PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1903, 13 June 1889, Page 2

PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

MR S. BUXTON AT GERALDINE. Mr S. Buxton, M.H.K. for the Rangitata district, addressed his constituents at. the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Monday evening last. The hall was well filled. Mr W. S, Masltn, Chairman of the Town Boaid, occupied the chair, and introduced the speaker. Mr Buxton commenced by explaining why he had not addressed them previous to going to Wellington last session. Many of them probably knew the reason! it was greatly owing to the pressure of private business. He was just leaving his farm at the Rangitata and going to wlWe ho now resided, and he was very rafach pushed for time They might think that private business should not be allowed to interfere with .public interests, but he could net well meet them without doing an injury to himself and family. He should hare liked to have met theth very much. Another reason for not doing so was that a great many members were not addressing their constituents, and as the session bad been-a short one, and he bad very little to say to 'them, he hoped they would forgive him for aot meeting* them. The first matter he had to bring before them that evening was the HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID INSTITUTIONS BILL. At the first session he had urgent requests from the Geraldine end of his constituency to vote against the b>li, and equally urgent requests from the Ashburton end to vote in favor of it. He was thus in that position that he could not possibly do wrong and could not possibly do right, no matter how he voted, andif he tried to please his constituents tat Geraldine he would displease those at Ashburton, and vice versa. After due coa-, sideration he came io the conclusion tjlt vote for the second reading of the bill, and then when the bill was in committee of the whole House to vote, against the clause for Waimate, and vote for Ashburton. The bill, however, had not passed, and was still lying in abeyance. His own private opinion was that it would be best for every outlying district to have its cottage hospital in its own immediate neighborhood. He considered it very hard that people injured say in the Geraldine or Peel Forest district should have to be conveyed to say Temuka or Timaru. As for charitable aid, it was a very wide and extensive subject. There had been strong and very lengthy debates in the House, and gentleman bad stood up and declared that the farmers were the wealthiest class in the whole colony, and (hat they were the persona who should bear the cost of charitable aid. Then other gentlemen spoke of the farmers as being moat depressed and down-trodden, and struggling under their heavy burdens, just as it happened to suit the argument then before them, la his opinion the charitable aid question was one of very great interest. Some said that those who made the poor should support them. He considered that though the poor and weak did migrate to the towns, thoee who were rich and well able to support the poor migrated to the towns and their suburbs also. He did not consider the farmers caused the poor. The cause was to be found more in the towns than in the couotry. There were far too many hotels in the towns, and they muggr a great deal of the poverty. A man went into town with a nice little cheque earned in the country, and in a few days he was relieved of it, and had to go and ask a charitable friend to help him back into the country again. He thought if there were fewer of these institutions it would be better for the public, anil, the towns had far more right to support, the poor than the country had. The wandering poor caused a heavy tax to bo laid upon tha outlying districts. Many stationholders had sometimes from 5 to 20 of these swaggers calling at their stations for a night’s lodging, and, of course, they had to provide them with it, and supper and breakfast, too. He thought it would be better if some provision could bo made by Government for these unfortunate men, who were wandering to and fro in the country. Some would not work if they could get it, while others would be • only too willing to work for a very low wage if they could- only get it to do. BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS BILL; He noticed that there was a sad want of something * of a moral character torestrain the youth of the colony. Me had been at a - large banquet in Wellington where there was a very large number of young men, ranging from 15 to 20 years of age, and a more pitiable and disgraceful sight ho had never seen. In spite of tha presence of the Mayor of the town, tha Speaker of the House, Uhe Minister of Education, and others, they would not be quiet. They were the most unruly youths hebad ever seen. (Laughter.) What were called larrikins in their own district were nothing compared to them. = He attributed this state of things very greatly to the want of the Bible being read in the public schools. If they were taught to)y reverence the Word of God, they would 1 also reverence their superiors, and.would conduct themselyes like men, although they were youths. He would certainly be in favor of the. Bible being read ia schools, but he would have it read without comment, ami ho hoped to see the day when it would be so read.

THE LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Ibis Bill, wbiclicame before the House during last session, be looked upon as of vast importance to the colony. Ha had very little fault to find with it. There seemed to be some good in every clause of it. He did not consider it h's duty to oppose it in any way. The Bill provided for three different ways in which Government land could be purchased—first, for cash ; secondly, on perpetual lease; and, thirdly, on deferred payment. The perpetual leases had been preferred to each of the other clauses of the Bill. The cash purchases had been 63,644 acres j perpetual lease, 210,863 acres; deferred payment, 47,441 acres. These had been taken up by 464 selectors for cash, $25 for perpetual leases, and 336 for deferred payment. He thought there was one. very important reason why the perpetual leases were in most favor with the public. Most Englishmen liked to have a freehold of their own, but I© haye a freehold they must have the cash to purchase it with. One reason why the perpetual lease was preferred was because the seleclors had too jittlo money. A great many ware anxious to get upon the land in order to J obtain a livelihood for themselves andjAtheir families, and, this being a very oaiyV mode of getting upon the 1 mil, they had accepted it rather than go without a home. He considered it a grand system.

and one of the best things blv friend, the Hon. W. Rolleston, had ever brought forward, and he wished the whole of Few Zealand waa upon that principle. THE NATIVE LANDS .BILLS. These Bills caused a great deel of trouble in the House, but he considered they were of the utmost importance. They gave the Natives an opportunity of selling their own lands after a certain amount had been set aside for their support, so that they could not become paupers depending upon the State. They would have the opportunity of disposing of their lands lo anyone they with the proviso of the Frauds Protection Act, which prevented anyone taking undue advantage of the Maoris’ ignorance of the laws. During the session some 75, chiefs opposed the Bills, but he -/did not . think the Maoris as a whole wished to oppose theta. He considered they would bo of great benefit to the colony when carried onf. The natives held at least 3,000,000 acres of the very beet land in tbs colony. They held about .7,000,000 acres in all, but about 3,009,000 of it was really first-class land, and if this land was held by Europeans and industrious Natives it wou'd bo a very great blessing indeed to the colony. THE PAIR RENTS BILL

was another measure he considered to be of great importance to New Zealand. It had been thrown out by the Upper House. It had passed the Lower House without much objection, and was looked upon as a very ■necessary-measure, a measure asked for for several years, and of great value. When it had passed;the Lower House and went on to the Lands Committee they so mutilated it and struck out so many clauses that it was completely spoilt in the estimation of the Lower House, and Was reintroduced there again and placed nearly in its former position, nnd passed on to the Legislative Council. There, however, it was strongly opposed by most of the members and was thrown out, but he hoped it would be reintroduced, and yet become one of the laws of the land. This Bill affected certain individuals and their friends. The Harbour Boards, Educational Boards, and County Councils, were very much opposed te it, but he could not for his life see why they should be opposed to it, except on selfish grounds. A veiy great reason why it was opposed in the Upper House was because a great many gentlemen there held properties rented far too low, and a Fair Kent Bill would cause their rents probably to be raised too high to suit them. It could not beibdt'righti ■. What was fair between man and man must be right. A great many mao had taken,Up land in the towns for building purposes, and had erected useful buildings thereon, and would now sooner give the building up completely than have to keep the section. But when they applied for a reduction in the rent they were told “ Oh no, unless you file we wont take it. He thought it was hard that men should lay out their money in land, and building stores, &c., and then have to pay far more than they could make out of them. Then a great many were occupying reserves which they had tendered for when times were a great deal better, and they bad got into tradesmen’s books and were quite unable to

paly their tradesmen’s bills, and they had i and the reserves they had rented werb taken over by the boards after the tenant bad put all the improvements upon !t. These cases he thought very hard ones, the Bill would deal with them, and be thought it was unreasonable to object to it. To bis mind a Fair Rent Bill would be of very great good to the public generally, and it would be no harm in the end to thobbards under which the leases were let. LABOUR SETTLEMENTS. The iifxt subject ho wished to speak on was the Lnbour Settlements. A vote was naked for the sum of £IO,OOO to purchase land for labour settlements where Crown lands were not obtainable, in places where men could get partial employment, and where thsy would have « home of, say, from 5 to 10 acres to work upon tor the support of their families when they could not get full employment. This, ha • thought would be a very useful measure. It would be a grand thing for the colony if a part of the unallocated £70,000 could be set apart for the purchase of working men’s homes, tb see whether the plan would be approved of by the working people at large. It was of very great importance, as a great many men were leav. ing the colony who would stay if they . could get a chance of making a home for tbejanselves and their families. He quoted / frdip Haneard a portion of. the Premier’s \ speech oh the subject as follows : “ The reason the Government placed this vote upon the supplementary estimates was this. A yery large deputation—not a deputation from one side of the House but from both sides, consisting of men of practical knowledge of the country, not men who go'; simply by books and what they think, but good, practical gentlemen gentlemen waited upon me and /represented that this was a crying want, that a large number of settlers wore leavjng the colony, and that if the Bill were , given 1 effect to a very large number would remain and settle upon this land. Upon this the Government agreed to put the vote upon the supplementary estimates and ask the opinion ©£ the House upon it. It.was mp impression that Ibis would be done, r'These are the" reasons, and if the House chooses to throw out the rote, well and/good, but I think the House wl|l make a mistake in doing so. 1 think if we pass this vote it will retain a large number of settlers who will go away if it is not passed. It is a matter for the House, and I hope the Hopse will see its way clear to ' pass it. There, sir, I must leave it.” Mr Buxton said they had been debating upon this motion for many hours after midnight. -A great many gentlemen had retired, and they were foiling on hoping they ; would succeed. However, it was adjourned till the following day, when some of their friends who bad voted for the measure before o.ane and voted against them. He also quoted from Hansard a few lines spoken by Sir John Hail as follows With respect to the giving of my vote on the motion brought forward by Major Steward for the- purpose of purchasing a piece . of land at Waimate, he would explain why he had voted two ways.” He (Mr Buxton) said his reason for read«t ing those few words was to show that Sir Jl Hall made a great mistake here. Major Steward never suggested this. It was said by other gentleman Major Steward bad this in his mind, that a large block of land should-be' purchased on Mr Studholme's estate, but he could assure them

that Major Steward never proposed that. He (Mr Buxton) was present at each of the meetings. First a deputation waited on the Minister of Lands, and he promised to bring the matter before the Cabinet. He (the speaker) was present, and heard all that was said, and Major Steward never suggested anything like it. The money was to be left in the hands of the Government to lay out to the best advantage. If it succeeded, then « measure should be brought before the House, and passed through the House in the usual way and through the Upper House. This resolution would have been made law at once had it been passed in the lower chamber. It waa lost by one vole. They had 30 in favor of it and 32 against it. If one from the 32 had gone oyer to the other side the numbers would have been equal, and the Speaker would have given his casting vote in favor of the Government, and thus a noble resolution would have been made law, which would have been for the benefit of the working man. He did not say this because he wished to pander to the working mao. Not at all ! He respected both the poor and the rich, and would try and do bis best for all. He believed the rejection of the vote was a great mistake, and he hoped it would be re-introduced and made law. In the debate it was set forth as coming from the large landed proprietors. This was only a side issue. The large landed proprietors were against the vote, and he (the speaker) teld the House they would see where they would vote. He considered it was a hardship to the country, and ha should protest against it while he was in the House. (Loud applause). THE OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY BILL

Ho believed this bill should have been but a great many people did not think s*. They considered it wrong that a syndicate should have been formed to take possession of a large quantity of land in Central Otago to build a railway with. He considered it would bea grand thing for the colony if the bill bad been made law. He had read about the line, and had to a certain extent been to see for himself, and had formed the opinion that it would be for the good of New Zealand to have this line right through the centre of Otago. Il might,,be a greater benefit to Otago than io Auckland, but he thought it would be for the benefit of the whole of New Zealand. The Midland Railway was not as much good to Otago as to Canterbury and Westland. But why should Otago holdout against it! He thought when measures were brought forward for the benefit of the colony, whether midland, north, or south, ihe members should support them without those selfish feelings which seemed to take hold of them. Hia reasons for voting for the Otago Central Railway were that many men were now in the colony who were out of employment, and would be very glad to get employment. Some of them had a few pounds, and some a few hundreds, and they were going away to lay out their money elsewhere. There were hundreds of industrious men in the country who would like to get work, as well as a few loafers that many would point to and class with the working met). The Otago Central would have found employment for a great many of these men, and would have opened up the country, which will have to be opened up with borrowed money, which his hearers or their families would have to pay for by and by. A grand area of country would thus bo opened up by new railways, and would be taken up by settlers, while now only a few sheep and shepherds occupied it. It might not pay at first, but would assuredly do so in the end. Of course it would take away the holdings of some large landholders, but these only held their comfortable homes by permission of someone above them. Some of them upon whom poured so much contempt did not deserve the contempt poured upon them, but there were moneyed rings and capitalists absent on the Continent of Europe who were reaping the benefit of our soil which our own industrious class should reap, He believed in the Otago Central railway, and was firm in his conviction that the construction of the railway would be ot immense benefit to New Zealand, and whether they were opposed to it or not ha should go back to his place in Parliament and stand by those who wished to push it on. Ho bad no intention of altering his views upon the subject, unless he was convinced by arguments that he was wrong. (Loud applause). THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS. With regard to the number of members, be had said when seeking their suffrages that he would vote for a reduction to 70, .but when he heard the debates in the House and considered the matter thoroughly, over in Parliament, he was convinced he had made a mistake, and he altered his views respecting this. He considered the reduction would be playing into the hands of the Tory parly too much. He thought it would bo better and cheaper for the members to remain as they are. The reduction would be the means of placing the House in the bands of a few wealthy gentlemen, and men in ordinary circumstances would not be able to contest an election. A Bill was to come before the House to be called the Electoral BUI. He did not know in what form it would be brought in. Bethought it would provide for something like the Hare system of voting. He was not a prophet, but would make a speculative guess as to what was being aimed at by a great many of the legislators. The first thing was to get a Bill passed to reduce the number of members to 70. When that was done, and the members had come together, they would see what class of men they bad got, and if they had got the right number of their own standing and their own ideas they would then carry the Hare system of election. When they got this passed they wonld then alter the franchise, so that only men of property could vote- This was a very galling thing to many of our wealthy gentlemen. They don't like a man to have a right to vote on a' six months’ reeidencs qualification. If they could carry this measure then they would have a property qualification for voting. These were bis impressions, and he was noi afraid to speak them out before his hearer# and the country. He therefore asked them to excuse him for altering his opinions. Wbi'e they lived they had a right to alter their opinions. (Applause). RULES OF PROCEDURE. The Opposition had been condemned for opposing these roles, which the Premier brought down. He would explain their action. They wanted a part of the standing <rdere altered, and to Itave struck out other measures which they could not agree vgith in the propositions of the

Premier. A deputation of the Opposition waited on him and explained their views upon it. They asked him to strike out certain clauses which he had brought down and they would vole for him. The Premier sot his foot down hard and said “No, I will have it all or none.” They said, “Then Sir, you will get nothing,” and instead of remaining in the House they quietly withdrew, so that he could not bring it on for want of a quorum. This was the reason why the standing orders were not altered in accordance with the wishes of the Premier. The Opposition considered it would hove been against the interests of the country and Parliament if the whole of the views of the Premier had been carried out,

. THE RAILWAYS. Thera waa a very great complaint against the management of the railways, and certainly they were in a very unsatisfactory condition. He had tried every means be coold to induce the commissioners to alter the present arrangements but they seemed determined to try the course they had taken. The public had had statements put forth in the Geraldine Guardian, and it was shown clearly that it was more expensive to work the railways between Christchurch and Dunedin now than it was under the old time-table, and everyone would agree with him that from Ashburton to Timaru the public were very much inconvenienced by the present working of the railways. He expected they would be to a great degree, but did not expect they would be inconvenienced as they had been. He had a very high opinion of the railway commissioners, Messrs Maxwell and Hannay, and he considered if they had had more power given to them they would have done better. However, they had these gentlemen in power, and unless a bill was brought forward to repeal the Act they couldoot take the power out of their hands, but they could use their best endeavors to have the thing altered. Of Mr McKerrow he knew nothing, but believed the others to be able to conduct the railways for the convenience of the public. Ha (the speaker) had a few m ire remarks to make, and then he would draw to a close. PERSONAL. He had tried to do his doty to the best of his ability during the past (wo sessions. He knew be had a great many soperiors in his audience, and a great many men who bad the ability to do better than himself in Parliament, but the question was, were they willing I If so, let them come forward and offer themselves, and let the public elect them ; but while they allowed him to go as their representative he considered it as <t great favor and a great honor, and.looked upon himself as a servant of the public. He was willing to do what he could for the good of the public in general. They (his hearers) never had a member that feared them leas or respected them more, and ha was willing to do bis best. (Loud applause.) TARIFF PROPOSALS.

With regard to the tariff proposals brought down by the Government, he considered them of great importance. They were such that the Opposition could not well oppose them. He believed in a fair and moderate Protection. He believed that while they endeavored to establish industries and find employment for the industrial classes, they should at the same time protect the capitalists who brought their money and entered into business in the colony. If a capitalist could not see his way clear to make 5 per cent, on his money it was hardly likely he was going to commence manufacturing articles and eventually lose both his money and, bis manufactures. They should have a fair protective duty upon all goods that could be manufactured in New Zealand, so that they could encourage men with enterprise and capital to come to these shores and start industries and manufactures, and thus give employment to others. He respected the views of Freetrade gentlemen, and believed they were sincere and honest in their advocacy of Freetrade; but Freetrade at present would be an injury to the colony. There might come a time when it would be favorable, but this time was not now. He bad, therefore, voted with the Government upon nearly every clause of the tariff proposals. They were something like what Messrs Stoat and Vogel brought down, only they went a little further. He would have voted against the duty upon tea, only he was told that if this duty were taken off the subsidies to local bodies would be stopped. As be thought the local bodies should not have this hardship placed upon them, he had voted for the duty on tea, as he considered it better to pay the duly than have the subsidy withdrawn from local bodies. He had voied for the duty upon binding twine, because he considered this an industry that should be protected. They had commenced the manufacture of the twine, and were improving in the qualitj every year, and he thought they needed protection. The manufacture of binding twine in the colony had reduced the price of the article, and they would have to pay more for it if the manufacture of it ceased. That was the reason why he had voted for the duty upon binding twine, and he considered it was for the benefit of the farmers and the colony as a whole. He voted almost entirely with the Government, and he was happy to say the Opposition followed an honest and honorable course in voting with the Government. The Government might have been ousted on the tariff proposals but it would have been a wrong to the colony if they had been ousted, and the Opposition would have been ungrateful and unfaithful to their pledges if they had gone against them. Some men would put the Government out no matter what the proposals brought forward were, whether for the benefit of the colony or not. Seme of his colleagues, however, nera gentleman of high and honorable principle—straightforward men, who would do what they thought to be right—who would go with the Government when they were right, and against them when wrong. He was proud to belong to the Opposition. (Loud applause.) THE OUTLOOK. With regard to the outlook for the future it was encouraging, but things were still in a eery doubtful condition. According to a statement made they were in a better position than last year. He did think, however, that it would be clearly shown that it was quite so good as it was set forth. He thought it another Government took office now the figures would not be found to be so good as had been stated. What wjth good prices for wool, grain, frozen meat,'etc., the outlook was much improved, blit they were in a dangerous position c.s a colony yet. If

the price of their produce only kept up they might soon be in a different position to what they are to-day. He had great hopes for the country. He believed they were on one of the brightest spo's on God’s earth, and with care and economy they might rise id a very few years to be more than a prosperous colony. To his mind, however, they had been a little too extravagant—the poor as well as the ricii had been going a little too fast, and they must be a little more careful and economical in the future than they had been, and he thought they would bo in a very good position in a few years. Mr Buxton concluded by again expressing bis pleasure at seeing so many present. He did not consider himself one of the best of them, still he was one of the willing ones, and he was willing to take their advice, and if he did not succeed in doing a little good to the colony if they did not help him they were as much lo blame as he was. What he wanted was their help and sympathy, and then he was willing to do the best he could. (Hear, hear, and pro'ongad applause. QUESTIONS. The chairman said Mr Buxton would be happy to answer any questions the audience might wish to put to him. In reply to Mr Aitken Mr Buxton said that if the Bible were introduced info the public schools to be read without comment, even if the teacher were an atheist lie would not do much harm. His experience of such people was that they were generally man of common sense, and even if such a teacher had charge of the school he would not dare to instil into the minds of the children anything that would be offensive to their parents and the public generally. He did not think they should object upon these grounds to the Bible being read in schools. He looked upon the Bible ns being one of the grandest books we had in the world. (Hear, hear). He thought that if even an ntheist were to road a portion of it every day, and have no one to comment upon it, it would do him good. He bud no hesitation in saying that he would not object to putting the Bible into the hands of an atheist to be read in the schools. It would do no harm to anybody, and would be good for both him and the school. He would not care to see the ministers of the Gospel delegated to conduct the Bible reading in schools. His own impression was, and he wished to be very plain upon this point, to keep the parsons out of the schoo's altogether. (Loud laughter). He hoped none of them would be offended, but that was just what he really thought. The day schools were to educate the children to be good loyal citizens, and to earn (hair bread they wanted good secular education, and did not want religion taught in the schools. They wanted the children to learn to reverence the word of God. By keeping it out of the schools it made the children look upon it as a doubtful book. He thought the ministers had plenty of work to do, if they would do it, without going to the every-day schools. If a minister had to attend each of the day schools he would have his hands full, and be very poorly prepared for his work on the Sunday. He did not think a teacher would trouble himself to comment upon the Book if the law provided that it be read without comment. Those who were opposed to its teachings he gave credit to for having, so to apeak, good sense, and he did not think they would try to injure the children by commenting upon it. In reply to Mr G. Tayler, he said he could not explain the Hare system of votings He had it with him, but it would take a lawyer to explain it, and then they would possibly not understand it. (Laughter). la Wellington a well-known lawyer of great ability came into one of the rooms of Parliament House with a copy of the Hare system tinder his arm, and in his (the speaker’s) presence said, “ I have bean trying to understand this for the last six hours, and I think I have managed to do so.” Another gentleman congratulated him upon having done so, as he had studied it for three days and could not understand it, and asked the lawyer in question what a certain clause meant, and the lawyer could not tell him. (Laughter). He thought if such a man could not explain it he (the speaker) might be excused. However, he thought it might after all prove a mistake, and that the very gentlemen the legislature aimed at keeping out by means of the system might after all be there. The present system of election with all its faults was the best. No doubt he would hear more about the Hare system when he got back to Parliament, and would, vote as he thought best. He believed both men and women should have a vote. He contended that among the working classes the women were superior to the men in intelligence, judgment, and the other qualities possessed by the men who exercised the veto. He would, like to see every woman hare a vote on a six months 11 residential qualification.

Replying to Mr Hammond, he said he did not think that under a Fair Bents Bill tenants would be paying too much for their land and then bringing them to a Court of Appeal. He thought what was fair could cot be wrong. No man had a right to give more than he ought to give. They had often seen men getting a contract for less than he could do it for. They had no right to do things in an unfair way. A landlord had no right to take more than a fair rental, and a tenant had no right to take a property for less than a fair rental. He thought every clause of the Bill was good and valuable. Replying to Mr Taylor he said ho would not be in favour of making the Upper House elec* tive. They sometimes did things that were very objectionable, but he thought it was only right the members should be seleeted by the Government for the time being. Replying to Mr Btpidge, he said he was not in favour of taking the duty off sugar and putting a tax on race horses. He knew very little about horse racing, and what little he knew was that it was very little good, but he did not think it would be fair to put that tax upon them. In reply to Mr Cunningham, he explained that he respected the opinions of the Free* traders as much as his own, because be believed the Freetraders were as honest in their opinions as the Protectionists. He regretted very muoh that bis not addressing them before last session had occasioned such a disappointment to Mr Cunningham, Had he known the sight of bis face would have given such great pleasure to Mr Cunningham he would have made a very special effort to have come down. (laughter.) In reply to Mr R. Macdonald, as to whether he was in favor of total abstinence being enforced by Act of Parliament, he said, “ Yes, If you got drunk I would have you looked up and kept from having any drink.” (Iremendoue applause and laughter.) Replying to Mr Fifield, be ho thought Parliament bel been rather severe upon the volunteers with regard to the capitation, as they had to all ofaßses, bat no doubt as soon aa the country waft in a more favorable position this would be alterc J. In reply to Mr Doan, he said the lost time he heard of “Tommy” Hall he was where ho ought to be~wor*ing hard and looking well In Auckland. Replying to Mr Barclay, ho said that i WES his own private opin’on that ooktag

hospitals would be a splendid thing for the outlying district*, but he was not aware that there was any idea of such a thing beiug proposed by Government. In reply to Mr Helem, he said the lands on the high grounds reserved from sale had been selected for agricultural purposes especially, and the Government had concluded it would be better to hold them over till 1890, and then they would be offered in small farms suitable to the position in which they were placed. No more questions being forthcoming, Mr B. Hammond proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Buxton for bis address. Mr G. H. Patrick seconded, and (be vote was carried by acclamation. Mr Buxton thanked them for their vote of thanks. He was willing to do their service and willing to do his best for them and the colony at large j he had never crouched to any man, but was willing to do his best. (Applause.) He also thanked them for their patient and attentive hearing that night. A very cordial meeting was terminated by a vote of thanks to the chairman.