MR WOOD'S MEETING.

Southland Times, Issue 584, 29 October 1866, Page 2

MR WOOD'S MEETING.

According to announcement Mr Wood M. H. E. met his constituents at the Theatre Royal on Friday eveninsr the 90th Octoher, to explain his procedings vhilst nt Wellington. Mr Jabez Hay occupied the chair. Mr "Wood said that he had deemed it his duty to call the electors of Invereargill together that he might give them an vcount of his stewardship, of what he had done. After a few preliminary remarks, he 'mve an outline of the business of the ■'fssion, remarking that during the first f 'W days the time of the members was •hiefly taken up by forms and ceremonies. He however made the most of his opportunities and saw His Excellency the Governor and the head of the Government, Mr Stafford, and urged the claims of Southland for their consideration. He was very well received, and His Excellency told him that he had cautioned Mr Stafford to be very careful in what he did, but neither held out much hope of being able to materially assist us. Referring to the Rnilway Investigation Petition, — he said, after a short study of the feelings of the members of the Government, I could not but that it would have a very cool reception, and not receive much consideration. •Vntn either the Government or the I House, that there was little sympathy with Southland, as the prevailing belief was that all its difficulties had been brought about by the inhabitants themselves. However, the petition was presented by Mr Dillon Bell, and I moved for a commission to investigate and report upon the allegations set forth in that document. I then gave a geographical description of the Province, the want of metal for roads, and the necessity for railways ; pointed out the mismanagement of the railways ; and that the unaccoutable action taken on a previous session to raise the price of land, had the effect of stopping the land sales, compelling the Provincial Government to suspend the the railway works, and giving the contractor a claim for compensation. I pointed out that no Provincial enquiry would be deemed satisfactory by thepeople of Southland. The motion, however, was not well received, and at the request of tfie Hon. Mr Stafford, I withdrew the resolution, reserving the right of bringing ; t on again at a latter period of the ses--ion. I intended to bring it on again when the Petition Committee brought up report, but that was not forthcoming. There is, however, a probability that \. member of the Executive will shortly visit Invercargill, and I suggested that he should hold an enquiry. In this I was unsuccessful, the Hon. Mr Stafford i":marking in the House that it was purely a Provincial matter. Mr "Wood then reviewed the debate on the Separation resolutions of Mr Whitaker. He pointed out that the Government were strongly opposed to Separation in any shape or form, and that the general feel- ; ng of the House was, that the Auckland resolutions were not equitable ; and Mr Dick, the Superintendent of Otago, moved a series of amendments, having for their object the making of Mr Whitaker' s motion applicable to the whole colony. I voted for these amendments. There was a great debate upon them. Some able speeches were delivered, and a great deal of small talk indulged in. However, these resolutions went into committee and a week after I had voted for them I voted against them. This may appear inconsistant, but it was not. In the interval I founi that the Separation sought to be obtained, was in reality annexation. — that Southland was to be forced into a union with Otago in spite of itself. This I objected to, it may become a necessity that such a union should be formed, but I desired at the present time to avoid it. This was the reason why I voted against Separation a week after I had voted for it. Separation in some shape or other is likely to be carried next session. The present policy of the General Governinentis to bribe at an immense cost, in an indirect way the Maories, such as by the appointment of native assesors, interpreters, and the like, a system which is generally condemned by the members for the Middle Island. Mr Wood at some length dissected the budget of the first Stafford Miuistry, pointing out carefully the defects of the financial scheme of Mr Jollie, the then Treasurer, but did not bring forth any information in excess of what has Ipng since been placed before our readers. The downfall of that Ministry was also described, but no fresh matter was imported in addition to what has been already published and discussed by the Southland press. He then referred to the Stamp Duties. He voted for them, hoping that by such a course Southland would get souie assistance. He also voted for the change in the postal rates, believing that the expense of this service was great and should be more self-supporting than it had been, and convinced that the change would not affect the poor man, but only that class who had much correspondence to send, and could afford to pay. He supported the revision of the Tariff convinced that it was an improvement on previous enactments. The Legislative Council Bill received his determined opposition. The Legislative Council was a nominee body, an imitation of the House of Lords of England. Not, however, content with the powers invested in, the aristocracy of Britain, the hon. members of the Legislative Council of New Zealand desired to obtain others of a more despotic character ; these measures he opposed. According to the British constitution it is legitimate for the Queen, in Council to create new Peers when it is deemed necessary, but the hons. of the JSTew Zealand Upper House, cannot tolerate this. They desire to be limited in numbers, and to retain all power in their own hands ; this bill I opposed, and I have pleasure in stating that it was not carried. Mr Wood then alluded to the efforts that had been made to induce the General Government to appropriate 100,000 acres of land, for the purpose of constructing a Southland main trunk line

of Kailway» He stated that in addition to the four representatives for Southland, Messrs Holmes and Menzies, members of the Legislative Council, hid formed a deputation to wait on Mr Stafford and induce him to sanction the land appropriation desired. In this we were unsuccessful. The deputation then urged upon the G-eneral Government the desirability of the claim of Messrs Kattray and Co., being at once settled. The reply was that it was under consideration, and they did not think the claim good, or that Uattray and Co., had ! a leg, as the lawyers would say, to stand upon. With regard to the appropriation of land, Mr Stafford did not think it could be done without a special bill, and that would be detrimental to the interests of the public creditors of the colony generally. The deputation, feeling that they had not the sympathy of the House, could not press the matter further. With reference to the delay in the issue of Crown Grants, he (Mr Wood) had received a letter signed by several of his constituents, calling his attention to this grievance. He at once went to Mr Domett, the head of the department. He was most graciously received, and that gentleman stated to him that the delay could not have arisen in his office : that there were four Crown grants which had been some time in the office, but these were detained owiug to irregularities in the drawing up. In one instance the party to whom the grant should be issued was dead ; in another the party was not to be found, and no power of attorney from him had been produced ; the third was of a similar character ; and the fourth was found to contain no less than twenty-one mistakes, and was sent back for correction, but the second copy came back worse than the first — the plan on the margin of the secoud being inconsistent with that on the first. Mr Domett however, had instructed that the *plan on the first should be cut out and pasted on that oi the second. He (Mr Wood) did not think that such a Crown Grant should ever be issued. He did not wish to fix the blame of the vexatious delay that had been experienced in this matter upon any one ; but, if his information was correct, it was to be attached to the Invercargill office. Another subject of some importance he (Mr Wood) then commented upon. It held reference to the appointment oi the Inspector of Bankruptcy. He received a letter from the hon. Mr Stafford, enclosing one from the Inspector of Bankruptcy — who had sent in a claim amounting to £550 made up as follows : — Salary, £300 ; clerical assistance, £100 ; rent of offices and contingent items, £150. This he considered exorbitant; and pointed out the grounds for his belief, and got it reduced to £250. The next subject was the Southland Debt Amendment Act. When that was brought forward he did all in his power to get the conditions as favorable to Southland as possible. The united exertions of the Southland members were so far successful a3 to obtain a clause in the amendment handing over the pastoral rents to the Province, provided the land sold freely. He had also again tried to get the appropriation of the 100,000 acres of land for internal communication, but had not been successful. Mr Wood then explained the steps he had taken to obtain a reduction in the Bluff marine charges, commented upon the Confiscated Lands Act, the Panama mail service, and various other matters brought before the House, on" which our readers are already well informed. Several questions were put to the hon. member, which he answered. He said he was still in favor of Separation, but as yet he could not define the description. A vote of confidence in Mr Wood, terminated the proceedings.