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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 222, 19 September 1887, Page 3

was the gentleman who related the conversation. . Now let us hear what he has to say. Mr Drummond wished not to say a word' to affect Mr Levestam's election. As a public man he had spoken to Mr Levestam about the railway through the Moutere, and Mr L. had told him that it would be no good to make the terminus here as there was a far better harbor at Wellington and that to make a good one in Nelson would eost a million. Mr Levestam : Now yon Bee how the ac counts differ. Mr Brown paid that the harbor was at Picton and Mr Drummond at Wellington. Whoever said that he had said the railway was no good told an untruth. Mr Drummond was opposed to the Tophouse route and he had told him fie Government would have that route. Then there was the question of coals, and he had paid when once the coal was in trucks it mattered li- tie whether it came to Nelson or Pioton. To make the harbor would cost a million nnd the harbor rates would ba eo high that that wuld more than make, up the difference of oost of carriage. He had also said that the Government looked on the railway as a colonial work to connect the two Islands, and therefore tbey proposed the Top House route. (Cheers and sounds of dissent.) Mr Piper had put the public questions so clearly before them that they must have understood him, and he felt sure they would be so satisfied with his views that they would return him. The first question was retrench, ment, and the public would know that when • he spoke about it he meant to try to carry it out. The second point was the land laws, and no one was more strongly in favor of liberal land laws than himself, and he thought the towns should hold one- third of the town lands forthe expenses of Govern - ment. Many of those before him were old men and about to pass away. (Great laughter and cheering and general uproar, and a voice "let's give you a vote first.") Their sons were growing up around them and they must insist upon the land for the people. There was an acre in Trafalgar street, originally purchased for £50 which was now worth £2000. And for this reason he was a supporter of Stout and Ballance. As for Vogel he was an extravagant man. He would rather borrow money at 6 per cent inside the colony that at 5 per cent outside. He was in favor of an elective Legislative Council and would stand by Stout if he brought in a Bill to abolish it altogether. The people should have got that increase. He was prepared to take £100 as honorarium. ("You oan go for nothing" — "Cheap and shoddy)." He looked upon the Volunteer movement as the backbone of the country. In 1857 the movement was started in England and laughed at, and now there were 300,000. (That's nothing to do with us). The only protection that was wanted v*as the protection of basic industries. The profit of the railways should be increased by reducing the passenger fares. He should do all he could to support the Midland railway, His seconder had said he had an interview with the Chairman. (You don't say so). He had kept up a correspondence with him since, and he would do all he could to support the Tadmor route. One of the speakers said that no one had taken up the harbor question, but he had referred to it in his first speech, and was in favor of a Harbor Board. H6 favored Bible reading in schools, and local option without compensation. He believed in Federation, but it must commence with a Customs union. He wanted to see New Zealand increase its trade and not be shut out from other countries. He believed in the extension of local government and in decentralizing the functions of the General Government. He would not take up their time any longer (Great cheers), but would simply say, if elected (A voice : That's just it) they might depend upon him to do hia very best to further the welfare of the city and colony without fear or favor. He would now leave himself in their hands (" You're safe." Great cheers and laughter) and felt sure that if they once elected him they would never get tired of him or want to get rid of him. A show of hands was taken with the following result :-— Levestam 90 Gibbs 43 Piper 38 A poll was demanded and will take place next Monday.