DINNER TO SIR DONALD McLEAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4258, 12 November 1874, Page 2

DINNER TO SIR DONALD McLEAN.

Napier, Wednesday. The dinner to Sir Donald McLean at the Criterion Hotel, yesterday evening, was a great success. The Superintendent and about eighty gentlemen were present, including the most influential settlers of the neighborhood, and residents of the town. The chairman was Mi - . J. Rhodes, M.F.C. The health of the Governor having been drunk. Sir Donald McLean took the opportunity of expressing his regret at His Excellency’s approaching departure, and bore testimony to the zeal and ability with which Sir James Fergusson had discharged his important duties.

Sir Donald McLean, in returning thanks for the toast of his health, said, in allusion to the chairman’s mention of the honor conferred upon him by Her Majesty, that he. was most proud of it, and all the moro as it had been given without any solicitation on his part, or recommendation from the colony, and as it happened while he was one of the representatives of the province of Hawke’s Bay. He then spoke of the public works of the colony, and of tbe necessity for a colonising policy at the time when the party « with which he was appointed took office, and dwelt on the importance of opening up the country by roads and railways. Of the former, there were now open or in progress over 1700 miles ; of railways, there were 103 miles open, and altogether the trunk and branch hues would extend over 1000 miles. He instanced the remunerative character of the Australian railways, which were constructed at an expense far above what those of New Zealand cost, and stated that the traffic returns of the New Zealand railways were already above their working expenses and gave ample hopes for the future. He mentioned the initiation of railways in Canterbury by Mr. Mom-house, and remarked that the experience of those lines showed that the further railways penetrated into a country the better they would pay. In reference to the telegraph, he said that one of the causes .of his visit to Australia was to give effect to the results of the colonial conference, and to connect New Zealand by submarine cable with the rest of the world. Goldmining interests were then alluded to. These, said Sir Donald, the Ministry had not neglected, considering as they did the importance of a population which had exported twenty-nine millions worth of gold. With reference to immigration, he said that what with the immigrants landed and those now on the seas, it was not too much to say that before the end of the year there would be 50,000 immigrants in New Zealand brought in under the Immigration Acts. On the subject of the abolition of the northern provinces he declared himself a firm supporter of the project, and gave extracts from despatches from Earl Grey and Sir J. Pakington, which proved that Home statesmen, on the formation of the Provincial Councils, looked upon them as doomed to merge into municipal institutions. He stated that the country districts had been much neglected, and sketched out what were the broad principles of the Government in view of the proposed change, namely, that local receipts should, as far as possible, be devoted to local purposes; that road boards, or shire councils, or whatever name might be given to them, ..oLouia -have the control of local expenditure. In raet, when vhe provinces were abolished, no one would miss them. He then referred, as an example, to the part played by the Provincial Council of Wellington towards Hawke’s Bay, before the separation, stating that the Hawke’s Bay portion of the province had contributed some £75,000 to the provincial revenue, while nothing more than an insignificant sum had been spent within it. Hawke’s Bay still remained charged with the interest for a portion of the Wellington debt. Another feature connected with the Public Works Act was the acquisition of a landed estate for the Northern Island, for which £700,000 had been authorised. He could inform his hearers that already, what with negotiations completed and in progress, over seven millions of acres were being obtained; and he reminded them that under the old land purchase system six and a half millions of acres had become colonial property. Passing to finance he said that much misapprehension existed, the real facts being that previously to 1869 the Colonial and Provincial debt was over seven millions, and that at the end of September last the total indebtedness was £12,409,546. In addition to this, he stated that there was authorised, hut not yet raised, a sum of £5,750,800, and in hand at that date a balance of £286,168 ; so that although the total indebtedness would come to £18,160,346, there were yet £6,036,968 unraised and unexpended. When the whole was raised, the total annual charge would be £921,447. The future of the colony was such as not to allow of any fear on account of this debt. In regard to the Native question, Sir Donald said he did not believe in continuing in warfare with a fine chivalrous race whenever proper means of conciliation were available. He believed more in educating than in fighting. Of course he had in his position suffered some obloquy on account of his views and policy, but he could afford to ignore all that when his conscience satisfied him that he was following the more humane and proper course. He quoted different returns of past native expenditure, showing how it had ranged as high as £60,000 a year ; and told his audience that at present native schools absorbed a third of the native expenditure. He recognised the services performed by friendly chiefs and tribes, and their assistance, and made some graceful allusions to the officers connected with his department. He then brought up the social Acts introduced since 1869, such as the Land Transfer Act, the Annuities and Insurance Act, and the Public Tx-ust Act, and resumed his seat amidst long and continued applause.

Mr. Oemond explained at length his reasons for voting for the abolition of the provinces. He had always been in favor of it. His reasons in 1861 were the same as now. Tinder the provincial system there was clashing in native affairs ; there was injury to the colony from different land laws ; education was neglected, as well as gaols, hospitals, and asylums. They had now adopted a borrowing policy. Provincial members were apt to logroll for the benefit of the provinces against the interest of the colony. The provinces, excepting Otago, Canterbury, and Hawke’s Bay were supported by the General Government, and it was necessary to do justice to the outlying districts. In reference to himself, he had, ho said, done his best for the province, but had never placed its interests over those of the colony. He had made a great sacrifice for the province, and had relinquished his position as Minister of Public Works to get Hawke’s Bay out of its difficulties. The speech was very able, and Mr. Ormond sat down amid loud cheers.