POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 32

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE PREMIER AT HUNTERVILLE. SPLENDID RECEPTION. ANNOUNCEMENT OP A GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE FOR PATEA. Special to the New Zealand Mail. Hunteeville, November 4. This afternoon the Premier visited the cooperative works at Mangaweka and Ohin-g-aiti, and in the evening addressed a most enthusiastic meeting here of some four or five hundred electors, receiving an almost unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. An amendment of thanks only was supported ,by a show of five hands. Pinging cheers were given for Mr Seddon. At the close of the meeting the Premier announced that, as a result of a conference of the Liberals throughout the district, it had been decided to support Mr A. J. Parsons as the Liberal Government candidate for the Patea electorate. THE OLD GAME OF BLUFF.

Our evening contemporary seems very rnueh exorcised in respect to the candidature of Mr A. J. Parsons for the Patea seat. The evident ' desire to create a doubt as to his standing goes far to prove that the worst is feared, and this will be very cheering -Indeed to Mr Parsons. That gentleman Massed through Wellington on his way to Ohristchurch on Saturday evening, and was very much amused on reading the paragraph which appeared in the columns of the Post. He was hoard to remark, " They should not f-ry before they are out of the wood. I have not given my old West Coast friend tbo Premier a rebuff as yet." The secretary of the Liberal Association has received a communication from Mr Parsons that he will visit Hunterville immediately on hi 3 return from Christchurch. There is not much of a rebuff in that. Time •will tell.

Mr H. D. Bell notifies that he will not be a candidate for the suffrages of the cizizens at the coming general election, and takes the opportunity of returning thanks for the support received by him from the constituency during the past three years. Writes our Wauganui correspondent :—The Hon Mr Seddon was in Wanganui on Tuesday on his way to Halcombe, where he addressed a large meeting. Mr Seddon speaks very confidently of his party's prospects at the .coming election. The gentleman who did duty as chairman at Mr Boswiek's meeting (says the Christchurch Star) will do well to consult an oculist without a moment's unnecessary delay He is smitten with the blindness of thosowho *'on't see. Avery large majority indeed I'ully three to one—voted against the proposed vote o£ confidence, but Mr Waymouth calmly declared the motion carried. Eminently worthy, that, of Conservative tactics. , . „ ~ _. It is an unfortunate thing for Mr Pirani that he cannot conceal his disappointment at not having received an offer of a seat in the Cabinet. In season and out of season he returns to the. subject until those who know his political career and how much ho owes to the present Ministry are thoroughly disgusted with his winning about the construction of the present Cabinet. Of course, in choosing men to work with him, the Preznier had to have an eye to the eternal fitness of things—and that precluded the possibility of Mr Pirani being chosen. Lhe Premier arrived from the North on Thursday, having addressed an enthusiastic meeting at Hunterville on the previous evenEn"- when a vote of coniidenee in him and his Government was carried, amid loud cheers. The voting among the members of the Dunedin branch of the National Conservative Association for the selection of candidates for that city resulted in Messrs Scobie Mackenzie, A. C. Begg and H. S. Fish being selected Think of it ! Scobie Mackenzie, A C and H. S. Fish ! Truly politics like poverty, makes men acquainted with queer bedfellows. What a delightful political Mr John Duthio, requisitioned to stand for Wollino-ton city, announces that circumscances~\vill not permit him to do so. _ At a meeting of the Women s Christian Temperance Union last week, Sir Robert Stout and Mr &.. R. Atkinson were chosen aa the candidates to receive the Union's support

at the general election. The selection of the third candidate was left in abeyance. It was decided to hold a prayer meeting the day before the election.

At a meeting of Mr J. Hutcheson's Executive Committee last week, it was decided to engage the Alhambra Hall for Mr J. Hutcheson to address the Newtown electors. The following committee was set .up to take charge of the various wards : —Thorndon, Mrs Schoch, Messrs A. Collins and W. Hutchison ; Te Aro, Mrs H. B. Mason, Messrs R. McKenzie and J. L. Varlow ; Clyde quay, Mrs Dobie, Messrs G. Harris and W. P. McGirr : Newtown, Mrs Tasker and Mr P. Seott; Upper Willis street and Wordsworth street, Messrs O'Brien, Richardson and A. Orr. The Executive have decided for the future to meet every Monday evening in the Trades Hall at 8 o'clock, when the sub-committees are requested to hand in their reports. Mr H. A. Field addressed a fairly large attendance of ladies at the Upper Hutt on Friday afternoon, and dwelt on most of the leading questions of the day. Mrs G. Wilkins was in the chair, and at the conclusion a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried. Mr H. A. Field addressed a crowded meeting of Mungaroa electors at the Wallaceville School on Thursday evening. The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr Fai~y and seconded by Mr Gorrie. Mr Field spoke at Belmont on Tuesday and at Wainui-o-mata on Wednesday. He will speak at Levin on Thursday, at Manakau on Friday and Te Horo on Saturday next. The troubles of a candidate for Parliamentary honours aro many. Mr Wilford addressed a meeting of ladies at Kaiwarra on Friday afternoon, the 39 present forming themselves into a committee to secure his return. He then caught the train to the Lower Hutt, addressed a crowded meeting there, presided over by Mr J. Cudby, J.P., receiving a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence on the motion of Messrs Collett and Welsh. Proceeding afterwards to the school children's concert at Petone, he sang, and was encored.

Some surprise has been expressed and no little curiosity aroused owing to the absence from the columns of the New Zealand Times of any report of the speech made by Sir Robert Stout at the Opera House. So far as this journal is concerned it was not informed either by Sir Robert or any of his followers that any meeting was to be held ; therefore we were not in a position either to attend or report it. We believe this is the first occasion on which the scant courtesy of an invitation to a seat on the platform has been denied a public newspaper, and it serves to show to what a depth of political degradation Sir Robert Stout and his fsllowers have descended. The boycott was instituted by Sir Robert Stout and his committee—not by the New Zealand Times.

In this same connection it may be as well to state that Dr Newman and Sir Robert Stout are completely under the thumb of that fanaticism which finds expression in the Prohibition movement. The Prohibitionists have declared a boycott against the New Zealand Times. Sir Robert and Dr Newman have been forbidden to use our columns. It is only a further proof of the spirit which really actuates these people. If they only had the power everyone who dared to differ from them would be made to feel the tyranny of these contemptible Pecksniffs. We have merely stated the facts to place the matter in its true light before the public. We despise the conduct of the boycotters, as indeed every true man and woman in the community will do.

Woodville, November 4.

The Liberal delegates have just chosen Mr O'Meara to represent the Pahiatua electorate. The voting was—J. O'Meara, 28 ; N. W. McCardle, 15 ; Dawson, 2. Westport, November 4. Mr P. O'Regan addressed a crowded meeting at the Victoria Theatre this evening, His Worship the Mayor presiding. The speaker was listened to attentively throughout, and at the conclusion of his speech, which lasted an hour and twenty minutes, was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, but a large majority of the audience refrained from voting. Auckland, November 4.

Mr R. Thompson, of Whangarei, addressed the electors at Maungatapere. After reviewing the work of the session, he was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Mr A. H. Mason is an Opposition candidate. Henare Kaihau, the well-known chief of Waiuku, intends standing for the Western Maori electorate at the approaching general election. Ho has received the support of the young Waikato "King," Mahuta, in the official Kingito journal, Paki o Matariki, published at Mangakawai. Auckland, November 5. A requisition has been presented to Mr Theo, Cooper by 1029 electors soliciting him to stand for the city. Auckland, November S. Mr S. Von Sturmer is withdrawing from the contest for the Parnell electorate. Mr G. H. Holland addressed the city electors and got a vote of thanks and confidence. Dunedin, November 4. S. L. Brooks, who was at one time a wellknown pedestrian, whose candidature for Caversham is generally regarded, except by himself, as a joke, addressed a meeting at South Dunediii this evening. He was subjected to a good deal of banter, and at the close was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. Dunedin, November 5.

Mr W. Hutchison addressed the electors of the city this evening. In dealing with the work of the session ho condemned what the Government had done all along in connection with banking mutters. He spoke in support of the other policy measures, and if re-elected he would support the Seddon Ministry. He would not follow Sir Robert Stout. A vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously carried, coupled with a request that he should again contest the city. Christcrurch, November 4. Mr M. Donnelly, one of the National Association candidates for the city, addressed a large meeting to-night. He declared himself in favour of the land policy of the present Government, but thought the money spent in advances to settlers would have been better spent in th. 9 resumption of land for settlement. He approved of the labour legislation, but thought the law relating to the recovery of wages ineffective, and should be simplified. He approved of the banking legislation. He recommended a bonus for the best Old Ago Pension scheme. He disapproved of an Elective Executive, the demand for which had arisen on account cf the autocratic behaviour of the Premier, who should be displaced. He opposed Prohibition, and was in favour of education grants to private bodies who complied with the requirements of the Education Act. A vote of

thanks was carried, but a large propoition of the audience did not vote.

Hastings, November 5

Mr A. L. D. Fraser's chances of winning the Hawke's Bay seat are improving every day, and promises of support are coming from most unexpected quarters. The Premier speaks here early next week, and it is understood another Minister will follow later on. Havelock, November 5.

Yesterday afternoon Mr Mills, M.H.R., was presented with a handsome illuminated address in appreciation of his past services to this portion of the electorate, which is now cut off from Wairau. Mr Duncan made the presentation, and Mr Graham, M.H.R., also spoke. In the evening Mr Mills delivered a farewell political address to his Havelock constituents.

Gisborne, November 5

Mr C. A. Fitzßoy, the Opposition candidate for Waiapu, addressed the electors here last night, and received a vote of thanks. Danevirke, November 6.

Mr C. Hall, M.H.R., addressed the electors of the Waipawa district here last evening, and received a vote of thanks and confidence.

Invercargill, November 6

Mr John Sinclair, Mayor of Invercargill, who is a candidate for the Parliamentary seat, addressed the electors in the theatre to-night, the building being crammed. He declared himself a supporter of the present Government. His speech occupied an hour, but a good many questions were asked, and the meeting was at times somewhat noisy. A vote of confidence in Mr Sinclair and also in the Government was passed. Westport, November 8. Messrs O'Regan and Colvin are addressing meetings throughout the Buller electorate. The former is a supporter of the Government, and the latter an Independent Liberal. They are the only candidates for the Buller seat. At a public meeting held last night for the purpose of showing Mr R. McKenzie some recognition for the services rendered by him while representing this district in Parliament, it was resolved that a banquet be given him, and that the Mayor, accompanied by such of Mr McKenzie's friends as desire to be present, wait upon him prior to his departure on his Motueka election tour and thank him on behalf of this district for his valuable services during the past three years. It was also resolved that an address be presented to Mr McKenzie.

Mr McKenzie has addressed meetings at Karamea and Mokihinui in the Motueka electorate and left for Nelson to-day. Major Franklyn is now at Mokihinui. Dunedin, November 9.

Mr James Green addressed the electors at Port Chalmers on Saturday, _ adversely criticising the policy and administration of the Government. A. vote of thanks and confidence was declared carried by the chairman, who took no notice of an amendment expressing indignation at Mr Green endeavouring to get the name of the Chalmers electorate changed.