CAPTAIN RUSSELL ON TOUR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 34

CAPTAIN RUSSELL ON TOUR.

At the very earliest possible moment Captain Russell was brought to Groytown with a view, no doubt, to eradicate from tho minds of the electors the good which had been done in aid of the Liberal cause by the speech of tho Premier. Captain Russell made his debut before a Wairarapa audience at the Palace Hall, Groytown, on Monday week, and that it might be a Wairarapa audience, the Groytown band played outside the hall and free brakes were again run from all tho outlying districts from Martinborcugh, Featherston and Carterton, and the sqnatocracy from Pahaoa to Brancepetli were there in full force, but still tbe record attendance, which greeted the Premier, was not beaten ; and it is said that the number attending tho Premier’s address was at least one-fourth more than tho number present on Monday evening. There was a good number of ladies present. Tho chair was again occupied by our Mayor. On facing the footlights, the Captain, who, from the first, was not “ at ease,” apologisod for keeping the audience some ten minutes, and then his first appeal to tho audience for their sympathy was that “ though the Opposition was weak in numbers it was strong iu spirit,” but whether there was artfully concealed a double entendre or a reflection upon his following who doubtless fan tho Prohibition spirit, we could not make out. Things wore going very flat, and tho Captain tried to rouse lus audience by saying tho Premier used language that lie would not deign to use, but immediately after the Captain in his own words stated that someone in that hall at a meeting of the Premier had been “ chucked out.” Not bad for this polished gentleman, especially when there had been no chucking out. The Captain did not appear to understand his audience ; ho could not warm them up, and no wonder. Ho was simply giving us a rehash of his speeches delivered at several places previously. "Wo went to hear something new, something of a policy that would be given to us by the Opposition if they wore in power, an Opposition platform, or a few facts relating to the good the Conservatives had done when in power, but not a word ol this. In tho course of his remarks, he said, with roforonco to co-operative works in his district, residents were not put on, but friends of the right colour from Dunedin and Christchurch. Now this had been so often proved to be incorrect by the Labour Bureau that one would havo thought the Captain dare not attempt it Lore, but lie did, and with such stale misrepresentations as those did ho try to help his cause. As to the trip of himself and friends on the Main Trunk Line expedition, the monoy was well expended and was not a mere holiday excursion, and what little grog was taken was used before they arrived at their destination. This went to provo the i’romior’s statement, for why drink the grog so soon P As to one of the party suffering from U.T.’n, the Premier knew it was absolutely without foundation, though Mr Buchanan al- - that one of the party had to go to the Hospital. For what P Ho explained the Russell grant, but anyone who heard the Premier's statement and this explanation would like to know where tho difference is. It is a mere splittingof straws. Notwithstanding the Captain had said ho would answer questions, lie declined to do this with reference to some written ones sent up to him. Then caiuo a little amusement (the first of the evening), when someone asked him as to his telegram to sack bis hands who had voted on the Liberal side aL last election, but although this was denied, the usker of the question was understood to say he could prove it. Then an old grey-headed geutloiin.ii from the audience asked why certain members of the Liberal Party had been termed “ dumb dogs,” to which Captain Russell replied that be supposed “ Because they never barked aud never bit”; Imt here tuo laugh wis turned against him, as the questioner -.aid, “Tint is not a gentlemanly answer from a man of your education.”

A vole of thunks to the speaker and tho chairman concluded ono of the dullest incut - ing.s ever held iu the Wairarapa, and tho general opinion among even tho Conservatives is that the sitting member may well say after it, “ Save me from my friends.” Captain Bussell addressed a crowded meeting at Pahiatua on Wednesday ovoning week, and expressed a disbelief in the existence of a true surplus, and doelared that it was made up by balances from last year, which Government called revenue. They had also included tho Sinking Fund set aside undor the Loans to Local Bodies Act, and small sums from other sourcos. Ho predicted that a thorough investigation would show that during last year tho expenditure had oxcoodod the rovonuo by £232,277. A vote of thanks was carried.

Tho Liboral Association of the Wairarapa requests us to deny that they have selected anyone as their candidate. No ono has been yet nominated, and there has been no mooting of tho executive. Tho statement that Mr Fairbrother had been selected is a dodge of the other side to got people who do not like him to pledge themselves for Buchanan. There is some talk, says tho Wairarapa Star, of asking Mr Tanner, of tho South Island, to contest the Wairarapa Boat with Mr W. C. Buclmnan at the comingekdjjtag