STANMORE ELECTORATE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2559, 21 June 1882, Page 3

STANMORE ELECTORATE.

MB COWLISHAW AT KNIGHTSTOWN. On Tuesday evening Mr Oowliahaw delivered an address in the Library, Knights - town. Just before the proceedings began an ominous aspect was presented. About two hundred people, of whom not a few were lads and boys, densely filled the room. One man, sitting three forms from the front, held a stick, six feet long, to which was attached a red rag, ready to be unfurled at a moment’s notice. Mr Oowlishaw's arrival was heralded with three stupendous groans and a display of the red rag. At it the candidate g-ized with undaunted mien, anon steadily eyeing the bumptious standard bearer and leisurely placing coat, hat and slick on a table. Amid frequent tapping of shillelaghs, Mr B. B. Muftett was voted to the chair, and, though a non-elector, claimed for the candidate a fair hearing. Mr Oowlishaw’s first word—“ Gentlemen” —was the signal for on outburst of “ Yahs,” hisses, “ Hip, hip, hurrahs,” end a stanza of “ He’s a jolly good fellow,” one profane elector proposing a verse of “ The Old Hundredth,” the candidate peeling the while

good humoredly but critically through his spectacles. He went on—“ When Iwt I had the pleasure of addressing you” Here loud cries of derision arose, and momentarily angered by the flaunting of the rag, the candidate stepped briskly towards the delinquent, and in vulgar parlance “ went for” the mast, amid yells of “ Stick to it,” “ Don’t give it to him," Pluokily he grasped the stick, which swayed backwards and forwards, between the contending forces, even as the Homeric heroes erstwhile fought for fairer prizes, ihe affray was brief, and the candidate returned empty handed to the table, while the onlookers raised cheers fainter than before, Mr Oowlishaw’s valorous bearing having already enlisted considerable sympathy. But the tide will flow as well as ebb, and when a lond-toned man standing on a back bench, bellowed “ He’s too much for you, old man,” the candidote's prowess once more asserted itself, and he said “ Come on then ; I’ll take you.” Forthwith the challenge was accepted, and without more ado the fresh aggressor trotted up the room, divesting himself of his coat by the way. A doughty champion he looked, shirt sleeves exposed, and arms brandished threateningly, as ho skipped in defiance round the candidate. But the latter had pity, and bo bloodshed was averted. The light weight returned whence he came, and the Chairman and Mr Clophane implored a hearing for Mr Oowliubaw.

Ho reminded the audience that he had already addressed the electors on manhood suffrage, representation on the basis of population, and triennial Parliaments. He had fought the battle of purity of election, while his opponent had broken the law. [dries of —“ You broke it yourself ” —“Champagne”— “Crack some fiz.”] It was difficult to detect crime. Tho resulc of the election showed who was in the wrong. [A voice—“ The Judge was partly for you and partly against. He said you were both wrong,”] No, ho had not said so. He said it we.s wrong to employ a detective, thus gainsaying a practice which had obtained from time immemorial, and a right and proper moans for discouraging crime. When this temporary excitement should have passed, and tho electors came to review events, it would bo acknowledged that he had well fought a disagreeable battle. It would bo for all time a comfort to him to reflect that he had afforded the electors an opportunity of reversing their previous decision to elect Mr Pilliet. With increased facilities for knowing tho candidates, the constituency would not confirm its previous choice. At all his (the speaker’s) meetings, Mr Pllliet’s friends attended to interrupt, Mr Clophane was practically Mr Pilliet. [A voice—“Mr Olephane is the judge.”] His hearers, aud not that email section only but the electors generally, would be tho judges, Mr Richardson, instead of standing aside and allowing fair fight between Mr Pilliet and Mr Cowlishaw, kept in the field to split hia (Mr Oowlishaw’s) votes. [A voice—- “ Three cheers for Richardson.” Also were three cheers for “Jack Lee.”] An uniform time for closing the hotels should be established. The incidence of taxation in reference to the expenditure of borrowed money.—[A Voice—“ What are they going to do with Te Whiti?” Here stamping of feet occurred, varied by spasmodic blasts from a little trumpet, affected yawns, and reiterated cries of “Oh I dear.”] For years the best portions of Christchurch hud been owned by absentees, while money was being borrowed and population imported. After some further remarks and interruptions, Mr Oowliahaw invited questions, having been on hia feet for forty minutes. He then answered a number of questions. At Mr Oowliahaw’s suggestion, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman by acclamation. At Mr Glephano’s suggestion, groans were given for Mr Oowliahaw, followed by cheers for Mr Pilliet.