MR BUNNY AT MASTERTON

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 245, 22 August 1879, Page 2

MR BUNNY AT MASTERTON

The Town Hall last evening was crowded, with electors who assembled to listen to Mr Bunny. The Mayor took the chair, on the motion of Mr J. Y. Smith.

Mr Dreyer, referring to the late meetings which had been held that week, proposed that all speakers excepting the candidate be limited to ten minutes. The resolution was seconded, put to the meeting, and carried by a large majority. The Chairman stated that they had some disorderly meetings lately, aud he would expect them on that occasion, if they had confidence in him as their Chairman to support his decisions. If they did not so he should assume that he had not their confidence, and should leave the chair, and ask them to select another Chairman. In introducing Mr Bunny, it was only due to admit his past services to the district—(Applause). Mr Bunny then came forward and was received with loud applause. His address has already been very fully reported in our columns. He urged, with his well known ability, that measures were more permanent than men, and made them therefore his platform, His advocacy of a property and inome tax, was well received by the meeting, also his arguments in favor of a reduction of taxation on the necessaries of life. He carried the meeting with him in claiming that the settlement of waste lands must be preceeded by Public Works, constructedoutof loan, and he was loudly applauded when he expressed his approval of selling land on deferred payments. His sentiments in favor of progress in bonowing were somewhat interrupted by a voice, "how about paying back." Passing on to the question of Lccal Self-Government he expressed an opinion that one county in the Wairarapa would be better than two, and would support a measure for reducing the number of local bodies, to promote their efficiency. He spoke also on Mr Beetham, his late colleague, and the cordial manner in which -hey had worked together as far as all local interests were concerned, and if Mr Beetham and himself were re-elected, he thought tliey would work equally well in the future. Referring to his efforts in obtaining a railway for the Wairarapa, he expessed a hope that in March next the line would be open to Masterton. Mr Bunny resumed his seat amid loud applause. In answer to a question respecting a Local Option Bill, Mr Bunny said he would vote dead against it.—(Cheers.) In answer to Mr Girdlestone, Mr Bunny said he would not support the dual vote to natives if it were again brought forward.

In answer to Mr Vile, Mr Bunny did not believe there was any financial crisis or ai.y reason why the honorariam should be reduced. In answer to Mr E. Jones, he had no doubt that a portion of the new loan would be in their pockets before Christ-

Mr Renall moved a vote of thanks to Mr Bunny for the address. He had nothing to say against Mr Bunny so he would supplement what lie had said instead of pitching into him. He claimed the Land Tax as a rather old feature in his own former political programme, He thought they might chose a worse man than Mr Bnnny, to represent them—(Applause). He thought their members should vote together on great questions, and after all, lie believed Mr Beetham would support, with Mr Bunny, triennial parliaments, though perhaps from a false delicacy at the late meeting, Mrßjetham refused to pledge himself on The only point on which lie diffeSfflfrom Mr Bunny was that he objected to him as a member of the Waste Lands Board, which was an " imperium imperio" Mr J, V. Smith seconded the vote of thanks, and in doing so alluded to Mr Bunny's reticence on the subject of Sir George Grey. He had referred to Mr Sheehan, who was (the speaker) considered a man of ability but not a man of ii*lustry. He fjuoted a letter from the'Hon Mr Waterhnuse, which went to show that in his opinion the great change'in their relations with the natives was due to thor incompetence of those who sat on the Ministerial benches—(Applause). Mr James Russell claimed that Mr Waterhouso did not represent the working classes, ami that the local press collected things against Sir George Grey. He attacked Sir William Fox, who used filthy language, and to whom Billingsgate would be quite respectable. _ Mr Cowan thought that Mr J. V. Smith m seconding the vote of thanks ought not to have spoken against Mr Bunnv (Criesof "Order." Mr C. B. Coekburn Hood asked Mr Bunny on which side he voted when the honorarium was before the House. Mr 0. Oundy, of Tauherenikau, then addressed the meeting. He had not heard anyone say much about what Mr Bunny had done. Mr Bunny was the father of the nilway-(Hear I Oh!) Who

got the Volunteers their scrip ?-(Cries'of "fienoll"). No; it was Mr Bunny. Ho • alluded to the way in which Mr Bunny raised money by selling the Queen's wharf to open up communication in the Wairarapa. He detailed thli manner in which Mr Bunny had built bridges in the district, and not only in tliei. district, hut « in the neighboring County of kangitikei, fe . where he bad assisted to establish settlements like Sandon, in Which working men had subsequently prospered. Mr J. 0. Fcrgusson did not intend to say much against Mr Bunny, but ho was unable to support him as a candidate because hewasa member of a party onwhicha vote of censure for mal-administration had been passed. Ho would support him because he intended to vote for Mr Beetbam (A Voice: AndMrPharazyn?)-Yes,and Mr Pharazyn, He referred to past Provincial history to prove that the money which built Mr Bunny's bridges was due in a great measure to "Mr Andrew, He also condemned Mr Bunny was an unsuccessful large land proprietor. (Hisses and groans,) Mr McCardle said that both political parties were in favor of one policy, and therefore it was only a question of men and he did not see why Mr Bectham and Mr Bunny should not again be returned. Ho eulogized Mr Macandrew, and did noUare a toss of a button on which side their members voted. Mr Holdaway spoke on the question of local option. He agreed with Mr Beetbam that voted interests should be respected, but held that the people should be able to exercise a control over new li censes. Mr Bunny in answer said be would reply to Major Smith, who seconded the vote of thanks did all lie could to dama»e Jim. He and Mr Waterhouse belonged to that class that would not let the people have the rights Which they were determined to claim. He condemned the Now Zealand Times from which Mr Smith had been reading, as partial—(Mr Smith, " the extract read was from Hansard.") In reply to Mr Fergusaon, a gentleman not long amongst them, he condemned the impertincnce°of so young a man referring to bis personal affairs, and in reply to Mr Holdaway, he would say 'that he was not prepared to support any movement, the basis of which was a petition hawked from house to house. The more hotels there were of the best character, the better it was for the community. The vote of thanks was then put to the meeting and carried .unanimously, Mr Bunny acknowledging it by saying that he felt assured that the polling day Wild give him a vote of couiid;uicc-(Appkise) The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.