MINISTERIAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2509, 30 May 1893, Page 2

MINISTERIAL.

At Lawrence the Hon. Mr Reeves received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence in the Government, and was entertained at a banquet. The Premier visitedj Brunnerton on Friday, where he was entertained at a banquet. The proceedings were of a most enthusiastic character, the hall being packed.

The Minister of Lands addressed a large meeting of his constituents at Palmerston South on Friday evening. After referring briefly to the death of Mr Ballance, to whom he paid a high tribute, Mr McKenzie said that the reconstructed Government were quite prepared to defend their actions as members of the Ballance Ministry. Regarding the finances, he said that the surplus for the past year was £346,711, and to show that this was not manufactured by delaying payment, the liabilities at the close of the year were £91,739 as compared with £102,154 at the close of the previous year. Touching on the land question, he declared that it would be absolutely necessary for the Crown to repurchase some of the estates in Nelson, Marlborough, and North Canterbury, which were blocking settlement, to enable them to make use of the back country. He quoted from returns to skow that settlement was increasing. He defended the village settlement scheme inaugurated by Mr Ballance, and explained the new improved farm system. The Government were negotiating for the purchase of three properties of a total area of 1027 acres under the Land for Settlement Act. He severely criticised Mr Justice Conolly's charge to the jury in connection with the dummyism prosecution at Taranaki, alleging that His Honor had acted in the capacity of an apologist, advocate, and special pleader for dummies. Respecting the purchase of the Cheviot estate, he challenged the strictest scrutiny of the whole transaction, and expressed his personal opinion that the difficulty would be to provide land on the Cheviot for all the applicants. Without entering into a detailed exposition of their policy, he indicated generally that the Ministry intended to follow on the lines of the Ballance Government, and claimed that the members of the Administration were anxious to perform their respective duties, and to faithfully act their part in moulding the destinies of the country. A vote of confidence in Mr McKenzie and the Government was carried unanimously. It was also resolved to forward a message of sympathy to Mrs Ballance in her bereavement.

The Hon. W. P. Reeves passed through to Christchurch by express train last evening, he was accompanied by Mrs Reeves and his private secretary. The Hon. John McKenzie was in Palmerston yesterday. He will speak in Ashburton before his return to Wellington. The date of the Ashburton meeting has not been fixed so far as we know, but it is expected during the latter end of this week, or early next week.