MR W. A. GRAHAM'S MEETING AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, 8 January 1874, Page 2

MR W. A. GRAHAM'S MEETING AT HAMILTON.

Mb Graham met the electors of Wwkato at the Royal Hotel, East Hamilton, on Monday evening last, in order to exphin hi« views on the questions likely to come before the Provincial Council at its next session. Captain Steele occupied the chair, hi introducing the speaker to the meeting, lie said he thought they had met that evening fora twofold purpose. Fn«t. to heir their representntive'B views j and second, to asoertain the opinions of the settlers as fully as possible. He would ask them to give Mr Graham a fair hearing, and he believed that that gentleman would be quite willing to listen to any suggestions they had to make. He hoped tint they would put questions on subjects on which they were desn ous of eliciting information, and ho waa quite sure that they would receive courteous leplics. He would call upon Mr Graham to address them. Mr Graham expressed regret that owing to circumstances over which be had no control he had been unable to meet them at the time of the election. Ho hoped they would not think that it was out of any disrespect to the settlers or indifference to tho interests of the district. He was quite aware that it was much better to do so where practicable, but he had made previous engagements cf an important nature that it would not bavq been honourable to break. He had been busy ever since the election, and had taken advantage of the first opportunity he had of meeting them. He surveyed and Uid out Hamilton, and in consequence felt more than an ordinary interest in that township. His hopes were centred in the Waik*to district, and he would do his utmost to promote its advancement. He had been afraid that his absence would cause an unfavourable impression, but win gratified to discover that such had not been the case From what h" knew of Waikuto matters, he felt certain that he could do some good for that diatriofc It was not his iptention to make a long ctection address, but wn\ld merely, as comisely as possible, lay before them his views on several of the most important political questions of the d*y. He would urge upon the ( lovermnent the necessity of providing an outlet to the Thames. There could be no doubt that the Thames was | the proper market for the disposal of Waikato produce, &c , for both the large and small farmer. (Hear, hear.) The shortest road to th«> Thames was the one he thought should lie adopted. It waa annoying to see steamers coining from Wanganui and other places laden with that which we could bo plentifully and cheaply supply to that market. He had already moved in the matter, and believed that it would be carried to a successful issue With regard to road boards, he thought it was unfair that those institutions should have to maintiin main roads. It wa« th« duty of tho General Government to do so, as it was an absolute impossibility for road boards to attend to more than byeI roads out of their rates. Traffic w ould be stopped altogether if something were not noon done. He would not let the matter rent, but would insist upon a consideration of the

■ ibject. It wai the intention <>f the Superintendent t> make a tout through the district for tho purpose of meeting and conferring "with the road board* as to the new Road Boards Aot. They would then havo a good opportunity of expressing their views on the matter. Ho would advocate that se tlor3 be empowered to rate themselvci, in or.ler 111 1 it they could then make the law .suitable to the requirements of each district. They c >uld either adopt an ad valorem or acreage rate, as beto suite i them. A ijreat deal of unnooessiry trouble was experienced in reference to absentees (Heir, hear.) It was his intention to impress upon the Government the advisability of amending the law r-jfemng to them He was of opiuion that rates shoul Ibe paid .it a itated timo aud place (hear, hoar), ami that the s itno should be notified in tho Government Gazette. It wat the duty of landholders to come and pay their r.tes, and if those rates were not foi thuoimng on thu day and at the time appointed by proclamiMoH, he would suggest, that > bonds bo empowered to levy im \k& i.nid of the def Aultei a. (Hear, he.tr). It was unfaii th.vt mo legitimate settler should he compelled to pay his rate*, whilst absentees could with impunity neglect to do *o. II i» dcoiio was to have tho I mittot* simplified, in order Hint all might have fair pluy. T tore was another matter to uh oh lie would refer briefly, na ne.lv, the railway. The r.ulnjy was our great hope. He believed that it was the intent uu of Ihe Go\ eminent to push it on as speedily as possible, r.g'it through the count -y. He )nid a heavy stake in the di»tncl, an 1 a-munJ them that lie would not rest until the mil way run through tho island. It tho Got eminent wished the puwncj to pr>-p. r they mutt give them their railway. (Hear, hear.) Wiiikato was the b lokbono of tho Auckland p. jimicj, and a raihraj ww the only thing that Could ensu/c tlieir ui.Uerial advancement. (Hear, hoar ) It was a mutter for congratulation j that the members they had chosen to represent them had agreed to work together to prom ite the general good of the district. Hs waa of opinion tint Provincial Government institutions would toon be a tiling of the past, but thought that whilst they were in existence tlicv should do all in their power to make the best ufo of them. His Honor the Su ermtondent and Executive, he felt sure, had the interest* of the province at heart, and would work 'iard to promote general pi asperity. He would especially go in for the opening up of the country by making roads. He then assured tlicm thnt he would act energetically in all the matter* he had just spoken upon. Before sitting down he wished th«m to understand that, as their representative, he would be mo«t happy to anawcr un\ questions that they might put to him. Mr Potter asked Mr Graham whether he did j ot think it would be advisable to forward a draft of the Bill to Riad Boards in order that they might be in a position to m ike suggestions. Mr Graham replied that tho culling of the last Council together win merely a matter of form. It was necessary that it should be done, so as to comply with the Constitution Act, which made it imperative that Provincial L'ounuils should be called together once a year. The Executive said that adjournment was necessary to give them ample time to consider several weighty matters, amongst which were Education and Road Boards. He thought Government should have time allowed them in order that they could mature their plans- (Hear, hear,) The Superintendent had signified )ns intention of visiting the district for the purpose of nicertaining their opinions, and he would not therefore take them unawares- Thu Koad Boards Bill would not bedralted until he had conferrod with them upon tbo matter. Mr Farrell wished to know what was Mr Graham's policy with regard to native lands? Would he be willing to induce settlement by disposing of the land we were about to acquire from the natives, (in small blocks on the deferred ptijment system) instead of letting it get into the hands oi tho«e who would purchase merely as a speculation ? Mr Graham said that his policy would be fair piny to ever\body, although it was his business to alienate lands. Mr Fnrrell asked what were his ideas on immigration ? Mr Graham replied that ho would like to see suitable; settlers located upon good land ; but lie win of opinion that it was just as much an en or to give useless men goorl land as it was to give useless land to good men. He thought they should have practical men settled upon good land. (Hear.) Mr Farrell asked Mr Graham wlnt roid ho would advocate to the Thames? Mr Griliam snid that ho had no paitieulav ron 1 to *ug gest ; but thought that a road through Te an o \\ sukatr would be the best that could be chosen. He, however, wa« of opinion that the matter should be left entirely with tlic Government Engineer. He did not think thnt the vo.ifl should go to Cambridge, as it would He out of the way. It muttered little which route was adopted so Ion ' in they got theioad. He should impress that upon the Government and thought that the question of route should be decided by the engineer Mr Farrell asked whether Mr Graham \ron!d adri«e r roivd from the Thames to Hamilton or Cmnbridge in prelei • enoe to one to Taupiri ? Mr Graham »nid he certainly would He thought thai all should be united to get the best rone). Mr Farrell wished to know whether Mr Graham would advocate that the General Government form n conch road between Ngnruawahin and Hamilton, on east Bids of the river, in order to avoid crossing the river at Ngaruawahia? Mr Graham said that he thought tho ronrl wns necessary, ! and that it should be made by tho Gener.il Govcrnmont. I Mr Farrell remarked that great inconvenience was felt bv settlers having to cross the punt at Ngaruawnhia. Mr Graham said he would do his best to procure what was required, but there was a great scarcity of funds The [ Provincial chest was low. l Mr Farrell asked whether Mr Graham would be in favot of imposing a las to support tho Provincial Government. Mr Graham said, certainly not. I Mr Farrell wished to know what were Mr Graham's j opinions on the education question. Mr Graham replied that lie was astonished ut the state oi the education scheme. The Board had got £10,003 m debt in spite of tho £1 rato. He did not approve of the equal tax, but lie would much prefer that to no education at all. He would not then express any decided opinion, but this much ho would venture to c ay that nothing but a thoroughly secular system should receive his support. Education was a necessity, and must be had at any price ; but it should be nuule as light a burden as possible upon e\orybody. Mr Farrell a;.ked whether Mr Graham would support a property tax or income tax Mr Graham said that men should pay according to their means, nnd that the taxation should be made as little object iQiinblj as possible. Mr Vere Hunt wished to know whether Air Graham would be in favor of having a properly qualified valuator who«c duty it would be to asse«s property, instead of allowing Koad Boards, who, os a rule, knew nothing about the j value of property, to rate as they chose. Mr Graham replied that he thought a district engineer sVould be appointed to value property and superintend tho making of roads, bridges, &c. (Hear, hear). He was quite certain that money would be saved wero such a course adopted. It was surprising how much money had been wasted by Boards from want of professional advioe. (Hear, hear). Mr Potter nsked Mr Graham, if certain lands were alienated and handed over to the province by the General Government, in what proportion would he bo willing to I dispose of them to set.lers. Mr Graham replied that with regard to area that would depend upon the quality of the soil. If the province berime possessed of a large block, he would he willing to induce the formation of small settlements, but he certainly objected to cutting up the country into chess boards He would always like to see capital made use of when oppoi Utility offered ; but would suggest th * disposal of the best lands to settlers. Ho thought tl>at there should have been laid aside reserves for educational purposes. We wanted population, but it was wono than useless to push settlement in tho absence of oupital, Mr Potter said that looking minutely into the question lie believed it was ut variance with all the principles of political economy to pnrt with our estate in large hlocks for the purposes of speculation. In parts of Germany, France, .Norway, and Switzerland, the inhabitants were smuli landed proprietors. The whole of Great Britain was opposed to it, and the consequence was that working men were ground under the feet of the wealthy landholder. (Hear, hear). A different state of matters, however, was now being brought about, principally through the agency of education amongst tne lower classes. (Hear, hear). Mr Graham said that Mr Poster was in error In tho opinion he bad formed of his views on the subject being discussed. He was ft strong advocate for selling land in suitable blocks to the legitimate settler; but be beluned il whs better to sell land that the small capitalists would not settle upon to large capitalists than to let it remain altogether idle. Capitalists should drain swamps. If Government would not do it, private individuals must. He looked upon it, as highlr oreditnMe to those men who had purchased large tracts of swamp lands, and thought them benefactors than otherw ise to tho colony. Mr Potter remarkc] tliat when once large tracts of coun* try fell into the hands of "apitahsts, settlers could only obtain them under the same system as that in existence in Great. Britain. He was of opinion that it would be better to allow lands to lie in tlie hands of Government than to sell them to speculators. We should not then dispossess the country of her estate, but should ha\e something to hand down to our children. Mr White said that there was a great quantity of land not fit for settlement. Swamp* were no good to tho country in their natural state. Companies only could dual with and utilize them. Mr Farrell remarked that there setmed to be some mislale ns to the meaning of swan^p. In many instances where, say 5000 aores of land bad boen sold, 2000 were swamp, and tho remaining 3000 good land. Mr Giaham snid that nothing hut good land -hould be pre-erved for settlement. He would avoid allotting land to settlers that would be calculated to damage Our reputation as an agricultural district. ]

CHArTKB XXVI.— ' AJTBB ALL, I HAVE DONE HIM NO WRONG.' 1 1 ajc puiticularly directed, by the terms of this memorandum, to request Mm Dixon's presence at the reading of tlie n ill,' caid Mr Standisb, when, on the following day lie met Mr and Mrs St Quenlin, Mr Cooke, and Mr Martin, in th.© dining-room at the Firs, for this pre-arranged purpose. At this announ. ement Miriam looked surprised, and Mr Sfc Quentin looued angrj and ag^reived. ' A moat extraordinary direction, I must say,' he objected, J turning Inmaelt about pompously in the huge red-leather chair, which he assumed with a presidentof-cou' cil iiind of air. ' What can she have to do with the matter ?' 'That may perhaps be expl lined,' said Mr Standisb.. ' With your permission, Mrs St Q untin, I will send for Mrs Dixon.' He stretched Ins hand towards the bell, bub Mr Martin prevented his ringing it. 'stay!' he said, 'I will go and fetch her,' and lelt the room for the purpose, with an odd look of intelligence on his face. He found Florence in the ante-room to that i which the coffin was awaiting removal, and told her Ins errand, adding: 'There may be something agitating and pam/ul for you, my dear ; but you will, lam sure, be as you always aie, patient and •trong, and self-possessed.' • ' Florence glanced at him, as the unusual appellation, in s> unusual a tone, passe'l his lips, but she said nothing; she merely rose, walked down the stairs by hu tide, and, obedient to his gesture, passed into the dining-room in a Ivanco of him. Miriam, who was extremely pale, greeted her entrance with a faint smile, Mr Standish bowed, and Mr St Quentm said with disdain : ' You can tit down, DiKOn. You are required, it seems, to hear Mr Clint's will real' Mr Martin placed Florence between himself and Miriam, nnd, with a queer glaneo at Mr St Quentin, said to Mr Standish that they were all rea'ly and attentive. The iawye then untied the outer cover of a parcel of no great size, which by on the table before him, and broke the seal of a Inrge blue envelope. It was evident that Mr Clint's will was no voluminous document ; and the reading of it, after the accustomed preamble, did not occupy five minutes. The will was as clear as it was concise. The testator bequeathed all the property, of eveiy kind whatsoever of which he died possessed, with an exception hereafter to b» mentioned, to 'the best, kindest, truest woman it had ever been his fortune to meet; to her who had alle\iated the last months of his life, when both his children had forsaken him ; to the only penon in the world m who>e disinterested s rvices he lind confidence, and to whom he now tendered this acknowledgment ; to the young woman known as Rose Dixon, formerly m the lervice of Mrt St Quentin, the testator's daughter.' The will appointed Mrs Dixon sole executrix, nnd Walter Clint's name had no mention in it. Miriam's had a place, but an inconsiderable one. Mr Clint b-queathed to his daughter the sum of one thousand pounds and certain jewels which bad belonged to her mother, with the agreeable proviso, which Mr Standish read out with an irrepressible twinkle of satisfaction in his keen gray eyes, that the money waf to be allotted to her sole use and benefi r , as the testator did not wish any advantage to accrue from him to the ' wealthy cheat' hw daughter had married. Florence did not faint. She could not stand, or see, or speak, but she was conscious — conscious that Mr Martin hud taken firm hold of her— that Miriam, with a cry of 1 Oh, my darling!' had thrown herself on her kneet beside her, and was clasping her rounl the waist and crying wildly — conscious that Mr St Quentin had struck the table violently, and declared, with a great oath, that the will was an unparalleled infamy, too bad even for the drunken madman who bad made it, and that Walter Clint should break it — c msjious tnat Mr Cooke and Mr Standish were profoundly •ilent. Presently the room becomes steady, it ceases to swim before her eyes, and she finds Miriam, rudely grasped by Mr St Quentin, and forced up from her kneeling attitude beside bur ; but Mr Martin does not loose his hold of her. ' How dare you dis race yourself in this way?' said Mr St Quentin to his wile, in a voice half-suffocated with anger. ' What do >ou mean by culling this woman endearing names, by putting yourielf on a level with n vile schemer, who practised on your mad and drunken father, and has done her best to rob yourself and your brother ? A woman of n horn I had always the worst opinion, and would have turned out of my house, if she had not gone, for her own purposes. What do you mean by it, I say ?' ' Mr St Quentm,' said Mr Martin quietly, ' if you are not eonsoious of the extreme indecorum of your conduct on the present occasion, and of the impropriety of your language, it becomes necessary for me to remind you that we who aro hrro cannot permit you to behave in this manner. You must not apply such language to Mrs Dixon ' ' And who the devil are you, sir, that you should dictate to me ?' I I am Mr Clint's oldest friond, and one of the witnesses to his will.' ' You ought to be ashamed of yourself to acknwledge it.' I 1 had no knowledge whatever of its provisions. lam not prepared to say that I approve of them ; but /am prepared to say tin description which Mr Clint h&i given of Mrs Dixon is as correct, as the epithets you have applied to her nre unmerited.' ' Indeed ! My wife's servant deems to havn mvio an extraordinary impression. I believe you are a bachelor, an I Irive money to leave away from your relatives You anl these gentlemen ' — indicating Mr C>oke and Mr Stanlis'i. n ith a sneer — ' are, of course, at liberty to think, and act in tint matter as you please. As for me, I consider this house no fit place for my wile, and I shall remove her from it forthwith.' I Hush, my dear ; keep quiet,' whispered Mr Martin to Florence, who, ahnnking into the recesses of her chair, and trembling, seemed to be trying to speak. — ' I conclude you do not mean that Mrs Sfc Quentin is to leave her father's home until after his funeral ?' ho added coldly. I 1 do mean it; I will not attend the funeral of the disreputablß old drunkard, who was such a fool and auch a scoundrel as to be led by the no 5 o by a woman in this way.' He turned suddenly on Miriam : ' You will get ready to leav6 this house in half-an-hour, and during that time I forbid you to have any conversation with this person. During this uwgrv dialogue, Miriam had stood quite still beside Florence'^ chair, not touching her, not looking at her, but following every getture of Mr St! Quentin with, her great golden eyes, filled with anger, disdain, and terrible dislike. Aftor ho had pulled her up from hor knees, she had s 'in ken his hand from her arm, with a loathing shudder, as u a toad had touched her ; and, even in that moment, he had beer, conscious of the action, and of the disgust which it betrayed. Miriam had never been so completely off her "uard before ; lie noted the fact, understood it, aud never f >rgot it. When be uttered this peremptory order, she made one step forward, end confronted him, her face colourless, her lips set, her eyes gleaming. • I will nol> leave tint home,' she paid, m a low harsh Toico, uttering every tyllable with deliberate will ; ' either now, or at any other time, in obedience to you. Your detsstable behaviour has broken dow n every barrier of restraint which would have prevented my spc:iking openly before fhe«e gentlemen, my father's friends and my own. I will i amain here, and I will see as much as I please of her ' (she touched Florence's hair with a carossnig hand), ' whom my ( ithor loveil, who was tnoro to him than I o\er was, orwould have known how to be ; whom be has rewarded, to thr best of his ab'Hiij , and whom "he appreciated at b,ep

Mr Mulling said that farmers would liko to «oe the hind H d aposed of on defer, ed payments. ■ Mr Graham remarked that be would advocate tbe defen^ ■ pnyment system. It bad been found to work well in to- ■ toria I Mr Potter said that he wished that Mr Graham would ■ interest himself with regard to iho forest near Uanul on ; I it had beon thoroughly gutted. All the timber uselul for I building purposes had been cut down, and that winch was I remaining was only fit fot firewood. If they were allowed the mo of it for fuel it would confer a groat boon upon the w >rktn£ man. Mr Graham said that ho had already interested himself in that Miatter, but th« Government insisted upon payment being made for timber. Thelnst notification regarding tlie cutting of timber hod surprised the natives and others who hud hitherto been allowed to cut timber with impunity ; but no one had any right to cut timber without a, license. Ho would advocate that tho revenue arising from timber reserves ihould go to Road Boards. lie thought that forests ■hould be protected, as they were useful. He would endeavour to induce the Government to plant timber, as it not only affected climate and toil bonoficially, but would be j useful for building and other purposes. The Chairman wished to make a few remarks. Ho felt •uire that he had been alluded to in speaking of speculators. Tuey had virtu .lly said that a man should not bo allowed to spend n.oro than £19 or so at one tune, and that none but small capitalists should be allowed in the country. Why did uot the working men combine P He could point out a largo quantity ot swamp land available for jurchase if they wished to bedome poss 'ssed of the same. The country was very different before capitalists came into it ; it was n>w in a prosperous condition. He thought it their dut;A to offer every inducement for capitalists to come amongst them. Mr Farrell proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Graham, which was duly seconded and camod. Mr Graham, in responding, remarked that he was nucere when said he that he felt it an honor to represent them, and that he would do •verytlnng in his power to promote their interests m lm capacity as their representative in the Provincial Council. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.