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Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2473, 19 January 1871, Page 2

MR REYNOLDS AT THE WATER OF LEITH. Last evening, Mr W. H. Reynolds addressed a meeting of the electors at the Drill Shed, Water of Leith. Owing to some misapprehension as to the time of meeting, the proceedings did not commence before eight o’clock. Mr E. W. M‘G ashan was elected chairman. Mr Reynolds, after glancing at what he had said at previous meetings, expressed his opinion that without safeguards and modifications the Immigration and Public Works Scheme would be made to work more to the advantage of the North than the Middle Island. He drew particular attention to the endeavor, on the part of the North Island members to make the land revenue of the Provinces Colonial revenue, and shewed that it was necessary to return men to Parliament who would act together* in preventing such spoliation. Referring to the ballot, he explained that placing the number on the ballot paper did not take from that mode of voting the secret character of the ballot; that it was a necessary precaution, and that the tearing off the corner*, as had been done by some electors, utrder the idea that their vote would be more secret, only led to the rejection of the vote, as the returning officer* would not count the vote given by any such mutilated papers. To do this, therefore, was equivalent to not voting. In answer to questions by Mr Birch and several electors, Mr Reynolds said that, on leaving Wellington, ho paired with Mr W, H. Harrison in support of the Government, and that his principal objection to the Immigration and Public Works Acts was the danger of the North Island having its railways constructed at the expense of the Middle Island. He considered himself justified in expressing approval of the resolution of the Provincial Council, as he thought such an extensive sclieme should not l>e Tindortalcon witliout the people being consulted. lie did not press his separation resolutions to a division, for he only had the support of four Otago