Notes From Nelson.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 87, 2 December 1890, Page 2

Notes From Nelson.

(From Oar Own Correspondent.)

On Monday evening last Mr Harkness, one of the candidates for this city, addressed a large gathering of electors in the Theatre. Mr Albert Pitt was voted to the chair, and in a few well chosen words introduced the speaker. Mr Harkness, who was greeted with loud applause, said he was about to redeem the promise he had made in his speech made shortly after prorogation, viz.—To speak on several important political questions, such as land administration, taxation, harbours, and other subjects. As regards Parliamentary procedure he thinks that members should be restricted in the matter of time to some 25 or 30 minutes, and not be allowed to continually move the adjournment of the House so as to air some little grievance. Reform was much needed in the Legislative Council ; members should only be appointed for a period of ten years, with possibility of re-appointment, and the honorarium should only be half that paid to M.H.R.'s. With reference to. the land question Mr Harkness strongly advocates the perpetual lease system, and showed very plainly where its advantages lay. He is in favour of a land and income tax; £l5O exemption in the latter case and a tax on the unimproved value of the land. Mr Hursthouse is (and rightly so as everyone will admit] strongly against the idea of the colony taking over the liability of two or three Harbour Boards in the North. He sympathised with those people who had to pay extra taxes on account of these loans which, however, were purely local, and would not affect the credit of the colony in the least. Finally lie asked all classes of the community to work together, with the sole aim of making these islands the brightest gems in the Pacific, and to uphold their country, their God, and truth (Loud Cheering). After a number of questions had been put to the candidate, and satisfactorily answered, a vote of thanks and confidence was proposed, seconded and carried almost unanimously, only three hands being held up in opposition, and over a hundred for the motion.

Last night Mr Kerr spoke in the Theatre before a very large gathering —far larger than Mr Harkness', the building being shnply packed. However the majority of people went solely with the intention of getting as much fun as possible out of the meeting. Mr Kerr spoke for over an hour, and a quarter, and touched on most subjects of importance. He, like Mr Harkness, believes in the perpetual lease system. No motion brought forward as regards Catholic schools would receive his support; retrenchment could still further be effected, property-tax should be done away with, etc. Mr Kerr after the conclusion of his speech was questioned for fully an hour. During his speech he met with frequent interruptions, and altogether his is the rowdiest meeting that has been held here for ages. A vote of thanks, without confidence, was passed on the motion of Mr T. Harlev.