THE SUPERINTENDENCT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 158, 16 February 1871, Page 5

THE SUPERINTENDENCT.

Mil. MACAXDREW AT LAWRENCE.

On Monday evening Mr. Macandrew addressed a crowded meeting assembled in the Athonteum Hall. At the lowest average there must have been from 350 to 400 persons present. On the motion of Mr. Hay, Mr. Horace Bastings ay.is called to the chair. Mr. Bastings stated that he had received a letter from Mr. Duncan Campbe 1, asking him to occupy the chair at Mr. Macmdrew's meeting, and, owing to the positon he held as Mayor, he could not but accede to the request. He said that as chairman lie would do hi 3 utmost to keep order. He trusted that the meeting would give Mr. Macandrew a patient hearing, and, ■(hut there would be no hooting or disturbance. If any one present attempted to raise a disturbance he would have them expelled from the meeting. He would now introduce the candidate. Mr. Macandrew then rose and addressed the meeting. His speech was a very meagre one, not occupying more than half an hour in its delivery. He said when he commenced, that he would not occupy the meeting with a long speech, as he thought that the object of his meeting and the electors would be better served by answering to the best of his ability, any questions they might think proper to ask him. He stated that he did not base his claims for re-election, so much upon any promises he would make, as upon his actions while he had filled the office of Superintendent during the last four years. He then 7-eferred to the Financial Scheme of the Yogel Government, and said that unless the province availed itself of tho borrowing powers of the colony, it need not expect to bo allowed to borrow anj r money on its own guarantee. All the other provinces of the colony but Otago, had accepted the Financial Sche-ne. He had abandoned all hope of the ProTincial Government being able •to construct any railway without the sanction of the colony. He denied the statement that the North Island would receive £3 fur every £1 expended in the South. The fact was, he said, the Assembly only sanctioned the construction of 45 mile 3 of railway in the North Island. With regard to a water supply for the goldfields, he thought tho amount set apart for that object was too small. Mr. Macandrew, after referring to some other matters, stated that he would not detain them with further remarks, but submit himself to the cross-examination process.

A great many questions were then put

the candidate, and many of them answered in a most unsatisfactory manner —long explanations having been given instead of direct answers. The following .are some of the questions and answers : —

Mr. D. Macdonald : How was it that Mr. Ki tching could tell me that he could SO and purchase the whole of the Island Block ? — I am not omniscient. The Government were most anxious to prevent speculation, and removed the sale of the Block from Dunedin to Roxburgh to suit the residents.

Mr. Ferguson : How was it the Government changed its mind and put the Island Block up for sale in the face of 27 or 30 applications for agricultural leases . —You had bettor ask the Secretary for Land and Works.

Mr. Capstick : Under what pretence were the applications and deposits for tlie agricultural leases for the Island Block returned ? — Because the Executive Government preferred to sell the land.

Mr. Capsiick : Did the Executive Government a., f ree to have the Block prospected? — Boring rods weve sent up, and I suppose it has been prospected. I do not know what has become of the boring rods. Mr. Capstick : Had you any private communication from Mr. Kitchingon the matter? — I am not aware that I had.

Mr. Grundy : Were the Executive Government unanimous with regard to the sale of the Block ? — I believe they were.

Mr. Grundy : Mr. Reid has stated that he remonstrated with you against its sale — is that correct I—l1 — I believe it was very much owing to the action of Mr. Beighton, of the Teviot, that the Block was sold.

Mr. Mears . Do you think the system adopted in valuing the improvements on the Island Block was a fair one ? — Yes.

Mr. Darfcon : — Did Mr. Macandrew support the selling of it ? — I agreed to its sale.

Mr. Mears : Having the power to veto the sale of the Block, would that not have been a rood opportunity of showing that you were not a mere cipher — a round 0 ? —No answer.

Mr. Ferguson : What action have you taken during your term of office towards executing your cruel threat that you would drive the pastoral tenants into the Pacilic Ocean ? — I never made such a statement, and would not believe it although I saw it in the columns of the Tuapeka Times.

Mr. Ferguson said, Mr. Chairman, I consider mv word as good as Mr. Macandrew's, and I beg to state that I heard him, in a speech he delivered in the Caledonian Ground, Punedin, a day or two before his election, say, that, if elected, he would drive the pastoral lessees into the Pacinc Ocean.

f\ !r. Oar ton : If the land reserved for agricultural purposes by the covenants was equal to the requirements, why did Mr. Macandrew not enforce land on Maclean's run to be thrown open sooner? — I have tried for some years to get that land thrown open

Mr. Darton : Under the covenant sj'stem 5000 acres co-aid be withdrawn from a run without compensation. Can any one here say they enjoy the nilvileges of these covenant ? — No answer. Mr Me-n-3 : In the event of the sugcrestion.3 conrair.cd in y- "r civouKr Ift+er bcins; al 1 : I-!.1 '-'!. \\r. * <]■ J. v.,^ ci.iSidcr the Superintendent should ha allowed to act irrespective of the advice of the Executive in matters of detail, do you not think that such a trust might be gro'sly absurd by an unscrupulous or dishonest Superintendent ? — I do not say so in the circular.

lUr. M'*ars : I have not the circular with mp, but I feel certain you do.

Mr Macandrew : I wi 1 stand by what I say in the circular. All I want to do is to prevenl matters going into the mill or circumlocution office, which could be settled at once. I have no wish to be absolute.

Mr Hay : Had yon any connection with Mr. Driver in regard to the alleged letter of his to Treweek '? — He was glad the question had been asked, as it gave him an opportunity of denying having any connection with it whatever; moreover, when at Palmeiston, he received a telegram from Mr l)river, in which that gentleman denies the authenticity of the letter, and says it is a forgery, and that he has laid a criminal information agaiust the publisher of it. (Here Mr Macandrew read the placard and Mr Driver's telegram.)

On reading the placard, one of the audience laughed at it, on which Mr Macandrew remarked that the individual who would laugh at such a charge against a man like Mr Driver, was as dastardly as the author of it.

Mr Mears : With reference to a former letter of Mr Driver's to Mr Treweek, the authenticity of which Mr Driver had never disputed — could Mr Macandrew oxplain what was meant in that letter by the expression " breaking faith with Macandrew ?" — Mr Macandrew here entered into a lengthened explanation which we confess we could not understand, aud with which the meeting appeared very dissatisfied. lie thought the letter was a foolish one, but he was not responsible for Mr Driver's letters.

Mr Michael : How does the Hundreds Act affect settlement ? — The object of the Act is to unlock the land.

Mr Michael : HowdidtheCommissioners agree with that opinion ? — They suggested certain moJifications in the boundaries of one or two of the Hundreds.

Mr Michael : Don't you think the people living in the district know best whether the land is wanted I—Yes.1 — Yes.

Mr Michael : If in favour of settlement, why did you vote for the high compensation ?

Mr Macandrew here gave a lengthened explanation of the Hundreds Act,

Mr Brown : Did the Act of 1866, under which runholders accepted their leases provide for a larger compensation than three years rental, which would amount to not more than 8d an acre ? — Under that Act Hundreds could not be declared on the goldfields, and the compensation was unlimited.

Mr Brown : Did I not, in the Assembly, show you a return based upon the compensation paid for years past on the goldfields, that the average compensation was under 3s I— Mr Macandrew said he had some recollection of it.

Mr Brown : Is it not a fact that a greater area of land has been thrown open under the Waste Lands Act of 1866 than under the Goldfiolds Act ?— Yes.

Mr. M'Kimmie : When you were elected four years ago on the cry that on the Waste Lands of the Crown you would

settle men, women, and children instead of sheep will yon state your reasons for not pursuing that policy ? — I have, during the last three years, becm doing all I could to get the land thrown open, and have ju^t applied to have tho whole of tho run thrown open. Mr M'Kimmie : Why didn't you do so four j'ears ago 'I — No answer.

Mr M'Kitnmio : How do you account for the difference in the quantity of land thrown open during the Yogel Government and the Reid Government, the former b«ing 0,000, and the latter 80,000 acres ? — No answer. Mr M'Kimmie : As you have made a statement to the effect that the present revenue will hardly maintain the present marie roads in a sfate of efficiency, would yon be in favour of retrenchment amongst government officials ?— -Yes.

Mr M'Kimmie : In what way 1 Would you be in favour of increasing their duties or reducing the number 'I -Increasing the duties.

Mr M-Kimmie : Seeing that Mr. M'Kay, the Inspector of Catt-la for the Tuaneka and Waitahuna Districts, has not sufficient work to do, would you confer u>)on him the honourable appointment of drill instructor to the Tuape'ta Rifle Rangers I—T1 — T have never before heard that Mr M 'Kay had not sufficient Avork ; but if it can be proved that \vi has not, I am quite willing to give him more.

We caunot afford space for any more of the thousand and one questions put to the candidate ; but upon the whole, we should think that Mr .VTacandrew's warmest supporters will admit he had a fair hearing. Mr Ilay proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Macandrew for his address. Mr Carr seconded. Vr Mears then proposed the following amendment — " That ii the opinion of this meeting, Mr Macandrew, by his actions during the last four year-*, has proved himself to be politically dishonest, and is unworthy to be again returned to the office of Suoermtendent."

The amendment was duly seconded, nut to the meeting, an:l carried by about 200 to 10, amid deafening cheers, followed by groans for Uacandmw.

Mv Macandrew proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, after which the meeting separated.