Election Items.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 214, 12 November 1896, Page 2

Election Items.

'-+ The Premier told his audience at Petone, amongst other extra ordinary things, that his Government had killed freethought and made the country religious. There were now no freethinkers in the colony. Mr Seddon at Halcombe said he joined the ' advisory board of the Anglo-German Syndicate " Merely to stop wild-cat companies." And_ for this righteous and disinterested patriotism the Hon. Richard draws something like £1000 a year. The Premier is not going to have a " walk over" for the Westland Beat. It is stated that Mr Grimmond has decided to oppose him. The Christchurch ' Press ' says that another instance of the spoils to the victors comes from Ashburton. It seems that the Registrar of Electors received four tenders for the ' printing of the Electoral Roll for the Ashburton district. There were twolocal tenders, of whioh one was from ". Major Steward, M.H.R., at 6s 6d per page, and one frsm Mr Joseph Ivess at 6s per page. Hitherto the Registrar has had the power to deal with the tenders himself, but vow h« has been directed by the Government to accept Major Steward's tender, that gentleman . being of the right color. A man who was sued for a small sum at the Wellington S.M. Court last week told ihe Magistrate he had been out of work for a long while, but was going to stand for Parliament next election. Thus Mr Duncan Sutherland, a candidate for the Waitaki seat : — When a man had been married as long as he had they would think that women had' enough' influence without any Parliamentary extentions. — (Laughter). There was no doubt that women were pushing themselves into the world ; a woman made a bad master but a good mate. (Laughter and applause). The ' Wakatip Mail ' hints that there is a probability of another Ministerialist contest- . ing the Wakatipu seat. Mr Coleman Phillips, a candidate for the Wairarapa seat, claims to be the " father " of dairy factories in New Zealand. Mr H. S. Valentine addressed a packed meeting in the Oddfellows Hall, Riverton, on Monday night. He was well received, and gave an excellent address, lasting over hours, and was heartily applauded. A vote of thanks was unanimously carried at the close of the meeting. Mr Richardson has a solid claim to the good will of the electors of Mataura. He represented the constituency with admirable efficiency for a. number of years, and, though he lost his seat three years ago, it may be suspected that many of those who voted for Mr McNab have seen reason to regret the change. For we are bound to say that Mr McNab has been a disappointing and unsatisfactory member. He is one of those Ministerialists who are in the habit of criticising the Government with the utmost freedom and voting for them (on really crucial questions) with the utmost fidelity.—' O.D. Times.' The Hon. T. W. Hislop is quick at repartee, and several times during his. address at Petone was interrupted, and on each occasion he " brought down the .house" with a ready retort. As he was severely oriticising some of the actions of the present Government, a young man in the body of the hall'called out. " Give us politics. Let Seddon drop." " Just you wait a bit," promptly replied Mr Hislop, " I am about to give you a number, of reasons why you should also let Mr Seddon drop." A roar of laughter followed and the young man refrained from further interjection. Mr Henry Graham addressed a very large meeting in the Drill Hall, Riversdale, on Monday evening.. After several gentlemen had declined to take the chair, Mr Joseph Smaill consented to fill that position if permitted to put questions to the candidate. This Mr Graham agreed to, and the meeting . commenced. The candidate caid that, if returned for Wakatipu, he would,- a3 their representative in Wellington, be worth his weight in gold. He be in favor of issuing £1,000,000 worth of State bank, notes, and completing' all unfinished railways, etc. He was against further borrowing. — Mr Stewart asked, if he was against borrowing, -how was he going to complete Waikaia and Otago Central lines. — Mr Graham : By the amount of gold produced by tha distriots through whioh these two lines would traverse. Mr Wm. Fraser, (Wakatipu) had a splendid meeting at Bannookburn on Friday evening, when a motion was carried (with only two ■ dissentients) of thanks, for past services ; confidence as the future representative for Wayatipu, coupled with the pledge that all would do their utmost to secure his return. . An absurd rumor is afloat that Mr Graham has been employed by Mr Fraser to contest tbe Wakatipu seat so,as to split the . votes against Mr George. We have the best authority for contradicting this, but even if we had not, no right' thinking individual, could believe such a rumor, justly because Mr Fraser is a " moral " for the seat, and besides he is very much above adopting suoh . tactics to gain his ends. There was a. large number of electors in the . schoolhouse at Waikaka Valley on Monday night to hear Mr Blair's views on political matter. Mr P. Aitken was voted to the chair, and in a neat speech introduced the candidate. Mr Blair spoke at considerable length to an attentive audience, and was loudly applauded at the conclusion of the, address. A long list of questions were put, and satisfactorily answered. Thereafter a . hearty vote of thanks was accorded, on the motion of Messrs D. Gilchrist and A. Cruickshanks, jun. A similar compliment to the chair terminated the proceedings. The Hon. G. F. Richardson addressed a large meeting, at Woodlands last night, and received a vote of thanks and confidence. The Government is advised that the rolls are nearing completion, and. it is expected that the date of the elections will be announced in a day or two. Mr Mackintosh" has decided sto seek reelection for the Wallace seat. At Lumsden last night he addressed an audience of over 60, and a vote of thanks and confidence was carried in the face of only three dissentients,