MR PURNELL AT MOUNT SOMERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1643, 23 August 1887, Page 2

MR PURNELL AT MOUNT SOMERS.

Mr Parnell addreaaed the Aehburton eleotora ia the Mount Somera SchoolhuU3e yesterday evening. Althoagh the night was dark and vet there was an fxoellent attendance. An apology for unavoidable absence from the meeting was received from Mr A. Morewether. Mr S. McClimout waa voted to the chair. The candidate, iv his apteoh went over the main topic* of his 4ahburton address and roßumed his seat amtd loud applause. Jn reply tog questions Mr Purnell aald he thou.hh*, before long, the Government wou'd fiud it necessary, m the interests of settlement, to resume possession of some of the large freehold estates whioh it had unwisely allowed to be created m this country. Full compansatlon mast, however, be paid for all land so taken, Aa to the particular mode m which resumption should be effected, he should consider any Bill on the subjeot which might be introduced ioto the House upon its merits. "East Street " waa not supporting him at this election, but was supporting Mr Walker. If the irrigation experiment proved successful m Jhia county he should be m favor of the appointment of a Government officer to instruct the farmers m the proper method ot irrigating their farms. He wonld not' pledge himself to follow Sir John Hail or any othor political leader; be had explained what he conceived to be the prino'plcs which ought to guide our financial policy m the future, and would Buoport any Ministry which woald give effect to those principles. On the motion of Mr Harvey a hearty vote of tbanks waa unanimously given to the candidate for his address. After the usual compliment to the Chairman the meeting dispersed.