The Oamaru Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1053, 4 September 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1879.

Wjiks Sir George Grey sod liis party acceded to power the reason for such a change was the corruption of which their predecessors had been guilty. It was not to be expected that Major Atkinson and his colleagues would take their beating quietly, nor did they. No sooner had their successors settled themselves in their scats than the vanquished and disgraced leaders of the routed party indulged in the vilest and most untruthful charges of wrong doing against the individual members of the Government. Mr. Ormond's charge against the Premier was one of the mo3fc flagrant of these, and, although circumstantial to a degree, the accuser was, after a thorough investigation of the matter, condemned as having raised an accnaation which ha<l no existence in fact, and that wilfully, as it appearcd, to gain present political arid future private advantage. Every charge of corruption against Sir George Grey and his party only confirmed the confidence of Parliament and the people in those men. Finding that similar charges to those which were made against them, were proven beyond doubt, and ended in their being driven from the Treasury benches, would not apply to Sir George Grey and his colleagues, the Opposit too had recourse to other expedients. They, during their reign, had introduced measures into the House containing principles of mock liberality, whilst others, like the Native Land Bill, would have enabled them to re-commence the old system of despoiling the Colony by robbing it of its land. The then Opposition—the Grey party —would not lend themselves to assisting through either the one or the other. What they wanted was genuinely liberal measures. The Atkinson Government were not prepared to give them these, whilst they were introducing important measures containing opposite principles in the interests of their friends. Now, when the Government introduced liberal measures last session, they were twitted with enunciating the very principles that were embodied in the measures of their predecessors, which they rejected. This was believed by a number of newly-Bedgcd hon. members, who had never studied politics in their lives until they came forward as candidates in the interests of the Grey Government. They were well stuffed by the Opposition, and voted against the party whose name they filched in order to obtain Parliamentary honors, and, in some instances, advantages for themselves or their particular concerns. The cry now is that the Grey party have proved themselves incapable of administering the government of the Colony. We know that that was the cry by which they were by a small majority beaten by the Oppcaitioo. But the leaders of the Opposition—the remnants of the former Government—were the last men that should have brought forward such an accusation. Whilst wc cannot call to mind a single instance in which the Grey Government were guilty q! a grave offence against the country, we can remember, with feeling 3 of deep sympathy for ourselves and our fellow colonists, who arc endeavoring to make homes for themselves and families in this Colony by industry, that acts of rapine were committed and allowed to be committed by the Governments that preceded Sir George Grey's administration. Wc can remember that, when somewhat checked in their malpractices, they claimed that the country required political rest, whilst it was pining from inaction, except amongst the despoilers of our landed estate in the North. Southerners say that they know nothing of these thingv. Is not the popularity of Sir George Grey and his party in the North a pretty clear indication of the correctness of the charges, and if correct, have we not all been robbed * To come nearer home. What about the gridironing of the Canterbury runs I The Opposition, when in power, winked at this. Was it right to attempt to take "political rest" whilst such thing 3 were bang perpetrated all over the Colony ? Here is a description of how the delicate operation of gridironing was managed The land law of Canterbury gave to every man the right to select any unpurchased Jam! before or after survey, provided that, for convenience of survey, he must not select 1«33 »»"»" 20 acres. A certain frontage was required, with a corresponding depth, and both were fixed by law. Sections were laid out along a rood, consisting

of 20 acres and 19J acres alternated. The twenty-acre sections were all purchased, and when the fanner went to the Land Office to select these he was told that not less than twenty-acre sections could be purchased, so that the vacant block could not be sold, and so on with every block. The person attempting to buy the land at length abandoned the idea in disgust, and the gridironer got the use of nearly twice the extent of land he purchased. An inner boundary of sections was so arranged that the roads ran from each corner of the boundary, meeting in a point and forming a triangle, and thus no section of the required depth could be taken along the roads in the direction of the boundary. Thus another large block of land was added to the estate, which, under the law, was shut out against purchase by the public and used by the gridironer. Are the men that were capable of permitting the continuance of such robbery, because they prized their popularity with the squattcre of Canterbury and their seats on the Treasury benches, worthy of belief when they malign Sir George Grey. We go further, and say that every one of them should share the fate that is in store for Sir William Fox as the penalty of their criminal conduct, and that every man that countenanced them in the least degree should be condemned to Parliamentary death.

It has been rumoured in town during the last two or three days that Mr. Steward's meeting, announced for this evening, will be a noisy one, and that that gentleman will not be accorded the patient hearing that was accorded to Messrs Hislop and Shrimski on Tuesday evening last. What is implied by this rumour?— That the advocates of Liberalism and supporters of Mr. Steward's opponents will sadly misbehave themselves and belie the principles they profess. These rumours cannot have emanated from Messrs. Hislop and Shrimski's supporters, and they arc not creditable to those who have promulgated them so industriously, whoever they maybe. We are reluctantly led to believe that we may justly assert, regarding these rumours, that the wish was father to the thought, and that there are those who would view the annoyance of Mr. Steward to-night as a political victory. They would like the friends of Messrs. Hislop and Shrimski to degrade themselves so that it might be inferred that their cause is of such a weak kind that it needs bolstering up by recourse to such disreputable tactics. We are sure that it is nothing of the kind. The cause of true Liberalism is such that it can afford to give the greatest amount of latitude to its opponents, and that unshackled discussion will do it more good than harm. We cannot believe, therefore, that it is intended by Messrs. Hislop and Shrimski's supporters to annoy Mr. Steward this evening, and thus give those of the opposite side an opportunity for gaining sympathy and perhaps additional support for that gentleman.

Electors should bear in mind that they must vote to-morrow between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Working men will therefore probably have to take advantage of their dinner hour.

We tender our thanks to those correspondents who have kindly sent us reports of the varions political meetings that have lately been held throughout the district. If we have not inserted all these it is because we have already received similar information from other sources and published it. Wc have been informed that some of the country electors are impressed with an idea that they can vote for only one candidate. They can vote for two, and should vote for two. No voter should resort to the system of "plumping" in connection with the present election. They might by such means succeed in getting one of their men in, but they might aiso shut out another who is just as great a favorite with them. Voters should draw their pens through only one name. A Cave Valley correspondent sends us the following :—Messrs. Uislop and Shrimski addressed the electors of \\ eston last night. There was not a very large attendance, owing to the darkness of the night, but it was much larger than that which Mr. Steward addressed. -The chair having been taken by Mr. K. Meek, the candidates proceeded to address the electors. They spoke well and with telling effect, Mr. Hislop especially making the clap-trap sophistry of Mr. Steward apparent in all its grossness. After the address, a number of questions were asked and answered to the satisfaction of all present, the sectarians excepted. One member of a prominent church made himself rather demonstrative, but his action, I observed, was not approved of by certain others of his own faith. Let him and those who think with him remember Mr. C. C. Bowen, of Kaiapoi, and draw a moral as to the value of promises. A vote of confidence was proposed, seconded, and carried almost unanimously, and with a vote of lhanks to the chair the meeting terminated. The usual monthly meeting of the Kakanni Road Board was held yesterday afternoon, when there were present— Messrs. Gilchrist (in the chair), Elder, Gcmraell, M'Donald, M'Auly, Morton, Walker, Meek, Thomson, Aikenhead, and Oliver (Engineer). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. A letter was read from the Municipal Council with reference to the damage done to Chelmerstreet by contractors carting metal over it, and asking the Board to make arrangements for keeping the road in repair while the contractors were using it. The Board declined to entertain the proposal. A report having been read with reference to the proposed direct road to Incholme, some discussion took place, and it was resolved, "That Mr. Meek and the Engineer be appointed to visit the ground and wait on the several proprietors, and to report at next meeting." The Board then proceeded to consider the question of the rate for the current year, and it was resolved that members should at the next meeting bring up lists of the works required in their sub-divisions. The tender of Mr. D. Heron for contract No. 59 was accepted, the amount being L 257 16s. No tenders having been received for contract No. 60, it was decided to again advertise the work. On the motion of Mr. Thomson, seconded by Mr. Aikenhead, it wa3 decided to make an application to the County Council to take over the Beach road from Oamaru to Kakanui Mouth, an amendment to the contrary moved by Mr. Meek and seconded by Mr. Gemraell being lost. Mr. Elder gave notice that at the next meeting he would move that where contracts exceed LIOO, the deposit be reduced from 10 per cent, to 5 per cent. Accounts amounting to L 209 83 3d were passed for payment, and the meeting terminated. The fortnightly meeting of the Municipal Council will be held this evening. The monthly meeting of the Mechanics' Institute Committee will be held at half-past 7 o'clock this evening.