WESTERN DISTRICT.

Southland Times, Issue 1755, 17 June 1873, Page 3

WESTERN DISTRICT.

(prom a correspondent.)

A large company assembled on Monday last, 9th June, at Messrs Bath and Hopcroft's accommodation house, Gummie's Bush, partly, no doubt, to attend Messrs G. TF. Martin and Co's, sale of stock, and partly to hear Mr Basstian's address to the electors. The settlers would have been present I believe in still larger numbers, but for the disgraceful state of the roads. The neglect ofthe roads by the Government has long been a sore point wifch the inhabitants of the Western District. The " forty miles of railway" Southland boasts of may well be considered to have been made to a great extent with money which should have been expended on the roads of this district, and if ever it is sold to the General Government it is to be hoped that a large share of the price will be expended in remedying this injustice.

Mr Basstian, after a few preliminary remarks, adverted to thia qucentio vexata, which appears to be the Alpha and Omega of the present moment. The roads had been long and grossly neglected. Last session he had moved that they should be inspected in July, and reported on as to the condition they were in at that time of year. He believed that they were examined, and specifica tions prepared, but nothing more was done. Tenders should be called for early in the season, so that contractors might get their work finished in the good weather. Much of the neglect ol Provincial matters he believed arose from the fact thafc many of the members of the Executive were a^so members of the House of Representatives, and as soon as the session of Council was over they had to leave for the Assembly. He was favorable to immigration. The country wanted population. Immigrants should be liberally treated. About 184* immigrants had been nominated to be landed at the Bluff for various parts of Southland, and they should not be charged a further sum of £2 each for their passages from Port Chalmers. He had moved that this money Bhould be refunded. With regard

to the land question, there was always a class of men ready to make political capital out of it. lie had opposed part ing with the unsold laud in hundreds at an upset price of 10s per acre. Ifc would have been taken up by large capitalists as a speculation, and much of ifc had since been sold to settlers at 20s an acre. Mr Reid's Executive wished to fix the price of land on deferred payments afc 30s. He (Mr Basstian) voted against this, and it was reduced to 255. Land should be used for purposes of settlement, aot parted with in large blocks for purposes of finance. The greatest offenders agaiusfc this sound principle had been the Keid Executive ; wituesi the Moa Flat sale, and others. For his own part he was more an agricultural settler than a squatter, and the want of a largo settled population was his misfortune, as it reduced the value of his property. The Stafford party liad not shown themselves favorable to extensive public works, but lie believed that judicious expenditure in that direction was the surest way to attract population, encourage trade, and promote prosperity. He and Mr Daniel had been at some trouble iv looking up the 5000-acre vote for the Otautau rail way, and the 10 0-acre vote for the Wallacetown road, and in consequence of their exertions these votes were now in a fair way of being expended, Mr Basstian then announced that he would be happy to answer any questions which might be put to him by electors. Mr M'lntyre wished to know whether Mr Basstian regarded the late action of the Superintendent as constitutional ? Mr Basstian replied that he considered it perfectly constitutional. It had been endorsed by tbe Acting Governor, Chief Justice Sir George Arney, who should understand such matters.

In reply to other questions, Mr Basstian stated that he thought the Superintendent should have power to dismiss any Executive he did not approve of ;that members ofthe Executive should not be members of Assembly ; that Provincial Government was gradually coming to an end. The TExecutive proposed by Mr Reid were unworthy of the confidence of the Council, and did not even enjoy the confidence of their own party. Mr Basstian here read extracts from various published documents, showing that the majority were acting together last session from a variety of motives, and not on any fixed common principle. Mr Daniel then addressed the meeting, bearing testimony to Mr Basstian's untiring and successful exertions in the Council on behalf of the district. Mr Nurse moved a vote of confidence in Mr Basstian, as a fit and proper person to represent the district. This was seconded by Mr Petchell. Mr M'Callum moved and Mr M'lntyre seconded an amendment to the effect that the meeting express no opinion on the matter. This amendment was negatived, and Mr Nurse's motion carried. Mr John Cumming then stated that he had been requested to become a candidate for the representation of the Aparima district. He would be present at the day of nomination, prepared to answer any questions to the best of his ability. Personally he had no great desire for the position of a representative, but should he be returned he would do his best. He would, however, be quite satisfied to see Mr Basstian elected.