THE GENERAL ELECTION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2721, 8 December 1881, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

ME WAKEFIELD AT GEEALDINE. Mr Wakefield met the electors at Geraldine last night in the Oddfellows’ Hall, and had a rough time. The hall was only about two thirds tilled when Mr Wakefield commenced, but as he proceeded others came in until the room was densely crowded, at least 200 being present. From the very first a small section of the meeting manifested a determination to interrupt and annoy Mr Wakelieldand as usual, a number more were amused at the performances of the rowdy ones, and added their laughter to the other noises. The most refractory of the obstructors were said to have come down from Temuka for the purpose of preventing Mr Wakefield getting a hearing. They would silence the speaker and then allow him to start again, only to be pulled up u few minutes later. The chairman, Dr Fish, was quite unable to control the rowdy ones and threats of turning out made by Mr Wakefield’s friends only increased the uproar. Among the noises were the queer voices of an old Punch and Judy man, dog bowls, and a pattering of feet that was so regular and sustained that a number of men must have previously practised it on purpose. Mr Wakefield tried hard to get on with his address, but bo was obliged to cut it short. Before giving in, however, he asked what he had done to deserve such treatment at the hands of any person in the district. There were stories going about—be had seen them in print—that

tilings could be told about him that would make the electors shudder, but that they could not be made public because they had been communicated under seal of confidence. He now removed that seal of confidence and challenged any man to come forward and say all ho could say against him. There was absolutely no foundation for such insinuations—insinuations that no man should make unless he was prepared to substantiate them.

Later in the evening, when the questioning was proceeding, an elector asked Mr Wakefield if he had notified that he would remove the seal of confidence that evening, so that Mr Postlethwaite could have attended, and made some explanation. Mr Postlethwaite was not present and so could know nothing of Mr Wakefield’s challenge. Mr Wakefield replied that he gave no special notice of that kind. He advertised this public meeting, and if his accusers did not attend, it was their fault not his. Ho had never received any notice that the accusations would be made. Mr Wakefield’s challenge was loudly applauded by his supporters, their cheers being answered by boohoos and all kinds of noises from the back of the Hall.

A largo number of questions were asked, the majority being senseless ones. A good deal of time was taken up by Mr O’Farrcl, who catechised Mr Wakefield about where ho was when the vote was taken on Mr Curtis’ Education Bill. The questioner wanted to know exactly where ho was, and as Mr Wakefield did not state definitely his whereabouts at the time O’Farrcll would not bo satisfied. Ho asked at last if it were true that Mr Wakefield left the House taking two Maoris with him when the division was coming on. “ I suppose,” interrupted Mr McDonald, ££ he wants to insinuate that you took them to Bellamys.” Mr Wakefield) indignantly denied that lie took two Maoris out of the House on the occasion. Mr O’Farrel! was chief inquisitor, and asked a lot of questions on the subject of denominational education, and took Mr Wakefield to task for not acknowledging the receipt of a petition from 200 working men in the district. Some one objected that Mr O’Farrel was not on the roll, and he retorted by asking if Mr Wakefield was, and Mr Wakefield admitted that he was not on the Geraldine roll. A good deal of feeling is locally manifested in connection with the election, about the vesting of the Geraldine racecourse reserve, as to who should have the credit of obtaining the vesting of the reserve. Mr Wakefield was asked to state what was done. In reply, after stating how the reserve was made,he said the Jockey Club asked him to get the Government to vest it in trustees. He saw the Minister of Lands, who pointed out that the Government had no power to do this and a Bill would be necessary. He replied that he would bring in a Bill himself. The Minister said the greatest publicity must be given to the proposal, and a public meeting was therefore called and the question was put and carried unanimously, that the land should he vested. He sent a copy of the report of that meeting to the Minister of Lads to show that publicity had been given to the proposal, and next session he drew up a Bill himself, to save the Club the expense of paying a lawyer, and got it passed through both Houses. These were all the facts so far as he was aware —if there were any further facts connected with the matter he would bo glad to hoar them.

A vote of thanks to Mr Wakefield for his address was proposed by the Rev. G. Barclay, in a "little speech in which ho highly eulogised Mr Wakefield’s abilities as a parliamentary representative. Mr Barclay was a good deal interrupted by the rowdy section of the meeting.

There was a good deal of applause whon Mr Barclay made his motion, but when the Chairman called for a show of hands only 37 were counted for it, and a much larger number being held up against it the Chairman declared it lost. The meeting then broke up, Mr Holloway (who had enlivened the meeting by droll remarks and ridiculous questions) proposing as the people rose “ a vote of thanks to the only gentleman in the chair, the Chairman.”