WAITAHUNA ELECTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 280, 12 June 1873, Page 5

WAITAHUNA ELECTION.

MR. G. F. C. BROWNE AT WAITAHUNA. Mr. 6. F. C. Browne, the late member for the Waitahuna district, addressed the electors in the Athenaeum on Saturday 7th inst. After referring to the dissolution of the Council, he dwelt for a time on purely local matters — Murrays Flat and Main Gully road, Athenseuin, Board of Wardens, and mining reserve, and the action taken by him io each. The Waste Lands Act, 1872, waa next touched upon. He thought that Act virtually settled the land question. He was favorable to the system of deferred payments. He objected to the Waste Lands Board as at present constituted. He would like to see the goldfields interest represented in it ; but for the dissolution, he had intended to bring a motion before the Council on the- subject. He explained the causes which led to the dissolution of the Council ; and considered the constitutional question raised all humbug. The proposed new Gold Mining Act, 1873, he had

not carefully looked over, but would direct their attention to the 31st, 37th, and 4>ith clauses. The first is as follows :—" Provided also that if no depasturing leasb or license shall at the date of the passing of this Act have been granted, or if any depasturing license or lease which shall have been granted, shall be cancelled over any Crown Lands within a goldmining district it shall be lawful for the Governor from t mo to time by proclamation, to declare such lands or any part thereof, open for sale or selection in sections of such size and form „as he may determine, and lands so proclaimed, may thereafter be sold at a like price and subject to the like terms and condi-tionsr-or as near thereto as may be— as Crown lands of the same class not within a goldmining district ; and it shall not be necessary to withdraw lands from the operation of this Act for the purposes aforesaid ; and the Governor may from time to time alter, amend, or revoke any sach proclamation. " He objected to the Governor having so much powei. Sub-section 3, clause 37. which provides that a miner shall pay a license fee of fi ve pounds a year for the first two sluice-heads of water, and one pound a year for every additional sluice-head used by him— he was decidedly opposed to. Clause 46, reverts to the old system of taking up Agricultural leases, and would override Waste Lands Act, 1872, and system of deferred payments, and is therefore objectionable. Would, if returned, endeavour to get clauses struck oat of Bill. He referred to sales of large blocks of land by Reid Government, and the large sums expended in law expenses through its stupidity in interpretation of certain clauses of the Waste Lands Act. Vogel's administration was overthrown through Reid's opposition to selling land in old hundreds at 10s per acre ; yet in 1872 we find Mr. Reid ! doing that for which he condemned Mr. Yogel. I When Mr. Yogel left office, the province was indebted to the amount of £20.000 ; two years after, under the Reid administration, the debt wts increased to £97,000. It was then the ruinous system of selling large blocks of the public estate was resorted to, to reduce the liabilities of the province. Ha refused to support any Government who were not prepared to support the interior. During the session of 1872 of the Council, money was placed on the estimates for roads, &c. ; but from 31st of May — the time at which the Council was prorogued until Mr. Reid's dismissal from office— a period of six months, not one shilling had been expended on the goldfields ; whereas, from the time the Bastings Government accepted office, | up to the meeting of the Council in May last, | the sum of £21,984, bad been expended ; he S therefore felt that he was justified in giving tha Bastings Government his hearty support. On the motion of Mr. Bayliss, it was resolved " That Mr. G. F. O. Browne is a fit and proper person to represent this district in the Provincial Council," An amendment by Mr. M'Whinney, *' That this meeting does not pledge itself to support, any candidate until it hears the views of all," was lost. Mr. Browne met the electors in Coghill's Assembly Room, Haveloct, on Monday the 9th inst. The room was crowded to excess, and at the close of hi 9 address, a vote of confidence lv the candidate was proposed by Mr. Moggnth, and carried — only five or six hands beins; held up for an amendment proposed by Mr. York.