MR SPEIGHT M.H.R., AT AUCKLAND.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2219, 28 April 1880, Page 2

MR SPEIGHT M.H.R., AT AUCKLAND.

Mr Speight addressed the electors of Auckland last evening at the Mechanics’ Institute. Thei’c was a large attendance, and Captain D.H. McKenzie presided.

Mr Speight commenced by referring to technical circumstances connected with the ejection of Sir George Grey’s Ministry, and the part MrPyke played in that affair. When the subsequent caucus was held, it was stated that the only obstacle to the accomplishment of the Liberal programme was the leadership of Sir George Grey. On Sir George Grey hearing this, he made a speech which should endear him to every man in the colony. He said the Liberal cause was more to him than the Premiership of the colony, and he would not stand in the way. It was now said Sir George Grey was deposed ; but that was a pure fabrication. What did all the mischief was the grossest perlidy and treachery, and he would prove it from records of the past. In the speech of a "West Coast Member there was a reference to this when Mr Hurst took the gentleman by the coattail, and said, li There is a split in the party ; they expect members from Otago, and they have not come.” There was no former example of such deception on the part of public men. He believed a thing had been done of which Auckland had a right to be ashamed. Mr Speight here read the election addresses of theWucklaud four, amidst much laughter. Then there was Mr Hurst’s recent speech, which had produced a correspondence with Mr Vincent Pyke, as indicative of his conduct. He had not made Mr Pyke father-confessor to Mr Hurst, but Hurst himself. As for himself (Mr Speight), he believed in Sir George Grey, and would follow him as leader, both for his ability and his purity of motive. The Auckland party was utterly destroyed by the action of the four members referred to. What had been gained by it ? They were bound, if they wished to gain anything in the Assembly, to bo not only true to their leader, but true to each other. It had been said there was some uncertainty of utterance on the part of some of tiic Liberal party on the education question. He yielded to no man in his admiration of that system. He could tell them that Mr Hall and Major Atkinson wore both opposed to it. He believed that the only ultimate way of getting justice for the North was by separation and adjustment of liabilties according to expenditure. Auckland had a much better prospect than the South. The latter had realised their landed estate, while! Auckland had yet to come into hers. As to the disfranchising of Sir George Grey for Christchurch, four men whom they all know had to go into the G overnment lobby owing to the exigencies of party 7 , where their conscience would never have led them. The District Railways Bill was a disgraceful proposal, on which the Ministry changed its front no less than three times, and it had all the aspect of a job. Mr Speight paid a tribute to the Otago members who had worked with the Auckland party, and said there was, and would be next session, a natural alliance between Auckland and Otago. He was opposed to the present Ministry, and would do his best to eject them. Who their successors should be be left to the future. Mr Speight spoke for two hours and a half, and concluded amidst cheers. Mr d. C. Carr moved, and Air 11. S. Felton seconded, a vote of thanks and coniidence, which Avas carried unanimously.