THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 446, 18 November 1875, Page 4

THE ELECTIONS.

MK PILLIET AT LTITLE RIVER. A meeting of the electors residing in the Little River district was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening last. There was a large attendance, and Mr Hugh Buchanan, M.P.C. for Wainui, occupied the chair. Mr Pilliet, who was reciived with applause, addressed the meeting at considerable length, mainly repeating what he said on a previous occasion at Akaroa. He declared himself an abolitionist, and explained his reasons for holding the view that provincialism should be replaced by some other System. He said that even in the nourishing province of Canterbury too great extravagance had been shown in the administration of affairs, and that was the cause which led to the downfall of the Montgomery Administration. The Board of Education in one year had overdrawn by £16,000 a vote of £90,000, and had proved almost irresponsible. The effect of its lavish mode of deal ing with public moneys would soon be felt. He was proud to think that the four members representing Bank's Peninsula had always found themselves working on the same side during the last session of the Provincial Council, without having in any way combined to do so. While tbey had strongly supported his election, each was fonnd on the side which caused Mr Montgomerytoloose office. He (Mr Pilliet)thought the fact a significant one, and which showed that the Peninsula members had no faith in Mr Montgomery as the representative of the district in the General Assembly. Cheers were given on the termination of Mr Pilliet's address. At the conclusion of Mr Pilliet's speech, it ■was proposed by Mr N. Walters, seconded by Mr R. Powrie, and carried unanimously and with acclamation—" That a cordial vote of thanks be given to Mr Pilliet for his address this evening, and that this meeting is of opinion that he is a fit and proper person to represent the district of Akaroa in the General Assembly." In proposing a vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr Pilliet said that he felt very glad to have the opportunity of publicly stating how, in the Provincial Council, Mr Buchanan had worked hard for the interests of the district at large, and that his influence and efforts had been productive of great good to the Peninsula. The resolution hayiug been seconded, carried, and duly acknowledged, the meeting terminated. MR W. "bTtOSSWILL AT MALVERN. MrW. B Tosswill addressed the electors of the Coleridge district at Willis's Malvern Hotel on Tuesday evening. The room was crowded, and on the motion of Mr Tosswill, Mr W. J. Taylor took the chair The chairman very briefly introduced Mr Tosswill, who was a candidate for the representation of the district in the General Assembly, and he asked them to give an impartial hearing to the speakers, and he hoped that the meeting would be as orderly as meetings generally were in the district. [Cheers ] Mr Tosswill's address at Courtenay having appeared in these columns, it is not necessary to repeat again his opinions on the various public questions. An Elector said two farmers had already been elected. He wished to know why they had not represented the district properly. Mr Tosswill really could not tell. He thought he was not his brother's keeper. [Laughter."! If they elected him he would represent them to the best of his ability. Mr J. Brown wished to know Mr Tosswill's opinion as to the size of the blocks into which the runs should be divided in 1880. Mr Tosswill considered that a difficult question. The rents could be raised no doubt, but it was the opinion of some legal authorities that the runs could not be put up to auction. He was not competent to give an independent opinion on the question. Mr James Barr proposed a vote of tharks to Mr Tosswill for his address, which was seconded by Mr Pitt, and carried uuanimously, Mr Jebson said he would be brief. He was a candidate for their suffrages, and one that knew their wants, being about the oldest resident in that neighbourhood. He had taken the initiative in getting the railway, which they all found so useful, made into the district, and he had done his best towards irrigating the plains. He would take another opportunity of explaining his views on the various political questions of the day. [Cheers.] Mr Jebson then moved a vote of thanks to the chairman. Mr Tosswill thanked them for the quiet and orderly way in which the meeting had passed, and seconded Mr Jebson's motion, which was carried unanimously, and the meeting closed. MEETING AT ASHBURTON. A public meeting was held in the Ashburton Library on November 16th, to discuss the most important public questions likely to come before the House of Representatives during the next session, and the course to be adopted at the forthcoming elections to secure proper representation. Mr Doherty was voted to the chair, and having read the advertisement calling the meeting, requested Mr Alfred Saunders to address the meeting. Mr Saunders advised unity of action in the election of a fit and proper representative ; and enumerated the following as the most important questions likely to be discussed during the next session cf the Assembly, viz, the abolition of the provinces, the mode of dealing with the waste lands of the colony, education, an 1 taxation of land and property ; and finally suggested that the meeting (which was one of the largest ever held in the Ashburton) should elect a committeee to watch over the interests of the electors at the forthcoming election. Mr J. Brown followed, treading mostly the same ground as the previous speaker, adding that in his opinion the Legislative Council should be an elected not a nominated body, and that the franchise should be on the basis of manhood suffrage. Several other speakers having addressed the meeting, the following heads for the guidance of the committee were put to the meeting, and carried with few dissentients : —" That in the opinion of this meeting, no candidate should be supported who will not pledge himself to vote for the following, viz :—"Runs to be let by public auction." " That in the event of the provinces being abolished, ...the agent of the General Government in each province be elected by the majority of electors of each provide"- "That should farther taxation.

be required, improvements, artificial or agricultural, be exempted." " That the mere essentials of education be liberally supported from the consolidated revenue, as a primary necessity of good, free government, all superior education to be paid for." "No general political questions to be decided by those holding a plurality of votes to property." Tho following gentlemen were then duly elected to canvass the district, and watch over the interests of the electors at the forthcoming election—viz, Messrs Williamson, A. Saunders, R. Miller, E. Saunders, D. Wilson, P. Chalmers, A. Leatham, J. Hunt, H. Friedlander, J. Brown, H. Smith, E. Johns, and Dr Trevor, with power to add to their number.

After a vote of thanks to the chairman, and to Mr Saunders for his able and exhaustive speech, the meeting separated.