ELECTION NOISES.

Evening Star, Issue 7280, 3 August 1887, Page 2

ELECTION NOISES.

Tho Premier addressed a meeting at the Opera-house; Wellington, last night. He quoted extracts from the 'New Zealand Times,' whichyhe Urged, despite the denial that had been iriadej Could only bear one construction—namelyj that in the; opinion of that paper the Government were,keeping up an inflated rate of wages on the railway, and, whereas 5s or 6s now went as far as 8s or lOs formerly, they must come down to the lower rates. As to retrenchment, he remarked: The cry went'up everywhere for retrenchment, especially in other districts. His scheme for adjusting the salaries of Civil servants according to the price of the necessaries of life had been laughed and sneered at last year, but a high authority on political economy at Home was now advocating a similar course. Referring to Protection and Freetrade, he pointed out that, while the agricultural industry was being helped by the low rates of railway car'riage, the State had equal duties to manufacturers, The Government had tried to carry this out in their Customs Tariff. He denied that he had said every Freetrader was in favor of Kaffir labor, but he had said that no Freetrader could consistently object to Chinese or Kaffir labor being imported. He, however, held that it was the duty of the Sta+« to protect our own race against Kaffir labor. When dealing with the land question, Sir R. Stout'said he had been twitted with saying that the land should not be treated as other property, but he stuck to his opinion still. He had himself seen people driven from a whole valley in the Highlands and the land given over to sheriffs. This was what the Government tried to avoid by bringing in the Land Acquisition Bill. As to education, they would find it was cheaper to pay for education than for gaols, as they would soon learn if some memberß of the Opposition had their way. The system must be maintained at all. hazards, whatever might happen to the Colony. The Premier was heartily cheered, and a resolution passed according him the best thanks of the meeting for his very able address.

At the close of Mr Green's meeting at Port Chalmers last night Mr Thomas Morris proposed a vote of thanks. Mr Mason proposed as an amendment a vote of confidence in Mr Green as the- most fit and proper person to represent ~ the district. The Mayor declared the amendment carried by a large majority. • The Hon, Thomas Diok last night addressed what was stated to be the largest meeting ever held at Pine Hill, there being over fifty present. Mr John Campbell was in the ohair. A resolution of the Northeast Valley Council was handed _ to the. chairman in answer to a letter which had appeared in the papers giving Mr Dowme Stewart the credit of having got the Post Office for Pine Hill. The resolution was passed by the Council on August 15.1884, and was as follows :-"Cr Schlotel moved Green That application be made to the Chief Piaster, Dunedin, to have 'erected atthe Pine Hill School; house a delivery and receiving letter-box , Mr Godfrey moved and,Mr John M/Ara' seconded-" That Mr Dick was the fittest nerson to represent Dunedin West in Parliament." Mr George Ford moved aa an amendment—"That Mr Dick be thanked for his address;" Two hands were held up for-the amendment and forty-eight for the

At Etawera, on Monday night, Mr M'Guire addressed a meeting, and received a vote of confidence by a large majority. A resolution was passed that the meeting had no confidence in Major Mr* M'Guire advocated retrenchment and liberal land la'ws, arid interference #ith' the Education, vow; i Mr Jesse Piper, a* candidate for Nelson! city, addressed a crowded meeting. last night. He was a Freetrader,' but Would support the Government, speaking very approvingly of Sir It. Stotft. Ho agreed mainly wiwi the Premier and Mr Ballance 6# the land reform question, and supported Bible-reading in. schools wifti a time-table arid conscience clause.

A meeting was held at Auckland last night, convened by Mr J. Aitken Ooririen, for tne purpose of forming a young colonial democratic association, when addresses vere delivered by Sir G. Grey and Mif Connelt. The attendance was small. We hear that Mr John Graham, farmer, of Brighton, will be a candidate for the Xaieri seat, He stands oh the the Independent ticket. , Mr S. Locke, the late member, addressed a meeting at Gisborne last night, and announced that through continued ill-health ho has been obliged to' withdraw from' the contest. The meeting expressed sympathy with Mr Locke on the cause of his enforced retirement, and gave three cheers for him'. Mr Andrew Graham, late chairman of the Harbor Board,, and a protninerit merchant at Gisborne, has decided to stand, now that Mr Locke has retired. Xlt is anticipated that the whole of the writs will be made returnable by the 30th September, and that Parliament will be called together the first week of October. A Press Association' telegram from Napier states that the nomination day for the Eastern Maori electorate has been fixed for the 17th inst., and the polling day for September 7. The writ is returnable on September 30. At the close of Mr Rutherford's address last night, in response to a request from the Mayor, about thirty gentlemen stepped on to the platform and added their, names to the list of the labor candidate's' Committee. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Mr Greon at the Sawyers Bay Schoolhousc, at eight. Hon. Mr Lirnach at Naumanu's Hall, South Dunedin, at eight. Mr Ross's Committee at Temperance Hall, MornloKton, at eight.