ELECTORAL NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 7290, 15 August 1887, Page 2

ELECTORAL NOTES.

Mr W. Rutherfurd, who states that he has been resident in the Colony thirty years, and in the Waimate district for twenty years, has announced himself as a candidate for the Waimate seat. Mr Buxton, a fanner, opposes Mr Rolleston for Rangitata. Mr Grace, the late member for Tauranga, has retired in favor of Mr W. Kelly. Mr S. Bareham contests the Cheviot seat with Mr Lance. Mr Bryce is a chivalrous opponent. He makes no secret of his antagonism to the Ministry, but he will not stand by and listen to the Treasurer being villified by a man not fit totie'the lstters shoe-itrings.

This is how he dressed down Mr George Hutchison, who poses as a Ministerialist of the Stout-Ballance type. "He (Mr Hutchison) did not hesitate,' when it suited him, to traduce to the utmost the character of the principal member of the Ministry he professed to support. At Patea the other day he publicly declared that Sir Julius Vogel was a political gambler, and played with loaded dice—a thing which he (Mr Bryce) would certainly not have said even of his political opponent. Whatever we thought of Mr Hutchison's conduct, what should .be said of Mr Ballance's? Mr Ballance had often been accused of want of fidelity to his colleagues and associates, and he appeared now to be putting the proof of it into the hands of his enemies. He was going entirely out of his way to support and encourage a candidate who declared his principal colleague to be a political gambler, • playing with loaded dice,' and was that very night addressing a meeting at Patea in Mr Hutchison's favor. What Sir Julius Vogel might think of this it was impossible to say, but if he (Mr Bryce) were in that gentleman's place, either Mr Ballance or he should leave the Government at very short notice."

That Ministerial happy family. Speaking at Auckland last week, the Minister of Justice declared that " he did not join the Ministry to follow Sir Julius Vogel, but Sir Robert Stout." Again "poor Tole" has given away hiß colleague. Mr R. Rutherford, the labor candidate for Caversham, addressed a meeting of electors in the Kaikorai Valley on Friday evening. The meeting was held, in the Mission-room, near the* Woollen Mills, Mr Lillico presiding; and about fifty persons attended. The candidate spoke at some length on the questions of labor representation, protection, retrenchment, and taxation. Labor, he pointed out, seldom succeeded in obtaining a fair share of the product of that labor. The effect of the continued increase in wealth - creating machinery should be to lighten the toil and promote the welfare of the workmen, who in most cases were the inventors, but he was sorry to say that in many cases machinery was used as a weapon to crush the masses by unhealthy competition. It j rested with the working men themselves to alter this by returning men .to the House who had lived and ; worked amongst them, and who by personal experience knew their wants and requirements. He would protect by a heavy prohibitive duty on all goods and articles that could be profitably manufactured in the Colony, but would let the real necessaries of life and raw materials come in free. This was his remedy for the existing depression, as industries would soon spring into existence, and manufactures arise which would soon absorb the whole of our surplus population, and make-the unemployed question a thing of the past. A graduated land and income tax would prevent monopolies, and would take the burden of taxation from the poor, and place it on the shoulders of those best able to bear it. He also considered that an enormous amount could be saved in the administration of all the departments of government. Many of the functions of the House pf Representatives could, with advantage to the publio service, be handed over to f ronerlyconstituted local bodies, and thus enable us to reduce the number of members by onehalf. In reply to questions, Mr Rutherford stated that if returned to Parliament he should consider it his duty to vote on allgreat questions as his constituents wished; in, fact, to be a delegate elected to represent their wishes.—(Applause.) Mr J. Shuttleworth moved and Mr W. Lodge seconded—- " That this meeting is of opinion that Mr Rutherford is the most fit and proper person to represent Caversham in the House of Representatives, and therefore pledges itself to use every endeavor to seenre his return," which was carried unanimously. Mr J. Petrie, in addressing a meeting at Pareora, announced himself as a Ministerial supporter, though he did not approve" of their action. He condemned Mr Maxwell being allowed to go away on a holiday trip, while he had cut down the working man's pay to 6s a ; day. He was opposed to the Customs Tariff proposed by the Qovern : ment. The District Railways Purchase Bill was the most rascally swindle ever perpetrated; and he described the Greyrnouth Ifarbor Board as the most corrupt body on the Coast. Jt was a mass of corruption, and he was thoroughly ashamed to own that he was a member of it. He supports an elective governor and drastic Civjl Service reform. The Hon. Mr Larnach addressed a meet- j ing of the Peninsula electors at the schoolhouse, Portobello, on Friday night, and, notwithstanding the incessant falling during j the evening of snow and sleet, a very good attendance mustered. Major M'Cartney occapied the chair, and said that it; was not necessary to introduce, the candidate, as Mr Larnach was known to them all, and was, in fact, one of themselves. Mr .Larnach commenced hy thinking the sent for turning out of their comfortable homes to meet him on such e, rough and dirty, night. ,He * then fully reviewed the administration, of the present Government sinoe they came into office in 1884, showing the great amount of useful work that had been done during their term of office, and the systematic and practical efforts* that the Government had made towards real re- : trepchment,- and what was intended to do in the same direction if the Government remained in office, which he had not much doubt of, as he believed the country would return a majority to the New Parliament in favor of the present Government. He also eloquently defended Sir Julius Vogel against the cowardly attacks that were constantly being made against him through the Press, or a certain section of it. He considered Sir Julias Vogel head and shoulders above any man in New Zealand as a statesman and an administrator, and, instead ofdetracting from that gentleman's worth, the

Colony should be proud to have such a man as Sir Julius Vogel taking part In thepjoblio affairs of the Colony. Mr Larnaoh said that It was not only the intention of theiGovernment to severely taper off borrowing, bat to keep the future spending but of loan money nearer half a million than jone million per annum, and that the Government were absolutely sincere In a determination towards retrenchment. He thought the present cost of education could be reduced, and, in his opinion, what had by Roman Catholics in that direction was entitled to be fairly and equitably considered in the future. The hon. gentleman spoke for two hours on generally iriv portant subjects, to the evident satisfaction of the meeting, when a hearty 'vote of thanks and continued confidence, was proposed, seconded, and carried unanimously. Mr LaraaGh proposed & vote of thanks to the chairman.

Mr Lascelles, solicitor, one o| the candi-, dates for Waipawa, }» * Government supporter, except in Native affairs. He strongly opposes the Native Lands Act, jon the ground that the Nativts will notf sell or lease-lands under it, and settlement in the North Island is checked. He warmly supported Sir R. Stout on the education, question- ' ■'"'. r TO-NIOHT'S MEETINGS. Mr Diok's Committee at 8. Dr Fitchett at the Russell street Hisslon-houte at 8. Mr Cargill's Committee at 8. i,. ■ , Mr Allen's North-east Valley Committee at 8.

' ' '■_! " In an address at Oamaru Mr'Gloyer gave some interesting particulars concerning the Nonconformist settlement, of Situated tp the north, of Efe. said thai, among the whole, of the settlers, there was noj; a penny of $ mortgage over a section, and that the two first graduates of the' Nelson College hailed from there, these being the two Misses Edger, one of whom is now lady prinoipalof'the College. Daring a visit he had paid to the settlement, in going through the bush he saw two finelooking young women ohopping^wood "and: taking it to. the homestead. Having occasion to\call,at the,,ho,nse-on his return, he found these two young women iu, the parlor, one playing the. piano'and .the.other engaged in some fancy work, but'both working wild anting like what they were—well-educated and , accomplished voting- women. > JThe proud boast ' of these settlers wtt/fchatJio drunkard, had found a grave tery. But North one