THE ASHBURTON SEAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1642, 22 August 1887, Page 2

THE ASHBURTON SEAT.

MR W. C WALKER AT ALFORD FOREST. Mr W. C. Walker addressed his conetituentß at Alford Forest on Thursday evening last, and m spite of many residents being away at Timaru on a local law case, there was a good audience. Mr A. McFarlano briefly, as chairman, introduced the speaker, who dwelt at length on the final ratification of the East and West Coast railway contract, and the consequent decision to begin work at onco at the Springfield end, as well as «t the central point ; Mr Ballance's villnge settlement scheme to induce men to settle on the land with all a freeholder's privileges, leas a froeholder'B risk of losing his home ; the agricultural interests of Canterbury, and the raising of the grain freight by the Opposition, because that trades was essentially the life- of Canterbury farmers, and their inconsistent outcry for economy when the present Govern ment took office Ho briefly alluded to his opponent, Mr Pnrnell, ft 3 a gentlemun, announcing the most wonderful protniaes of retrenchment, without saying how this could be done. However he (Mr Walker) confidently placed himself at the disposal of the electors from past consistent action. Questions were asked and answered whon Mr H. Knight proposed " a vote of thanks for Mr Waiker's full explanation of hie term of oflico, and a vote of implicit confidence m him, trusting he would do m the future as he had done m the past, by upholding consistently the rights of Canterbury and the interests of New Zealand. 1 ' Thi3 was seconded by Mr Peterson, aad carried unanimously with cheers. a of thanks to the Chairman concluded the moalng