TE ARO.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 68, 17 September 1887, Page 2

TE ARO.

The nomination of candidates for the To Aro oleotorato wasaooompaniedbyooEeiderable uproar, which drowned to a large extent the utterances of the speakers Before noon a crowd began to gather in front of Mossrs. Kades & Co.'s premises, opposite Te Aro Houbo, from the verandah of which the nomination was to take place, and at the appointed honr the pavement fronting Te Aro House was literally packed with electors. Mr. W. P. James, the Returning Officer, having called apon the electors to nominate any candidates they hud in view— • c ' Mr. Thomas M'Kenzie came forward and- proposed;- F,,- M H. Eraser" as a 'cfcnl 4fdate to yeprqadnt To 4ro in th,e Hodig qf Representatives. He said it was no| very long ago since. Mr. Fraser ljaq tljp honour to represent them in the IJouse, anq that gentleman had not done one tiling to, forfeit the bononr the electors originally oonferrod upon him, (Cheers.) It appeared that the papers were against him to come extent, and favoured others. (Cries of "No" and "Yes.") Mr. Fraser had been constant in his attendance in Parliament. (Voices— "No." "What did he do?"i He took part in all the questions that came before the House. (Uproar.) Mr. M'Kenzie went on to speak in defence of Mr. Eraser's conduct in voting 1 with the Government, saying |bqt the House was governed by pajty, Wheu he was re. quested $0 "cut it sbqrt," Mr. M'Kenjsie said be was there to ezeroise his privilege as a free citizen, and was not going to be put down by the opposite side, and his remarks were for a time inaudible in the din which followed. When he conld be heard again, ho was asking why the other candidate did not go back to his former constituents : whether he had diaoarded them, or they him. He hoped they would send Mr. Fraser to Parliament at' the head of the poll. (Cheers, mingled with groans and other noises). Mr. John Collins, who came forward to second the nomination of Mr. Fraser, was greeted with cheers and hoots, and had to wait some time to get a hearing. He said he felt confident that not only was Mr. Fraser a friend of the working class, but a friend of the children of the working class, and would not vote to have them turned into the street, as his opponent desired. The noise was at this stage so great that Mr. Collins desisted from further speech. Mr. James Hutchcns, who next came forward to propose A, Stuart Menteath as a candidate for Te Aro, was treated to groans and cheers. He said he had great pleaanre — (continued cheers and hooting)— in pro. posing Mr. Menteath as a fit and proper person to represent Te Aro in Parliament. (Hoots and cheers.) He had come amongst the people of Wellington & young man of irreproachable character, and there was nothing against his Parliamentary life. (Here the noise became too great to permit of further speech.) Mr. W. X, Bishop (who received a fair share of cheers and grouts) seconded the nomination of Mr. Menteath, whom he had known for eleven years, and who waa a.

Kintlemen of marked ability. Ono of Mr. Menteath's greatest recommendations on tho present occasion was that he was opposed to tho present Government, who had tl.mo so much against the interests of Wellington. Mr. Fraßfir on coming forward was loudly olieereil and loudly hooted. He said he should not delay the assemblage long. (Cheers and uproar.) He knew that hungry men would mako angry men. It seemed strange that some peoplo fancied thoro must be a lawyorin the House. A f c w years ago three lawyers came forward ; two years ago, two lawyers came forward, and the electors would have nono of them. A few months ago a very eminent lawyer came forward, and they would have none of him. Now they had a vory little lawyor, and he wanted to be thoir representative. (Uproar.) He (Mr. Fraßer) had done his best to Horve them in the piutt, and would continue to do ho in tuo future, in spite of paid canva«sow, beer, and dollars. Ho had no paid canvassers. (Uproar.) Ho had no doubt some of those who were making a noise now were anxious to have somo of tho beer that was flowing. (Cheers and hoots ) Mr. Menteatb camo to tho balcony railing' amid deafening noise, in which cheers wore mingled with hooting, hisses, and clapping of hands. Ho said be opposed Mr. Fraser, bnt did not jntend to Bay one word against him. This was all that anyono heard of Mr. Menteath's speech, which lasted for some five minutes, louring tho whole of this time there was not an instant';) lull in tho cheering, hooting, and general uproar. Whim ho had finished there were ringing cheorH, mingled with somo hisses and groans. Tho Returning Officer then called upon the electors for a show of hands, and declared it to bo in favour of Mr. Menteath, a declaration which was received with loud nheers. The official numbers were 95 for Mr. Mentoath, and 62 for Mr. Fntsor. Mr. Frupor demanded a poll. This terminated tho proceedings.