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Mataura Ensign , Issue 670, 5 December 1899, Page 3
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The statement that the Gore Borough Council was actuated by political motives in refusing to grant the use of some of the Town Hall forms for Mr McNab's meeting at the Horse Bazaar to-night is unwarrantedly impertinent and ridiculous. Members speaking on the question distinctly disclaimed any party spirit ; there was a clear majority against the proposal, only Councillor Baker being absent, and it would have required the employment of the Mayor's deliberative and casting "votes to grant the request even if Councillor Baker had supported it, which there were no grounds for pre-supposing he would have done. The request clearly came to the wrong' place. Mr Raymond had engaged the hall with its furniture, and no, doubt a request couched in sufficiently respectful terms would have gained bis serious consideration. The Marton ' Advocate ' describes how settlers in that district are handicapped through their lands being loaded at the rate of five shillings per acre for roads which have not been made. A petition is being signed there setting forth how the settlers have held their land for seven years, and yet have no access to their market town. It does seem grossly unfair that, when land is loaded expressly for roading purposes, and rent is calculated upon the value with the addition of loading, the settlers should year after year ba compelled to pay interest • upon the cost of the roads, and yet have to struggle on as best they can without the ..convenience. The attention of voters for a member of the House of Bepresentativcs on Wednesday is specially called to the necessity of drawing a line through the whole of the name of the candidate for whom" tfiey do not intend to vote— otherwise their ballot paper will be in- • valid and their vote of no effect. The Christian name is equally as much a portion of a man's distinctive appellation as the surname, and voters therefore have to be careful that they«do not exercise their privilege in vain. A plucky rescue of a drowning man at tho Gore baths on Suuday afternoon was. effected by Mr George Taylor, carpenter, who plunged in and brought the distressed bather to shoro in safety. The ' Sydney Bulletin,' after reviewing the political situation in New Zealand, has pronounced in favor of Mr Seddon. The same journal has also pronounced in favor of President Kruger, of whom it is an enthusiastic admirer. The ' Bulletin,' whatever be its faults, does not name inconsistency amongst them. In fts admiration for Mr Seddon and Oom Paul it declares for undiluted autocrats ; men whose histories arc brimful of efforts to thwart popular liberties and popular rights. Mr McNab is somewhat "Bulletinese" in his tastes ; he has a penchant for Mr Seddon, and once cherished a regard for the cause of Kruger ; but he lacks the consistency of the torrid Sydney journal — he cleaves to the one, but since the unpopularity of his regard for Kruger has been made plain, he is now " all red " as it were, and as patriotic as auy anti - Boer in the land. The' prospect of losing votes is a wonderful medicine to change the sentiments of some, although such proceedings ennnot always commend the chief actors to very extensive admiration at the hnnds of those whose patriotic sentiments are sought to be pandered to. Mr McNab addressed a large meeting at Mataura last evening, Mr H. Cameron presiding. The candidate touched on various topics as already reported, and maintained that he had not neglected tho wants of the district. He reiterated his statement that Mi- Raymond had said the Government had squandered the eight millions borrowed, pro-' ducing notes to that effect from the ' Southland Times ' reporter. The speaker also referred to a statement re thieving, and asked in view of similar reports by all tho papers whether Mr Raymond's word was lo be relied on. He also referred' to the statement regarding the Southland Frozen Meat Co. at length, concluding by Btating that he preferred believing Mr P. Gilfedder, who had supplied him with the information, rather than bis opponent. After several questions had been answered, a vote of thanks and confidence was passed, on the motion of Messrs Sloeman and MacKay.
