ELECTION NEWS.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 521, 2 December 1899, Page 2

ELECTION NEWS.

BAY OF PLENTY. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORIIKSrONrENT], Tacranua, Thursday. The result of the Mayoral election on Wednesday was the return of Mr J. W. Gray, a staunch supporter of Mr Herries. A powerful ladies' committee has been appointed, who are all working like Trojans for Mr Hemes. Mr Hemes is having a splendid reception down the coast, and at Whakatane and Opotiki lcceived quite an ovation. This demonstration is a counter blast to Hie Prem'er's electioneering visit, and Mr Herries' reception at all the principal places h s quite eclipsed that given to Mr Seddcn Mr Luudon is following up Mr Herries in a very flabby, disconsolate manner, and is quite neglected, which is a marked contrast to Mr Herries' brilliant progress. After a wildly enthusiastic meeting at Whakatane Mr Herries was escorted by all the leading ladies and gentlemen of the place to Ohiwa, half-way to Opotiki, where a fresh cavalcade of fifty or sixty leading Opotiki ladies and gentlemen, headed by the (Jhairmau and leading members of the County Council, escoitfd him into Opotiki, where he was met by half the town, comprising representatives of all classes, who welcomed him and cheered him to the. echo. He had a splendid meeting last night, a vote of confidence being carried by an overwhelming majority. Mr Herries' success on this side of the electorate is assured beyond a doubt, but his supporters are working tooth and nail to make the majority as large as possible, so as to give the Premier as big a rebuff as possible foi his unwarrantable intrusion. One of the oldest and most experienced of the Legislative Councillors writes to one of Mr Herries' committees ,hat from wires he has got from all over the colony the Government are bound to be defeated and the Opposition be in power as the result of the elections, and theu Mr Herries will be one of the leading lights of this party. The Agricultural and Pastoral Association's show took place to-day and was most successful, the exhibits being good and the attendance a record one. The town is full of visitors from all the outside districts, and they all speak with confidence of Mr Herries' return.

MB. LUNDON'S MEETINGS. (BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT). Rotorua, Last Night. Mr Lundon addressed a crowded meeting in the Town Hall last night, and was well received. Mr S. Brent occupied the chair. After dealing with local matters Mr Lundon spoke on the lines of his address at other centres. He received a 'hearty vote of thanks and confidence. Cheers were given for the Government. Mr Lundon addressed a meeting at Mamaku on Wednesday night, the schoolroom being crowded. Mr G. Steele occupied the chair. He was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his able address, and votes of confidence in him as i their future representative and the Government were earned without a single dissentient.

MR LANG'S MEETINGS. Mr Laug contiuues his tour of the electorate addressing the electors in the various centres ence or twice each day. The long journeys would tax the strongest constitution, but no doubt the hearty reception he is meeting with on all hands is a great compensation for the fatigue involved. Of all the numerous meetings held by Mr Lang not one has been unsympathetic, still less adverse. Every meeting has been well attended, and on the few occasions where the partisans of the Government nominee have tried to make themselves offensive they have signally failed. Mr Lang's tour has demonstrated how completely he is in accord with the bona fide settlers of the district, who resent the attempt to foist on them an alien candidate by means of imported votes. On Thursday night Mr Lang spoke at Te Kuiti and last night at To Awamutu. To-day he speaks at Te Rore and Karamu, on Monday at Taupiri, and on Tuesday at Woodlands, Tauwhare and Hamilton. Among the members lepresenting country districts none is more deservedly esteemed in the House than Mr F. W. Lang. None works harder for his constituents and no one speaks out moie forcibly for their iuterests. As a Waikato farmer he is intimately acquainted with the wants of his district, and these interests are his over-abiding concern. He is an educated man, Liberal in his instincts and politic?, upright in character, singularly free from party bitterness, and a member who reflects credit upon his constituents. Are the Waikato people prepared to throwover such a man for a Prohibitionist firebrand like Dr. Hosking? What claims has Dr. Hosking, anyhow ? He went to Waikato some eighteen months ago from Hawke's Bay, where he achieved an unenviable notoriety for setting people by the ears through his inflammatory Prohibitionist speeches and stroDg personali. ties. Up in the Waikato he played the same game until the Lord knows who gave him a call to the House of Repiesentatives. Since then he has stepped down from the pulpit aud buried Prohibition in the backyard. At least, we dou't hear much about it now. Clearly, Farmer fang, and not Parson-Pro-hibitionist Hosking is the man for Waikato. Among the new members sent to Parliament from this province at the last e'ections, W. H. Herriea stands easily first. For the first time for twenty years or so, the Bay of Plenty has had a real live man in the House, and for the first time, too, it has become a seat made worth the capturing by either party in politics. In his very first session, VV. H. Herries made an impression on the House, and took a foremost place among its ablest debaters. Endowed with a ready tongue, incisive satire, a keen sense of humour, and strong argumentative talent, he occupies a post in the forward division of the Opposition. And the House has been made fully sensible by him of the neglect under which the Bay of Plenty has groaned for so many years The best testimony to Mr Hemes' power and vigour as a member lies in the fact that Kiug Dick has lakeu the trouble to make a special trip to the East Coast in the Tutanekai, to do his utmost to keep so dangerous a foe as VV. H. Herries out of the House. It was a pocket borough, so to speak, before Herries' advent, but the Bay of Plenty is a district to be reckoned with now. If it wants to be progressive, and to obtain fair attention to its numerous wants, Herries is the mau for the contract. It wauts a mau in Parliament—not a tame poodle—and Herries is both a man and a gentleman.- Observer.