THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2276, 5 November 1891, Page 4

THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

Last Tuesday morning the Hon. J. McKenzie, accompanied by ,Mr J. W. Mai chant, Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr J. L. March, Inspector of (Special (Set dements, and Mr H. M. Gore, his Larvate (Secretary, visited View Hill aud Oxford districts for the purpose of seeing any land there suitable for settlement. They were met at West Eyreton by Mr R. Meredith, the member for the district, who remained with the party during their stay. On arrival at View Hill they were surprised to find an assembly of about eighty people, resident in the district, and a sumptuous repast spread in the schoolroom, the ladies having made special preparations. Mr R. H. Parish was voted to the chair. The chairman proposed “ The Present Ministry,” expressing the utmost confidence in the policy of the Ministry in general, more especially the land policy. He heartily welcomed Mr McKenzie amongst them, not only because it was the first visit of a Minister of any kind, but on account of his liberal land administration, which they all admired. Mr A. W. Wright followed in a similar strain, and presented the following address : —“ To the Hon. the Minister of Lands. We beg most respectively on behalf of the working men of Oxford and V iew Hill to oiler you a most hearty welcome. Had we been earlier advised of the exact date of your intended visit we should not have failed to offer you a more befitting reception. We now tender our thanks to you and the other members of the Government for their bold, energetic, courageous, and determined policy, a policy introduced by them on behalf of the welfare of the colony, calculated, with a judicious system of progressive taxation, and liberal land laws, to ease the burden of taxation for the working classes and assist the toilers to settle on the land, and so make contented and happy homes for thousands.” The address was signed by some electors of View Hill. Mr McKenzie acknowledged the hearty reception met with from the settlers, and congratulated .he district on the appearnce of the country. Mr Meredith said that the Minister’s reception was no idle one, as the settlers were in earnest in their expressions of approval at the administration of the Government. Some had come twelve miles to be present. The Minister then attended to several local matters, aud returned to Oxford to find that the evening train to Cristchurch had started. Nothing remained but to wait till morning. Some residents of Oxford waited upon Mr McKenzie, and asked him to address a public meeting, and he consented.

At 7.30 p.m., the Town Hall was well filled. More than 200 persons were present. Mr McKenzie spoke for an hour and a quarter on the political topics of the day, and was listened to with great attention. At the close of the address a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr McKenzie for his address. The following resolution was unanimously adopted : “ That this meeting desires to express its fullest confidene in the present Ministry, and its determination to support them in their laudable efforts to benefit the colony.” Mr McKenzie left for Wellington on Tuesday evening.