MR RICH AT WAIKOUAITI

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2004, 7 October 1869, Page 3

MR RICH AT WAIKOUAITI

Mr F. D. "Rich, M.H.E., addressed the electors at Waikouaiti on Friday evening. He spoke at some length, and at the conclusion of his address, (he following resolution, moved by Mr Malloch, was carried unanimously :

“That, in the opinion of this inci ting, Mr Rich, in supporting the Otago Hundreds Regulations Act, 1869, gave his support to an Act calculated to injure his const tucuts by raising an impediment against (he progress of settlement in this Province. That by tins Act undue privileges are given to the pastor. 1 tenants at the expense and to the injury of the public generally. For these 'easons fir's meeting begs to record its disapproval of the epurse takep by Mr Rich, our representative m'the Assembly, as far as this Act is concerned.”

Mr It. Mitchell moved the following resolution “That the thanks of this meeting are due to Mr Rich for coming forward this evening to address his constituents, but expresses its strong disapproval of bis conduct in supporting the Fox administration.” The Herald says that the latter resolution Wid) seconded by Mr A. Valentine, and put to the meeting. Only a few hands were held no, and it was declared carried, inasmuch as the majority of the audience, appearing to be indifferent as to the course pursued by Mr Rich in supporting the Fox Government, voted neither way.

Mr Rich said that before proceeding to say anyth : ng on the subject for ■which he had called the meeting, .and which the Chairman had alluded to, he desired to make a few remarks in reference to his meeting held at Palmerston the previous Thursday, An impression had gone abroad, and it was generally supposed, there and in Dunedin, that that meeting had been a stormy one, and that he had been severely handled by his igmsti feueuts there, tic wanted to contradict this impression. A more orderly and well conducted meetinghe never wished to attend, and he did not desire or think a constituency Could offer their representative more consideration than had been shown to him The questions put were a ked in a spirit of the utmost friendliness and good feeling, and he had answered them in the same manner. He regretted the impression should have gone abroad that there had been a certain amount rif ill-feeling exhibited 1 towards him at Palmerston, and ho took that opportunity of

contradicting it. Probably what gave rise to this misapprehension at Waikouaiti and Dunedin, was that on the night of the meeting, and at the close of his address, Mr Dillon Bell rivho -was chairman) expressed a wish as an elector of Shag Valiev to make a few remarks, and propose d .Mr Todd should take the chair to permit him to do so. The meeting suddenly broke up, and the electors left the room, refusing to give Mr Bell a hearing This caused a groat deal of confusion. He (Mr Rich) thought it only right and fair that before disapproving or a question they should hear both sides. If they had listened to Mr 801 l he could no doubt, from his position in the Ministry and his huge experience as a politician, have thrown a very different light on many subjects they were specia'ly interested in. He regretted extremely the settlers should so far have forgotten themselves as not to accord to MiBell the same indulgence as they had extended to himself. Had they listened to botli sides of the question the impression would not have gone abroad that the meeting was a one-sided affair, and that he had been treated with disrespect, as it was from this circumstance that the report had arisen. Towards himself, however, he cm Id say that he never wished to receive better treatment.