Mr Sheehan's final Address to the Electors.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4040, 9 December 1881, Page 2

Mr Sheehan's final Address to the Electors.

Last evening Mr John Sheehan delivered his final- address to the Thames electors. There was a very large meeting, and conspicuous on the stage were Messrs Ehrenfried, Wilson, Osborne, McCullough, Mahoney, Symington, Comes, Perry, Gellion, Hennelly, Vaughan, H. R. Jones, Angove, Brassey, Leydon, Northey, etc.

Mr Osborne was voted to the chair, on the motion of Mr Brassey, seconded by Mr Williams.

Mr Osborne briefly introduced Mr Sheehan.

Mr dheehan said that at the time of the Great American War there was one tune that was very popular; it was " Just before the battle, mother," and the same might be said with regard to the present contest. There were the two armies in the field, and both were preparing for the strife. He would remind them that at the time William of Normanby came over to England, and just before the famous battle of Hastings, both armies were on the watch. But the English passed the night in riotous pleasures, while the Normans were on the alert, aad kept steady. He trusted that his supporters would put off all revelry until to-morrow evening, in order that they should record their rotes early in the morning. (Hear, hear.) He proposed to touch upon the main topics of interest to the Thames,.and would afterwards say a few words in connection with Mr Speight. He was of opinion that the freehold of the goldfield should be the most important consideration, and if returned he should urge upon the Government the necessity of purchasing it. As regarded the programme which he intended to pursue, lie would just give the meeting an idea. He was convinced that before long the railway between here and the Waikato would be completed, and should advocate its immediate con* struction. (Hear, hear.) The Thames was specially endowed in having such a" large area of rich mineral country, and it would be his duty to see that the freehold should be purchased. He bad always fought for it, and when in office had given his agents carte blanche to buy up all the native land they could possibly obtain; vWith the ; immense natural advantages of the Thames, the local bodies ought by good rights to be in time the richest in the colony, and the purchase of "the: freehold would lessen the taxation that was so heavy at present. He did not appear to bid for the votes of Block 27, as that was not within the olectoral boundaries of the Borough, but while on the subject, he would say that within 8 or 9 years the plots on which they resided, together with the improvements they had effected, would pass away from them. He would purchase the freehold and give a freehold to the present inhabitant* on reasonable terms. He would endeavour to make a miner's right available all over the goldfields, and not, as at present, necessitate the taking out of a different right on crossing a creek in any locality. The time would soon come when the question whether miners should be compelled to take out a right at all would be brought up in the proper quarter. (Hear hear.) The country contiguous to the Thames was not lit for pasturage, and cousequently mining was a most vital necessity. If returned, he would vote for the repeal of the Act that compels miners to take out rights. (Applause.) With regard to the Volun. teers, he had always been their staunch friend, and should continue ta be so. However, he had heard heard that several of the Naval Brigade had taken offence because he had promised them four Armstrong guns, and had failed to keep his promise. The guns unfortunately went to a Wellington company. But he would ask the meeting if they would weigh four Armstron guns as against ten years public service. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the return of the volunteers from Parihaka, he considered that the Government had treated them very meanly; and, if returned he would see that they should get the balance of their pay. (Applause.) Ho was in favor of Volunteer companies obtaining assistance when they worked hard to make themselves efficient, but he did not consider some of the companies in different parts of the colony deserved that assistance. He himself remembered Major Withers being called upon to inspect a company consisting of 11 privates, seven cadets, and 13 in the band. In such a case volunteering was a sham. (Laughter.) There was another institution on the Thames that, in his opinion, needed help as much, and if not more, than the Volunteers, and that was the Fire Brigades. Fire was the most destructive enemy the Thames was likely to have for a great number of years, and it was only right they should receive assistance. If he were returned he would do his best in that direction. With regard to the new loan that wag to be obtained, he thought the Thames should receive not only what was due to it in arrear, but also what was an equitable amount to be expended on the Thames in public works. It might be said, that he could have done more for the Thames than he had done. A Urge amount had been placed on the Estimates for the Thames Waikato Una but in the meantime they were throws

out of office. If returned be would urge Gorernment to allot us a fair share of the loan. If returned be would be a freer man, as he was determined not to be the slave of any party. He would go to the tents of the Philistines if necessary, in order to obtain justice for the Thames. (Cheers.) It had been said that he had paid Mr McCullough to retire in his favour, and the amouut.which started at £150 had risen now to £300. He drew the line at buying up seats—his patriotism did. not carry him so far (laughter). As to Mr McGowan, he had made no compromise of any kind with him. The South could boast of many advantages, such as roads, railways, etc., but the Thames had the special advantage of having a prophet. This gentlemen had been prophesying against him, and he would draw the meeting's attention to the advertisement where it was said—" Poll Early." There was no prophetic p v-ver necessary to tell the electors to do that. Another was, "Johnny, the Ballot will kill you. Here was further evidence of the prophet's perception. There was one thing very certain, the ballot would either kill one or other of them. There was another'advertisement referring to his broken pledges, but he would challenge the electors to mention one, with the exception of his non-fulfil-ment of his promise to hare the would be murderers of McWiiliams in custody n a very short time. At the time when he had given orders to surround the Ngatihako settlement he > received a telegram peremptorily forbidding him from acting in the matter, so his hands were completely tied. (Cheers.) The same thing had happened on the West Coast, and it was at the fear of a native war the Government did not take sharp and decisive steps to arrest the criminals. There was another advertisement speaking of" Brewer monopoly, publican slavery," etc. He was not a brewer, but be was happy to number several among his personal friends. They had been told of intimidation," but the brewers dare not coerce their men. Such a thing would be fatal to them. If there was one sure way of getting a man to vote against him it was by coercing him. All stories about intimidating, so far as they were concerned, were utterly without foundation. The advertisement advised electors not to "commit a blunder,but to vote for Speight." This he would say, that if the electors' voted for Speight they would commit a great blunder indeed. (Great applause.) He believed the ballot would show up in his (Mr Sheehan's) favor, no matter how gloomy the pro* phecies were. The electors were implored to elect the local man. He (Mr Sheehan) was of opinion that if there was anything really savouring of " bunkum " it was a cry for a local man. In many oases the all-glorified local man knew nothing of the wants of the district for which he obtained a seat. Mr Sheehan said be had news from the front. He found that Mr Speight, in the course of his speech this evening, had said that when in Parliament he was looked upon more as "as member for the Thames, and that he was often interviewed by the Ministers on matters relating to the Thames." (A voice : What a lie!) This was a most decided untruth. Mr Speight was the only man in the House who looked upon himself as being specially the representative of the Thames. Another thing Mr Speight said was that "he was contesting the election with the full consent of Sir George Grey." Sir George Grey had denied that, and would the meeting believe Grey or Speight (Grey). Mr Speight also said that if "he (Mr Sheehan) stood for Waitemata .he would be at the bottom of the poll." Mr Speight had advised him to go for that constituency, and it showed intense good feeling on his part to advise him to go for a seat where he wouldn't be returned. (Cheers.) If he had gone he would have been re turned at the head of the poll. Mr Speight said that when he (Mr Sheehan) handed in. bis resignation he did so to Major Harris, the Government whip. That was a deliberate untruth. He had a chance of going on the Government benches, but he would not do so at the expense of losing his ; party. He remembered that when Mr Speight went for City East he. had not even a portmanteau with him ; in fact, was not a carpet bagger. (Laughter.) The only thing he had was an umbrella. Mr Speight was so earnest for a seat that he (Mr Sheehan) recommended him to the Central/Committee j but before the Committee would' undertake to run him, they were fully aware on whom, the liability of Mr Speight's expenses would rest. Every day .Mr Speight had ! met him with a smiling countenance and all the time was doing his best to undermine him. They were both Irishmen, but he would rather be the felon in the dock than the Jimmy O'Brien who gave evidence against him. (Great, applause.) ; Mr Sheehan, in answer to questions, said he would not vote for the repeal of the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, but would be in favor of repealing its most obnoxious clauses.

Mr McCullough proposed; and Mr Northey seconded, the following resolution :—" That this meeting thank* Mr Sheeban for his address, and is of opinion that he is a fit- and proper person.to represent the Thames constituency in Parliament; and, further, that all persons present pledge themselves to, use their best exertions to secure his return."

The resolution was carried without dissent, and amidst loud and prolonged applause. \ '■"'. ■ The proceedings terminated with three cheers for Mr Sheehan, and a similar compliment and a rote of thanks to the Chairman, Mr John Osborne.