WAIKOUAITI ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 12762, 15 March 1906, Page 1

WAIKOUAITI ELECTION.

PRESENTATION TO MR R H. CLARK Tbe supporters and friends of Mr E. H. poik,; the. defeated candidate far tie Wat kouajti seat- at the last General Election, honored km, last night by a social and presentation ui Palmerstan Town. Hall,' which was well filled. The. presentation took the form, of a keyless gold hunter, with. Mr Clark's monogram on the case and a suitable hiscriptkm. inside. For Mrs-Clark there was also a gold bangfe set with dianxakls and tuxquoases. Mr E. Lefevi© was in the chair, and the stage was by Jibe presence of flowers, greenery, and several ladies. Chairman explained the purpose of the meeting,; and 1 read numerous apologies for absence, including one from the Premier, one from the Minister of Lands, and others from several members of Parliament In making the presentation, the Chairman said that the district ted been, represented by Sir John M'Kenzie, and when they lost bin* they lost one of their right-hand supporters. It. then became their doty to hunt up a successor, and when the Committee set up for that purpose hit upon Mr Clark he thought they had found a right good man.—(Applause.) He had fought a good fight, and some of his addresses had surprised more than his supporter.—(Applause.) He had fought fairly, and never hit below the belk He might not have ! been a John M'Kenzie at the start, but he ! would turn out a really good man and | would make a name for'himself in Parliament. After the splendid fight Mr Clark I had made against Mr Tom Mackenzie, his' ; Committee thought it their doty to give ! some evidence of their appreciation. The ; subscription had been most abend, and he : prophesied that should Mr Clark stand again next time he would not find himself on the wrong side of the ledger.—(Applause.) He then handed to Mr Clark the watch and to Mrs Clark the bangle Mr Clark (who was enihusiastioaliy received) said, in reply, that he found it difficult to express his feelings. H«? desired to give hearty thanks for the."presentations made to himself and Mrs Clark. Ho had contested the election because he felt that it was right that the district should be represented by someone who lived in it. As to Mr Mackenzie, he.thought that when a man had been sitting under the present Government for fourteen years he ought to be able to say -whether he supported them or not. That was why he (Mr Clark) had comeooutt t and because he believed that they had one of the best Governments they had ever had. He expressed some opinions about abstract politics and his confidence in himself to fight a still better battle next time. He recognised Mr Mackenzie as a clever man, but thought it time that ha represented some other electorate. Then he wound up by further praise of the Government and a repetition of his thanks. -,• The Rev. J. R. Clark and others also spoke, and finally Mr and Mrs E. H. Clark were heartily cheered and told that they were iofly good fellows. that* there was a dance, which was kept up, country fashion, with proper en- , thusissm.: I>trrmg the evening a nvusicai programme was gone, through.