MR. TRAVERS AT THORNDON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4985, 15 March 1877, Page 2

MR. TRAVERS AT THORNDON.

Mr. Travers addressed a well - attended meeting of the electors of the city at the Princess Hotel, Thordon, last evening. Shortly after 8 o'clock Mr. George Allen was voted to the chair, and introduced the candidate, who was received with cheers. ' Mr. Tbavebs said he had felt it to be his duty, as there was no public hall where all the electors could be brought ; together, to hold meetings in different parts "of the city. He had already addressed "the electors at St. : George's Hall at some length, and it was therefore difficult • to find ■• any new subject for discussion, but a 'happy thought had occurred to him to-night as he came near to the Native Hostelry—that he had not at previous meetings said a word on the Native question, and he would, therefore, now say a few words on that important subject. He believed that there was no ground for thinking that the peace between the two races, which had been"~t;stablished mainly owing to Sir Donald McLean's policy, was likely to be disturbed, but there were difficulties and complications in connection with * native land tenure, which it was - very desirable, in the interests of the : progress and settlement of the should be removed. He had lately visited the Hot Lake district in the province of Auckland; a portion of the cfeuntry well worth seeing for-the picturesque and wonderful. . He observed in that locality a large native population and* a very small European one. There was also very-little cultivation —only just about enough to-supply- the-natives-with - potatoes- -There were no cows, and the-guesta at Ite hotel were actually supplied with preserySS -milk from Switzerland. Meat and bread and clothing had to be imported from ' a distance of, forty or fifty miles, and all this 'was because the district- was, as it were, placed under a ban, which prevented its being beneficially occupied by Europeans.,' The district was to all intents and purposes a desert, 'and it was a painful reflection that such was the case to any one who had the interest of the country at heart. He did not blame the Government for the present state 'of "things, for he knew the difficulties which existed in the matter ; but'he did think that if the were" left to deal with their lands as ; they pleased, unfettered by unnecessary and ridiculous trammels, the progress of settlement \ would be advanced. He'would liketd see the whole of this grand country open to European occupation. He strongly objected to lands being shut up for an indefinite time, as they were at Poverty Bay, where a large quantity of land was acquired by a-class of pakeha Maoris, who did not exercise abeneficial interest in the neighborhood. He believed the Government'was anxious to promote the settlement of the country, and he considered that it was very desirable the native title should be individualised,--and the-boundaries of their lands should be defined as soon as possible. An influential native chief, living at Obine* mutu, had pointed out to him that the old men were dying out, and that their ancient, customs were giving way to more"modern notions. He might say> that he had acted iu ; accordance ■ with Sir . Donald -. McLean, and had drafted the Native Frauds Prevention Act; which the latter;had suggested. The native question was an important one,, and its importance was known only to i comparatively & few. He should like to see the Maoris released from tie systent o£

tutelage which had t«?? adopted toward them/and that they should be placed on the game footing as the Europeans in regard to S.g with their lands. He took it to be the autyof all the members of the Assembly to unite to reduce to order the disorganisation produced by the abolition of the provinces. He looked upon the present Government as a compromise of parties, and was prepared to rive it a general support. He believed that if all the provinces had managed their affairs as well as Wellington, they would probably have survived; but in some other provinces things had been so badly managed that they stunk in the nostrils of the reop'j Provincialism, however, had been abolished, and it would not be revived. He believed it to be the duty of those whom the people sent Into Parliament to represent them, to simplify the new state of things. He pointed out the expense of the county iystem as it now'existed, with its paid chairman, its clerks, surveyors, iterates &c, and it looked as if the road boards which were very useful bodies, would be either swallowed by the counties, or would swallow them. The Hutt people were going to take the bull by the horns and abolish their road board. There was great difficulty caused by the complexity of the Counties Act, but the General Government could not take the control of the local affairs throughout the county into its own hands. They must be left to the local bodies. In reference to the question of surveys, he told them that injustice had been done to Mr. Henry Jackson, to whom a great debt of gratitude was owing; and an injury was being inflicted on the province in the removal of certain surveyors from Wellington. Statements that had been made in some of the newspapers in reference to the matter he believed were not true. If they elected him as their member he pledged his word he would have this question inquired into, and those who were of opinion that such an inquiry should not be made, had better not vote for him. He should repeat this at every meeting. He wished every one to know that he went to the Assembly—if he were elected—

pledged to have this inquiry, and if he found he was wrong in what he said, he would resign. He had been misrepresented as to what he had said about public works. He was.not opposed to a properly orga ised system : eA public works, as had been stated ; but they otfght to be carefully and economically carried out. Now, looking at the Hntt railway, no oompetent engineer would have taken the line snaking in and out of every little hollow, instead of carrying it out in a straight direction. A portion of the Auckland and Kaipara railway had also been laid eut in the " first instance by someone who did not know very much of the work of laying out railways, and it was afterwards found by Mr. Carrutbers that by certain deviations being made in that line of twentyfour miles,-a saving of between £20,000 and £30,000 could be effected. Then there was the'Picton and Blenheim line, which was made for the purpose of political support. He-did not object, and never had objected, to useful and necessary public works; but he did object to those constructed for political objects alone. He did not believe there had been personal corruption in the Parliament of New Zealand ; but there had been corruption in promoting the interests of particular districts. He believed the Ministers of the colony had been earnest and honest, and that not one of them had soiled his fingers with public money. He believed the taking away the patronage of the Civil Service from the Government was very desirable,, and that the flume system should be adopted here aa in England. An elector asked Mr. Travers if he had drafted the Corporation Act, aud if he would try to amend it, especially as regarded the clauses relating to the formation of private itreets ? Mr. Travers said he had not drafted the Act. In Borne respects he did not approve of it, and It was susceptible of improvement. But it was good in principle. He was of opinion that people who wanted private streets made through their property should pay for them. The elector who put the question said he was not satisfied with the answer, and should not vote for Mr. Travers. Mr. Travers aaid the gentleman could please himself about that, but for one who Tot»d against him he believed two would vote lor him. In reply to other questions, Mr. Travers laid he did not see any good reason for altering the constitution of the Upper House. He would like to see the nucleus established of an efficient militia and volunteer force, but was not at all sure that the present was thebest way to attain that object. It was more likely to degenerate into a mere shooting club. Mr. Keisterer asked if Mr. Travers was in favor of a pension being given to Sir Julius Vogel if his health failed ? Mr. Travers said he should refuse to answer questions put fay a person who had leconded a vote of confidence in the other candidate the previous night. It was not a proper question to put to a candidate. It was a question for the Government, aDd was provided for by the Government regulations. Sir Julius Vogel, if {incapacitated from duty by ill health, would be entitled to a pension for past services, in the same way as a soldier incapacitated by wounds. Mr. KowEmoved, and Mr.DuNCAN seconded, » vote of confidence in Mr. Travers as a fit and proper person to represent the constituency in Parliament. The vote of confidence was put and carried. 'Mr. Travers returned thanks, and said he hoped they would give practical effect to their expression of opinion by supporting him at the ballot box. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. _^