MR. SHRIMSKI OR MR. STEWARD? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1053, 4 September 1879, Page 2

MR. SHRIMSKI OR MR. STEWARD? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE OAMARU MAIL. Sir, —It is to be regretted that your correspondent who reported Mr. Steward's meeting at Livingstone in your issue of the 26th ult., did not give the whole truth, or his report would then bear a very different construction. For instance, he says Mr. Steward was frequently applauded. This would , be read as expressing approval of the candidate by his listeners, whereas it was nothing of the kind, but simply to show their appreciation of some witticism or joke. Then, with respect to the " unanimous vote of thanks," I may explain that the mover is a Good Templar, and I have

good reason for believing that on that ticket alone ho proposed the vote. I may here say that I at one time thought that no expression of opinion would have been given, and I could see also that Mr. Steward felt very uneasy on the subject, and whispered to the chairman,l conclude, on the subject, as the chairman rose immediately afterwards and asked the electors to give expression to their approval or otherwise of the candidate by moving a vote of thanks and confidence in him as seemed to them most befitting. This meeting with no response, afcer waiting some time, the chairman again rose, as one of the electors left the room, to ask that the electors would not be so discourteous as to allow the meeting to break up without at least giving the speaker a vote of thanks, when Mr. Oliver moved a vote of confidence, and a non-elector seconded the motion. The chairman, after asking if there was any amendment, called for a show of hands, when some six or eight were held up for it, on the contrary none, and this I might very easily explain were it necessary to do so. i shall be understood when I say that it will all come right in the ballot box. One of Mr. Steward's hottest supporters, who was present at the meeting, and who seemed to exercise an overawing in fluence, said that Messrs. Hislop and Sln-imski had arranged with the Hon. 11. Campbell to take the chair at their meeting at Duntroon. A public meeting was held 011 Friday evening. The chair was taken by Mr. Frater, who briefly explained the nature of the business for which the meeting had been convened, when Mr. Roberts was asked to read the papers ho had to submit to the electors. Mr. Roberts then explained the present critical position of the business the Association had for some time been endeavoring to bring to a successful issue, and submitted to the meeting tracings of tho Maerewhenua, showing that the vexed question of river pollution would now bo found much more easy of solution than had heretofore been anticipated, as tho tracing showed that shingle reserves had been laid off on both sides of the river, from the boundary of the hundred right through to tho Waitaki, with some very trivial exceptions, the points of contest between the river and the freeholds on either side being very few in number, and those of very limited extent. Ho then showed that as the Association proposed memorialising tho House at its next sitting to afford them relief in the matter under the provisions of Shepherd's River Pollution Act, how necessary it becomes that representatives who can bo relied upon to back up the efforts of the Association should at the present crisis be returned. It was for them to judge, guided by their experience of the past actions of the different candidates, who would be most likely to serve them most efficiently in their present need. He then enumerated several instances in which Messrs. Hislop and Shrimski had rendered them good service ; in fact, that they had in every instance promptly responded to the wishes of the Association. Enquiry then arose as to what could be said in Mr. Steward's favor in this respect, and as no one present seemed to be able to name any instance in which he had exerted himself for the benefit of the residents of Maerewhenua, an elector asked Mr. Roberti to read the correspondence from the Oamaru Mail, as it would probably assist them in coming to a decision. Having complied with the request, ho read a voluminous address from Messrs. Hislop and Shrimski, which met with marked approval. The Chairman then asked tho electors present to give free expression to their views on the subject, when Mr. M'Donald, in a few well-chosen remarks, shrewdly observed that, as our old representatives had served us well, as had been shown to them by the Chairman of the Association, we should put them in again. It was manifestly unfair to turn off men who liacl served us well to choose another of whoso good intention we had no guarantee. Mr, jNeale said that Liberalism was very woll in its way, and we all highly approved of it, and, were we residents in a largo town, we could afford to go in for it independently of any local question, but the peculiarity of our position demanded that we should give duo prominence to tho special wants of the Maerewhenua as a goldfield, and that (speaking as a member of the Committee of the Association) ha could assert that Mr. Shrimski and Mr, Hislop had never been appealed to in vain, Mr. Smith said we had a good proof of Mr. Steward's foeling towards the Maerewhenua at the time he edited the North Ofcago Times, and the miners were opposing the alienation of a block of 15,000 acres of land at Maerewhenua to tho Hon. R. Campbell, when lie saicf " they were making a deal of unnecessary fuss about the matter. Let tho land b<? sold, and the money got, so that the roada about Oamaru may be made." Tho speaker said that there was nothing to show that Mr. Steward had since then changed his views. Mr. Roberts then said there could be no gainsaying the fact that Mr. Steward, when formerly a member of tho House, was a decided supporter of the Fox-Vogel-Atkinson party, whoso tendenoies were well known to be to sacrifice the working classes and men of small means for the benefit of their rich and unscrupulous friends. I hear that the survey of tho OamaruLivingstone Railway is, for the present, complete, and the party, I believe, will leave our neighborhood very shortly, The terminus, "according to present survey, will be a little below the township, on the west side of Pringle's or Long Gully. LIVININOSTONIAN'. P. S. —I have heard that the holder of a miner's right cannot vote on it as foyniorly, Is it so 1 Please reply in paper, [Holders of miners' riglits can vote sfi the present election, as thoy have not exercised a similar privilege during tho past sixmonths.—Ed. 0. M.]