Political News.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 151, 7 June 1884, Page 2

Political News.

MB. GANNON AT WAEBENGA-A-HIKA. OPINIONS OF THE PBESS. Gannon addressed a crowded meeting at Waerenga-a-hika last night, there being about 150 present. Aftei the address Mr. H. McLean, one of Mr. Gannon’s strongest supporters, proposed a vote of thanks to him, an amendment was put to that, moving a vote of confidence, which was unanimously carried amidst loud cheering. Mr. Gannon left about one o’clock to-day for Tologa Bay, where he will address the electors to-night. He will speak at Ormond on Friday, the 13th instant. Mr. S. Locke will deliver an address at the Makaraka Hall to-night; at Patutahi on Thursday, and at Ormond on Saturday next. A paper called Labour, which is published in Auckland, and which has been founded by the Opposition Party to scandalise all other papers and private persons who support the Government policy, thus criticises Mr. Locke and ourselves: —“A political genius has arisen in Poverty Bay in the person of Samuel Locke. Read his speech as reported in a newspaper called the Telephone— a paper, so far as we are aware, not known outside the limits of Poverty Bay, but a paper which supports Locle, and then judge of what material members of the House of Representatives may be composed. The strength of Mr. Locke’s mind and the beauties, of his style and diction are equally apparent ihjhe speech. You must read the waole to appreciate it. To quote would mar the pleasure of the general effect. His supporters ought to request him to publish the speech in pamphlet form for the instruction of our rulers and legislators. It is a mine of political knowledge and research, and it would have an educating influence both because of its statesmanlike grasp of subject and of the purity and correctness of Mr. Locke’s English He will prove an ornament in the House. Mr. Sheehan, on the platform, admirably called him ‘ the doctor.’ He is to sit on a rail as an independent member, nominally ‘ a Government supporter,’ and from that vantage ground he is certain to teach valuable lessons in political morality. What sort of people have they in and about Gisborne or Poverty Bay ? I wonder that they have ‘ hit ’ upon this gentleman, whose speech does not quite stamp him as a veritable descendant of the great philosopher of that name. Cannot the Landocrasy there produce something better than a Samuel Locke to represent them;? Seriously, it is an insult to any decent electorate for such a man as Mr. Locke evidently is, to offer his services as their representative. What will our representative institutions come to if such men are returned ? ’ The Free Lance, another Auckland contemporary, also “ goes ” for this place in the following manner :—“ The great Pro-Consul has gone to the assistance of his historian, and Gisborne is about to be told all about it by the old man eloquent. This is a little rough on Messrs. Gannon and Locke, perhaps, but it is all fair campaigning; and if Sir George can persuade cue electors that Mr. Rees is the proper man to represent them he has a perfect right to do so. I am a little doubtful of the success of the experiment for my own part. The Gisborne people are not imaginative in their politics. They know little about the human race, and care less about the Anglo-Saxon people—except that important section residing in the Poverty Bay district. For that section they care a very great deal, and they have a very shrewd guess what that particular section wants. Now Sir George is hardly definite enough for Poverty Bay. He will talk of unearned increment, no doubt, but he will mistake his audience entirely. A Gisborne man is constitutionally fond of increment of any kind, and, all the fonder of it if he can get it unearned. He will not be able to hold out any special hopes of floating the Harbour Loan and getting capital to make the Opotiki railroad, and no amount of high-toned politics will make up for this fatal want of practical utlity. Gisborne politics are like charity—they begin at home—and are not given to wandering, while the politics of the G.O.M. have a habit of beginning by wandering and never getting home. The field is not, therefore, a favourable one for Sir George Grey, I fear. No doubt a meeting will listen attentively and, it may be cheer him to the echo, but it will mean nothing, and lead to nothing. When the entertainment is over the question will come back upon the practical mind of Poverty Bay. what shall we get out of all this ? The answer will be, Nothing. Mr. Rees himself, I fancy, will do better. He will not be slow to promise harbours and railroads to order, and his politics, however impracticable they may be, will not rise greatly above the level of Poverty Bay intelligence.” Mr. W. L. Bess publishes a long address in the local paper to the East Coast electors, setting forth his political creed. I can say nothing for its bona fides, but I may remark that he is not singular in desiring to see the Natives taxed for railways. Sir Julius Vogel does the same. Will either of these gentlemen tell me why European owned land through which a railway passes, should not also be taxed proportionately to the benefits derived from such railways ?—Telegraph. The three’ candidates for the Gisborne seat are hard at work canvassing the district. Mr. Locke is in good trim this time, and gets about the country very well. His prospects look excellent. Of course each of the other candidates is also sanguine—or professes to be. Mr. Rees loudly declares he will beat each of the others by 2 to 1, but good judges say he will be at the bottom of the poll.—N. Z. Herald.

Major Atkinson is about to achieve the acme of his ambition—he is to be knighted. The Mount Ida Chronicle speaks of Sir George Grey’s address at Dunedin as “ one of the most foolish, inconsequent, and twaddling speeches ever heard within the Colony.” The Dunstan Times says that “ any other than himself who should venture to talk such utter twaddle as he delivered himself of on Saturday night would very properly be hooted from the platform.”

THE COMING ELECTION. Air—“ The Minstrel Boy.” “ In imitation of Moore, but no Mo(o)re of th ; s.” Sir Georgey Grey to the Bay did come, At Host Dickson’s house you’d find him ; He did of speechifying some, While his fr ° ids looked on behind him. “ Oh, working i.iea,” v *e the leading sounds, “ The richer man betrays thee ; “ Thy babes unborn are taxed £3, “ Which may, perhaps amaze thee.” But all his flowery eloquence Could not bring us back to We cheered, perhaps for want of sense, And guilty were of treason. Though to our meetings some may flock, And Gannon t with bravery, The ballot box our choice shall Locke, We’ll not sell our votes to knavery. [Per Press Assocl\tion.] Wellington, June 7. The Premier’s health is much better to-day but he will not be well enough to leave his home until Tuesday next. Many Members of Parliament are still absent from Wellington. The opinion of the Governments prospects for the session arc improving. Mr. Bryce has not decided yet whether to ask for the West Coast Peace Preservation Bill to be renewed another year. Hon. J. C. Richmond is reported to be the mos likely representative of the Ministry in th 3 Legislative Council, in place of the Hon. Walter Johnston, resigned. The writ for the Ashburton Seat has been issued, and is returnable before the 15th of July. The resignation of the Hon. Walter Johnstone is gazetted. The Hon. Major Atkinson is improving in health. Mr. Warner’s residence at Tokomaru is gazetted a polling place for the East Coast Electorate in lieu of the School-house which was destroyed by fire.