MR. CARLETON AT THE WHAU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4409, 31 December 1875, Page 3

MR. CARLETON AT THE WHAU.

Thb meeting was held at the Public Hall of the township. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, attendance was alack. Mr. Carleton thanked the electors for coming to hear him through such a pouring rain. He would begin by telling the result of tho nomination. Mr. Tole had the show of hands, hollow. But there was an old electioneering adage, that the winner at the show was the loser at the poll. In fact, neither Mr. Taylor nor himself had brought up friends to make a show ; they might have been accused of packing the meeting. But his (Mr. Carleton's) friends had forgotten all about the show of hands, and after he had spoken, they went off to the election in the City East. Luckily, there was one left to second liis demand for a poll. Mr. Taylor spoke very nicely, and like a gentleman ; then followed Mr. Tole. Now, there was a sort of honourable understauding among candidates, not to attack each other; because no reply being allowed, the latest speaker had an undue advantage. But this was disregarded by Mr. Tole, who made a violent attack upon Mr. Carleton. He was pleased to have now the opportunity, denied at the hustings, of explainiug. Air. Tole began with -Mr. Carleton's vote in ISSG, in favour of the compact. But he did not say that the so-called compact was virtually carried by the vote of Sir George's great friend and alty, Mr. John Williamson, who, by his own vote, in those days of majorities of one, turned out Mr. Pox's Government. Now, Mr. Fox's scheme was to localise the land fund, but to exact a tax of 2s Gd an acre for General Government purposes. That scheme he (Mr. Carleton) had supported to the best of his ability. Being beaten from that, he aceepted what was thought at the time the next best proposal for Auckland. He gave way to public opinion, which was strong for it, aud voted on the same side as Mr. Williamson. It was a lesson to him how to follow public opinion again. Mr. Tole knew all this, but did aot say it. Again, he said that when a band of Auckland members in 1868 (he forgot to say how many), Mr. Carleton had voted against them. Now, that was what Mr. Carleton was asked, not by an Auckland member at all, but by Mr. Bunny, to draft the resolution. He did so, saying that he should vote against it, because, though not admitting the existence of a compact, people would have it that there was one, and the honour of the North must not even he suspccted. He (Mr. C.) was charged with not having raised the cry of resumption till now. True, because not till now could it be raised without imputation. There were no provinces to compact with now. They must also remember that the land was now mortgaged to the public creditor, the South not opposing. Therefore the land fund might be honestly applied to payment of interest. Mr. Tole had gone on to refer to Mr. Carleton as tho assailant of Sir George Grey. He (Mr. C ) had thought that the hatchet was buried ; but if Sir George's friends chose to dig it up, they would lind that he . could wield it in self-defence as well as ever. The Tipperary blood would come Gilt, and the man who drove him into a corner would have to guard hia head. It was true that during Sir George's first Government he had attacked him severely, but was h'e not justified in doing so ? Was ho wrong in standing up for the widow and orphan, in recovering, after twenty-six years of agitation, the land illegally taken from Mrs. Meurant and her children? Was he wrong iu declaiming against the arbitrary and illegal abolition of a court of law by the Governor ? Was he wrong in defending Governor Eyre when the blame of illegal appropriation was shifted on to him. Was he wrong in being indignant at the charge brought against Mr. William Brown, of mutilating a letter, though the printed letter, when tested, corresponded word for vord with the original ? He cared not to go cn with the list, and hoped not to be compelled to. Still, those attacks by Sir George's friends would make no difference in his undertaking to support Sir George in any thing fjr the good of the North. So far he woidcl £0, but no further. An idea had once occurred to him, judging from his own feelings, that possibly Sir George might throw in the veight of his influence to support liis (Mr. Carleton's) candidature, for the express purjose of having it out with him, in the itouse, and annihilating him—that is, if he could. But it was wrong to judge of others ly oneself. Ha was loath to speak about tliesc things ; but it was not ho who raised t:ie question. The attack was from the ctlier side. If he were compelled to defend limself they had better look out. Whether le won or lost, the election was immaterial; iut if his doings or sayings were impugned, le was ready to make thein good at all costs ind hazards, lie had all at his linger ends : the other side had not. But he respected limself too mnch ever to take an improper or cunning advantage. Th e candidate then went iito general subjects, making observations :a at former meetings. Only two or three luestions were asked. The meeting, we incline to think, was composed mainly of Air. Taylcr's supporters. A rote of thanks being ]as?Ai, tho meet'.--: dispersed.