MR. O'CONOR'S MEETING AT CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 902, 19 December 1871, Page 2

MR. O'CONOR'S MEETING AT CHARLESTON.

On Saturday evening last, a meeting convened by advertisement was held at the Casino de Venise ; the Hall was crowded. Mr P. S. Dempsey was moved to the chair. The Chairman remarked that the object for which Mr O'Conor had convened the meeting would be both understood and appreciated by the audience. Mr O'Conor had according to a very laudable practice called his constituents together to explain to them the part he had taken iu the Parliament of the country to which they had sent him as their representative, which gave them a fair opportunity of canvassing his action and of saying how far that action was approved or otherwise by them. Where apractice such as this was adopted, there was little danger of misrepresentation. There could be none of misunderstanding. He felt it was quite unnecessary to appeal lo the electors of Charleston to give Mr O'Conor a fair pnd impartial hearing, because that was always accorded here, and he felt quite sure the present occasion would not be an exception. It would be superfluous to introduce Mr O'Conor in any formal way, as he was already so well known, but would now leave him to tell his own story. Mit O'Conob then rose and was received with loud applause. He said that he now appeared before the electors of Charleston in accordance with a course which he had thought it his duty to pursue since he held the post of representative, which was, to meet his constituents as soon as possible after the termination of every session in which he took part. On this occasion he desired to confer with them concerning tb.3 late session of the Parliament of New Zealand and the part which he had taken there as their representative. The time to which he must necessarily be limited, would prevent his doing more than give a mere outline of what he deemed to be the most important and interesting features in the Legislature. He felt that it would be necessary for him to be as brief as possible which would be the more necessary from the fact that owing to the crowded state of the hall very many had heen unable to obtain seats. He regretted that as a mining community the legislation of the last session offered but very sparse material for congratulation. The excessive burthen of taxation which unjustly fell to their share was not onlv undiminished, but was in fact increased. Nearly all the members of the House of Representatives who held their seats for Goldfield districts, joined for the purpose of effecting a reduction of the gold duty. This was attempted in several wajs, but they were always in a minority. The increase in stamp duty upon receipts and the duty upon cereals and flour have been directly aimed at the industrial interests, and consequently were calculated largely to add to their burdens.. He opposed both those measures as unjust, not that he desired that they should shirk thej share of the taxation, which all should bear according to their means, but because the monetary and property classes enjoyed a comparative immunity from taxation, and they, he thought should be brought under contribution before the industrial classes were asked to submit to a further increase of the taxes which they already submitted to. Regarding the distribution of revenue and the apportionment under the loans lately negotiated, he was happy to say that this district was more fairly dealt with than hitherto. As all were no doubt aware tho loans were authorised by the late Parliament, and it remained for the present one to determine how the money should be spent. Under the great colonising schemes of the present Government it was proposed to construct roads and railways in various parts of the country; to devote a considerable sum for the assistance of private enterprise in obtaining a more permanent supply of water on the Goldfields; and also by a grant to assist the road boards. The railway scheme was divided into three schedules : —lst, main lines ; 2nd, coal lines; 3rd, branch lines. The first schedule provided for what were termed the main lines. They are provided for according to certain estimates as to the cost of construction furnished by the engineering staff of the colony, with the understanding that no line is to be gone on with "unless the estimated cost proves sufficient, and unless the traffic returns show that they will pay working expenses, the Province being security for both working expenseu and sinking fund. In this schedule there is only one Hue appertaining to this province, namely, that from Nelson to j'oxhill; and unfortunately he (Mr O'Conor) could see no

reason for supposing that it could ever become a reproductive work. He opposed it, aa he did several others in different parts of the colony which he thought stood upon the same footing. In the 2nd schedule there were origiginally three coal lines: —From the Brunner to Greymouth ; Kawa Kawa to port; Malvern to Bolleston. The line from Malvern to Bolleston was subsequently removed to ths Ist schedule; and he believed chiefly upon his recommendation that from Bochfort to Westport whs substituted. At first, fearing that there was little probability of getting an appropriation sufficient to make a line of railway from the great coal basin at Mount Bochfort to the port, he directed his efforts to obtain an appropriation which would be sufficient to obtain a thorough geological examination of the country between the main deposits and the Buller, in order to ascertain whether any of the smaller deposits which were supposed to exist nearer port could not be reached at a smaller outlay, and thereby ensure the more immediate opening of the vast coalfield in the neighbourhood of the Buller. A sum of £4,000 was provided for that purpose. But afterwards, when the different schedules came down, he realised by comparison that few, indeed, of those great works which were there recommended stood upon an equal footing with the Mount Bochfort line, either in regard to their probable returns or to the colonial importance of the work. For without inititating any comparisons, it must be admitted, that the connection of Mount Bochfort with the only really safe and suitable harbour on our coast points it out as the only coalfield here from by which distant places can be regularly and safely supplied. The Government recommended an appropriation of £OO,OOO for the purpose, according to an estim ate furnished by Mr Blackett, the Assistant Colonial Eugineer, not as some newspapers reported it, with a proviso, that the appropriation should be subject to geological explorations or any other contingency. The sum provides for the construction of a railway for the whole distance to Coalbrook Dale, a distance of twelve and a half miles, but it was generally supposed that the cuttings necessary in making the line would expose a seam of coal nine miles distant from port which will obviate the necessity of making the line any further for a number of years, this would of course effect a saving in the actual expenditure of one-fourth of the whole of the sum. The third schedule provides for a number of branch lines. With reference to "Water Supply it has been determined that advances shall be made upon new works having for their object the supply of water upon Goldfields, the conditions beiug, that the pre posed work be recommended by a Commissioner and approved by an Engineer appointed for the purpose ; and also, that the work is of a character that will secure the repayment of the advance, which, ranst not exceed one-third of the actual cost. With the assistance of Mr Harrison, the representative of the Grey district, and indeed chiefly through his superior Parliamentary knowledge, tact and ability, they had this year been able to obtain for the .Nelson South-west Goldfields a share of the Middle Island Bailway Fund which amount to £22,000. They had also obtained a share of the grant to Boad Boards, which will amount to about ,£5,000; this money wiil be expended in that part of Nelson Province which is included in the Buller and Grey Electoral Districts. The expenditure of that money will, there is no doubt, not only induce a considerable amouut of prosperity amongst those now resident in the districts, but it will tend to very greatly increase their population by opening new fields for remunerative employment; and it will also cause a considerable settlement upon lands which must otherwise lie waste. On the question of annexation there was very little to remark. In the bill which was introduced for the purpose of annexing Greymouth to Nelson Province, there was a provision which he had some hand in introducing which would have given them a form of local Government. Without that provision he would have opposed the bill, but with it he was prepared to give it some support. The bill was abandoned as, owing to the declared opposition of members from Nelson settled districts, there waa no hope of getting it through until next session. While on the question of constitutional changes " The" Government of Provinces Bill " is worthy of some notice. It was introduced by Government, and contained some very useful provisions, which would have had the effect of making our Provincial Councils less cumbersome and more calculated to be useful and efficient than at present, but owing to a compromise of very questionable character on the part of the anti-provincialist party, the opportunity of carrying a very useful measure was lost. The Education Bill after getting as far as the second read-, ing was withdrawn, in order to give the different constituencies an opportunity of discussing its provisions during the recess. A great number of petitions were presented from every part of New Zealand—from Boman Catholics against certain clauses of the bill and asking that their religious scruples may bo respected in the matter of education. He was happy to say that ho believed there was no danger of any illiberal course being sanctioned either by the Government or the Legislature. The Licensing Bill

was also withdrawn, but he hoped that it would be passed next session. It. . contained what was commonly known aa the permissive or prohibitory clauses, which provide that no publican's licenses shall be issued in any district where two-thirda of the inhabitants declare against it. That part of the bill is not likely to have much effect here, but there are others which will prove extremely useful. He alluded to those which Would check the indis* criminate licensing system at preaent iu force ; and, also, that clause which would put an end to those infamous dance houses from which Charleston was now happily free. Before con* eluding Mr O Conor referred to certain statements which Were made in some of the Nelson papers, and copied into the Charleston " Herald," rela» tive to the honorarium which he had claimed. He desired to explain that this session it had been decided by the legislature, that a certain amount should be as it apportioned for each seat for the session—instead of as formerly—a honorarium for each day's attendance. When his voucher was presented to him for the full amount, he returned it. Having been prevented by illness from attending at the first of the session, he did not desire to claim for that time. The Speaker, to whose discretion it was twice referred by him, upon hia refusal ruled that the voucher was correct, and accordingly he accepted it. He referred to statements made that his expenses were paid for his trip from Hokitika via Beefton to Westport which had no foundation whatever. Mr O'Conor concluded his remarks by expressing his willingness to reply to any questions, or his readiness, if he had failed to make himself thoroughly understood upon any matters touched upon, to give a more complete explanation. He resumed his seat amid loud applause. Mr Keenan moved that, notwithstanding any resolutions that had been passed at a former meeting held in Charleston, in which he was happy to say, as one of Mr O'Conor's supporters at the late election, he had taken no part, this meeting was perfectly satisfied with the explanations of Mr O'Conor, and thas they had full and entire confidence in him. Mr Denis Kelly seconded the motion, which upon being put to the meeting was carried unanimously. Mr O'Conor having returned thanks, moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which terminated the proceedings.