MR EDGELER’S MEETING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1159, 1 April 1884, Page 3

MR EDGELER’S MEETING.

On last Friday evening a meeting was held in the Volunteer Hall, Temnka, by Mr George Edgeler, to ventilate his grievance with regard to his resignation as a member of the Temuka School Committee. Mr Badbtm was voted to the chair, A charge of sixpence was made at the door. There was a large attendance. The Chairman on rising was received with loud and prolonged cheering. He said he had been askad to preside on the present important occasion. He considered the matter very important. Mr Edgeler bad been elected ‘ by a parcel of householders/ he had since betrayed his trust, and he was present now to explain his reasons for resigning. Some of the members of the Committee had ‘jumped* on him, and he now challenged any of them that were present to come up on the platform and defend themselves. Mr Edgeler ha 4 put up for the Licensing Committee, but was defeated owing to the corruption and bribery resorted to by the publicans and the ‘jumped-up’ aristocrats of Temuka. They had the impudence to circlate a report to the effect that they were making a fool of Mr Edgeler. The people who did this deserved hanging, and he now warned them that they would be boycotted for it. The reporters had also been bribed, and that was the reason Mr Edgeler’s speech was not more fully reported. After some further eloquent remarks, the Chairman introduced Mr Edgeler, who came forward amidst great applause, He commenced by telling those present how a deputation of seven or eight people had pressed him to allow himself to be nominated for the School Committee, and how he consented to do so, and was elected. At the first meeting of the Committee Mr Kirk was proposed, seconded and elected Chairman before he (the speaker) had time to breathe. It was a disgrace to place Mr Kirk in the chair, over the heads of Mr Bolton and the Rev Mr Gordon. Next meeting the business was the appointment of janitor. Five of the candidates were rejected and two remained to choose from. The Chairman said that he (Mr Edgeler) and Mr Bolton had made it up that Mr Boulter should be elected, but when he got up to speak the Chairman said if he (Mr Edgeler) spoke again he would close the meeting. He had to shut up, and he then wrote a letter to the paper. (Mr_ Edgeler here read the letter, amidst cries of shame, laughter and applause). The third meeting was held in the Crown Hotel, and the notice of it sent to him was addressed ‘Sod He would tell them he did not live in a sod house. His address was * Belgrove Cottage, Arowhenua/ and he considered that to hold the meeting in the Crown Hotel was an insult to him, because he was a Good Templar. The reason the meeting was held in the Crown Hotel was because ‘ every cock crowed bold on his own dung hill.’ He was called upon to apologise for having written the letter, but he would not do so. He wanted to keep out of the hands of the publicans ; he had been in their power too long. He had said on a former occasion he would pull down the Crown Hotel, but he would now raise up the roof of it if there was anything to fight about, but there was not, and he resigned. It was a shame that a publican was elected to the School Committee. When he came there with his gold rings and his frills the children might grow up to look upon him as a gentleman (tremendous cheering and uproar). When he (Mr Edgeler) was at home in England he was a landscape gardener, and a waggonette full of real live gentlemen spent the evening with him when he was leaving for New Zealand. (Great laughter). Mr Edgeler finished by expressing his determination to keep publicans out of power, and sat down amidst great applause. What happened after this was not worth reporting. One gentleman made several speeches, and another moved — ‘ That we, the people of Temuka, in solemn conclave assembled, do hereby most respectively request that M r Edgeler will withdraw his resignation and take his seat at the next meeting of the School Committee, and remain there until he is ejected by main force.’ This resolution was received with great applause, and on being seconded was carried unanimously. Mr Edgeler on being called upon said he would not go back to the Committee, but declined to give his reasons for refusing to do so. After this a Salvalion'hymn was sung to the music of a tin whistle, and some jokes were indulged in. Two or three political speeches were then delivered about everything in general but nothing in particular, and the proceedings were kept up pretty well until about 9.30 p.m., when a shower of rotten eggs emptied the hall in a very short time.