The Elections.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2924, 28 August 1879, Page 3

The Elections.

The following candidates have promised to address electors iv the several districts of their canvass to-night: Mr W. Swanson, at Newton } Mr E. Whitaker, at Grafton road.

BALCLUTHA, Wednesday.

A public meeting held to consider the state of the County road passed aresolutiou of conlidence in Mr Thomson. The feeliug throughout Clutha is strongly in his favour.

INVERCARGILL, Wednesday.

The luvercargill Liberal Association has agreed to support the Ministry. WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Mr Hutchison, Mayor, received a vote of confidence at his meeting. The Liberal Association has elected a president and other officers, besides appointing a committee in each ward. DUNEDIN, Wednesday. THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN. Sir G. Grey arrived in Dunedia this afternoon, and was escorted to the City Hotel by members of the Liberal Association. He addressed a meeting at Palmsrston last evening, at which Arkle, the Grey candidate, was present. He was well received. He goes to Invercargfc, but returns to speak in Princess Theatre on Saturday night. Mr Oliver addressed the electors at the Garrison Hall, and defended his desertion of the Ministry on the plea of maladministration.

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The Premier has promised to present a clock to the city at a cost of £750. The report of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce expressed a hope that Canterbury would speedily recover from the existing depression. Surplus produce had been sent to Natal and South America. The railway department was meeting the increased traffic, and efforts were being made to get a special train from the Bluff to convey the Suez mails. The experiment with the Stud Haarlem had been a failure. The Chamber expressed its intention to urge the construction of a railway from Christchurch to the West Coast.

CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday.

Mr Fisher received, a vote of confidence at Heathcote. Mr Goodwin contests the seat.

GRAHAMSTOWN, Wednesday. MR SHEEHAN AT GRAHAMSTOWN. Mr Sheehan addressed 1,500 people tonight. He said he had the choice of eleven electorates, and selected the Thamesbecause he considered he had been their third mem. ber all along. He commenced his political career at the Thames by visiting it in the interest of the late John Williamson, and afterwards assisted in the election of members for the district. He was one of those who assisted in turning out the Executive of the then Provincial Council and had ever since been connected with politics. He had been in favour of the reduction of the gold duty, but since it had become local revenue he left the matter in the hands of those bodies. When he came iato office as Native Minister he found the Aroha block was being given to strangers, and he opposed this. He had to contend |against private purchasers, and when he had fought them fairly they took their revenge by blackening his private character. They intended to ask the natives to sell to or through the Government. If the latter it would, of course, be cut up and sold in small areas. The land wouM be sold at a public office and at auction. In reference to the railway he hoped they would be lenient with them if they thought the Government had acted illegally tliey°should remember that this was tho chief indictment against the Government, but they might rest assured it would go on step by step, and he might say that if the Opposition got returned they dared not stop it. All persons say they will support the policy, if not the men of the present Government, but many of them wore only going in for a seat, and when they got in thcywonld find a conscience of elastic. He was running for the Thames with Sir Geo. Grey, aud no one else. (Loud cheers). He argued that it was the present Opposition which gave the dual Maori vote, whilst this Government proposed to ' restrict the voting, aud the Opposition would not allow it to pass. They now raised the cry for interested purposes. The Opposition was composed of two classes, those wanting office and those desirous of shirking their fair share of taxation. He then dwelt upon the various points in the policy of the Government at length. He referred to abolition, and said that in a few years the subsidies would come to an end. He would ask the Government to continue the old votes of some £20,000 annually towards roads in the North Island, such subsidy to be distributed fairly amongst local bodies. He believed the appeal to the country now being made would be successful. He had long been the third member for the Thames, but never before had asked them a favour, although he did so then. He was standing with his honoured friend, Sir George, who was also standing for Christchurch, but whether he would sit for Christchurch he did not know. (A voice: We'll have him here.) He expected Sir George would be before them to answer for himself about the middle of next week. (Cheers.) At the close three cheers were given for Sir George Grey, and a vote of thanks and confidence passed amidst enthusiasm. Mr Sheehan goes to Auckland this afternoon, but will return to the Thames on Tuesday. His speech last night has given great satisfaction.