MR. GANNON In reply to Mr. Rees.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1009, 8 December 1881, Page 2

MR. GANNON In reply to Mr. Rees.

Mb Gannon addressed the electors last night, in McFarlane's Hall, in reply to the accusations made against him by Mr. Rees at the meeting held recently, in the same Hall, by him. There was a large attendance, and Mr Montague Smith occupied the chair. Mr Gannon, on coming forward was received with warm applause. He said he should go straight to the most prominent topic for which he had called the electors together, namely, to answer to the charges and accusations brought against him by Mr Rees recently in that hall. Mr W. L. Rees had availed himself of the privileges of the public platform to malign him. Mr Rees called a public meeting about twelve months ago, for the ostensible reason of addressing it on the question of Native lands, and but recently to talk about the Land Company ; but on both occasions ha made accusations which he dared not attempt to prove, which he would have done had he been a man. Mr Rees sent a long letter to the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, stating that he, Mr Gannon, had tried to cheat a Maori, and had written and said scurrilous things about him. In the course of things a copy of the letter was sent to him, and he replied fully to its contents, and he Mr Gannon was surprised to find that the man who wrote the accusations had not the nerve to sign his name, but got some one else to do it. (Cries of name, name.) The letter was signed “ W. L Rees,” by C.A.D., Cecil Arthur Delatour. (Applause.) Mr Rees was at that time on friendly terms with him Mr Gannon, and in his usual friendly way was trying to get round him in his own peculiar way. He wanted it to be proved that a certain Native was insane, but, after some difficulty a Doctor’s certificate was obtained, which proved that he was quite sane’. [Applause.] Mr Rees had accused him of cheating a Native, but he, Mr Gannon, had been in the district 12 years, and no one dared to say a word against him for dishonesty. Mr Rees could not exist in any one district for 12 years, and he dared say 12 months more wonld see the last of Mr William Lee Rees in this district. Mr Gannon then went at great length into the many causes that have caused Mi’ Rees to leave the several parts of the Colony in which he has resided, and simply on account of the villification he has cast on many settlers, better men than himself. Mr Rees reminded him, Mr Gannon, of the Ink fish, which, in attacking an enemy

generally emitted a slime from its inside, and amid the thickness of the dirt it makes, comes swooping down, and tries to annihilate his foe. In Mr Allan McDonald’s address he said that Major Atkinson had but £BOO,OOO out of the £3,000,000 loan, but the fact was that the Grey Ministry had nothing left at all out of that loan. Mr Gannon detailed, at some length, the financial state of affairs, which although listened attentively to, fell flat on the audience after the previous onslaught on Mr Rees.

Mr Gannon then read a letter to which Mr McDonald referred at his late meeting. It was from Mr Macandrew to Mr McDonald, in reference to the harbor, and had been misinterpreted by Mr McDonald. The letter said that Mr Macandrew had stated his readiness on behalf of the Government to recognize the necessity of making a harbor for Gisborne, to mske it a Colonial work, and not to be undertaken by local money. Therefore, it could not be accepted by Al r McDonald as a scheme of his own, but to gain popularity. Mr Gannon then reviewed Mr Rees’ speech at the Land Company meeting, and apparently gave satisfaction to his hearers. On the question of the other candidates, he gave both Mr McDonald and Captain Porter credit- for the way in which they conducted their election. But, although Mr Locke might not be aware of it, those who were working for him were acting in a most discreditable way. [Applause and groans.] Mr Locke and his friends knew that his chance of election was thoroughly gone; and if the electors knew what was to their interest they should not be led away by sham statements, but vote straight for him, Mr Gannon. Mr Locke was acting with Mr Rhodes in land matters ; and he had told the electors he favored opening up the country by roads, which he would do, and then get them Locke(d) up by Rhodes. This joke caused much merriment. The speaker then made a peroration in which he was frequently applauded, and resumed his seat amid long-continued applause. He spoke for about an hour, but we regret that we cannot find space for more than the outline of his address, which was very interesting, and was a complete refutation of Mr Rees’s malicious remarks. Mr Sinclair asked if Mr McAndrew’s letter was not written immediately before the Grey Government were ousted merely for the purpose of securing Mr McDonald’s vote. Mr Gannon said he was not aware. I u reply t o Mr Henderson as to who wrote the deed, he (MrGannon) alluded to, to Paora Kati. Mr Gannon said—“ You did ; and I naturally asked you to keep the contents of the deed secret, because I did not wish my business to be prated about the town ; but it appears you did not do so. In reply to questions, Mr Gannon said he believed in a man having the liberty to take an oath or make an affirmation according to his conscience. And he believed in the nationalization of the land, but under another name. Mr Tucker wished to know if Mr Gannon would allow him to reply to what he had said about Mr Rees, at which a scene of good tempered uproar occurred for some time. Mr Gannon said he would take the sense of the meeting, which was against it, and Mr Tucker retired.

Some man asked Mr Gannon an impertinent, personal question, which the meeting refused to allow Air Gannon to answer, rejecting the questioner with groans. Mr Gannon in reply to a question said he was opposed to Government servants being engaged in private work. Mr Gannon said in reply to Mr Fellowes that if elected he would support a law by which the working man’s wages could be protected against a fradulent bankrupt. Mr Alullooly proposed a vote of confidence in Air Gannon, seconded by Air Mcßretney. Air Henderson proposed a vote of thanks only, seconded by Air Harries. The motion was ultimately carried by a large majority, and accompanied with great cheering. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.