THE LOWER WAIRAU ELECTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 199, 16 October 1869, Page 4

THE LOWER WAIRAU ELECTION.

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To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, —Being unable, for the cause stated in my remarks to the Electors to be present at the Nomination, you will oblige me by giving a space in your paper to them. —I am, &c., Oct. 15, 186'J. James Sinclair. To the Electors of the District of Loicer Wairau. Gentlemen. —A lengthened illness having prevented personal intercourse, I am only able, through the courtesy of the Press, to address to you the remarks 1 would have made at the Nomination. Having bad the honor of being a member of the Provincial Council for about seven years, you may easily believe it is not for the sake of distinction or novelty that 1 now occupy the position of a candidate, and contrary to a settled resolution at the time of my retirement as your representative. But being called upon in the present straitened state of the Province, to come forward as a duty, I could not refuse. This Province, which ought to be one of the best off in circumstances in the Colony, is the worst. The causes that brought this about can be well explained, though going back upon the past would be an unprofitable, as well as* a disagreeable task, were it not that some of the public properties may yet be rescued from their misappropriations, and the designs still at work that have proved so pernicious, pointed out so a to be checked. The Lower Wairau, though one of the most important districts in the Province, has been most shamefully treated as to roads. For this neglect there can be no justification ; and ere I conclude, shall point out on whose shoulders the blame chiefly rests of this as well as other serious neglects. And here I must say that Mr. Eyes is wrong in saying my complaint of neglect to the Lower Wairau is an electioneering dodge. The facts are too palpable for that. It puzzles me to know where the a 3,000 have been spent; and even were that amount expended, I still deny that that sum is more, or anything approaching its just share. I likewise thoroughly protest

against the doctrine, that the revenue derived from the Crown Lands of the Province belongs to one district more than another. They were, and are the public estate of the whole of the inhabitants, irrespective of locality. Moreover, a larger amount of money by a great deal has been from first to last derived from the Wairau plain than any similar extent of land in Marlborough, and though that money was drawn by the parent Province of Nelson, it was indirectly re-expended upon purchasing, surveying, and opening up of the Marlborough territory for occupation. The doctrine would not have been a convenient one to announce when seeking ten years ago for the signatures of the settlers on sold lands by the agitators of Separation, many of whom since have had the disposal of the funds, a portion of which has been so charily bestowed on the Lower Wairau and similar districts.' I admit that since Mr. Eyes’ Superintendentship, the revenue has been comparatively small, and yet more judiciously as well as equitably expended, and more to show for it. But it would be unjust for the future claims of the Lower Wairau to a share of subsidies for its roads, to admit that it has ever had its share, or anything like it. To prove this, I state that the revenues of Marlborough have been more than Two Hundred Thailand Pounds! To most of you Electors this will, I dare say,appear incredible —but the Provincial books attest it. You ask naturally what has become of this enormous amount of money—what has been done with it—where has it got to—and what is there to show for it? I can’t tell you, There is a certain amount to show in really well laid out improvements ; but I am afraid the greater portion of the money has been wasted on hobbies and favoritism jobs, by rolling schemes, and extravagance. If' properly laid out, there might have been plenty of good roads, bridges, river-barriers, and other improvements, for many years without a shilling of taxation. But now all that is past; and we will richly deserve the lesson if it does not make us for the future to be more alive to our viial interests, and jealously guard that our taxation for roads and the like be not misused. The scheme has been, and is on foot, that the settlers’ taxes shall be thrown into a common fund for trunk roads, and for district roads, which are really the most necessary ones, the inhabitants in each such district must tax themselves a second time for ! This monstrous design must be strenously resisted. “ Trunk” roads was heretofore an insidious quibble of a term for making roads for selves and friends at the small settlers’ expense. Drainage is another important measure which I noted during Captain Baillic’s Superinteudency. It has been lingering on ever since, and actively and attentively been pushed before the General Assembly by Mr. Eyes. But there is a sinister influence at work there, especially in the Upper House, which I am afraid has sympathisers among the members of our last Provincial Council. Prevention of Overflow of Rivers Act is another measure that Mr. Eyes deserves every thanks for laboring in the Assembly for, but unfortunately the conditions render it unworkable in the Wairau. The two measures are of incalculable importance to the inhabitants of Upper and Lower Wairau ; and it is to be hoped members will only be elected by those districts to the Council that will earnestly set to work to bring about, by judiciously preparing new Bills and strengthening the hands of our representative in the Assembly by petitions and otherwise. And now Gentlemen, I come to the last, and I believe the not least important subject of all, namely, Education. It was a matter of surprise to me to find, in connexion with this topic, Mr. Redwood in his nomination speech accusing me of trying to injure him with the Electors with bringing forward his creed ! A little reflection on that gentleman’s part would have made obvious to him the folly of lugging creeds into secular affairs. I was incapacitated by illness from acting for myself, and were it otherwise, I certainly would never refer to his religion. I know no creeds, but only settlers among my neighbours. Reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, and geography have no business, with creeds ; and those are'ttie elementary branches of education which I would wish to see every child taught. Mr. Redwood speaks in lofty language on the subject of education, though the parallel of the wild dog and school inspectoris in peculiar taste ; and the allegation of public schools being more noted for thrashings than lessons, is unjust as regards those of Marlborough, and very especially so of the Blenheim School, under the present excellent teacher, Mr. Moriey, as I can certify from my own children’s experience. But does not Mr. Redwood know, and if he do, was it because he did not like to censure his political God-fathers, Messrs. Goulter and Ward, for the present languishing condition of Education in Marlborough, that lie was silent on the wilful crippling it has been submitted to ? Where is the endownent of all the thirty-second part of land throughout the Province ? The 4th section of the Land Regulations, under which Marlborough had to act from its commencement, enacts ;—“ One thirty-second part of land of average value in every district shall be set apart and reserved as an endowment for the purposes of Education.” Upwards of 500,000 acres have been sold for £173,000. Where are the 19,000 acres, or the £5.400 in money of Education Endowment ? Take an instance in the magnificent district of Flaxbourne : 40,000 acres of land has been sold since Separation. The Education Endowment share of this is 1,250 acres. Three splendid farms could be made out of this, and under a long lease, yield at least £4OO a year. The various other reserves, comprising 16,500 acres more, should also yield a round sum. If justice were done, there would be no need of household rates, or shut up schools, or miserably paid schoolmasters. It is simple robbery, if this be not rectified without delay. There are back arrears of these endowments which, if reckoned up, would probably be upwards of £7OOO, with principal and interest. And who dare refuse to restore this to its appointed use ? Settlers of all creeds, it is the heritage of your children and descendants ; and if the next Provincial Council will not make restitution, Parliament must be petitioned again an agein till justice is obtained. Who is to blame for all this ? I believe almost every one connected with the administration of the affairs, from the first Superintendent downwards. But if there be any party more than another, upon whom I would lay most blame for this Education Endowment position, and also the wanton way in which so much of the revenues of the Province have been spent, it is the party

generally known as Messrs. Goulter and Ward’s party. Ido not for a moment impute to them the slightest personal peculation, but their culpability, in my opinion, consists in, that they have been almost uninterruptedly from the first with or could control those administrating the affairs of the Province, and should have exerted themselves accordingly. Electors, I have made these remarks already too long to add any more. If you elect me, lam sensible of the responsibilities, and shall strive faithfulfy to discharge them. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, Benheim, Oct. 15, 1869. James Sinclair.