AN ELECTION INCIDENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 127, 31 May 1877, Page 4

AN ELECTION INCIDENT.

An incident at an election meeting is thus recorded by the Wimmera Star:— " At a meeting of Mr Rouald Campbell's an individual measuring fully six feet in height, wearing a formidable stockwhip in lieu of a coat, aad armed with a scowl that would make the fortune of a tragedian, sternly demanded of iha candidate why he could not get a license to eeii liquor. Mr Campbell seemed prepared to answer any questions regarding abstruse points of poiitical economy, but was completely staggered by this query. He frankly answered that he did not know. Thereupon the inquirer stalked ~up to the front of the stage, and looking up at Mr Cam^ bell, who smiled benignly down u t n hita t as is the" wont of candidates juet before election time, said,. 4 You see, I could sell a pound'g worth of drink every week, specially at election time, but the Horsham Bench wou't give me a license is to be granted for throe years., 'I've passed no law to that effect, neither have I bad any hand in it/ replied Mr Cumpbell, 'as I was not a member of the Legislature.' 'Oh yes, you have, it'a no use humbugging me.' Thereupon the meeting feding aggrieved that they did not hear the interesting colloquy, remonstrated in the forcible manner that public assemblages do when anything displeases them, which caused the free and enlightened elector to wander to his back seat near the door, frowning savagely on bis way back down the aisle at the multitude. He was not quiet long, however, for in a couple of minutes his tall form was seen returning Jumping on the stage, he planted himself in front of the chairman/ hitched up his trousers, wiped hia brow with his hat, which he then placed on - the floor, fixed his dexter hand in one of the coils of his stockwhip, and commenced thusly— 'Meo, I live at Doon. I applied for a license, but couldn't get it. 1 think it a shame that a man can't sell liquor.' At this juncture a wellkDown athlete appeared on the scene. Addressing the chairman, he said *Shall I?', A wink gave him the desire J permission, and in that fnfioitesioial space ol time sometimes designated a brace of ehakee, the would-be orator found himself off the stage and hali-way down the the hall towards the door. He kicked, protested, and howled, the audience irreverently jeering the struggling sonofAnak. From the stage there was a viebon of a crowd surmounted by a glazed hij, and the business of tha meeting then proceeded quietly.