ELECTION NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 7282, 5 August 1887, Page 2

ELECTION NOTES.

Mr J. M'Kenzie met the electors of Shag Point and surrounding districts on Tuesday evening, and received a vote of confidence.

An Auckland Press Association telegram states that considerable dissatisfaction has lately existed with respect to the making-up of the electoral rolls, it being freely alleged that the rolls were being manipulated in the interest of certain candidates. Matters reached a climax yesterday morning, when J. S. Duke, one of the assistants in the Registrar's office, was ordered by Mr Collins (the Registrar) to leave. Duke is said to have refused to do so, saying that he was appointed by the Government and not by the Registrar. Mr Collins thereupon telegraphed to Mr G. S. Cooper complaining of insubordination on the part of Duke, who refused to leave. Mr Cooper replied that Duke should be Bent away at once, and on Collins threatening to send for a policeman Duke left the office.

A Press Association telegram from Wellington states that upwards of fifty of the new electoral rolls for the coming elections aro completed. A meeting of Sir Robert Stouts Lommittee was held last evening, at which about sixty were present. A large amount of business was transacted, and it was stated that the Premier will leave Wellington for the South to-day. Mr T. Duncan, who is standing for Waitaki, was accorded a vote of confidence at' a meeting at Oamaru last night. Dr Newman addressed the Thorndon electors last night. He avowed himself in favor of protection of natural industries only and the formation of new parties. At the Hon. Mr Larnaoh'3 meeting at South Dunedin ou Tuesday night, Mr J.

White, of Anderson Bay,; questioned the hoh. gentleman with the object of ascertaining how far he is in sympathy with the objects of the Dunedin and Suburban Financial Reform Aasociatiofi, and received the following replies:—" Ido not approve of reducing the salary and allowances of futflre Governors, as i believe such a reduction would have the effect of Jdwering the status of the Colony; and giving, lis gecdfld-cltos men., I approve, of the reddctioft of Ministerial salaries; in comm'ori with tne rest of the Civil Service reductions. I will vote for the reduction of .the members of the House of Representatives, even to the extent of reducing them to sixty or seventy, and in favor of reducing the Upper House in proportion. I agree to Civil Service retrenchment.by amalgamation pf offices, etc., and by the extension of office hours, say from nine to five... I will support the equalisation of.our revenue and expenditure. I will not resist any attempt to increase taxation, direct or indirect, where I think it may be neaessary, as I support taxation in the direction of protection of local industries. I support decentralisation and the improvement of our system of local government. I will not support thei abolition of subsidies to all local bodies, as I am of opinion that there are outside districts that must receive assistance towards local works, such as roads and tracks for opening Up the country, I object to further borrowing, except for the purpose of completing the railways now in course of construction, say L 2,000,000, to be expended at the rate of L 400,000 to L 500.000 per annum." Mr Harkness, one of the candidates for the Picton-Waimea seat, addressed a meeting at Richmond last night, and received an enthusiastic vote of confidence. Mr Green addressed a large meeting in the school-house at Sawyers Bay last nightMr Thomas Morris in the chair. The candidate spoke- for an hour and a-half, and thereafter Mr Crickmore moved and Mr Andrews seconded—" That this meeting accord Mr Green a hearty vote of thanks for bis plain and straightforward address, and 'express, their confidence in him as being the most fit and proper person to represent this district In the next Parliament." The ttloMott was carried unanimously. On acknowledging th"e tote, Mr Green announced his intention of carrying the election through within the provisions of the Corrupt Prac-' tices Prevention Act, and warned his sun r porters against any infringement thereof. Several gentlemen present agreed to do all in their power to Becure Mr Green's return. Mr Hutchison addressed the electors at Wbodhaugh yesterday evening. Mr Grant Was voted to the chair. During a speech extending over an hour, Mr Hutchison t&iiqbed on the principal political guest ions of the, day, illtfs.trating .the necessity of retrenchment on the one hand and Protection on the, other, by local and striking examples in each of these respectively. He warmly supported the present system of national education, although not insensible to certain shortcomings, most of which he believed would gradually disappear. fie held that .the school committees should have more -power than they now had ; and that their election should be carried out under fitting regulations. The cumulative vote should be abolished. He was in favor of Bible-reading in schools. He regretted that Bishop Nevill should, have made a sweeping charge of immorality against the youth of the Colony upon what was manifestly very slender premises. The speaker's impression was that the Bishop advocated the Bible in schools as a means whereby he hoped the more readily to secure a denominational system of education, which was his beatt ideal of teaching. A vote of confidence closed the meeting. Mr Bryce addressed a crowded meeting at Turakina last night, and received a unanimous vote of confidence.

An adjourned meeting of the Dunedin and Suburban Financial Reform Association was held in Clarke's Hall, South Dunedin, last evening, about forty electors being present. His Worship the Mayor presided. The objects of the Association were fully explained by several members, and a full discussion followed. The electors, with one exception, expressed entire sympathy with the objects of the Association, and signified their intention to forward the cause to the utmost of their ability. Several expressed their intention of attending' the weekly meeting of the Association on Saturday. TO-NIGHT'S MEETINGS. Dr Fitchett at old Knox Cburcb, at eight. Mr Dick at the Leith Valley School-house, at 7.30.