Mr J. J. Meikle.

Manawatu Herald, 31 January 1905, Page 2

Mr J. J. Meikle.

Mr John James Mbikle, who in 1887 was wrongfully sentenced by Judge Ward (on the verdict of a common jury) to seveh yeilrs for sheep-stealing, is at present on a tour of the colony lecturing 08. tile wrong tbrtt hag been clone him. New Zealand is a country wherein one is given the freedom of speech, where everybody can have his or her opinion, and express same, without fear of being exiled- We have not yet readied the age of Russian revolutions such as Mr Meikle may like his hearers to believe. Mr Meikle spoke to an attentive audience from the top of a dray in Main street last night: and cert airily made a vigorous speech, carrying his ' audience with him to such an extent that when the “ almighty dollar ” was asked after few flinched. After listening to him last night, we are at a loss to sum up his present mission correctly; That lie is innocent we have no doubt ! He baa already proved it to us, by bringing the perpetrator to justice ! We cannot come to any definite conclusion as to the motive of his present campaign. Some of the opinions expressed are that it is the “ almighty dollar, 9 others that it is a matter of justice, whilst the most feasible explanation appears to be that it is a political job. That Mr Meikle is a wronged man few will doubt, but all will not approve of his present campaign—such as lie prefers to conduct it. From the commencement of his address till the close, we heard nothing but the denouncement of our present administration, and of the scurrilous and corrupt leadership of Richard John Scddon. Certainly Mr Meikle has a grievance, but to our mind he carries that grievance too far. Although he must naturally extracthuman sympathy, we think he may overdo the sympathy business. He speaks of travelling the Mother Country and exposing the corrupt doings of the Seddon Administration. How “ Dick ” and his people would smile at such a cheap advertisement ? If Mr Meikle wishes to preserve public sympathy over his case, he would do well to refine his remarks somewhat against Governmental personages, and not make it appear that he is purely and simply on a political errand. He may easily lose the sympathy of a just public, as the human mind is veryfickle when imposed upon. The tin went round last night for odd coin, while the history of the case was sold at Is a copy. We understand the receipts wore considered satisfactory—so satisfactory, in fact, that Mr Meikle intends returning to Foxton to deliver another lecture at a future date.