Mr Skeehan at Parawai.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4037, 6 December 1881, Page 2

Mr Skeehan at Parawai.

Mr John Sheehan, a candidate for the representation of the Borough of Thames, addressed a large meeting of electors at Farawai at the Public school house last night. On the motion of Mr Perry, seconded by Mr McCullough, Mr Carpenter was voted to the chair. The Chairman, after a few introductory remarks to the audience, called on Mr Sheehan to address them.

Mr Sbeelian, who was received with applause, said he did not intend to take up the time of the meeting by recapitulating what bad already been said ; his political views were pretty well known on the Thames by now. He had always taken a great interest in the Thames, and since 1870 it had been under his especial charge. In the present contest between himself and Mr Speight, he did not want to win by running down his opponent—if he could not win on his own merits, he would decline to do so by throwing dirt. He would not say anything against Mr Speight, but would explain bow it was that two men of the same party were standing for the one constituency, when either of them could have got another seat. When Mr Speight went in for City East, he (Mr Sheehan) was one of the first to help him. He had been his personal friend ever since, and if Mr Speight wanted advica or assistance at any time he was always ready to give it him. During the four weeks immediately preceding the prorogation he (Mr Sheehan) was specially busy, and though an attempt was made to allot the members of the Grey party to seats, nothing definite was done. Since then he had found out that Sir George Grey had been written to by the' Central Committee fully a fortnight before the House broke up, and asked to stand for City East, while at the same time it was understood that Mr Speight was to come out for the Thames. At the time not one word of this was mentioned to him. Mr Speight in his address a few nights ago, referred to a telegram which he had Bent to Mr Sheehan at Wanganui. Be this matter, he might say that he went to Wanganui on business. On the day that Mr Speight telegraphed to him, he was absent at Waitotara (about 25 miles distant), and the telegram was received by Mr Mcllhone, who forwarded it at once. The telegram was an Irish one, and the gist of it was that Mr Speight wanted to know what seat Mr Sheehan was going for, as he was coming out for the Thames This was the first intimation he received that Mr Speight was going to stand for the Thames; and as there were only two seats to choose from, thjs seemed too

much like Hobson's choice, and rather put him out, so he wired back:—" I stand for Thames Borough against all-comers." This was the truth of the whole affair. If Mr Speight had only let him know in time he was going to stand for the Thames, he would not have cared; or if he had asked him to take another seat, he would have done so, but he did not. Ij/ was this that the whole grievance between himself and Mr Speight, and he asked, had Mr Speight acted fairly in thus working behind his back ? The ThamesWaikato Railway had first been promised to the Thames by the Vogel Government about 1871. Since then the promises had been renewed, but the railway was not made yet, though he felt sure that a good fight during next session would pet it. He thought the Government should either buy the freehold of the gold- ! field, or else give to the local bodies revenue equivalent to the sums paid for I miners' rights, timber licenses, &c, IHe mentioned that the Government purchases of Fiako land would shortly pass through the Court [sitting at Shortland for ratification, and then Thames residents would have the satisfaction of seeing 100,000 acres of good agricultural land open for occupation. Mr Sheehan was listened to attentively throughout, and was warmly applauded when he sat down, after which he answered the following questions:—l. Will you vote to abolish the gold duty ? Answer : Yes, I will. I see now that the people here are in favour of it, and it will have my hearty support. 2. Are you in favour of the abolition of the miners' rights fees P Yes ;I am entirely in favor of it. The land now,being worked by the miners in this field is unfit for anything but mining, and I can see no reason why a staple industry like gold mining should be subject to this special tax. Mr Thomas Spencer proposed,^and Mr R. Hudson seconded, the following resolution, which was carried without a single dissentient voice :—" That this meeting having heard MrSheehan's address tender him a vote of thanks for the same, and also pledge itself to use every exertion to secure his return to Parliament, believing him to be the best qualified to serve the interests of this constituency."—Three heaVty and enthusiastic cheers were given for Mr Sheehan, the whole meeting joining in.