THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2358, 24 October 1881, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

ME WASON AT ASHBCRTON. On Friday evening Mr J. O. Wason's election-address in the Ashburton Town Hall waß listened to by about 220 people. The chair was occupied by the Mayor (Mr Hugo Friedlander), who briefly introduced the candidate. Mr Wason, who spoke for an hour and eight minutee, received an attentive hearing, dwelling at length on the advantage of local self-government and local finance. He deprecated the provisions of the Roads Construction Bill, and the proposal to place the rail way s under Board control. The Civil Servants* 10 per cent, reduction, he thought, had been unjust; and the 20 per cent, of the land gales, bo nobly sacrificed for the colony's good to the exigencies of colonial finance, he thought should now be restored. The property tax he regretted to see reduced. Rather, if necessary, he would go with Mr Baußders and see it doubled. A portion of the tax, with a view to its being locally gpent, might fairly bo paid to the County Council or the Municipality of the district in which tho tax was raised. A Department of Forestry and Agriculture was sorely needed. Timbr-r-plantirig in New Zealand had been pitifully neglected, and forests were being shamelessly deruied of trees. The farmers would be glad to plant largely under a proper sjsfem. A Drainage was desirable, and people 6nculd ba enabled to borrow money at low in'oreit for purposes of drainage. With the proposal to reform the Upper House lie had no sympathy, nor did tho rejection of the Pensions Bill and the Legal Practitioners Bill alter his opinion. In reply to questions, Mr Wason stated that he vas in favor of a direct line of steamers to convey produce Ho?>:e Touching Native jffii.-s, he approved of a " sugar and blanket " treatment. This wis tho best warlike policy ever enunciated. [Lwghter.l He abhorred tho notion of to war with the Muoris. On Mr Geo. H St. Hill's motion, seconded by Mr J. R. Steele, a vote of thanks was rscccrdcd to the nndidato by acclamation, and tho proceedings terminated by Mr Wnson's paying tL; cu=tomary c-mpliment to the chair.

[PHEP' ASSOCIATION TEXBGBiMB.] WELLINGTON, October 23. Mr Duncan Sinclair will contest the Hutt. Mr Dwan, a candidate for iThomdon, addressed the electors last evening, and received a vote of confidence. KAIKOURA, October 22. A large and irlluential committee, embracing nearly all the leading men in the plaoa, was formed last night to secure the return of Mr Sauuderß as mombor for the Cheviot. Eaikoura support will, in a great measure, be unanimous.