MR ORMOND AT WOODVILLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3238, 16 November 1881, Page 4

MR ORMOND AT WOODVILLE.

A meeting of trie Woodville electors took place on Monday evening in the schoolroom. The large gathering of the settlers evinced the interest which they take in tho forthcoming election. Mr Foxrataine occupied the chair, and introduced Mr Ormond, who was received with great applause. As his speech at Waipawa has been published, it •woulct be only going over old. ground to rewrite the main features. After reviewing his own actions, and the Government's, he proceeded to otir local wants, viz., the railway and tho bridge over the Manawatu at the lower ferry, and gave us to understand that both were almost certainties. With regard to settlements he believed in the deferred payment system, but to make the payments as easy and light as possible. After a few more words he sat down amid great applause. Mr McNeil asked : Do you not consider that tho settlers are unfairly taxed both by tho Road Boards and County Council, as they are rated for their improvements as Well' as their land. Mr Ormond : The fairest way would be io take a valuation of the land only. Mr McNeil: Do you not think that members oflght to be careful whom they recommend to become J.P.'s. (Here from the gentleman a few personal remarks). Mr Ormond : Certainly t better rub off the old names and begin again. Mr McNeil asked one or two more questions of no import. Mr Collett, from what I could make oat, wanted Mr Ormond to get an Act of Parliament passed in order to have a post or two put up outside the post office to hang horses up to. He asked two or three other questions, and then asked. What is your opinion respecting the Upper House. _ Mr Ormond: The Legislative Council had in times past sometimes interfered with the Lower House, and in many cases for the good. At the same time he thought it was desirable to have more elective elemen in it. Mr Sowry : Seeing the good service that the volunteers have rendered in these late disturbances, will you support the augmenting them ? Mr Ormond : I certainly will, considering them as I do a most useful and efficient body of men. Mr Stephen Hutchings then asked Mr Ormond to explain what he had read in the Waipawa Mail with regard to the £3000 which Mr Johnston had attacked him about. As the answer is too long to give in full, I may briefly say that Mr Ormond fully satisfied us, more especially as most were fully acquainted with the matter previously. Mr George Huteliins then asked several questions, but the only one of which I have any note is : Since you are opposed to the Government, what is Mr Smith's opinion, ? Mr Ormond: I cannot tell you Mr Smith's opinions, but if he gets in it will make no difference which side he takes. (Laughter.) Mr Sowry proposed a vote of thanks and confidence to Mr Ormond. Mr David Hughes seconded. Mr George Hutchings proposed, and Mr McNeil seconded, that a vote of thanks only be accorded. On the show of hands the amendment was lost, and for the motion it was oil but unanimous. Mr Sowry proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman. —(Own Correspondent.)