POLITICAL MEETING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 158, 16 June 1884, Page 2

POLITICAL MEETING.

MESSRS. GANNON AND REES. GREAT ENTHUSIASM & EXCITEMENT. MR. GANNON OPENS THE BALL, AND ATTACKS MR. REESi MR. REES REPLIES ANt) ATTACKS MR. GANNON. A public meeting, called by Mr. M. J. Gannon, was held in McFarlane’s Hall on Saturday night. There were about 1000 people present, ladies and gentlehien. Mr. Rees was also present to address the meeting, having been invited there by Mr. Gannon.

His Worship the Mayor took the Chair at 8 o’clock, and opened the proceedings with a few preliminary remarks, asking those present to give each speaker a fair and impartial hearing. Both candidates were received with deafening applause and loud cheers as they ascended the platform, MR. GANNON. Mr. Gannon, amidst continued applause, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, the last time I had the honor of addressing you here, I stated the position I intended to take up tonight. I said I would be prepared to meet the candidates upon this platform on the last night previous to the day of polling, and that they should speak in the order in which they addressed the electors. I did that because there was no other public hall available for the other candidates to speak in; and I like to fight fair, (Hear, hear, applause.) I will state white Mr. Rees is here, the Doctor gentlemen has not turned up. (Applause and laughter.) I will lay down the terms upon which Mr. Rees will address the meeting. They are these, if you approve of them, and if Mr. ReeS approves of them. If Mr. Rees desires to avail himself of the offer, he can address the meeting for three quarters of an hour, so that he may be able to reply to anything I may say. After Mr. Rees has spoken for three quarters of an hour he will be good enough to sit down. Mr. Rees is not going to make a speech after me to-night. (Voice: Certainly not. Applause.) ( Those are the terms, and I think lam acting fairly. (Yes j No.) If it is not fair, Mr. Reeß will not speak at all. (Applause and disorder.) He is simply my guest at my invitation, and if he does not like to avail himself of my offer he can leave it alone. (Applause.) If Mr. Rees accepts them. I hope yUU will give him the same fair Ana impartial hearing that I expect you will give me when my turn comes.

MR. REES. Mr. Rees—(loud applause)—l have heard of many political dodges—(laughter)—and I have heard of many political dodgers, but the political dodge and the political dodger have been outdone by Mr. Gannon to-night. (Slight applause.) Mr. Gannon asks me to come here to-night—he challenges me to come—and then he has the impudence to stand up and dictate to me on what terms I am to speak. (Disorder and applause.) Mr. Gannon has told you that if I don’t accept his terms I shall not speak at all. I tell you I will speak. (Applause and yells.) I will defy Mr. Gannoh Or any of his supporters to stop me. lam here in this position. (Voice :As a nobody.) Then hew much less than nothing can your candidate be ? (Applause.) I have been invited here to-night. I do not accuse Mr. Gannon of fair play, I never did. You, gentlemen, will have to see that fair play is meted out to both of us to-night. I come here because I have been challenged. Therefore I will take my own time in addressing you. (Applause. Loud cries for Mr. Gannon.) MR. GANNON—PRELIMINARY REMARKS—MR. REES.

Mr. Gannon—Continued and loud applause—Mr. Chairman Ladies, and Gentlemen, do you know why Mr. Rees will not speak? Because he is not game. (Applause). He dare not do it. He would go to Ormond and to other parts of the district, and will speak about me, but he dare not do it here. (Deafening applause). The last time I had the honor of addressing you, I pointed out the position in which the political parties of the day then were. I used a nautical simile, and shewed that there were two captains to the Opposition ship, and I pointed out to you the position of the Government ship, in which Mr. Locke endeavored to get on board as a stowaway. (Applause and dissent). We find what I said then was true. That these two parties have united, and have wrecked the Government ship altogether, and we also find now, that the position is this, they don’t know how they can get that ship afloat again, or what else to do. Mr. Montgomery is the leader of one section of the Opposition, and Sir George Grev of the other and they cannot agree as to what policy to pursue. Mr. Montgomery will not follow Sir George Grey, and Sir George Grey declines to follow any leader but himself. You have Greyites of a Brummagem character coming here, who always try to palm themselves off as Liberals, and I now think it is time for the true Liberals to declare themselves. (Applause). Once upon a time, gentlemen, Mr. Rees was a Greyite. (Voice : Always). He is a mottled Grey. (Applause). He has become so tinctured with the Russel Golden Dye, that you cannot see where the Grey spots are. (Applause.—Voice: What color are you ?) True Blue, gentlemen. (Applause). Mr, Rees has amused himself, and also myself, by going around telling the people that I have not got a policy. They will now what his policy is, it is the policy of the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company. (Applause). I, therefore, tell you straight gentlemen, that of the three men in the field, I am the only one that is entitled to the name of “ Liberal.” (Applause and hisses). EDUCATION QUESTION.

There is one subject I did not touch on when I was last before you, and that is the education question. The present system of education does not suit the colony as well as it ought to. It costs the colony a great deal, the expenditure being something like £500,000 a year, and then it does not give the conveniences and advantages that it should give. We find in the Gisborne School here, an application is made to the Board at Napier to nave a wash-house erected, and it has been refused. The system requires many alterations, but they must not be of a denominational character. FEDERATION.

One of the greatest questions that is now occupying the minds of the greatest statesmen of the Australasian Colonies is this question of Federation. I say it is not a good thing for the Australian Colonies. (Applause.) If such a condition of things as that were brought about, New Zealand would find itself left in the cold. Situated as New Zealand is, far away from Australia, it would have a very poor voice indeed in such matters. Besides, I understand that the Federal Councils would be maintained and carried on on the population system. If that is the case, a colony like Queensland would only contribute one-half the amount towards supporting such councils compared with what New Zealand would have to contribute. Queensland would derive large advantages from such a union, owing to its proximity to the tropics. The advantages they would gain would be in the employment of island labour, and they would not suit us. We do not want oriental characters in New Zealand. Let us have the people from the Western nations. IMMIGRATION. I think the present system of immigration adopted by the Government is not so good as it really should be. People are brought out at badjtimes of the year, and are shipped to southern ports, and are unable to obtain employment. Every person in the colony should have every opportunity of nominating their friends whom they would wish to bring out here, and the Government should assist them in that course. (Applause.) LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES. Further powers should be given to local governing bodies. There is too much centralising going on at the present time, everything is directed from Wellington. It is almost impossible to do anything in a proper way without having to deal with head-quarters. Centralism would do very well for Victoria, but we are not in the same position as the people over there. Further powers should be given to local governing bodies, and I I should be glad to advocate that for you. I

(Applause. Voice: So you will.) Upon question of localising the revenue, the view which I advocated on a former occasion when I addressed you, was this : That the money raised in a place like this, deriving no ad* vantage from the public works executed in other parts of the colony, should have special provision made for it by means Of grants id the local bodies, by the revenue raised in the district. Take the County Council. It makes application to Wellington under the and Bridges Construction Act, for a certain amount, of which they only get half of the amount they applied for. But Counties likb Hawke’s Bay* largely beneiitted by public works, are treated in a much better manr er. It is not fair, and compensation should be made to us. LOCAL INDUSTRIES. The subject of local industries is a matter the Government should give special attention to. The staple commodity of the place is wool, and when depression occurs in the wool market there is depression all around; There is nothing to back us up. It thejefort seems that the Government should give eterj inducement to having locdl industries estaolished in the place, such as tobacco growing, etc, To have these industries instituted and properly carried out would require the services of persons experienced in those industries, and for that reason the Government should encourage the people in Germany and other places, acquainted with these things, to come out here. By that means the people could be taught, and could make up for the difficulties we labor tinder, (Applause.) j THE NEW ZEALAND NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT COMPANY. — THE TARUHERU BRIDGE. —MR. REES AND MR. LOCKE. .Speaking of lobal industries, I will now refetj gentlemen, to a local industry, which we could very well do without, it is the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company. (Hear, hear, and loud applause.) The greatest curse that ever happened to Poverty Ban was that company. (Applause, with slight hissing.) But like all evil things I suppose it will be difficult to get rid of it. (Voice—How about the bridge.) How about Mr. Davis who built the bridge. The man comes here and is ruined through it* (Mn Pi Maher, excitedly—; Mr. Rees was hot ruined through it; Loud laughter.) You will see the wisdom of keeping perfectly cool and calm, under the most exciting circumstances. (Laughteh) You see that young than with the Hdt on; ThM young man in this most infuriated and excited mamier says that Mr. Rees was not ruined over it. (Mr. Maher—Neither he is.) Who said he was ? I did not. I say the man who built the bridge, Mr. Davis, was ruined over it. (Loud laughter.) We find that all the difficulties for the last three or four years that have occurred to keep this district back, have been owing to the companies system, which has been carried on by it. (Applause and feeble hissingj We find that the system of Native Land Laws, which Mr* Rees advocates are solely for the purpose of handing over the lands to this company, and to rob the Natives of them, and so that the company can sell then! to whom they please. Take for instance the Paramata Block. (Voice: That waS settled in the Supreme Court.) Yes, it Wad settled iii ine Supreme Court, but the Natives were settled before it got to the Supreme Court. (Applause.) We find that a block of land valued at £9,000 is sold to the Company. (Voice: For money —how much?) £9OO and £B,lOO worth of scrip. (Voice : That is not our business.) It is our business, in this way, that this Land Company wants to get powers which would ruin this place. (Voice: They won’t get them.) If that block of land had been bought properly instead of the scrip, £B,lOO would have been put in cir* culation in this district (Applause) j and We would all have had the benefit of it. (Applause.) That is how it affects us, and it is our business. Take another block called the Pakowai. (Voice: Captain Porter has got half of that.) Yes, he has got the underneath half. (Laughter.) We find the Supreme Court has got a good share of it. That latad could have been cut up into settlements, but it is now tied up by this Company. We seCi then, that one of the candidate’s (Mr. Rees) sole object is to advocate in Parliament the passing of certain land laws that will entirely suit the people by whom he is paid. (Voices: Yes, yes. No, no. Clapping and hissing.) If anybody says “ no” I will give you an instance. (Voice: They don’t know what they are talking about.) A few months ago, when the House was in session, Mr. Rees came on the public platform and advocated in your presence the passing of a Bill called the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company’s Bill. (Voice : It was chucked out.) And so would Mr. Rees if hd had been down there. The Bill was air iniquitous one, and Mr. Rees told you it was the best Bill that could be passed. (Voice: He would say anything.) And when you were appealed to you voted to a man against the Bill. (Hear, hear. Loud applause.) Every paper in New Zealand condemned the Bill. (Voice: What about the TeLefUoxe 1) The Bill was kicked out of Parliament, and so has every Land Bill which Mr. Rees has brought up. (Applause.) Take the Native Lawsuits Bill. The people laughed at it. It was absurd. Take then the very last Bill that was passed. One clause in it, which was drawn by Mr. Rees, clause twelve in the Division Act, was absolutely wrong. Every clause in that Bill excepting the one he drew, was an advantage to this district, but the 12th clause drawn by Mr. Rees, was found to be unworkable, and could not carry out that for which it was intended. I will now ask you to direct your glances at the Lone Hand. (Laughter and clapping), There he is sitting calmly and (Laughter). He fondly imagines that he enjoys what I am saying. (Laughter and applause). I assure you gentlemen, he has got a piece of paper before him, and is not putting half a dozen words down of what I am saying. He is too much agitated in spirit. I will say this of him. He has opposed me for years, as hard as any man could oppose me (Disorder), and I have opposed him, as hard as I could. (Cries and applause). I say it is marvellous how a man could go round the country stating the unmitigated untruths that he has stated. (Hisses with applause). His whole existence from the time that he adorndL the Pulpit until he adorned the Bar. (Laugh! ter and hoots. Cries of “ question,” and general disorder.) I say this, that from the time Mr. Rees adorned the Pulpit until he adorned the Bar, he has been a failure. I think you understand me now. He has jone round the country, and has so long repealed such false statements against me that I really think he is beginning to believe them himselL (Voice : What Church do you belong to ?) I don’t believe in the gospel of Saint Rees. Well, I think we will let Mr. Rees have a slight rest, and give the Doctor a trial, by way of a change. (Great disturbance.) We hear a great deal of Mr. Locke. (Voices: He is not here.) Why did he not come here ? I know he is not nere. (Disorder.) You will observe the combination of the Beesites and the Lockeites. They have row combined against me. We hear an enormous amount about the sterling worth of Mr. Locke. (Interruption.) I will say what I like of Mr. Locke. Mr. Locke and Mr. Rees both say I am put up to split the votes. (Cries of “No, no.”) The supporters of Mr. Locke are afraid of my saying anything against him. The moment I mentioned his name, there is a cronic funk among them. (Mr. Ratcliffe—Speak of Mr. Locke as a respectable man, and not as the 1 Doctor). We hear a great deal about Mr. Locke and his sterling worth and honesty (Disorder), and I wish to know what right Mr. Locke has of going around the country speaking wrongly of me. (Voice: It is not true). He does it quietly, and all Mr. Locke’s aim in getting into Parliament is to help him to get a judgeship of the Native Land’s Court. (Voices: No such thing. Cries of “ yes ” and “ no.”) That is his object, and you will find it out. (Voice; What is your game). My game is to keep Messrs. Rees and Locke out, and to go in myself, and that will be the iesult too. (Loud applause). We find that for years Mr. Locke did a great deal of good as a Government servant. (Voice : You were liis clerk). I was his clerk. From the moment 1 entered Mr. Locke’s office until I left there never was one word of difference between us. He did his duty well as a public servant. (Hear, hear.) He acquired a block of land for the Government of some 30,000 acres, and why should he represent this district any more than any o .her man. You will find this, that the natqfrl inclination of an old Government servant!* to get into another Government billet, if he can. (Cries of no, no.) When Mr. Locke got

“ sacked,” so did I. He got his pension, and I was done out of three months travelling allowance. PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHT.-MR. LOCKE.

j wish to speak on the question of the Preemptive Bight. (Voice—That's right.) You are all aware, gentlemen, that the proposal of the present Government is to resume the Bight of Pre-emption over Maori lands ia the North Island. That proposal was made fey Mr. Bryce last year, when he said he intended to have the Maori lands closed against all . private purchasers. Major Atkinson during the present year, has stated to the public in Christcnurch that the Government had carefully considered the course that they should pursue with regard to the Native lands of the North Island. Now let us see what it amounts to. There are 14,000,000 acres of lands owned by about 40,000 Maoris in the North Island. The Government which Mr. Loeke nominally supports proposes to close up those lands against private purchasers. What is the position of the Government to deal with lands'? We find that the Government has to face—has faced, in fact— U deficiency in the reventie of £150,000, and that Major Atkinson in bis addresses down South stated to the public that it was uot the intention of the Government to borrow any more public money excepting for the purposes of finishing public works incompleted. Now, we see these two things. On the one hand the Government propose to close up the Maori lands of the North Island excepting to themselves the right of purcnaseing them. On the other hand we find that they do not have the money, and what is the conclusion to be drawn from that? It is this, that the object of this Government, the Government that Mr. Locke supports, means to have the Maori lands of the North Island dosed up so as to play into the hands of the wealthy land owners, who have large areas of land that they are waiting to get into the market. Why does the Government take up this course ? They do it with the sole hope of gaining over supporters from the Southern members. In other words, they do it to sacrifice the North Island in order to retain their position in the House. That is the only solution that you can . put to that question. When Mr, Locke addressed you here he forgot; or rather, the note which he had made to speak on this question had Slipped from his hands to the door, and in the course of his address he omitted all reference to this most important question, Until Mr. Sheehan came up and asked him what hie opinion, or rather notion, was with respect to the Government resuming the preemptive right over the Maori lands. His reply was this:—He believed that the right of pre-emption should exist over lands in the Waikato and other lands which had not been dealt with, and upon lands which had not been paid for. (Voice ; On lands other than in the King country. Cries of Yes, yes, and No, no.) You will find the paper reports bear me oat in what I say. I have no doubt that Mr. Locke is very sorry he gave that Answer. (Voice : Why ?) Because he made bach a mess of it. (Applause.) Well, gentlemen; we Will waive the point, “ upon lands tohich had not been paid for.” (Voices: Aha I aha I) I say we will waive it, though I don't say that he did not say it; he did say it. But we will deal with something you all agree on. You will all agree with me that Mr. Locke does believe in the right of preemption over the lands of the King country. (Voice; And quite right to.) Now, gentlemen, just let us in our minds glance, if possible, at the Waikato country—the King country. Take the position of that country, and carry your minds back with me. Twentyfive years ago we found there a large native population, living according to their manners and customs. People numerically powerful, brave, and hospitable. We found that this people for years endeavored to remain in an isolated position j when they declined to accept the British rule. They kept to themselves, and got a sovereign of their own, whom they called a King. The King movement was established. The Waikato League was also established, which had for its object the stopping of Europeans from going within the boundaries of the King country. That was in 1863 or 1864. We will come to the time tvhen the Imperial service was brought there. War then ensued, and thousands of lives were lost, in order, as we truly know, that these lands might be subject to the rule of the Government of the country. That was the state of things there fur years. Thousands of lives were lost in order to open up that country. Now, follow me, and you came to the time when Mr. T. Russell was Native Minister. At that time they tried all they could to open this country up, and everything was done to obtain that end. Let us get a little near home, the time bf Sir Donald McLean. Before that time thousands of pounds were borrowed, through the expenses incurred in fighting in this country, and that money that was then borrowed, we have now to pay taxes for. (Applause). Sir Donald McLean endeavored to penetrate the King Country, and large meetings were held, but with no success. Then you have the Hon. Dr. Pollen, he, too, goes there and makes the same attempt. Mr. Bryce also goes into the King Country, bribes are given to the natives, present after present and thousands of pounds are given to the natives in order for them to allow that country to be opened up. That is one of the laurels that Mr. Bryce gained, through his administration as Native Minister, and he got great credit for it. The news is telegraphed all over the world, and the colony is put in a far better position, because people near that a fine large tract of country is about to be opened up, and they wished to eome here. We } now, see that this very GoVerntnent, which Mr. Locke supports, says that the Waikato country, the King Country, is to be closed up. Mr. Locke himself is in favor of that, and if you return him, then you will close up that country and the land cannot be settled on, and that will seriously effect the progress of New Zealand, because you will keep both the people and the money out of the Colony. I say that a man who advocates that has no right to be our representative; (Hear, hear.) It was Sir George Grey who wanted to settle the King Countrv in a way that would have been far less dis“astroas than the other attempts. Now, gentlemen, I will put a simple question to you. Do you think that under all those circumstances it is a good policy to close up those Maori lands? (No, no.) Then don’t vote for a man who wants them closed up. (Hear, hear.)

CONCLUDING REMARKS. •J I suppose Mr. Rees will want to say something to you. Before he does so, I will have another word or two with you. I tell you this, and you w’ill find the result on Monday, that Mr. Rees coming into this contest has committed political suicide. (Cries of yes and no.) And you will find on Monday that he will meet his burial at the bottom of the poll. (Cries of yes and no.) As to Mr. Locke, gentlemen—(Voice: At the head of the poll.) We will find that he too will be led to his political execution by the electors of the East Coast. (Applause with slight hissing.) And when his political death occurs you will find no marble post or consecrated earn to mark his political remains; but at his grave you will find a spot marked off by a simple rail and on the rail will be this: — “ Sacred to the memory of the Doctor.” (Claps, applause, hoots, stamping and confusion now prevailed.) QUESTIONS. Mr. J. Henderson—l would like to ask Mr. Gannon which of two certain telegrams appearing in Thursday night’s Herald, are correct. (He produced the paper.) Mr. Gannon replied that one of the telegrams from the Wairoa stating that his meeting passed off satisfactorily, was nearly correct. He said at that meeting, the voting on the confidence motion was about even. He was perfectly satisfied with the result. That was the absolute truth. He never telegraphed anything about himself to the newspapers. Mr. T. Wright—Are you in favor of the Montgomery or the Grey section of the Opposition. Mr. Gannon—The section of the House that I am in favor of is the Liberal Party. Mr. Rees only supports one section of the Liberal Party, perhaps only a third of it. (Applause.) Mr. McDonald, (hoots) —with regard to the Pre-emptive Right, Mr. Gannon says that the King Country is at the present time being opened up, I want to know if it is a fact that the last party of surveyors were turned back by the Natives.

Mr. Gannon—What I say is this, that for the last twenty year’s efforts have been made to get the King Country opened up. Mr. Locke proposes on that to close it up. (Loud Applause.) Mr. J. Adeane—lf Mr. Gannon is returned to Parliament, will he fight in the House in the same manner as he does with Mr. Rees over this meeting. Mr. Gannon—l beg to assure you that I will fight a good deal harder. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Sandlant —Would Mr, Gannon give the definition of the word Pre-emption, and its relative issue as. regards your interests ? Mr. Gannon replied at considerable length to this question, explaining that a large quantity of land between here and Wairoa would be shut up, if it was brought into force and would prove a general drawback to this district, and it would to the colony generally. Mr. Sandlant—lt has another meaning. It allows the monied classes to step in to pick and chose nice spots of land in the country. (Queston, question).

MR. REES.—PRELIMINARY REMARKSMR. GANNON.

Mr, Rees’ turn now came to address the meeting, and rdse amidst claps and loud applause, intermingled with hoots, He said— Mr. Chairman, Ladies, and Gentlemen, having been asked here to-night to come before

you in Mr. Gannon’s presence to receive, as he said, at his hands my political death, I appear before you. I took care that he did not steal a march upon me, and, at the commencement, I was determined not to let him get to windward of me, and that is why I would not accept his terms. Having been challenged, I consider I have a right to the last word. (Applause). All that I desire is fair play. lam sorry to say that from the commencement of this contest until now, Mr. Gannon has not shown any fair play, (Hoots and hisses), and I am confident of this as he was defeated in his attempt at unfair play so he will be defeated on Monday. (Clapping, hoots, and hissing.) This time on Monday night we shall see who is the true jrophet—Mr. Gannon or myself. Now’, sir, shall not attempt to descend (Voice; Oh, shut up) to the low personalities which Mr. Gannon has indulged in. (Voice; You could ndt do it. . Laughter.) No, I could not do it.

(Voice: What about the touch-down.) To descend to the low personalities that have been indulged in to-night is neither that which I desire or wish to practice. (What about Makaraka last night ?) I was much amused when one of the gentlemen got up and asked Mr; Gannon if he would behave in the same manner in the House as he did to-

night. He replied he would fight a great deal harder. Why, such conduct and such expressions in the House of Assembly would simply ostracise the man. (Hoots and claps.) The members of the House would say, “ Is that the real representative of the East Coast?” (Applause. Voice: What about City North ? You had better go back there.) I noticed during Mr. Gannan’s speech that three or four of his supporters had hands that could clap with ten donkey power. (Voice : That is more than your’s will) and I have not the slightest doubt that jrour throat will shriek with the same. 'Hoots and applause/ I would ask vou [Voice: Football] from the first part of this contest until now, you who have listened in this hall, and w’ho have read the reports in the different papers on the speeches [Voice : In the Telephone] whether to-night’s speech of Mr. Gannon has not capped all his speeches. He has not disclosed to you one solitary principle which he will uphold in the House. (Applause. Voice : He did that before.) I came here to-night, and I have not the slightest doubt you all did, for a calm discussion on political principles. (Hear, hear.) But as the poll is to be taken on Monday, and a great deal of interest has been taken in this contest all over New Zealand. (Disorder.) I would ask that Mr. Malone keep quiet for a few minutes. He has been conspicuous at all these meetings. It has been a practice of Mr. Gannon and Mr. Locke to take to all their meetings a number of friends. (Voice: So do you.) It is a falsehood. Those people take part in the meetings and attempt to distract the public, and in place of argument and sense to use boohooing. (Applause. Voice: What about the trap to Makaraka last night ?) I have not on one occasion pursued such a course. (Voices : Aha, aha, ah.) If any gentleman disputes what I say they can come up here and do so. What have we heard to-night ? Have we heard of the great questions which now agitate the public mind? [Voices: No. Yes. Not from you. We have had it at the other meetings.] In one word, have we heard anything about taxation ? At all Mr. Gannon’s other meetings this has been absent, and he has not given any discussion on political principles at all. [Hoots and applause.' Myself and the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company have been the themes of his discussion and that alone. [Voice: Quite right, too. And the Bank of New Zealand.] In relation to the Land Company, I would ask the people here to look around the country and see whether or not that Company has not enabled thousands of pounds to be spent in wages and settled lands which otherwise would not have been so settled for years and years to come. (Applause. Voice; "Where were the wages paid ?) Has it not done good to the district generally? (Voice: It would put a screw on the banks.) In relation to Mr. Gannon’s candidature, do any of his friends know to what party he belongs or what principles he maintains? (Disorder and cries*) He does not adhere to the Government and he does not adhere to

Grey nor Montgomery. (Voice: He is a liberal man and goes for honesty. Applause.] I say again that Mr. Gannon has not enun. ciated any political principles. I heard Mr. Gannon say at Tologa Bay that he was an independent man. [Applause. Voice : That is more than you are.; An independent has no principles. [Voice: Well, it is certain you have not.; My party is pretty well known and so are my principles. [Voice: Yes, too well. Laughter.; If an independent man is returned he will go to Wellington and sell his vote to the highest bidder. (Hoots and claps.) I read in the newspapers and I heard it quoted, that Mr. Gannon had made a hit against Mr. Locke, by stating that he was sittting on a rail and would fall on the side of the greatest attraction. But he has now come down and gone through the gate, and has declared himself for the Government, (Voice —He has got the scab and foot rot.) Mr. Gannon has neve.' come down from the rail until now. (Disorder.) I have no fear whatever of Mr. Gaunon being elected, I don’t believe he will be within 250 of the second candidate. (Hoots, with applause. Voice : He will be 250 above you.) I notice at the day of nomination (Voice—You got the place loaded with your own crowd) the same boohooing crowd that had followed the other candidates round in all their force, could only muster sixteen. I was surprised to hear Mr. Gannon’s expression about robbing the Natives of their lands. If I choose to retort upon Mr. Gannon. (Voices —Leave Gannon alone. You may as well leave him alone, you can do him no harm.) What I want to do is this, to see that this community exercises no blind feelings of prejudice in the recording of votes, because they are simply asked for as a personal favor. After the people have heard the different good and sound arguments of the candidates, then they can record them to the man of their own choice, but not unless. I am sorry to say that throughout this contest the other two candidates have for a considerable time past been getting individual electors to pledge themselves to vote for them. Such a proceeding is politically dishonest (Voice—Why do you do it ?) I do not do it* Nor does any one do it for me. (Voice— What about Whitcombe ?) TAXATION. On the question of taxation at the present time, the whole of the people of this district we will say 5,000, including 1,000 Maories, and 4,000 Europeans. Now this community, has £25,000 a year, mainly to pay, with interest for which, neither you nor your friends have received the slightest benefit. The question of taxation is a burning question for the whole community, and only that man should be returned, who is prepared to support a plan by which taxation should be placed on the proper shoulders, and should be levied from the proper sources, and the burden lifted from the shoulders of the people. THE PRESENT GOVERNMEFT. I say it would be a public calamity if the Atkinson Government are allowed to retain office. I say that for this reason. Gradually year by year they have been weakened; the powers which they exercised of corruption and bribery the last instance of which, was

the lowering of the railway tariff in Canterbury, so as to get the votes of that province with them. The rates became so small that the Government were obliged to raise the tariff, and the members of that province turned round immediately and voted against them for doing it. The Opposition the other day had a majority of nine, but they would have a majority of twenty in a full House. The present Ministry are, I say, doomed, and it will be a benefit to the whole country. NATIVE LANDS.

Upon the question of Native lands my ideas are pretty well known. I believe the Natives J ought to be allowed to manage their lands tribally, as they belonged to the Natives as tribes. PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHT. lam opposed to the Pre-emptive Right being resumed over Native landsj for I believe if that was done the whole of the North Island would be locked up for years, and it would prove a fatal blow to New Zealand. For three years Sir George Grey has been attempting to pass bills in the House of Representatives for dealing with the natives. Everyone of these bills I have drafted. Therefore, it is impossible to say that, On that question my views are not the same as his. LARGE PROPERTY-HOLDERS. It is against public interest that persons should be allowed to amass immense estates of land. It is unfair. And the people should not be taxed £3 a head per annum to pay the interest on money for the benefit of those great landed proprietors. If we do not put a stop to the great landed aristocracy that is growing up, and has been for the last twenty years, we will soon be in the same position as Ireland is in at the present time. MR. LOCKE. Mr. Locke is now negotiating for land of some 20,000 acres on the East Coast for Mr. Rhodes, and if you endorse, by your election of Mr. Locke, his action in this matter, you cannot be surprised at his passing over the Pre-emptive right. He would have laws passed to enable him to compete his purchases. HARBOR BILL, AND RAILWAY. What we require for this place is a Harbor Bill and a railway. I ask this meeting whether it is not for the benefit of this whole district that we should have these two things. Both the other enndidates ridiculed my proposals with regard to the harbor, but when Sir George Grey was interviewed by the Councillors, Mr. Locke agreed with them. The district wants an increase in population and that can only be obtained by having a harbor and railway. I will do illy best to obtain these, as we justly deserve them, for we have been clamoring for them for years. THE THREE CANDIDATES.

Now, gentlemen, I advise you not to have a turncoat like Mr. Locke, nor a person whose principles you don’t know, like Mr. Gannon. The East Coast is going on a voyage with a good crew and well fitted. She wants a convoy. There is a man-of-war, Locke, but the men who gave him commission are going out of office, and his commission will be withdrawn, and so will he. Then there is myself, you know what flag I fly under. (Question. Yes.) There is another craft, which carries a good deal of sail but very little ballast, that is Mr. Gannon. (Hisses and applause.) That craft carries no colors, nor no sailing orders, and I will tell you what will happen At this stage of the eloquent address of the distinguished orator, a gentleman in the body of the hall cried “ Three cheers for Gannon!” which were lustily given. Cries were then made for Mr. Gannon to speak up. After much disorder Mr. Rees was allowed to proceed—supposing Mr. Locke has been recalled and put out of commission, and suppose the East Coast takes the convoy of the Gannon. (Voice —True blue.) All will go well for a little time. (Disorder.) But by and bye in the still blue sea with no help, you will see what the Gannon will do, and the man who has no colors will show what his political creed is

THE PRESS. In this contest I have had to fight against two opponents. I have had to fight against the press. The press will sell itself to the highest bidder. (Applause.) I only refer to one of the papers, because the Telephone is not a paper. (Laughter.) If Sir George Grey and Mr. DeLautour get into power you will soon see them come round so as to exist. Both papers do all they can to hinder you from voting for me. The speaker then made some further remarks about Mr. Gannon and Mr. Locke, and then sat down amidst applause. Mr. Rees again rose and said he had to refute some statements of Mr. Gannon’s concerning him. PARAMATA BLOCK. I distinctly refute Mr. Gannon’s statement about the Paramata Block, that I obtained it from the Natives for Mr. Thomas RusSell. Mr. Gannon—lt was obtained through Mr. Rees’ agency for Mr. Russell. [Applause.] Mr. Rees — [hoots] —I again state— [hoots] I again state that this statement is absolutely false, and if Mr* Gannon will put down £lOO to the Hospital if he is wrong, I will do the same if he is right. [Voices: Ah, Oh, Oh. Will you though. Great laughter.] Mr. Gannon—Mr. Rees is speaking for his client. Mr. Rees—That is incorrect. I am not speaking for any client. The Chairman now called the disputants to order. Three cheers were called and given for each of the candidates and Sir George Grey. The Chairman called for three cheers for the successful candidate, whoever he may be, and were given by nearly all present. The meeting then broke up.