POLITICAL MEETINGS IN MELBOURNE.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1226, 7 February 1878, Page 3

POLITICAL MEETINGS IN MELBOURNE.

A late telegram related how Mr Francis had been frustrated in addressing a public meeting in Melbourne, and how lie had to retire from St. Patrick’s Hall to an hotel, there to deliver his speech to his friends and the reporters. Describing the scene at the first attempted meeting (he “Argus ” says : “ lb was not anticipated that he would not be allowed to speak, and therefore the meeting was fixed at a central place, and for an hour when all classes would bo able (o attend. A large crowd collected at the hall. ' Possession was taken of a number of reserved seats, both on the platform and in the body of the hall by tho supporters of Mr Francis, and the doors were thrown open at a quarter to 8 o’clock. The hall was instantly filled ; the whole of the passages were blocked, and hardly an inch of free space left anywhere. Both Mr Francis and Sir Charles MacMahon met with an enthusiastic reception on their arrival, and tho Opposition party replied with loud groans. ' On the platform were several members of Parliament—Mr Ramsay, Mr Zox, Mr Resisto, Mr Purves, Mr Thompson Moore, Mr Forgusson, and Mr Carter, and in the body of the hall there were Mr Andrews and Mr Minima. On the motion of Sir Charles Mac Mahon, Mr Loader was called to tho chair. lie attempted to open the business in the usual way, but was not permitted to do so. The clamours of the one party were met by the cheers of the other, and Mr Loader <*ot through his duty as quickly as possible. Bir Charles MacMahon then came forward to spsuk a few farewell words to the electors, but was not allowed to say one word. Two or three persons in the front row, and some fifty or sixty at the back, let it be seen that noise was to prevail. Sir Charles MacMahon had to content himself with saying that if there was one man in the colony who he wished to succeed him in the representation of Went Melbourne, it was Mr Francis. Mr Francis then presented himself, amid I° U( L cheers and considerable uproar. Two or three minutes elapsed before a lull took place, and then Air Francis began as follows : other events in my public life X have experienced the gratification to appear

before a rowdy meeting. [Cheers.] But I hope and trust my introduction to tho constituency of West Melbourne is not to be of that order. I hope that the premier constituency of tho colony is not going to degrade itself by refusing to hear what a public man can have to say. I can only say it is you that suffer, not me. For no fair man will come before you if he is not justly treated, For 20 years I have been a public man in Victoria —[cheers] —and there are not twenty men who can say that I have belied the promises of my early career. I don’t mean to belie them now. I come hero for the purpose of expressing my opinions on the present state of public affairs. I hope that the wish of tho people is to be governed according to law. Beyond this point no reasonable progress could be made, and the sentences which followed could only be heard in detached pieces. Mr Francis persisted in his efforts for some time. At the end of twenty minutes or half an hour, the attempt was abandoned, and Mr Francis and his supporters withdrew from the hall. Great confusion lasted until the gas was turned out, and one member of Parliament —Mr Purves —had to come out without his hat. In order to enable Mr Francis to deliver his address, it was then decided that an adjournment should be made to the Union Club Hotel, Collins street west, where Mr C. E. Bright was called to the chair.