AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2813, 19 February 1878, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[PEE PIGEON EXPKESS.] (fbox this day's hbhald.) 2/Lt WMtaker At Cambridge. Camb3lD(jk, Monday night. Mr Whitaker, the member for the Waikato, addressed bis constituents this evening, in the Public Hail, Cambridge. There was a considerable number of the principal settlers present. On the motion of Major Wilson, seconded by Major Clare, Mr Every McLean was called to the chair.

The Chairman referred to the hon. member for the Waikato as an old and tried politician. INearly every Ministry had asked for his assistance, and every form of Government was glad to re* ceire it.

Mr Whitaker said it was two years since he had addressed the constituency who had elected him in the most flattering manner. He owed them an apology for not having addressed them the previous year, but the fact was, he was then a member of the Government, and he had so much upon his hands, that he was not able to visit them. The constituency had elected him upon the question of the abolition of provinces, which he then supported. Having referred to the history of the abolition question, he said these were now finally abolished. Sir George Grey, at one time, was in favonr of restoring the provinces, but he had now accepted the position, and that question was definitely settled. The provinces might at one time have done good service, but that time had passed. There was now one Government and it was the duty of electors to see that the Government was beneficially carried on. Sir George Grey was a separationisfc; he (Mr Whitaker) felt that it was now impracticable. There was, however, in the session before last an arrangement of a financial nature, to which he was favourable. He gave that arrangement his support, because it seemed that its financial character was practicable, but, in the attempt he with others had made, they failed. But now there was to be only one Government. It was probable that in the future a single and general Government would be more beneficial. He congratulated the public in having a new Education Act, by which the children would be educated as well and as liberally as in every other part of New Zealand. It was a system of secular education. He had always felt some apprehension on account of the religious element, about which people were so likely to quarrel and bicker, to the great damage of .Education. The Education Apt was brought in by the late Government although completed by the present Government. The Land Bill was passed by the House of Hepresentatives, and accepted by the Government. It was sent to the Upper House, and dealt with

there ; but for some reason or other Sir George Grey took a particular line of action. He only knew of what occurred through the newspapers, and with great respect to newspapers, they were not always correct, 'find there might have been some error. The latter would come up next session, and no doubt explanation of the matter would be required ; but, assuming that the statements in the newspapers were correct, then it appeared to him to bo a very extraordinary proceeding, of which some explanation would be necessary. As to the Canterbury runs, it appeared to him that a fair and reasonable arrangement had been come to, looking at the nature of the tenure. The time must have come when there Bhould have been an equitable settlement between the persons holding the relative positions between landlord and tenant. Parliament have the control of public lands for the benefit of the public.