MR. STAFFORD AT TIMARU.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 98, 27 April 1870, Page 2

MR. STAFFORD AT TIMARU.

o (From ihe Wellington Advertiser.) Mr. Stafford addressed a crowded audience at Timaru ou Thursday last, whea what he said was well received. After preliminary compliments to his constituency, he dwelt on the example which had been showu in their instance of haviDg separate institutions of government given to them, and power to apply the revenue raised within their own district to aid in its own improvement. When Timaru desired to be made a separate district, it had a larger revenue than auy one of the origiual provinces, aud ten times as much export. The older provinces could not then refuse the request; | and he was very much pleased at having brought in the Bill they desired last sessiou, for, although not carried, it was a protest against the existing order of things. Reform was never got without continued

agitation and constant pressure being brought to bear. It was never spontaneously granted. So many people depend upon the maintenance of provincialism, that even if three-fourths of the people in New Zealand desired a change, the chances are there would be a bitter struggle before ifc was granted, owing to the opposition of Superintendents and others interested. After expressing an opinion that the money which has beeu devoted to bridging rivers would be faithfully spent, he said he had no fondness for the Superintendents in their official capacity, and not many of them were his private friends. The devolopmeut of the country aud the means of obtaining safe and rapid modes of communication should not depend upon the caprice of one or two individuals ; he should like to see such a system established as part of the policy of the Colony, as would ensure that every dangerous river between Southland and Auckland should be bridged, and that every road necessary should be made across wet grouud, or across any ground that impeded transit. We had isolated ourselves in this Colony, intended by naturo and God to carry twei ty-five millions of people iu good health, wealth, and a conteDted state of life. There was only a quarter of a million of population. We seem determined to live in a small, petty, isolated manner, with the petty ends of petty estates. The policy of New Zealand should be to open and people all parts of the country simultaneously, but he never would be a party to shovelling people within its borders, .and there abandoning them ; or to vote for sums of money by way of loan, lo be expended for those purposes by the Provinces. He would employ the bulk of the emigrants on great arterial works j most part of them would afterwards settle down in the country. Another objection he had was, that allowing Provinces to borrow would be perpetuating the vicious system of finance, of having one party to lay taxes on the people, aud other irresponsible bodies to spend them. He saw no prospect of reducing taxation consistently with liabilities. Superintendents went to the Assembly demanding money to spend . So long as there are two Treasurers that system will increase, till it strangles us. Mr. Rolleston had said the North was trading in war, but it was a most unjust calumny. The present Government was doing its best to arrive at a question of peace, He had never doubted that they wished to do so. They had laid themselves open to animadversions by the difference between their professions and their practices. The three cardinal features of their policy, were to act on the defensive, obtaining Imperial troops, and raising a local force in England. If he thought Government were as likely to chaDge their opinions in Provincial matters as they had done in native affairs, he would be one of their strongest supporters ; but he believed they dare not do it. He did not think the Gladstone Counly Act the best that could be initiated, and wished to see a much wider and more general system; but if the Provincial system is to be maintained, he would be found again raising his voice to support the wishes of the people of Timaru. Iu reply to a question, Mr. Stafford said the proceeds of land sales should be devoted to the districts wherein they are raised, and the arterial works referred to carried on by loan.

Ohinemuri. — The correspondent of the Morning Advertiser writes from Ngaruawahia under date 21st inst. to the following effect : — Louis Hettit has arrived here on his way to Auckland with a message to the Government which he is to deliver either to the Hon. Donald M'Lean, Defence Minister, or to Mr. Puckey, Civil Commissioner. The message is from Tawhiao, and is, I believe, to the effect that he will consent to the opening up of Ohinemuri on receipt from the Government of the sum of £5000. The Kingites, in consequence of the recent military events and the practical closing of their country, are getting very hard-up, and are therefore most likely to do anything for a sum of ready money in hand. The recent action of Te Hira in trafficking for his land has broken up the confidence hitherto subsisting amongst those opposed to the leasing or letting of the lands.

Lightning killed a Mormon at Salt Lake, and threw upon the market a fine assoitment of widows of all ages and conditions!

Triß following appears in the Melbourne*" Argus of the 9th inst :— " We, the under-", signed, having been requested by Messrs. M'Meckan, Blackwood, and Co., have this day visited the steamship Claud Hamiltou, and examined the flax which was stowed in the fore hold. We have carefully examined the same, and have had several bundles taken out of the centre ofthe bales, which have all been fouud perfect, with no appearance of heating, although the outsides have been burning, and on examining the two bales of greasy wool which have been opened, we find the wool so hot that it cannot be handled, aud we report our opinion that the wool had taken fire spontaneously, and communicated the same to the flax. — (S'gneJ) Samual Picken, William t-. EO RGE Gkave, Daniel M'Calltjm, Marine Surveyors to the Merchant Shipping and Underwriters' Association.