EAST COAST ELECTIONS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1007, 3 December 1881, Page 2

EAST COAST ELECTIONS.

Capt. Porter at Frasertown.

(By Telegraph). Wairoa, December 2. Captain Porter addressed a meeting of electors at Frasertown last night. The meeting, consisted of about 50 persons, representatives of all classes. Mr C. Gray occupied the chair, Captain Porter commenced by announcing his intention to support the present Alinistry, for the reasons given at the Clyde meeting. He praised the vigorous action taken by Air Bryce, in dealing with the West Coast difficulty, and detailed the effect on this district of longer continuance or extension of the Native difficulty. The proposal to separate the two Islands was evolved out of that difficulty, and was actuated by a spirit of cowardice on the part of southern members, who wished to throw the burden of the difficulty on the shoulders of northerners, and he held it was the duty of every honest, loyal member to oppose that. Captain Porter detailed at length his local government reform proposals, which he laid down in terse, vigorous language. He touched on the Property Tax, which he favored. He supported free trade, and was opposed to protection. He spoke at length on the waste lands administration question, and the settlement of the lands of the Crown. With reference to the alienation of the public estate, he would not advocate Socialism, Communism, Land Leagueisin, or any other ism ; but he maintained it was the duty of the Government to stay the reckless alienation of our Colonial land estate to large speculators, and absentees. He dwelt at great length on the Native Land question, and the Rating Act The difficulties, he said in acquiring Native Landa was so great that a young man commencing to negotiate,- would find himself almost an old one before he got a clear title. In connection with the land question Captain Porter made a strong attack on Air Locke, and the Land Company, pointing out that the former could not go to the House a free man, as both he and Mr AlcDonald were so deep in the concern that they would undoubtedly support measures favorable to the operations of the Company. He stood there as the only independent candidate before the electorate. (Loud applause.) • He complimented Mr McDonald and his supporters, also Mr Gannon, to a certain extent, for their honorable conduct during the campaign. Of Air Locke he could not say the same. He knew not if Mr Locke was aware of his supporters’ conduct, and although the limit was very extended, Mr Locke’s people had gone beyond all bounds. He instanced the canards circulated re his retirement that had been made. The first objection was that he was Alayor ; another that he was going to the front; another that he was to be appointed R.AL at Gisborne ; another that he w'as laid up with scarlet fever, and had to abandon the Afakaraka meeting, all of which show Mr Locke’s cause to be weak. They feared that an honest, outspoken canvass was sending him (Captain Porter) to the head of the poll, and they must descend to low meannesses when they found nothing in his public addresses to throw discredit upon. He then touched on the question of public works, the indebtedness of the Colony, and Sir J. Coode’s report on Wairoa harbour. He contended that the district had a fair claim for the erection of harbor works, as it did not participate in the benefit of the large loans raised ; and concluded by reminding the electors that the Goveru-

ment, in voting £22,000 last session for the East Coast, showed a desire to do justice to this district ; therefore he hoped they would continue to support the Government. He would go to the poll as an independent man, withont an axe to grind, which was not the case with Mr Locke and Mr McDonald, and if he did not head the poll, he would not be far from it (loud applause.) At the candidate’s request, no vote of confidence was proposed, as he held such destroyed the value of the ballot, and meant nothing. A vote of thanks was carried by acclamation.

Captain Porter made a strong impression, and was applauded to the end. He left for Napier today, via Mohaka where he speaks to-night.