INVERCARGILL.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3773, 31 January 1881, Page 2

INVERCARGILL.

January, 29.

Ministers in the South. Major Atkinson and Mr Oliver arrived by the 9.20 train last nigbt. An excited crowd assembled ou the ■■■<&<■ ■ ■

railway platform, and relieved their feelings by tremendous hooting, groaning, and howling, like a menagerie broken loose. The noise was audible more than half-a-mile off.

Ministers declined to enter a cab and walked, followed by the crowd hooting to the hotel. Being hard pressed once or twice, Major Atkinson turned upon his pursuers, and exchanged chaff, but not being backed up by his friends, who evidently were in a hurry to get into shelter, had to give way. lie continued, however, to perform the duty of rear guard with amiable coolness, and was the last man off the street.

Messrs Oliver and Bain were special marks of popular disapprobation, and evidently felt the humiliation keenly. A few overripe eggs were thrown after the party as they entered the hotel. Growling was kept up for some time, but no personal violence was done. The proceedings wound up with three cheers for Sir George Grey.

A banquet in the evening was attended by thirty-five Ministerial supporters. The Mayor presided, avowedly in a neutral capacity.

Major Atkinson pleaded the urgency of retrenchment and true patriotism before popularity. He denied the accusation that the position of the colony was depicted by him in too dark colours. Ho expressed his confidence in the resources of the colony and in its renewed prosperity by the increase of thrift.

Mr Oliver claimed indulgence on the score of difficulties encountered in reorganising the railway service. He denied that he had purposely disestablished the Southland workshops for the benefit of Dunedin, and said he had only given effect to the recommendation of Mr Maxwell, who found 1 four men pottering away at a one man's job. The rest of the speeches were of no significance. One or two tried to introduce local grievances, but were put down by the more sensible banfuetters.—Star.

This day,

While some boys were bathing in the Aparima, a son of Mr Hugh Molley, aged ten, was carried out with the current and drowned.