(from another correspondent.)

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

(from another correspondent.)

Mr. M. J. Gannon addressed the electors of Wairoa, in the Council Chamber, on Wednesday night; the gathering was larger than any held in Wairoa for along time ; many electors having ridden over thirty miles to be present. The meeting was most attentive throughout the delivery of the address, which lasted over two hours. The principal public questions of the day were fully treated of, and the importance of subdividing the Native lands, ably and exhaustively dealt with. The East Coast Land Company and principles it was carried out on, were fully explained ; and its evil influences against the general prosperity of the electorate completely exposed. Mr. Gannon stated that throughout the contest he had avoided using Mr Rees’ name, as he desired to avoid all matters that might in any way have a personal bearing—Mr. Rees, however, had called a public meeting, nominally to defend the Land Company, but actually to damage him in his election.—Mr Rees was a man of great ability, and no man could have done more to advance the prosperity of the East Coast than he ; but no man had done less—he had been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Mr Gannon would not trouble the Wairoa electors to listen to his refutation of the charges Mr Rees had brought against him ; that would be reserved for his return to Gisborne, where he would hold a public meeting immediately on his arrival. He condemned Mr Locke’s connection with the Company. If the electors of the Wairoa, in giving their votes in this contest, were led by friendship instead of duty, they would soon find out that they had paid dearly for their affection.

A number of questions were put, and satisfactorily answered, and it was admitted on all hands that Mr Gannon was a most fit person to represent the district. Influential persons are working hard in his interests. Mr Locke’s connection with the Land Company and Mr. Robert Rhodes’s party are seriously affecting the former’s chances of success here.

Mr Gannon’s meeting at Te Kapu was a great success. He left for the Mahia yesterday en route for Gisborne.