The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 30,1890. MR G. BEETHAM'S MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3523, 30 May 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, MAY 30,1890. MR G. BEETHAM'S MEETING.

1 Ms Beetham has reason to be I congratulated on the success of his , meeting- at (he Theatre Itoyal on t Wednesday evening, He had a good 1 attendance and a quiet hearing, and > his spteoh, although he occasionally ' travelled over a little arid country, ' did not dreg. Then the after part, in which Mr Eenall took the floor, was very entertaining, and put everybody in good humor, so that if Mr Beetham had sins of omission or commission to answer for, he escaped lightly on this occasion. Of coiush his principal offence was his late long absence at Home, and this he ; explained up to a certain point to the satisfaction of hishearers. Wo doubt 1 there were circumstances which 1 justified Mr. Beetham in prolonging ; his visit to England, but there was, we believe, sotde slight playing of the truant also,' Tho characteristic feature of the address was its entire freedom from party politics, We do not believe Mr Beetham once named or referred,- to the' Premier, or expressed any opinion, either good, bad, or indifferent, about the Cabinet. He expressed himself freely on many general questions, and his analysis of the state of trade.and production in New Zealand, and of the future prospects of the Colony was extremely interesting. According to our representative, wo aro ou the right road to prosperity, and although the surface indications are not altogether favorable, there is good work going on below it, which must tell in our favor. Mr Beetham appears unhlwly to support the policy of the Government as Bbadowcd forth in the recent speech of the Hon Mr Fergus, but this policy as yet is put before the publio in so vague a form, that any public man is justified in withholding liis approval of it till further explanations are made, It is quite possible that the Hon Fergus has been sent out to tost publio. opinion, on certain questions whioh the Fremjer desires to take up, and that if the tone of publipppiuion is unfavorable Sir; Henry Vinson will quietly drop them and allow theni to be considered as tho immature ideas of a juvenile member of the Ministry, AJJ that Mr Beetham seems to be able to toll us js that things appear to be going on well, generally, that the colony is making headway, and that lie is prepared to put bis old shoulder to the wheel again in his old form, Men and parties at the present time are in a transition state, and a kind of political fog appears to have eettled on the colony. We do not complain tliat Mr Beetham should have been a little rejcent on some points last Wednesday evening, We bear in mind the faot that- he is our J representative in Parliament and not a candidate for our miffragea, and the courteous reception he met with from a large and representative gathering was creditable to both himself and the. district..' A few months hence he willappearbefore the election ai thecandidate andnotas the member, but in the interim it is right that ho should go down to the House feeling that his relations, wifj) his constituents, are friendly, and enfiouraged to do all in his power during jhe coming session to prpmoto the best interests .flftjie. cpjony nod district.