CITY ELECTION MEETING AT THE METROPOLITAN.

Evening Post, Volume VI, Issue 293, 26 January 1871, Page 2

CITY ELECTION MEETING AT THE METROPOLITAN.

A largely attended meeting of the friends and snpporters of Messrs. Pdchmond and Travers was held outside the Metropolitan Hotel last night. About four hundred persons were present, and the chair was occupied by Mr. Trueman, who called on the Hon. .). C. Richmond to address the meeting. Mr. Richmond was received with cheers, and. commenced by alluding to the charges made against him of having been responsible for the Poverty Bay massacre. On this subject he wished to endorse the facts stated in a leading article in that night's Evexivg Post as conveying a true explanation of the matter, la Major Biggs he had not only lost a valued friend, but had also lost the best means of justification in regard to his own action on the occasion. As to the accusation of his being an office-seeker, one newspaper said he was unlit to represent Wellington because if in the House he w-as likely to be in the Ministry, while the other said he was equally unfit because it was not likely he "would be in the Ministry. He thought the latter was right as to the probabilities of his again being a Minister ; bnt if he could obtain a seat in a Government which would carry out the views he held, he should see no impropriety in accepting it. If the fact of a man being qualified to take a more active share in the government of the country than merely as a member of the House unfitted him to represent Wellington, then he had no desire to be elected. As for accepting any non-political office, he could pledge himself never to do so. He was in favor of

cheap railways, which could belaid along theordinary roads, and on which a moderate rate «>f speed might le attained. He had in 1563 submitted a proposal for 7<> miles of such a railway to tlie I'rovincial Government of Nelson, and would like such a line at once constructed to the Upper Hatt. He wanted such works to be constructed according to our means, and to be done by the Government, as he did not believe in the guarantee system. It had proved an expensive failure in India. Nor would he send out of the Colony for engineers or contractors, as he believed we had plenty of men in the Colony capable of constructing such works as we required. Engineers and contractors must be our servants, not our employers. With regard to immigration he thought it should be- entirely in the hands of the Coiunial Government. There should be no divided responsibility between the General and Provincial Governments, and immigrants should not be cast down ia the towns to wander about uneareU for. He would not Wing any man to the Colony until there was land snited for settlement," and obtainable *«n convenient terms, whether deferred payments, or otherwise open for his occupation, until there were such Uoveminent works in progress as would enable him to be sure of a certain amount of employment, and until capital was coming iuto theV'olon\ in proportion to labour. Ac this stage <>f the meeting (which, -with the exception of one individual, had been most orderly) Mr. -John Martin, who was on horseback at the back of the crowd, commenced to address those around him. He was attended by a few enthusiastic admire! s and a rabble of small boys, who made a most tremendous row, partly for mere fun, and partly for other consideration. Mr. Martin gesticulated wildly, talked the nicst utter nonsense, and behaved as no sane and sober man could possibly behave. Of course a crowd gathered round him, and the noise made compelled Mr. Richmond to stop. The Chairman ajipealed to Mr. Martin to keep order, and stated, that if he wished tG speak, a man would be found to hold his hoise, and if he came to the table he might do so as soon as Mr. Richmond had finished, t»f this invitation Mr. Martin took no notice, and continued his tomfoolery and ridiculous antics for npwards of half an hour, at the end of which he rode away, amidst a chorus of groans aud cheers. Mr. lackering, who had been speaking during a part of the tithe Mr. Martin was acting the mountebank, then addressed the meeting at some length in favor of Messrs. Richmond and Travers. Mr. H. Anderson afterwards moved a vote of confidence in Mr. Itiehmoncl, aiifl the motion was seconded by Mr. John Maginnity, in a capital speech, it was carried by acclamation, and the meeting broke up with cheers for Richmond and Travers, and groans for Martin.