Mr. McDonald's Meeting AT MAKARAKA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 984, 5 October 1881, Page 3

Mr. McDonald's Meeting AT MAKARAKA.

A very largely attended meeting (some 150 persons being present), was held in the Makaraka Hall, on Saturday evening last, Mr. W. C. Walsh in the chair, to hear Mr. McDonald’s address. His opening remarks were in almost every respect similar to his utterances in Gisborne, and which have been already reported, He asserted that Mr. Gannon’s statements as to his voting against the Crowm ahd Native Land Rating Bill were false. It was simply an electioneering cry, and he would prove it by the Government Hansard. Nobody knew this better than Mr. Gannon, who was merely trying to blind the electors. [Cries of “We don’t know;” “He can’t fool us.” Cheers, and countercheers].

An Elector : “ You’ve sold your constituents.”

Mr. McDonald: “Well, if I did, I didn’t get much for them.” In regard to the Harbor Bill he hoped Mr. Johnson was present and would speak for himself. [Loud cheers]. What he could not do one Session he would, if elected, endeavor to do Session after Session, until he gained his object. He said after the Whangaromia block had been sold, a Bill came into the House to validate the title to it, when in fact there was no title at all. This sort of thing would certainly deter people in the Old Country coming here to invest their capital. At the conclusion of his speech Mr. McDonald was loudly cheered. Mr. Gannon, on ascending the platform, was both cheered and hooted. He claimed a right to defend himself, as Mr. McDonald had made allusion to him. Mr. McDonald could not use the word “ false ” in the House. Mr. McDonald: I’m saying it in this hall. Mr. Gannon proceeded, at some length, with regard to certain Bills, voted for or against by Mr. McDonald, until the Chairman informed him that he should only ask questions. He then proceeded to ask a number of questions, all of which had been previously put and answered. Mr. Wright asked several questions, the answers to which were apparently satisfactory to the assemblage. Mr. Bond, Mr. Bousfield, and Mr. A. Ball, also questioned the speaker. Mr. W. K. McLean asked if Mr. McDonald was in favor of a return to Provincialism ? Mr. McDonald said he was not.

Mr. McLean then asked if Mr. Ormond’s party, with whom Mr. McDonald had voted, were not in favor of Provincilism. Mr. McDonald: Mr. Ormond has told us he was not. On this occasion Mr. Ormond came to us, we did not go to Mr. Ormond.

Mr. McLean asked what party Mr. McDonald supported. Mr. McDonald said he belonged to the party which supported the best measures for his constituency. On certain questions he had voted against his party, but when it was a question of out or in, he voted with them. Mr. McLean wished to know who drew up the Harbor Board Bill, and was informed by Mr. McDonald that Mr. DeLatour had done so. that Mr. Rees had nothing whatever to do w'ith the Bill.

In reply to other questions, Mr. McDonald explained, as before, the reason he did not consult his constituents relative to the Bill, and the sums he had had placed on the Estimates for the district.

Mr. McLean having put the question, Mr. McDonald said he was in favor of an elective Governor, whose appointment would have to be approved by the British Government. He did not wish to see New Zealand separated from the Mother Country. Mr. McLean asked if Mr. McDoh> aid was in favor of insular separation, and was replied to in the negative. Mr. McDonald then asked that his friends and supporters would, when writing to the newspapers, always sign their names, as anonymous letters, although, perhaps, well intended, did him harm.

Mr. Sunderland asked what money the Grey Government had given the district.

Mr. McDonald said the present Government had at any rate, and during the greater portion of his political career, they had been in power. Mr. Sunderland asked if Mr. McDonald had a plan of the proposed Harbor Works.

Mr. McDonald (producing it) — “ Yes here it is.” Mr. Sunderland : Well I could make a better plan than that with a tar brush ! Mr. McDonald : Well I dont know but that is the Government lithograph of the plan of Sir John Conde’s, and attached to his report (loud laughter) The speaker went on relative to other Harbor Works in New Zealand, illustrating Oamaru. Mr. Sunderland asked what tax the Oamaru people paid. Mr. McDonald replied that Oamaru was not Gisborne. The Harbor Bill introduced was not a local Bill but a necessary Colonial measure. Mr. Scrimgeour asked what Mr. McDonald thought of our local railways.

Mr. McDonald : We have’nt seen them yet. Mr. Scrimgeour : Well, unfortunately, the one passsing my place is nuisance enough. (Laughter.) In reply to Mr. M. H. Smith, Mr. McDonald said if he had attacked Mr. James Smith, the Solicitor, that individual had his remedy. Mr. Gannon : You know perfectly well he has not got a remedy. There is no remedy against such utterances in the House.

Captain Porter asked if Mr. McDonald himself had, or if he was aware any of his supporters had, circulated a report that he (Captain Porter) intended to retire from the contest.

Mr. McDonald said he believed Captain Porter would go to the poll. On the motion of Mr. J. Davis, seconded by Mr. G. Davis, a vote of confidence was accorded to Mr. McDonald by a large majority. An amendment by Mr. Wright—- “ That this meeting views with indignation the actions of Mr. McDonald in the House ” failed to obtain a seconder, and consequently fell through. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.