THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 154, 19 January 1871, Page 5

THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

MR. REID IN LAWRENCE

On Monday evening, Mr. Roid addressed a large and influential public meeting in the Assembly Room, Lawrence. The advertised time of meeting was nine o'clock, by wbich hour the room was crowded with an expectant audience, there being at least 250 persons present. Owing to the meetings which Mr Reid addressed the same evening at the due Spur and Wetherstones, tbo Lawrence meeting was not opened till about a quarter to 10 o'clock.

Mr. Bastings was called to the chair. He said the meeting had been convened for the purpose of hearing Mr. Donald Reid, who was soliciting their suffrages. He thought it almost unnecessary for him (the Chairman) to inform the meeting that he was a strong supporter of Mr. Reid, but he would wish it to be understood that it was not Mr. Reid so much a3 the principles which that gentleman had advocated for many years past that made him support biin. He weald not detain the meeting further, but introduce Mr. Reid.

As we have repeated pretty fully elsewhere Mr. Reid's first address on the Goldfields at Waitahuna, it would be a work of supererogation to give a i-epetition of those portions of that speech which he necessarily was obliged to reiterate at tie Lawrence, Blue. Spur, and Wetherstones meetings. There are some matters, however, that Mr. Reid touched upon in his Lawrence speech which were not referred to in his address at Waitahuna, and these wo shall briefly refer to. After apologising for the delay which had occurred in hia addressing the meeting through bad roads, which he supposed they had the Government to blame — (Applause) — Mr. Reid complained bitterly of the contemptible means which had been adopted by somo unprincipled persons, of circulating false statements of his conduct by the most unscrupulous means. They might be awaro that a moat scurrilous production, titled the '• Chronicles of Gotham," had been circulated gratuitously all over the province with the object of damaging hia candidature. Such a publication was only worthy of being consigned to the filth out of which it sprung. — (Cheers.) He believed that nothing could bo more in the interests of his election than such vile pnblications. — (Applause.) Mr. Reid then referred to the so-called great colonising scheme of the Geueral Government, which had received the assent of the General Assembly, and in a masterly manner proved that the scheme was not only unjust to the Middle Island, but that it would be a miserable failure in accomplishing the objects ifc was said to have in viow, and that if carried out in its present Bhape, would be destructivo to the host interests of the colony. Mr. Driver, in his speech the othor day, had said nothing which was in any way calculated to disprove his (Mr. Reid's) statements. The Colonial Treasurer, although he remained many days in Dunedin after he (Mr. Reid) delivered his address, never attempted to confute any of the statements he then made. (Mr. Hay, yee.) The Hon. gentleman who said yes, had no knowledge of the matter of which he was speaking. Considering the large sum contributed by Otago to the revenue, ho considered that this province should have at least one third of tho proposed loan expended in it, aB its fair proportion. Mr. Reid then went fully into the discussion of the Public Works and Immigration Si-heme, referring especially to the miserable sum set apart, for water supply on the Goldfielda. (Mr. Hay — What did you propose ?)

The Chairman thought that, seeing the meeting was convened to hear Mr. Reid, these interruptions- were very, unfair, He thought Mr, Hay, being a,

member of the Provincial Council, should know better how to conduct himself.

Mr. Hay rose to speak. He said, " Mr. Chairman, I was about to say — (Cries of chair, chair.) — only two words — (Repeated cries of chair, chair.) — Sorry I have only "

Here Mr. Grundy stepped forward and said he had been told that Mr. Hay had been sent purposely to disturb the order of the meeting. (A Voice : " Mr. Chairman, the man's tight.")

The Chairman said if Mr. Hay would not sit down, he would have him removed from the meeting.

Making some remarks which our importer conld not catch, Mr. Hay vesumed his seat, and

Mr. Reid continued. lie would only be too glad to have an opportunity of answering any questions that might be put to him at the conclusion of Jus address. — (Cheers.) He then showed how much more favourable the proposal of the Provincial Government was for the gold fields than the proposal embraced in Mr. Vogel's scheme. He considered that one million would not have been too much to have expended in developing the goldfields, as he believed that a comprehensive water supply would be one of the most reproductive works that could be undertaken — far more productive at all events than the expenditure of a large amount on a country inhabited by semi-barbarous savages. — (Applause.) He did not appear before the electors to agitate against their fellow-settlei's in the North— far from it. He did not believe for a moment that the desire of the settlers in the North Island was to continue a disastrous war. in order that money might be expended amonst them. Ho would repudiate such a thought, With regard to the construction of public works, he believed there was labour sufficient in J the province to construct them, or if not, it could be very easily obtained without expending any money in the introduction of it. The only way to secure a permanent population was to settle the people on the waste lands of the province, and that object he maintained could not be accomplised by the immigration scheme of the General Government. —(A Voice : " Half-a-ero wn a day.") Mr. Reid said he could hear that the " Chronicles of Gotham " had been in this district. — (Laughter.) In continuation of his i - eview of the Government scheme, Mr. Reid said one of his chief objections to it was that it contained no provision for the settlement of tho country. Mr. Reid then went fully into the details of the notorious Hundreds Act. Described the clandestine manner in which it had been introduced into the Assembly, and the action taken by Mr. Macandrew with regard to it, for particulars of which We refer our readers to the report of the Waitahuna meeting. Mr. Reid was then proceeding to show what the Government, of which he was a member, had done during their short term of office, and comparing it favourably with what had been done during the Yogel Government, which had been much longer in office, when a voice called out, " What about the Island Block." Mr. Reid said it was not his intention to have spoken of that matter, but as it had been mooted, and as he found reports had been industrously circulated attributing the sale of the Island block to him, he begged to give these reports his unqualified denial. It was not with his sanction that the Island Block was sold. On the contrary, it was quite against his desire and urgent remonstrance. Matters that transpire at the Executive Board were supposed to be secret, but when he found some of his colleagues revealing these secrets and circulating false statements regarding his actions, he considered it his duty to place these things in their true light. He not only remonstrated with his Honour and those members of the Executive who were favourable to tho sale of the Block, but pointed out to them the probability of the land falling into the hands of one or two parties. Some of the members of the Executive, however, were under the impression that those parties who had made application for the land had money to purchase it, and on that account it was decided to dispose of it by auction. lie would say this much on' behalf of his colleagues, that he did not think they expected the result of the sale would turn out as it did. Though he relieved himself from the transaction, he did not wish in any way to accuse his colleagues. In reply to the accusation that the Reid Government had been an obstructive one, Mr. Reid drew the attention of the meeting to a resolution passod by the Council in December, 1869, praying that his Honour would dissolve the Council, in order that the constituencies would give their voice on those mat era, upon which his Honour and the Government were at variance ; but although that resolution was carried by a considerable majority, his Honour would not consent to a dissolution. Did that, he would ask, look like . ob3tructiveness. — (Great applaiwe.) He would ask the electors who those members were that voted against that resolution ? Why, they were the very men who were now loudest in their complaints against the obstructive licit! Government, the iSibbaida and the M'lndoes, of the Council, the only men who had the welfai'e of the country at heart. — (Applause.) But although his Honour refused to dissolve the Council twelve months ago, he would forsooth come f »rward a few woeka before the expiration of oifioe, when he well knew he would be compelled to resign, and then prop.Mj a dissolution. — (Great applause.) ' When Abram Lincoln was elected to the presidency of the United States, the first thing he had to contend against was what was termed the '* squatter sovereign ity ;" but he thought those gentlemen who held a similar position ki this country had sufficient judgment to deal fairly with the people, and the -people, he (Mr. Reid) was certain, would give them fair play. Mr.

Tteid concluded LLr-r^lsirem, vhioh-occu-pied nearly two hours ia ndjv^ry, by confuting the silly objections brought against him, on the ground ihat he was, or had been, a working m.n. lie had yet to learn that such an objection should exclude him from the highest position in the state if he were found capable of holding it and if the electors placed him in such position. Mr. Reid sat down amid vociferous and long continued applause.

Air. Hay a9ked if it was true the Government discharged some 89 or 100 men employed on the Round Hill without a minutes notice, after giving them to understand they would have employment, for a considerable time. On the strength of the promise made to them they had got credit at the storekeepers and were unable to pay their way. Mr. Reid— With regard to the statement made by Mr. Hay, nothing could bo mor-.: false but the mind that created it.— (Applause. j

Mr. Hay—With regard to the Amendments on the Hundreds Question passed in Council, was the compromise with the Government and the Opposition that they, the Government, might remain in office. Mr. Reid — It was a compromise with the Government themselves. It was with great regret that he accepted tha compromise, but it could not be avoided, Mr. Hay knew well it was not to retain ofScf, as the motion for a dissolution was put un the paper a very short time afterwards. — (Cheers.)

Mr. Hciy would ask Mr. Reid, as a member of the Executive — What ia the duty of the Government when they disagree ?

Mr. Reid -The same as that of the Council, the majority carry, and his friend knew that it was the duty of the Council when theo were in a minority to give way — but there was another course open, they could appeal to the electors.

Mr. Hay — What public works had boen carried out in this district.

Mr. Reid — If the Government had not done it 3 duty, it was the business of Mr. Hay to have drawn their attention lo it, but the Hon. member never did so. He (Mr Reid) thought he had shown the meeting that there were large amounts placed ou Lho Estimates when he took oflice — the account at the Treasury was nearly balanced, and all the available laud had been forced into the market and disposed of, ao that but a very small revenue was left for public works, but with that revenue he bolieved the province had been fairly dealt.— (Cheers.) Mr. Peter Robertson—Provided Mr. Roid were returnp.d aa Superintendent, was it his intention to confer the office of Land and Works upon Mr: I Jay. (Roars of laughter.) He (Mr. Robertson) would ask Mr. Reid if he would give Robertson a chance as well. — (Renewed laughter.) Mr. Reid replied that he had not been looking so far before him.

Mr, Hay— lf elected, would Mr. Keid be in favor of continuing 16 i.oad Boards in Tokomairiro I

Mr. Reid — Mr. Hay onght to know that a Road Board Bill was introduced, by which the number would be reduced to one-fi f th of the present number. Ho regretted to say that the Bill was thrown out by the Legislative Council.

Mr. Donovan asked the candidate would ho be in favour of dredging the West Taieri. — (Great laughter.)

Mr. Eeid— That was the first time he had heard of such a thing. — (A Voice: He means the Irish Channel.) Ka had heard it proposed to erect an embankment to prevent the Taieri being flooded The Taieri people had placed themselves under the Rivera Act, by which they can rate themselves for the protection of their property. He (Mr Keid) had no land himself in the West Taieri ever likely fco be touched by tha floods. — (Hear, hear and cheers. )

In reply to further questions asked, Mr. Reid said he would be in favour of Financial Sepai-ation, but he did not think there was the slightest chance of ito being obtained. He would be in favour of immigrants from tho United Kingdom, and without restriction. With regard to the Clntha line, he thought it possible that it might be constructed for a smaller sum than waß set apart for it, but he questioned whether the balauco conld be used for the construction of tho Tiwpeka line.

In reply to Mr. Docherfcy, Mr. Reid said he was quite in favour of deferred payments for land. Dr. Hal lev then moved, " That tlm meeting has full confidence in Mr. Reid as a fit and proper psraonto act as Suparintendent.

Mr. Michael seconded

Mr. Hay, in moving an amendment, prefaced his remarks by giving the lie direct to the gentleman who camo forward and said that he (Mr. Hay) had come to the meeting to create a disturbance. The amendment he had to propose w.i 3to tho following effect: — "That this meeting thanks Mr. lleid for the lucid exposition of his views on tho various matters engaging attention at tha present time, but refrains from pledging itself until it hears the other candidate.

Mr. Duncan Campbell seconded.

Mr. Donovan and Mr. Mears spoke on the motion and amendment, after which, the Chairman put the amoudment to tho meeting, when six hands were held up in its favour. The motion w»3 tlieu p'.:t, whon a perfect forest of hands was held tip, amidst deafening and prolonged applause.

Mr. Reid thanked the meeting sincerely for the vote they had passed. Ha did not, however, look upon them as pledged to support him, but asked tho electors to judge tho matter as between their conscience and their duty to their comiiry, and give tlveir vote at tho ballot-box. — (Apnlauue.)

Mr. Reid then moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which terminated one of th« most enthusiastic political meetings which has ever been. held in Lawrence.