Local Matters.

It had been said of him that if he did not mind his stop his constituents would suffer. Now he had on many subjects taken an independent view, though he had at the same time continued on the most friendly and amicable terms with ministers, and his actions had not affected his constituents in any way, What had the Government done for them ? First in the session of 1894 there was the Harbor dredging, the necessity of which he urged, and on which altogether £2,700 had been expended He secured a police station Cottage in town, and, on its being represented that a railway station was needed at Appleby for the rain traffic and the convenience of the farmers adjacent, he page 15 secured a promise that it should be provided without delay and in three months the station was open. Various other small votes were agreed to. In 1895 the Government authorised the erection of a new cottage at the Lighthouse—not before it was wanted; they granted £"200 for alterations to the Police Station; Reed to erect a waiting room and offices at the Port; and panted an endowment of 2,000 acres for a public reading room. That endowment was asked for by their former member, but without success. Now he trusted they would soon have a free public reading room open. (Applause.) Then, after every effor old failed to secure for the Volunteers new guns in placo of their old ones he got them two Nordenfeldts, and this year, to assist the unemployed he got a vote for the Crow track, to open what was expected to be a profitable diggings. This all showed that his constituents had not suffered because he had sought to act as he believed to be best in their general interests. Regarding his supporting the Government, he thought he had made it clear that the alternative was the old Opposition, who favored the property Tax and the keeping of as much land by individuals as each could lay hold of. There was no other party at present, and the only way to effect an improvement was to alter the personel of the House so that independent members might endeavor to say to the Government, if you don't do as we wish we shall try to turn you out, but to turn the present Government out under Present conditions was only to return the old Opposition to power. They had now a so-called National Association, and he had been asked, who are they; who compose it ? Well the National Association was exactly the old Opposition, and it included such men as Dr. Newman, Captain Russell, Mr Buchanan, and Mr Allan Captain Russell was one of the most honorable and up-right of gentlemen in New Zealand but he, the speaker, disagreed with him about the Land and Income and Property Taxes. The old Property Tax meant a tax on property whether it was reproductive or not. Por example, if there were two mining companies each of which had expended say £50,000 on its works, and one was returning £100,000 a year while the other did not yield as many pence. Under the Property Tax each would have to pay the same sum in taxation. Now the Land and Income Tax

meant that they had to pay according to their earnings—[Applause.]—and he was sure they would agree that the company that made £100,000 a year was better able to pay than the one that earned nothing, and that it should be made to pay. (Applause.) There was the difference, and that was one of the great points on which Captain Russell and he disagreed As land owners the National Association were also in favor of the large land owners retaining great blocks of country. Every man had a right to live,-and to sufficient of the earth's surface to enable him to do so. The present law enables the proprietors of the page 16 land to live, and to hold sufficient for all reasonable reqerments. A man could hold 640 acres of first-class land, 2,000 acres of second-class land, and from 5,000 to 20,000 acres of pastoral country. He urged, however, that it ought to be most their concern to sec all men lived in comfort, than to see some in affluence and others in penury. (Loud applause.) He wanted to give them an opportunity to ask questions and he would merely add that he had nothing to hide. (Loud applause.)

Mr McGregor asked whether Mr Graham favored the scheme credited Mr Ward of providing a navy.

Mr Graham answered in the negative.

Mr Stewart briefly moved a vote of thanks to Mr Gray for his very excellent and interesting address, and coupled with it a vote of confidence in him as their member, adding that [unclear: a] did not intend thus to imply confidence in the Government.

Mr Brown, in seconding the motion, said it was clear Mr Graham was not one of the dumb Parliamentary dogs.

Mr Pettit moved as an amendment a simple vote of thanks.

Mr A. S. Atkinson seconded the amendment.

On the question being put there were not more than eight hands held up in favor of the amendment, and a great man hands were held up against.

The Chairman then put the motion, which was carrid amidst applause.

Mr Graham, in acknowledging the vote, said he esteem their vote highly. While he was their member, he should [unclear: a] he had, try to do his best, and if he lost faith in their eyes [unclear: a] wish was that they might send some one in his place. He then moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Sharp for the able [unclear: a] had conducted the meeting.

The motion was carried by acclamation.

Mr Sharp said he would like to say a word. He had [unclear: a] before presided over so appreciative or decorous a meeting, [unclear: a] he attributed the result to the ladies, who had kept them all order.

Those present then dispersed.