PUBLIC MEETING.

Evening Post, Issue 61, 20 April 1865, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A meeting was held in Barry's Market Hall last night, which was very well attended. Mr. Marriott filled the chair. He opened the meeting by reading the advertisement by which it had M been summoned, stating that the object in view was to nominate twelve gentlemen to represent the City in the Provincial Council, and called upon those assembled to give the different gentlemen who would address them the most patient hearing. The Chairman read a letter from Mr. George Allan who had gone into the country on urgent business, apologising for his absence. The Chairman introduced Mr. W. W. Taylor, who said that it was not until the hour approached for the meeting that he could decide whether to attend or not ; however, he begged the electors to understand that he was always ready to appear before them to answer for his past conduct, and to express his views with regard to the futuie. He had served in a political capacity for four years, and during that time he believed the electors 1 had an opportunity of forming an opinion as to whether he was worthy of still further enjoying thair confidence, and if so they would show it by reelecting him j if not, ho should be satisfied. He stood before them as a party man, and considered that combination was necessary to carry out with success any scheme. He belonged to the Featherston party, and was proud to acknowledge it, but still he would only support those measures which he considered conducive to the welfare of the province. He considered that a country population was necessary to the prosperity of the town, and he should do his best to promote the occupation of the country". The existing Town Board was formed under a moat imperfect act, and he should, if re-elected, do his utmost to get it revised. Mr. Taylor then asked the electors if they had any questions to put to him. An elector, with a ". Blue Book" under his arm, inquired if Mr. Taylor would, if reelected, repeal the Town Board Act, and give a Municipal Corporation to the town ? Mr. Taylor replied that the distinction between a Town Board and a Corporation was only in name, and any 0119 wishing the

one repealed and the other substituted, did not know what he asked. Mr. R Barry wanted to see power given to the Board, so that the city might have gas^ water, sanitary measures, and, in fact, everything that was required. The Chairman said Mr. Barry was quite out of order. He wished to see a pointed question put, and as pointedly answered. Mr. Borlase ssked Mr. Taylor if he would give the town the land that was reclaimed, but unsold ; and also the land that was unreclaimed, as an endowment for the Board? Mr. Taylor said the town had no right to the exclusive possession of the harbour lands, as they were reclaimed out of the revenue of the province, and the profits arising therefrom should be equably shared by town and country. Mr. E. Bull was the next speaker, who stated that he was sorry to say thai he came forward to address them, because others who* should take the precedence held back. (Mr. Hunter wished to observe that those gentlemen on his side wished to allow one on the other side to speak). He. (Mr. Bull) was not going to speak derogatory of any of the candidates. Mr. Taylor was a man who every one respected, and he (Mr. Bull) believed that Mr. Taylor would give the policy of Dr. Featherston a consistent support. Dr. Featberston's supporters were nearly all merchants, sheep owners, &c, whose interest it was to lock up the country lands from the occupation of tlie poorer classes. After commenting on the emigration scheme, he said that education was a subject he took deep interest in, and for which at present a very small portion of the revenue was used. People talked of impartial legislation ; to show the electors how impartial it was, he would relate an incident of the proceedings of the Council. He happened to be in the Council one day when Mr. George Crawford brought forward a resolution to the effect that £150 should be granted towards erecting a bathing place, but that patriotic statesmen Mr. Stokes vetoed the motion, observing that a bathing place was an object for private enterprise. He happened to be in the Council another day, when Mr. Stokes brought f6rward a motion that asum should be voted to introduce alpacas into the country, that vote passed, and at the cost of several hundred pounds the useless alapacas were brought here. Mr. Bull touched upon the subjects of the Public Wharf, Corporation Bill, and the Land Regulations 5 he then said that it. might look presumptuous on his part to stand before the electors as a candidate for a seat in the Provincial Council, but if the electors thought he was able to represent them they would return him ; if not, he would bow to their decision. He was now prepared to answer any question that might be asked. The elector with the blue book jumped up and put the same question to Mr. Bull that he had previously put to Mr. Wallace. (We may, here mention that to every candidate who addressed the meeting the elector with the blue book and Mr. Barry put the question it re-elected,would they support an increased educational grant and a reformed Town Board Act ?) ¦j£l£Mr. Anderson next endeavoured to address the meeting, but was, received with groans and hisses. In vain did he try to make himself heard, but the electors prosent were determined not to listen to him. The Chairman appealed on Mr. Anderson's behalf, asking the electors to be calm, but the appeal was of no avail ; and Mr. Anderson, after trying in the most energetic manner to make himself heard above the uproar, sat down < T3 / Mr. J. H. Wallace was received with Cheers. He said that he felt iii was his duty to come forward and address the electors, who he knew would acquit him of the gross calumny that had bten heaped upon him by the writer in the Independent. His (Mr.Wallace's) name had been handled in a most insulting way in the leader of the last issue of that paper, but he was proud to say that the feeling expressed in the article referred to was only shared by one person— the writer himself— and not the electors, who with him (Mr. Wallace) were equally indignant. The proprietor of the Independent was Mr Wallace's personal friend, and he would say that not the slightest blame attached itself to Mr. Mackenzie for the vindictive articles that appeared in his paper ; the writer was to blame, and he (Mr. Wallace) considered that a person taking advantage of his influence over any newspaper to commit, through its columns, covert attacks upon any gentleman, was "no man " He had bean in the council for five years, during whioh time he had endeavoured to act conscientiously. The

electors expressed their satisfaction with his public conduct, .which was most gratifying to his feelings. Mr. Wallace referred at some length to his actions while in the council, and resumed his seat amid applause. Mr. Stokes appeared as a candidate to represent the electors, and on independent ' principles. He had no private interests to serve, and was now as much the lover of progress as he had always been. With regard to the land monopoly question, he begged to inform the electors he held no run in this province, and was not the purchaser of any five shilling land. Wool was the main export of the province — he might say of the colony— and if the land was taken away from the sheep fanner the country would soon lose its present important position. Mr. Stokes spoke of the present Town Board, and said that while he recognised the good that body had done, he considered the act wanted revision, and he would give that and every other project that was for the benefit of the province his most hearty support. Mr. Borlase was well-known throughout the province as the advocate of reform measures. He wished to see the land in the occupation of bona fide settlers ; and he believed if a run of ten thousand acres produced a certain quantity of wool, that quantity of and divided betw«en ten persons who would stock the ground with sheep, would in the aggregate produce more wool than if held by one person. If the electors were of opinion that his principles embodied the best policy for the progress of the province, they would record their votes in his iavour. Mr. Hunter had served in the council to the beat of his ability, and if the electors returned him he would still continue to do so. Mr. Hickson stood before them as a candidate for a seat in the Council after having passed many years away from the turmoil of political strife. Mr. Phabazyn stated that he appeared' for the first time in the form of a candidate. His interests were bound up with those of the province, and if the electors considered him worthy to represent them, he would do his utmost to forward the interests of all . classes. He would give Dr. Featherston his support when he thought that support would do good, but he was not going to be a thick and thin supporter of the Superintendent. Mr. Pharazyn was well received, and sat down amid cries of hear, hear. Mr. Plimmeb stood before the electors as 1 a City candidate ; he stated his future policy to be the total repeal of the Fencing Act, which said Act, he considered, tied up the poor man's occupation, he also was in favor of giving Town Board full powers^ whereby every improvement could be effected in the Town that was reqnired. Mr. Rhodes addressed the meeting, and solicited the votes of the electors if they considered him worthy of support. Mr. Dransfiexd stated- that for his part he objected to any member being bound to any particular party, and he would not bind himself vto anj policy; he would, however, support any measure that might prove beneficial to the town and country. Mr. Carpenter was . the last candidate who appeared on the platform. He said that he was prepared to account for ' his past conduct, aud was open for re-election. Mr. Hunter said that he {begged to irform the meeting, that Mr. J. Martin had gone to Otago, which accounted for his absence. „,)_ elector with his Blue Book stepped upon the platform, and said he wished to bind the candidates to votes for a large sum for educational purposes. The Chairman stated that the elector with the Blue Book, was out of order, the meeting was convened for a special purpose, and subjects foreign to the business of the meeting could not be discussedLJ A vote of thauks to the chairman, was proposed and carried nem con, after which 1 the meeting separated. From the number of speakers who had addressed the assembly, the hour of breaking up was necessarily late. j