moon. (Loud laughter. ) First he buttered down the publicans, then the Catholics, and then Mr Shepherd. — (Mr. Shepherd: "He would not accept it.") — and then he spoke of me in a most contemptible manner. (Laughter. ) He spoke to me last night" jmd asked me to support him, but I denied him, and said I wouhLgive my vote to Mr Shepherd. (Mr Hakmson : No, no.) Afterwards I was called out of bed, ami accepted' the requisition — (A. Votce : When you were asleep ?)— because I believe the district should be represented by a com*"inercialinan. '(Hear, hear.) I did not come here to address you, because on Tuesday evening I will have a special meeting, w-jrafc I will expose to you my political news, .and I hope Mr Harrisoij will come. (Laughter and applause. ) ■ . Mr Harrison : I really had no idea that my remarks woiild have raised suoh a hornets' nest about my ears. (Laxtghter.) Ancl^ I must say a word or two in my own defence. With regard to Mr Shepherd, I had no intentipn in my remarks to make any personal reflections. But Mr-Shepherd canndt forget the axiom of his profession, "No case ; abuse the plaintiffs' attorney. ' ' (Laughter.) I deny most emphatically that ever I uttered one word that reneoted in the slighest degree on the scr. /ices Messrs Prosser and Barff had rendered to the people" of Westlaud. I simply pointed out the difficulties they had to cp.utend with, and that ib was a considerable , time before they had been able to ftchieye anything in, the Council. I have now to say that nothing that the previous speakers, or anyone else, may say will prevent me expressing my opinions- fearlessly and honestly. (Applause.) 1 Mr Simmons asked tihe last speaker if he had notjin 1 hi 3 letter, to the Improvement Committee, said that he would retire if any independent man came forward 1 Mr Harrison : That was prior, to tho first public meeting ; and it was one of those conditions which I have since abandoned. ■ The Chairman then declared the business of the eveniiig terminated, and the meeting separated after the usual vote of thanks.