THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5737, 19 August 1879, Page 2

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

(per press AGENCT.) Feildiito, Monday. Mr. Halcombe’s election meeting on Saturday was crowded. He strongly condemned the administration of the Government being left to clerks, while Ministers stumped the country, setting class against class. He blamed Mr. Walter Johnston for neglecting his Parliamentary duties, having only spoken twice in two years, and with having allowed 25,000 acres of Manawatu land to be granted to the Wanganui Harbor Board without a protest, and not doing his duty to the district in pushing the Wellington and Manawatu railway on the notice of Parliament. After an exhaustive speech to an attentive meeting, a vote of confidence in the candidate was carried amidst great cheering. Auckland, Monday. It is rutaored that Mr. Moat will retire" from the Rodney contest. Mr. Macfarlane addressed the Waitemata electors in justification of his vote against the Government last session, and in support of bis present candidature. The following resolution was carried, with only one dissentient, —That the electors of Waitemata have no confidence in Mr. Macfarlane. At Te Awamutu Mr. McMinn spoke in defence of Lis withdrawal of support from Sir George Grey. The following resolution was carried, —That in the opinion of this meeting Mr. McMinn, our late member, should receive a vote of censure for his outrageous conduct iu the House on the occasion of the want of confidence motion debate. The Liberal party is a determined foe of tho Canterbury land cormorants. Mr. Seymour George, in addressing a meeting at Warkwortb, advocated that the number of representatives for each island should ho made equal. Another candidate is spoken of in opposition to Mr. J. M. Clark, for City Bast. Mr. W. F. Bucklaud received a vote of confidence at Mangere. Mr. Moss addressed the electors of Parnell this evening. The meeting was very largely attended, the Mayor being in the chair. Tho candidate concluded a lengthy justification of the acts and policy of the Government by expressing a determination to continue his allegiance to the Liberal party, with Sir George Grey as its acknowledged leader. He expressed a desire for decentralisation, and establishment of a Federal form of Government —namely, separate Government for each Island, with a General Government for both to discuss colonial measures, and to legislate for the colony’s wants. The meeting was thoroughly with the candidate, and he was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Three cheers were given for Sir G. Grey at the close, and three more for Moss. Dr. Wallis addressed the electors of City West this evening. The room was crowded. Dr. Wallis contended that he had kept the pledges made at the time of his election. He would adhere to liberal reforms, and to Grey as a leader. He also advocated triennial Parliaments, amending the constitution of the Legislative Council, and manhood suffrage. He would endeavor to prevent the waste of money, abuse of patronage, and centralisation. Was in favor of adjusting the representation on the basis of population, and justice to the North. Their very blood would boil had they heard Barton’s account of the maladministration of justice in the colony. The professions of Fox, Atkinson, Whitaker and McLean were proved to be hypocritical by the fact that they opposed the Triennial Parliaments Bill. In reply to a question, he said he would abandon his former views on education and support the existing system, though he saw no objection to the Bible in schools. He would also support local option, with compensation clause : limiting immigration while a glut exists in the labor market ; was opposed to the Chinese immigration; to protection; and approved of sending back members accepting portfolios to their constituents. A vote of confidence was passed unanimously. Qrahamstown, Monday. Mr. Rowe will address his constituents on Saturday night. It is understood that there is a good show for a second Opposition candidate with so many out in the Grey interest, and an effort will be made to find a suitable man. Napier, Monday. A well-attended meeting was held to-night in the Protestant Hall for the formation of a Liberal Association. The speakers were Maney and Buchanan (both candidates), and Rees, McDongal, and Leonard ; the last named being chairman. A resolution for forming the association was carried, and a committee appointed, A hundred and thirty signed their names to join at once. Timabu, Monday. Mr. John Studholmo addressed a crowded meeting of the Gladstone electors at Waimate on Saturday. A vote of confidence was proposed, and an amendment equal to a vote of want of confidence. Neither was declared carried, owing to the diversity of opinion as to the show of hands.

Mr. Woolcombe will address the Timaru electors on Wednesday. Mr. Richard Turnbull addressed a crowded meeting of the Timaru electors in the Mechanics’ Institute this evening, the Mayor in the chair. Mr. Turnbull only spoke for three-quarters of an hour, and confined himself to defending his conduct last session. He said he was not a Greyite, and he would request Sir George Grey to retire next session. He only voted for him last time because he thought it was not fair to desert him in such an hoar of need. He asked that all questions should be postponed till the 29th inst., when he would address them again and fully explain his political intentions for the future. A vote of thanks was passed. Ashburton, Monday. Mr. E. A. Wright addresses the Coleridge electors at Ashburton on Wednesday evening. His candidature is favorably spoken of, and he is certain to command a majority of votes in this centre. Invercargill, Monday. _ Mr. D. K. McCaughan has published his address to the Riverton electors. He generally supports the policy of the Grey Government, and he expresses himself a warm admirer o Mr. Macandrew. Whilst he supports the Government, he will not be a blind follower of Sir George Grey in his autocratic procee or to set class against class, and in it nr mg the past harmonious relations which has existed between labor and capital. , Mr. J. R. McDonald, one of the candidates for Riverton, addressed the electors at Hinton on Saturday, andadvocated a thorough Liberal policy, but not a blind adherence to Grey. * Hokitika, Monday.

There are sis candidates at present annonneed for the Hokitika distrkt-Mr. R. C. Reid Hamilton Gumming, W. Parkis, and if. Duncan, in the Grey interest ; and Barff (late member) and R. J. Seldon, on the Opposition side.

Dunedin, Monday. Mr. Robert Stout addressed the electors last evening in the Garrison Hall. Mr. Stout said that as in Dunedin the three papers presented only one side of tho political question, he had come forward to give the electors the other side. He defended the Grey Ministry in detail under the headings of the native question, the Government treatment of civil servants, and the charges brought against their administration. Ho also defended the programme presented m the Governor s speech. During the course of his speech he strongly attacked Sir Wm. Fox, and referred to his past history to show that he was an unreliable politician. He then gave his own view of the native question, arguing that the Native Oflice should be abolished, and native lands, education, and police, should be placed under their respective departments. In conclusion, he hoped that his address would help the electors to vote aright at the coming election. Mr. Stout was cordially received, and his address was loudly cheered. A vote of thanks was unanimously passed, and the meeting separated. Oamaku, Monday. Messrs. Hislop and Shrimski have both decided to offer themselves for election. They are almost certain to be returned, possibly without opposition.