WANGANUI.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3190, 10 May 1879, Page 2

WANGANUI.

Friday. Mr Fox before His Constituents.

His Opinion of the Ministry.

; ./The Hon. Mr Fox addressed his constituents at a full meeting. A voie of confidence and thanks was passed unanimously. He spoke two hours and attacked members of the Ministry in very strong terms. He said the Colonial Treasurer was a novice in finance, and described. ;the Land Tbx as a great blunder. The receipts for land he said would, fall short three quarters of la million. He strongly condemned the action of Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan in crawling into the Kopua meeting and putting the party on its legs again. They had dragged the Colonial Government through i the dirt. No Government were insulted as ours was by Te Whiti and Hiroki. Mr Fox condemned the Government for not bringing in a new Native Land Bill which, when they were in opposition, they said was a vital , necessity. Then where was Mr Sheehan's promise that the Government would give over purchasing native land and leave it to private persona. The natives considered Mr Sheehan too bouncible and deceitful, and looked on him with aversion. Vjlhexe i; - was the land Rewi was to ; give the Colony, and where the railway through the King, country for which Mr. Macandrew appropriated amill;cianda-h'alf? Everything the late Government was blamed for .doing, the present Government was guilty of. The Hineinba was used for private purposes. They inhumanly refused/the. Marquis of N.ormanby. the .use of £he'Hiriemoa to take a|way his invalid wife to' Australia, and when he bffered to pay the expense. TheHons. Mrßallance and Mr Stout went pleasuring in her and insultetl ;~the ]Governor- by! 'laying her alongside the trading steamer in which the latter was at Lyttelton when he was leaving the Colonies. They occupied without shame the ministerial ■ residenjcejs which they before said should be'sold. He feared so much time had been wasted during this srecess in pleasuring that the Government measures would not be keady for next Session in time.

Hugh McMahon, an elderly man of dissipated habits, who was yesterday fined for drunkenness, had an altercation with three native youths at the Bed L°on Hotel between 6 and 7 o'clock last even; ing. He was pushed down and then picked up insensible. He lingered till 7 this morning; when he died. / The youths niade off. A poit mortem examination is being made,',and an inquest will be held to-morrow. ; J '.