TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1672, 29 April 1884, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

(UNITED PRESS' ASSOCIATION.) MAJOR ATKINSON AT CHRISTCHURCH, CHRISTCHUEOH ROWDYISM. Chbisxchuroh, April 27. The meeting held in tho Tuam street Hall to hear Major Atkinson's address, on Saturday night, was Hie)largest political meeting that has taken place in Christchurch since Sir George Grey's visit five years ago, ~.. The hall holds some 2500 people, and it was densely packed, all claßßSs of the community beiug.represen" ted. Tho Mayor, Mr Herbert, ': occupied the chair, and on the platform were several M.H.R.'b, and also sevrral members of the City Council. Major Atkinson, who entered tho hall at 7 o'clock, was received with hisses and groans, mingled with a little applause. The Chairman requested the meeting, for the honor of the city, to'givo the Premier a patient hearing. Major Atkinson's speech was mainly a recapitulation of his utterances at Hawera. aud Dunedin. Ho remarked that on account of the stato of public feeling at Cliristchurch, ho had come to explain his- actions. If tho people censured him he could bear it. If they would not hear him he would go away—but this latter courso 119 would loluotautly adopt—with a feeling that ho had at all events' dono his duty ill coming. Referring to the land 'question the Premier said that Canterbury had received more of the proceeds of land than she had any right to, for the province had for a long time lived.upon the land fund, which was thus provincialised instead of being colonised. He contended that,- had the Government called Parliament together on account of the probable deficit, instead of meeting it by restoring the railway rates to their tormer position, a blow would have been inflicted on tho credit of the colony which it would have taken yeais to recover from, and which would have caused the Opposition to accuse the Government of shirking their responsibility in order to obtain political support, Even-Mr. Montgomery's followers would not permit that. A local railway board for each island would, ho maintained, be worse than the present system. The lines must be made to pay. Members of the proposed board, or some other managers, would have large salaries, and he foit sure that nny irresponsible board dominating the public which would nevor be endured. Since his.Hawera speech ho hod found thnt the deficit in the year's revenue would bo about L 152.000, instead ot L 170.000. The advances outstanding this year were L 40.000 as against L 70.000 last year, which meant that the actual deficit would be something over L 120.000. He considered the government had done a great deal of good by improving the position of. tho colony in the money market When they took office, the New Zealaud 4 per cent, debentures wera at less than 80, and Hie Bank of England refused to advance .6250,000 that wns received, Now tho i per cents, were worth over 100, and tlifl Bank of England made nn difficulty about advancing money on New Zealand inscribed stuck. The linn, the Premier received d round of applause at the;C'mcluaion of his speech, but he uas not allowed to proceed without much'interruption. For the first half-hnnr every remark called forth signs of disapprobation anil when he was explaining the observations he met at Hawera about the prevailing depression, the tumult became so great that he was obliged to cease, Mr John Matthews, well known as the leader of a former agitation, came forward to appeal for a fair hearing f>r the speaker, but he was groaned down. After some further confusion, tlio Mayor managed to; quiet tho audience, and tho speech proceeded under a running fire of interruptions; a good deal of the disturbance being occasioned by a half drunken man. Tho climax of disorder was reached when tho Premier, af'or a rather prolauged bout of hooting from tho audience, said that ho would like to talk plainly to two or three of tho'se who were interrupting him, He could only judgo of them by their lonks, and his oxperionco taught him that in every town there was a class of men known as loafers. This remark drew foitli a perfect stnrm of disapprobation, The hooting and groaning were now redoubled and several voices called out, 1 Apologise.' Tho chairman asked tho audience, for the credit of the city, to give the Premier a hearing, but the attornpt of Major Atkinson t'> speak caused additional uproar, which lasted for fully ten minutes, when Mr Daniel Keese, a popular member of the City Council, restored order by appealing to the people not to let it be said that the Premier of New Zealaud had come to address a Canterbury audience, and had been refused a hearing. Mr Reese also reminded the audienco. that if the present meeting was broken up they would lose the opportunity of inak* ing a fitting expression of disapproval of the Minister's actions. The Premier was then allowed to proceed with- less interruption than before. After the conclusion of his remarks a largo number of questions were asked, and Mr Guinness j moved, " That this meeting has no confidence in the present Ministry." Mr Danial Reeso secondeu the motion. Mr E, Wakefiejd, MII,R. Baid he objected on colonial grounds, to the Government raising tho railway rates in order to make up a deficiency in the revenue. It was a most dangerous precedent, and might be greatly I abused by a wicked Government. He I did not allude to the present virtuous one, He also challenged the correctness of the Premier's statement that a quarter of a million was invested in bogus mining compsnies.' •

Major Atkinson replied that the deficiency which had to be made, up was caused by the falling off in the receipts of the railways, so he argued that it was fair to make them pay for it. He had obtained his information about the investments in bogus mining companies from the best authorities in Dunedin. The want of confidence motion was then carried, about two thirds of those present voting for it, and some 'dozen against it. Cheers were then , given for Mr Wakefield and Sir. George Grey, and the meeting dispersed at 10.40. '■ '* WATOANUij-Monday. A fire occurred yesterday, in -Mrs Walker's millinery iiliop. Cordazas (fruiterer) and Hannah's (bootmaker) escaped without damage. Tho fire is supposed to' liavo commenced at the bottom of the staircaso. Mrs Walker and family male their escape by the verandah. The stock .was all burnt, but tho front of the build-" mg remains intact. Insurances (stock) LIOOO lloyal, LISOO Fire .Association LSOO in National, LSOO Union ; " ((wilding) LISOO Northern; (fiirmtu're and fixtures), L2oo,Eoyal. ..An inquest will probably be held. . ' / . - ' Chhistchuroh, Monday. Tha Hon. H, J. Tancred, who'came to Canterbury in 1851,' died yesterday', aged. 68. The deceased gentleman was three times a member of the' New Zealand Government. .First under Sewell, nest under Stafford, and next Domett, fie was Speaker of tho Provincial Gounoil' from 1866 antil the abolition of provinces in 1875. In 1871 he became First Chancellor of the University of 'New Zealand, and held that position till hiq

death, He was highly respected by all -who knew him, Mr Montgomery intends to address the eleotors of Christohurcli during the present week, Auckland, Monday. ■ A man named Robert Dollooh,' aged 40 years, was killed at Mangere while workin# in a scoria pit,; 1,100 tons'-of stuff came down, ocompletely burying him. A fire occurred at one o'clock this morning! in a .block of'wooden/building in Victoria street West* which destroyed three shops, and damaged others. Tlio shops burned were Gadd (fruiterer), Oarr (bootmaker), and Kirkman (milliner). The fire-originated' in Gadd'a shop, and spread bo rapidly that'the/brigade had great> difficulty. in l ßtoppins! it'. Gadd'a house is owned by'JVlrs Wallace, and was insured in the Northern fdr £300; stook and furniture, in . South British for 1200. The premises of Carr, Kirkmartj Richardson, and Johnson were owned by Ball and amount of insurance has not been ascertained. Carr's furniture was insured for £IOO, and stock and fittings iSIOO, in New Zealand, Mrs Kivkrrian'a furniture and stock was insured for £2OO in Norwich Union, Other policies on adjacont buildings sustained only a partial loss, Another outbreak ; occurred at' five o'clock.' Senior Branchman Harley and Branchmen Moore and Heaps, took tlio hoser on a. Verandah to : upon tho ■flame'si when it.suddenly' gavd way, 1 and ajl foil heaylly to, tho pavomont. Harley was injured internally andsufferodsovero pain, Moore injured his hip and shoulder, aud Heap broke his anolo.