MR. IZARD AT PAHAUTANUI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5740, 22 August 1879, Page 3

MR. IZARD AT PAHAUTANUI.

(FROM 9UR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) According to notice, Mr. Izard attended a public meeting of the electors of Pahautanui in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening. Between twenty and thirty persons were present, and no doubt there would have been a great many more but for the inclemency of the weather.

Mr. Goldfinch was elected to the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate. Mr. Izard said he had the honor of coming forward to solicit their votes for the forthcoming election, and if they did him the honor of returning him as their representative in Parliament, he would do all in his power for the benefit of the country generally, and that of his constituency in particular, which he considered had been sadly neglected in the past. He did not approve of Sir George Grey's Ministry, although some of the measures brought forward by them were good ; but what he complained of was, that there were too many promises made, which were not fulfilled. He was in favor of steady reform and triennial Parliaments. He also considered it was necessary to make an alteration in some of the electoral districts : for instance, our own constituency numbered 800 voters, and returned only one member. He thought the district should be either subdivided, or that two members should be returned for it, —not only on account of the number of voters, but because the country was the producing part, and was therefore the bone and sinew of the colony. He was also in favor of a property and income tax. The poor man was taxed enough already, while many rich men escaped, and he should like to see the burden more equally borne. He begged to assure them that, if returned, he should make the wants of the district his first consideration, and would make it his especial duty to push forward the West Coast railway. He thought a mistake was being made in taking the line across the harbor and through the Pukerua, and considered that it should be taken through the portions of country already settled upon ; and if there were no engineering difficulties, he should be in favor of its coming through Pahautanui and the Horokiwi Valley. He was also muck surprised that there was no telegraph office at Pahautanui. He had noticed the wires erected along the line of road on his journey up, and on inquiry had found out that there was no telegraph office between Wellington and Otaki. He considered it was absurd to request a guarantee for a certain amount from the settlers, as telegraph offices were erected without a guarantee in many places of less importance than Pahautanui. He also considered that a road should be opened up between this place and the Upper Hutt. He understood that there was only about three or four miles of road to be made from the end of the Small Farm Settlement, and £IOOO had been placed on the Estimates for it. He thought these were all questions that should occupy the attention of the member who was returned, and it he had the honor of being elected by them, they might rest assured that he should exert himself more energetically than their late member had done. He had nothing to say against Mr. Brandon. He was a good man in his profession, and very much respected. He was on friendly terms with him, and he felt confident that whatever was the result of this contest, it would make no difference between them in that respect. But he could not help saying that Mr. Brandon had been very neglectful of their interests in the House. It frequently happened that a division upon important qcestions took place, and—“ Gentlemen of the Jury"—Mr. Brandon was not there. (The meeting here indulged in a hearty laugh in which Mr. Izard joined, and explained that the slip occurred from the force of habit.) He would now conclude by thanking them for their attendance, and would be willing to answer any questions which they might wish to put to him. No questions were asked, and after a pause,

Mr. Galloway proposed, and Mr. McDonald seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr. Izard, and the meeting separated.