THE PREMIER'S POLITICAL TOUR. Stormy Meeting at Christchurch. Christchurch, Sunday.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 48, 3 May 1884, Page 6

THE PREMIER'S POLITICAL TOUR. Stormy Meeting at Christchurch. Christchurch, Sunday.

The meeting held in the Tuam-sfcreet Hall to hear Major Atkinson's address on Saturday night was the largest political meeting that has taken place in Christchurch since Sir George Grey's visit five years ago. The hall holds some 2,500 people, and was unusually packed, all classes being represented. The Mayor, Mr Hulbert, occupied the chair, and on the platform were several M.H.R.'s and members of the City Council. Major Atkinson entered the hall at seven o'clock, and was received with hisses and groans, mingled with a little applause. The Chairman requested the meeting, for the honour of the city, to give the Premier a patient hearing. | {Major Atkinson's speech was mainly a recapitulation of his utterances at Hawera and Dunedin. He remarked that on account of the state of public feeling in Christchurch he had come to explain his actions. If the people censured him he could bear it. If they would not hear him he would go away, but with a feeling that he had at all events done his duty in coming. Referring to the land question, he said that Canterbury had received more of the proceeds of the land than it had any right to, for the province had for a long time lived upon the land fund, which was thus provincialised, instead of being colonised. He contended that had Government called Parliament together on account of the probable deficit, instead of meeting it by restoring the railway rates to their former position, a blow would have been inflicted on the credit of the colony which it would have taken years to recover from, and which \ would have caused the Opposition to accuse Government of shirking responsibility to obtain political support. Parliament would not now return to the old rates. Even Mr Montgomery's followers would not permit that. A local Railway Board for each Island would be worse than the present system. Since his Hawera speech he had found that the deficit in the year's revenue would be about £152,000, instead of £170,000. The advances outstanding this year were £40,000, as against £70,000 last year, which meant that the actual deficit would be something over £120,000. He considered that Government had done a great deal of good by improving the position of the colony in the money market. The Premier received a round of applause at the conclusion of his speech, but he was not allowed to proceed without much interruption. For the first half hour every remark called forth signs of disapprobation. When he was explainingthe observations he made at Hawera about the prevailing depression, the tumult became so great that he was obliged to cease. Mr John Matthews, well known as the leader of a former unemployed agitation, came forward to'appeal for a fair ! hearing for the speaker, but was groaned down. A ter some further confusion, the Mayor managed to quiet the audience, and the speech proceeded under a running fire of interruptions, a good deal of the disturbance being occasioned by a half-drunken man. The climax of disorder was reached when the Premier, after a rather prolonged bout of hooting from the audience, said t that he would like to talk plainly to two or three of those who were interrupting him. He could only judge them by their looks, and his experience taught him that in every town there was a class of men known a3 " loafers." This remark drew forth a perfect storm of disapprobation. The hooting and groaning were redoubled. Several voices called out "Apologise" The Chairman asked the audience, for the credit of the city, to give the Premier a hearing, but the attempt of Major Atkinson to speak caused additional uproar, which lasted for ten minutes, when Mr Daniel Reese, a popular member of the City Council, restored order by appealing to the people not to let it be said that the Premier of New Zealand had come to address a Canterbury audience and had been refused a hearing. He also reminded them if the meeting was broken up they would lose the opportunity of making a fitting expression of disapproval of the Minister's acts. The Premier was then allowed to proceed with less interruption than before. I After the conclusion of his remarks, a number of questions were asked, and Mr Guinness moved "That this meeting has no confidence in the present Ministry." Mr Daniel Reese seconded the motion, which was carried, about two-thirds of those present voting for it, and some- dozen against it. Cheers were then given for Mr Wakefield and Sir G. Grey, and the meeting dispersed.

The " Pall Mall Gazette" expresses the opinion that the seizure by the French of the New Hebrides would constitute a cams belli between England and France, and advises that the Australian colonies should avoid all appearance of bluster in reference, to France arid the Pacific. Sohg of the rook"—'* Hear me, for nay cawg,' r - ~r "" "' ' 5 r .