POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1608, 22 November 1905, Page 2

POLITICAL.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, last night. The writs concerning the general election will be issued to-morrow. Tbe time 4 for receiving nominations will close this day week, Tuesday, 28tb, and the elections will be bi-ld to-morrow fortnight, December 6tb.

Invercargill, last night. Sir Joseph’Ward was banqueted by the Bluff Liberal and Labor' Federation last night. Replying to a tuast in his honor, the Minister stated that after extended inquiries from Auokland to the Bluff ho believed tbe Government would rbave an undiminished majority in tho next Parliament. Feilding, last night. Mr F. Y. Lethbridge, the Opposition candidate, addressed a Feilding audienoe last night. He contended that Mr Seadon’s surplus would not exist except for borrowed money. We required a proper system of grants to local bodies, also to education. Ho favored the freehold or leasehold if dosired. He favored grants to Crown tenants to proteot their holdings against the encroachments of rivers. Ho was against prohibition and State control, also a referendum for Bible in schools. .

A WEST COAST FARCE. (Par Press Asaodsttfon.) Hokitika, last night. Tho Dame of the candidate selected by tbe New Zealand Allianoo to oontest Westland oonstituonoy against the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon is Harry Cowin, a farmer of Whareama, Wairarapa distriot. The candidate iB absolutely unknown ou the West Coast, and will not visit it.

MR MASSEY'S SPEECH.

Per Press Association. Auckland, last night. ’ Tho Leader of tho Opposition (Mr Massey) addressed a crowded audience in the Opera House to-night. Replying to the Premier’s recent Auokland speech, he stated that he originally moved the abolition of tbe dnty on fenoing wire. ..He suggested annuities seven years ago, though the Premier spoke of it last weeiA Mr Massey declared himself in favor all lending local bodies money at 3& per cent for roading, thus doing away with the wretched system of grants, inequitably distributed. He urged the electors to support the Opposition in the interests of clean administration, and to oheck the growth of inoipient Tammanyism in the oo'ony. The Leader of the Opposition was accorded an enthnsiastie motion of thanks and confidence.

PREMIER AT NEW PLYMOUTH. (Per Press Association.) New Plymouth, last night. Mr Seddon gave a political address tonight at the Theatre Royal, which was packed in every part. Numbers were unable to gain admission.- He was accorded a splendid reception. He spoke nearly three hoars, much on tho same lines as in the North. He strongly urged batter producers to stop exporting unsalted buttafe," which wes now used for the purposes of ; adulteration. The speeoh was frequently applauded, and at the olose a vote of thanks and confidence in the Government wbb carried, with great acolamation. ;

Inveroargill, last night.

Mr J. A. Hanan, member for Inveroargill, addressed a large meeting of town eleotors to-night. He is a Government candidate, and spoke generally in defence of the administration. He said he was elected to support a Liberal aud progressive policy, and the aspirations of the Seddon Government bad been to extend popular rights, lessen some of the unjust irregularities in social, industrial, and eoonomio life, to prevent unfair legislation on behalf of vested interests and the burdening of the many to advantage of the few, and he claimed to have supported them. He favored Grown leasehold as against freehold, but would abolish the 999 years lease. A vote of thanks and oonfidenoe was passed with slight dissent.

MR CARROLL’S TOUR.

The Hon. J. Carroll left Fort Awanui on Monday morning, lunched at Mr James Enos’s, and reaohed Te Araroa at 5.80

p.m. He had a good trip with fine weather. The mooting at Te Araroa was largely attended, and Mr Henderson presided. He referred to the faot that it was the first political meeting addressed there by Mr Oarroll. That geotlemao, he said, had oome to heal a wound that had been opened up too long. Through Mr Carroll's intercession the difficulty in respeot to the recreation ground had been practically settled to the mutual satisfaction of both natives and Europeans. Mr Oarroll delivered an able address which embodied many of the points previously touched on. He went into details of the trouble with respect to Te Araroa; he spoke of the spirit shown by the Natives in handing over their land, and explained ail the difficulties that had occurred. He spoke in very hopeful terms of the prospects of the district on the Native lands being brought under the Lands for Settlement Act. There was, he said, a large traot that oould be very profitably; worked. He looked forward in the near future to great progress being made iu the district. He spoke of what the Natives had done, and referred in terms of satisfaction to them having voluntarily handed over 1200 acres to be utilised, and of their desire to help. The proceedings were enthusiastic, and at the conclusion of the address a hearty

vote of thanks and confidence was accorded to Mr Oarroll, on the motion of Mr Hovell, seconded by Mr Hansen. Three cheers were then called for the Minister, ' and heartily responded to. Mr Oarroll was at Taparoa la3t night. He arrives at Tokomaru to-day, and will be at Pakarae on Thursday, arriving at Gisborne on Friday. i There was a large attendance at the meeting held by Mr Oarroll at Taparoa last night, and the Native Minister was acoorded a very hearty reception- Mr K. S. Williams oooupied the ohair.. . A number of questions of looal interest were asked, and on the motion of Mr Ludbrook, seconded by Mr Travers, a hearty vote of thanks wsb acoorded the speaker.

MR CLAYTON’S OPPOSITION.

(To the Editor Gisborne Times.) . ,^ r . o,B y l °n *u his address gisen at His Majesty’s Theatre said •• he was always armed, he carried a pistol." May I ask was that the pistol of which repo ti have been heard. Mr Oarroll addressing hisoommittee in the old Library said he had been amused in reading the utterances of his opponents, not so muoh Mr Wall, but the other one, who appeared to be a kind of a political desperado who was prepared to use the hip-pooket or tbo stiletto ; some of their friends might be tempted to use the hair trigger to wreak vengeanoe.” Now. Sir, Mr Clayton said he would roply to Mr Carroll’s remarks; if bp, lot him roply in au honest manner, and give roasonß for his threats if he ie manly enough to do 00. It would appear he ie squirming at Mr Oru roll's remarks, otherwise he would have the oourage to reply to them before now. This bombast I is not p oof, only assertions, and unless be ] exonerates himself tbo assertion will stick, together with showing what claim ho has on the ratepayers,—l am, etc., - ' RAIEPAYEBe