MASTERTON ELECTORAL DISTRICT DOMINATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2705, 20 September 1887, Page 2

MASTERTON ELECTORAL DISTRICT DOMINATION.

Punctually at noon yesterday, (Monday), Mr Von Sturmer, the Returning Officer, appeared on the hustings in front of the Masterton Court House, and road the writ, about four hundred persons being-present; ~ Mr R, B, Welch proposed MiGeorge Beethara as a- fit and proper person to represent the district, and in doing so alluded to his long services to tliem, find the hard work. he,, had done for his constituents. Mr Beeth'am by energy and perseverance, had worked his way up to the position which he now held, He was a man who had been tried and not found wanting, Where would thev find better settlers than Mr Beethara and Ins brother Mr William Beetham ? (Applause). Mr T. E, Chamberlain in seconding Mr Beetham, referred to the fact that three times they had returned him. as their representative, and that they would put him in a fourth time, They did not want a member who would represent any particular class, but one who would represent all classes in the community, He claimed that Mr Beetham had in the past represented the interests of the working class,'(applause). Mr E. Meredith in proposing Mr R. S. Hawkins said he considered it a high compliment to be asked to nominate Mr Hawkins. In looking over the list of representatives of the people they, would findhow few real statesmen there had been in the Parliament of this Colony, and'.of these, not one had fallen to the lot of 'the 'Wairarapa. This distriot had now the opportunity for the first time of returning one who combinod in himself all the attributesof a politician- and of a statesman. Mr Beethanf had represented this disr trict for ten 'years, and had, he admitted, done his duty to the best of his ability, but'tlie country was nowin such a position that' it wanted the services of a man of : .mbre ability, and that' man was Mr Hawkins. He eulogised the 'straightforward manner in which Mr Hawkins had conducted his contest, and the masterly way in which he had .dealt with the leading questions of the day. Mr. Hawkins, however, had not stood- at "street corners to oatch votes, 1 or developed sudden friendships with people in the streets who had previously been .strangers to; him, (Applause.) He had not visited public houses for the purpose cf buying votes for sixpenny nips. I! e had not purchased a servile paper, or paid men 'to pry into secrets of. private individuals for the purpose' of turnijig them into political account (cheers). Mr Hessey, in seconding Mr Hawkins, referred to his services in -connection with' pastoral interests, and claimed that he had been instrumental in obtaining for Masterton the Pastoral Show, of which they were formerly roblied.

MrHoldaway, in nominating Mr A. W. Hogg/declared that, the public works policy'of the Colony had done a vast amount of good in opening up

the country. The' policy of the Opposition he declared to be to sack; civil servants, and sell the land, while, that of the present Government was to develop the internal resources of J the Colony. Mr Hogg, he said, was! before them as a candidate through j his loyalty, to. the Stout-Vogel Ministry. Mr Hogg was a Scotchman—(laughter.)—a man who improved on acquaintance, ono that had . never been .a turncoat; dD.a .te • also a • man of extensive., .piind.'m I Hogg, he maintained, had fought © ■ present contest in an- open..l ward manner. (Appla#|r ; Mir John Gardiner in'.secondingsL£ .- Hogg, said he had iiown him ii}ls£ : other Island, and that-he held tliwrie;. the same views that he advocated here. ' He always took the side of the working" man, the small trader, and the artizan. Ho eulogised the special settlement movement, as it would: enable men to settle who before could only travel the oountry with swags, Capital, he said, had had a fail- innings, and ho now invited them to give labor , a turn. Sir Julius Vogel lie regarded as . the greatest man in New Zealand. It was to him that they owed the opening up of the country. • He-recognised that Mr Hogg had a hard fight before him, but hoped to see him at the head of the poll. (Applause.) The candidates having drawn lots for priority of addressing the-.electors, it fell to Mr Hogg to speak first. jfctr ■ Hogg said he was pleased to meet' them as a candidate for' the representation of, the Masterton electorate,| He • had long looked . forward to this, and thought that this part of the colony had been draging quite long enough behind Major Atkinson and his motley crew., A young colony was like .a young indi-vidual-it could not stand still. 2here was no stagnation in nature, and Now Zealand with its beautiful climate and natural resources must go "forward, it could not go back. The Opposition had told them that the country was fast drifting to the bad. If that was their confession, they should not' be entrusted with the management of the state ship. (Applause.) The eyes of the whole colony, he might say, were directed towards the Wairarapa, which had in time past returned consistent supporters of the. " Old Hat" party, men.'who went in for sending the money ."away from-the colony. The question-was should, they continue to send their wealth iway or keep it' in to bring things to a prosperous state ? (Applause.) If bo was returned he would use-every effort-to make the country and the Masterton district . more prosperous.-. Ho considered that with the natural Mvautagi.poßsesEGd by New Zealand it could , be,-made the : most progressive, prosperous/and goahead colony in the 'sonthem'rhsmisphere. He hoped the mien of-Masferton I would rally round , oil Monday- nest .and show their confidence by giving him a eubstautial .iiiajoniiy. (cheers.) . ■•':■ ■ '\' r v" '. Mr Boetham next addressed''..the ; gathering, and,said he had appeared on the hustings three times before, and had been returned three, time's to parliament by thorn. : (A yoico: so. we . will the fourth). He thanked his poser and seconder for their" kind re-' marks about hiii, 'they had known' him, when he like themselves tad-to. work m the early days, and so, knew ' what they were speaking about. His • private affairs should not, however;' 1 weigh in the contest, the question was I his fitness and capacity to represent L them. If they thought he was not fit and had not the ability to serve thorn he would not think they were men if : they returned him,-(loud applause]. 1 If on the contrary they were satisfiod 1 that he had done his duty and was ■ able, to watch over their interests they 1 should again return him, (cheers). He ' would like to refer to some of the remarks made by Mr Meredith which evidently reflected upon him. He had ■ nothing to complain of mMr Hawkins although he certainly had introduced | personalities into the election, a thiug which he (Mr Beetham) ,had never done, and which he regarded as ' most reprehensible. He (tho speaker) 1 did not think that because Mr Hawkins had not been successful in his private business that it should affect | the present election, (Hear hear). If L he had not been in one 1 thing he might be in another. (Cheers) 1 With respect to tho remarks of, pur- ' chasing mens' votes for a sixpenny ' drink, he considered such assertions ' an insult to the community, , (Cheers), If there were a man among them : who would sell his birthright lor ' such a thing, ho should say ".turn ■ him out," (applause), .Remarks had been made about' conserving fam--1 ily interests. This was doubtless ' meant for him, but he . could assure' them that lie had not done one whit L more for his family than for any of ■ his constituents (loud'applause.) Ho r .would'not weary them with politics; as he saw by the sparse attendance at Mr' ■ Hogg's meeting last week, and the.littlo 1 interest displayed therein, that "there had been too-many politioal-meetings. (hear, hear.) If elected, ,he would <Io . ins best for them all, as lie always had ' done, and if they ever found that he' 1 did not do : his. duty, he hoped theywould vote against him. A good deal the road;' and shaking hands with the working pn, but 1)0 could .inform those gentlemen -who ..made' 'the remarks, that the working.men cams across the road to %ke hands with him;; and he was proud to know them all,-and hoped the time would never como when he would refuse, to shake the hand of an honept working man; (loud cheers.) -In qpnolusioniihe said he hoped that the lovely weather, wai anaugury of brighter itimes Now Zealand, and ,thai-tlie race'com* . menced that-day, would eventuate ii the old horse being returned, (loud ' cheers.)' ' w

Mr Hawkins said ho was not going to make a political speech, or aay anything against the other jeandidatea. He would stand on his own (platform, and all he aslied from .them was to fight fairly "and he would bo cpiitent -to., abide, the result. He referred 1 to the show of hands as a relic of barbar» ism, and the whole proceedings in connection with it to be contradictory to the''"spirit- of the ballot (gear

hear.) He had placed his policy clearly and distinctly before them, every article of which he woui'd either stand or fall by. (Loud, applause.) He believed that .what lie advocated was for. the interest and benefit of every class.; of the coinmuuity, 'and for the happiness and welfare of the future colonists'of New : ; The Officer • then- ■ "for.a for the candid#. 128: ' to the retvihiingjpffi^r Vonol^Mißtprboeedings.. ..