THE CADMAN-REES CONTEST.

(Fbom Oue Own Cokbespondent.) Auckland, July 19.

Mr W. L. Rees addressed the City of Auckland electors to-night at St. James's Hall. There was a crowded meeting. He stated in detail the circumstances of the Cadman-Rees episode. The meeting was orderly, and he got an attentive hearing. The following, resolution was put to the meeting and carried: — "That this meeting having heard Mr Rees's statement and considered the finding of the Napier jury, is of opinion that in laying the charges against) Mr Cadman Mr Rees was only performing his f duty as a representative of the people in Parliament; the omission of Mr Cadman to apply for a committee of the House to inquire into the whole matter gives ground for very-strong suspicion that he had fears to face a tribunal which is, under the cirumstances, the only body able to clear his character." The resolution was carried by about two-thirds of the meeting, A few held up their hands against it, and about one-third refrained from taking any part in the voting. July 20. Mr Rees has determined to deliver a few a? 1 dresses yet, explaining the various phases of the Cadman-Rees incident and Native land legislation, the last the evening before the election. In closing his address last night Mr Rees said in the present contest Liberals and- Oppositionists could come together and- unite in declaring that no Native Minister should use his influence for his own private advantage. The ' solitary question to be decided 'by the electors was whether the head of a great department shottkLbe allowed to use his power and influence in retarding legislation in order to make his own fortune, and it remained for the people of Auckland to declare that for all time those in responsible public offices should not use their power for securing their own ends. The return - of Mr Cadman would be a source of danger to the whole State, considering the important issue involved. More had been done.by present public excitement to settle the Native question upon a fair and just foundation than, all the legislation of the last 20 years. With- the people of Auckland rested the verdict whether . the government of their colony should be carried on in a righteous, fair, and honourable manner, or whether corruption and injustice should have a place. At a meeting of Mr Cadman's supporters Mr Cadman said he very much regretted the cause of the election. He had been reared in Auckland and the whole of his personal friends in the world lived in the province, and he felt that his personal character had been very seriously undermined. He felt that if his own personal ' friends believed a" tithe of what had been said about him, it was time .he , was out of the colony. He had adopted that course feeling that , the people -of Auckland should have an opportunity of hearing his side of the case. Some people thought he had acted foolishly, but those persons were not in the same position as himself. The ~ accusations had been of a very serious nature, and he felt that he should in some way dear the cloud off his .character, or it would remain there for life. He intended at his first address to go fully into the history of the affair and., explain his personal position.- The people of Auckland would then have an opportunity of ascertaining whether he had used his position to enrich himself, or to his own advantage in any way. He had done nothing wroDg, or that he need be aßhamed of. In the contest he was not going to enter into a personal wrangle" with Mr Rees. The characters of both, he said, were fairly well known, he presumed. He had not yet gone into the history of the case, because the judge's notes had not arrived. They would come .to hand on .Saturday, and the people would then be able to form an opinion as to the merits of the case, and judge for themselves as to his position in the matter. July 24. , Mr Cadman got a cordial reception to-night at the City Hall, but his speech disclosed nothing new. Opinion is greatly divided as to whether Mr Cadman or Mr Rees wiU prove victor, parties being so completely, mixed up through the issues imported into the contest. Mr Cadman's political committees appear to be much better organised, and electioneering arrangements more complete, than those of Mr Rees.

The Council of the National Association at Auckland at its meeting on Saturday discussed the question of City representation in connection with the by-election arising out of the Cadman-Rees incident. After full consideration it was resolved .—(1) " That the charge made by Mr Rees against Mr. Cadman, (both being at the time members of Parliament) that Mr Cadman had, while holding office as Native Minister, purchased Native lands for his own personal advantage ought to have been fully inquired into by a special parliamentary committee." (2) "That a by -election for, the City of Auckland within a few months of the end of the present Parliament' has been forced upon the constituency apparently with the object of averting a parliamentary inquiry and substituting for it an appeal to party feeling." (3) "That such an appeal is improper as well as inconclusive, and deserves the severest condemnation from the City electors." (4) "That the function of judging between the late Native Minister .and his; accuser thus improperly forced upon the City constituency would be still further complicated by the intervention of any third party. The time is therefore inopportune for any other candidate to come forward, the question before the electors being a deflm'te^one of .approval or disapproval of the actions of the late Native Minister."