MR. GRAHAM'S MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 149, 22 January 1868, Page 2

MR. GRAHAM'S MEETING.

Last evening Mr Graham addressed the residents of the Buller at the Adelphi Theatre. On the motion of Mr P. Smythe, Mr Stewart was voted to the chair, and after a few remarks, introduced Mr Graham to the meeting. Mr Graham said that he should not have appeared before them that evening if it had not been in answer to the requisition of a number of gentlemen who now affected to treat the matter as a joke. He did not solicit them, but they solicited him, andhe feltit his duty to come forward. If they returned him, and he was certain to be returned, he would not disgrace them. He had as much interest as any of them in the welfare of the district or as any man that had been brought forward; and no doubt they would listen to him with more patience if he had had only a decent coat on his back. He must admit that he was surprised that the gentlemen who had induced him to come forward now shrunk away from their promises. He was not there to tell them that he was a fit and proper person to represent them, it was for them to say whether he was so or not. Already some gentlemen had told him that he was so in the requisition ; and he would now explain his views to them. He was well aware that he labored under a difficulty in not being able to pronounce some of the words fluently, but his intentions were honest. Relative to the Coal Reserve, he thought that it should be put up to auction and sold after it had been valued by two competent valuators, one appointed by the town and one by the government, and then it would be sold subject to the improvements, and nobody would have anything to complain of. The country must be opened by means of roads and tracks, and he was certain that tramways would not pay. It was ridiculous to talk about making a tramway up to the Caledonian, as he tho light it would not last two years. Some talk had been made about Mining Boards, which he considered would be of great benefit to the community, and which would be put in working operation at a small expense. Another question of importance was in relation to ferries, which be thought should be thrown open and not allowed to be made a monoply of, and the same thing might be said of bridges. After some further remarks upon this subject, Mr. Graham went on to say that if returned he had no doubt he should, be able to hold his own as well as any body connected with either drapery establishments or steamboat companies. Some remarks had appeared in the evening paper, stating that the whole proceeding was a joke, but the writer of it, who was writing for his bread and butter, would find out that it was no joke. What was the reason that the other candidates had not

appeared before them ? AVas it that they wanted to find out his ideas and work upon them ? or was it because they had not the pluck to come forward ? He did not stop in the back ground. 'When he was asked to come forward, he did so ; but he never asked any body to bring him forward. With regard to free emigration, he was against that; but was in favor of assisted emigration, whereby any person could bring out any of his relations or friends. He was not in favor of free emigration of women, as by that means persons of a disreputable character were introduced into the colony. He was in favor of a national system of education, as he believed it was the best and the cheapest. With regard to his fitness for the honor, all lie could say was that if a miner went up to Nelson with common-sense, ho would be listened to, and he could tell the Council what the wants of the district were. There was some talk about a Nelson man coming down to represent them, and if he did, what would he tell the Council but that the mining population was a floating population. After some further remarks Mr Graham sat down.

A number of questions were asked Mr Graham, which he answered in a satisfactory manner, and with a smartness of repartee which we have seldom heard equalled, proving that Mr Graham was fully equal to the occasion. Anyhody who thought to "take a rise." out of him must have been greatly deceived, for he gave a " Roland for every Oliver," fully proving that he is not the "fool" some people would make others believe. Mr Molony moved and Mr Cogan seconded that Mr Graham was a fit and proper person, &c, which was carried with acclamation, and the meeting separated.