ELECTORAL NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 7308, 5 September 1887, Page 2

ELECTORAL NOTES.

Owing to ill-health, it is unlikely that Sir George Grey will be able to deliver his promised addresses in Dunedin and Waihemo. Sir George, who is prostrated from continued travelling and speaking for the past month, is likely to return to Wellington tomorrow.

In regard to the alleged stuffing of the Waihemo roll, the Palmerston paper learns on inquiry that the returning officer has refused to recognise a number of tho claims sent in, and has struck off the Maori votes. Mr Mills addressed a meeting at Waitati on Saturday, and was subjected to an hour’s interrogation, Mr Poole proposed and Mr Sutherland (Doulle Hill) seconded a vote of confidence, which was met with one of thanks only, proposed by Mr A. Wiist and seconded by Mr Scholefield. The vote of confidence was declared carried.

Mr W. Kelly (Ministerialist and Protectionist) received a vote of confidence at Tauranga on Saturday. Sir George Grey held a most successful meeting at Milton on Friday evening, when the holding capacity of St. George’s Hall was taxed to the utmost. In the gallery there were several ladies. A large proportion of the audience consisted of members of the farming community, and they showed intense interest in the references to the land question ; indeed, Sir George declares that it was the best meeting he has addressed during his present electioneering tour. At the close of the lecture an unanimous vote of thanks was accorded him, on the Rev. Mr Chisholm’s motion.

The Colonial Secretary states that the question of the Government running special trains on polling-day for the purpose of enabling persons who have both country and town votes to exercise their full franchise is now being considered by the Ministry. Mr Buckley has urged the proposal being carried into effect, if only for financial reasons.

At a recent meeting of village settlers at Omaha (Auckland) the following resolution was passed:—“ That we tender our very best thanks to the Hon. Mr Ballance, the Minister of Lands, for the untiring zeal and persevering spirit which he has displayed in promoting, advocating, and so successfully placing on the Statute-book this most popular land measure—viz., the village settlement scheme; and, further, that we express our sympathy with him at having been so much assailed, and even personally abused, in the late debate in the House of Representatives, and we trust that be and his colleagues (with the exception of Sir Julius Vogel) will be returned at the forthcoming election.” In the course of conversation with a member of our staff this forenoon, Sir George Grey distinctly declared that in the event of a change of Government he would be exceedingly averse to taking office. He wishes to see a Young New Zealand party formed, and thinks it would be the duty of every old politician, to counsel and assist such' young men if placed on the Treasury Benches. Sir George disapproves t of the present form of Responsible Government, and would like to see the American j system introduced here, in which case a ( Government formed woyld hold -office for i four years. In that event he thinks there would be less caballing and log-rolling than' now takes place. He also favors an elective Governor,, and as the appointment would have to he : confirmed by the Queen, the ties which bind us to the Mother Country would' be in no way broken., , .. Replying to a question at Hampden, Mr J. C. Buckland said he would not go up to' Wellington to keep any man out of office. Major Atkinson had made a mistake, bis sympathy being with the North Island. He' might tall, them that, to bis knowledge, there had once been a coalition nearly: formed between Sir R. 'Stout and MajorAtkinson, and it was within the range of! probability that it. might.yet take place. TO-NIGHT’S MEETINGS. Mr Larnaoh’s supporters at Committee-roam at, efeht. ' - ' Mr Fish’s General Committee at eight. Mr 0 irgitl’s General Committee at eight. Dr Fitobetl’s Committee at eight. Hon. T. Dick’s Committee at half-fast seven. Mr Carlton’s Maori Hill Committee at eight. Mr W. Hutchison at Eoelyn at eight. Mr Begg’a South Dunedin Committee at eight Mr Begg at Broad Bay at eight.