THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 38

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE PREMIER AT HOKITIKA. MR SEDDON'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

A MASTERFUL REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE LIBERAL PARTY.

THE PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE

AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION

Hokitika, November 19

The Hon Mr Seddon addressed a public ■•meeting in the Theatre here, the Mayor in the chair. A number of gentlemen, prominent supporters, were on the platform. Mr Seddon, in referring to last session, spoke of it as one of the most tedious and wearisome he had experienced. In giving an account of his stewardship, he could tell them he had been blamed for doing too much lor the goldfields, and by some he had been blamed for doing too little. Speaking of press criticisms, he said he did not intend to embark in quarrels with those gentlemen, remembering that a soft answer turneth away wrath. It was not for these people to embark in attacks, but to adduce reasons.

WHAT A MINISTRY OF THE PRESENT OPPOSITION WOULD BE LIKE.

Until they could do that he was satisfied the people of New Zealand were with the present'administration. For one reason there was no one to take their places. With a Russell-Stout-Hutchison-Rolleston combination, the politics of the country would bo turned into a veritable bear garden. Sir Robert Stout called himself a land nationaliser ; Captain Russell believed in nothing but a freehold tenure ; their views were as wide asunder as the poles. Their views on finance were as much at variance. He quoted remarks of Sir Robert Stout's, condemnatory of the Atkinson Government (of which Captain Russell was a member). These were delivered in a speech at Napier in IS9O. Yet Sir R. Stout now sided with Captain Russell, solely to get rid of the present Government and to get on the Treasury benches. Mr George Hutchison had charged the Atkinson Government with having collared the sinking funds ; lie now charged the present Government with having seized the sinking funds. He (Mr Hutchison) regretted that Parliamentary terms would not permit him to express his true feelings of the Atkinson Government, of which Captain Russell was a member :hew as now cheek by jowl with Captain Russell, seeking to overthrow the Liberal Party. The Premier stigmatised this as an unholy alliance, and he warned the people of the Colony to be aware of such an

alliance. They were the representatives of the selfish few who in the past had misgoverned the country. A NO-POLICY PARTY. The Conservatives had no policy. They were averse to all change ; they would swallow the whole of the Liberal policy and kick the Government out. They did not find fault with the Liberal tion or the Liberal laws ; they merely objected to the Ministry. He asked whether these man were to be trustod to administer liberal laws men who would strangle it at every opportunity. Captain Russell did not believe in the State control of railways, and he objected to tariffs being lowered m the interest of the people. The Liberal Party had got the railways back, and they must be managed in the interests of the people, and not converted into* mere revenueproducing machines. Captain Russell was an advocate of the property tax : he boasted that he had not changed his views for the last 20 years. Would they hand the administration of this country to a political Rip Van Winkle ? THE LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT ACT. Captain Russell was an opponent of the Lands for Settlement Act. He preferred the large estates being kept intact for the owners and their children whilst the people of New Zealand could leave the counti-y. These were the sort of people he and his friends •were asked to give place to. He maintained this Act was of incalculable benefit to the people. They gave full value for the land, and settled the country. He maintained that, while the quartette who formed the leaders of the Opposition might not repeal the Act, they would never make it operative. During the last throe years of the Conservatives there was depression and dissolution throughout the country, and yet they were asked to go back to that state of affairs. He did not claim that their legislation had been perfect, but they had honestly administered for the benefit of the country, whilst their opponents had administered and legislated for the ben3fitof the few. LIBERAL LEGISLATION. The legislation of the last three years had ■conclusively proved what the Liberal Party had done for the benefit of the country. He referred to the individual Acts passed. With regard to the liquor legislation, it was like their goldfields administration. Some told t-hem they had gone too far ; some said they hail not gone far enough : but he had the courage of his opinions. He held that where liquor Avas sold there should be a control of that sale, but he objected to tyranny and confiscation. He particularly objected to the law with regard to prohibited persons, especially when the publican and his servants did not know tho prohibited persons. In larger towns the bars were placarded with prohibition notices. So bad was the lay/ that at the present time tho Magistrates were frequently loth to convict. The Temperance people were Liberals on most subjects, but on this they were Conservatives. He hoped legislation would be passed which would satisfy both sides. He objected to the restriction on hotels whilst clubs were not interfered with. He enumerated the following list of the legislation of the Liberal Party—legislation which he claimed was in the highest sense to tho benefit of tho people -. Auctioneers Act, codifying and consolidating the law as to auctioneers, and protecting the public by requiring auctioneers to render account sales within fourteen days and to pay the proceeds of sales into a trust account; Partnership Act, codifying the law of partnership ; Promoters' and Directors' Liability .Act 'protecting the public against untrue prospectuses and " wild cat " company promoters by making the directors and promoters personally liable to compensate any person who subscribes for shares on the faith of any such prospectus and suffers damage by reason of any untrue statement therein, also by making liable to imprisonment for upwards of three years any engineer, valuer or other expert who knowingly gives any false certificate, assay, &c.; Employers' Liability Act Amendment Act, extending the

scope of the principal Act to include seamen, I making all contracts void that are in bar of ; the benefits of the Act; Factories Act, to protect children and young persons in j factories by limiting the hours of labour, ! insuring sanitary conditions and securI ing a weekly half - holiday ; Truck Act, requiring all wages to be paid in money and forbidding a set - off for goods supplied by the employer, and otherwise protecting workmen ; Lunatics Act Amendment, for the better protection of lunatics and their property ; Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act, authorising the expenditure of ,£50,000 a year in making roads through unsold lands so as to facilitate and encourage settlement; Coal Mines Act, encouraging the development of the coal mining industry, and making careful provision for the safety of the miners and the efficient working of the mines ; Mining Act, an Act of 363 clauses, consolidating and amending the law as to mines so as to encourage the mining industry, protect the miners, and secure the sanitary condition of the mines ; Legislative Council Act, Liberalising the Council by abolishing the life tenure. 1892 :—Contractors' and Workmen's Lien Act, to secure the payment of money due to contractors and workmen by giving them a lien over the work; Employers' Liability Acts Amendment Act, bringing the Government railways under the operation of the Employers' Liability Act, and affording increased protection to workman; Pactories Act Amendment Act, making fuller provision for improving the sanitary condition of factories and otherwise securing the health and comfort of persons employed therein ; Servants' Registry Offices Act, to protect servants from extortion and oppression by providing a weekiy half-holiday for all shop assistants ; Lands for Settlements Act, to encourage settlement by providing for the compulsory acquisition of private land on equitable terms, and their subdivision and lease on easy conditions ; Native Land Purchases Act, to facilitate settlement by empowering the Crown to purchase Nativo lands, at the same time making provision for tho Native owners ; Native Land (Validation of Titles) Act, to inquire into incomplete dealings and authorise the completion of such as are found to bo fair and reasonable; Mining Act Amendment Act, making further provisions of various kinds in the interest of mining ; Mining Companies Amendment Act, to protect tho public by preventing sharebrokers from becoming directors, requiring half-yearly balance - sheets to be forwarded to the shareholders and empowering the Governor, at the request of shareholders, to order the accounts to be audited by the Government Office ; Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Act, exempting from tax all land and mortgages held by or for friendly societies, savings banks, hospitals and charitable institutions, and the trustees of sinking funds and debts of local bodies, also providing for waiver of the tax in tho case of bankruptcy, or whore its exaction would entail hardship ; 1893—Workmen's Wages Act, to secure to workmen the full payment of their wages by making wages a first charge on moneys clue to, or in tho hands of the contractor, and by giving workmen a remedy against the principal employer to the extent of moneys duo from the employer to the contractor ; Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Act, giving- tho people more effective control over the liquor traffic by making the grant of licenses subject to the vote of the electors: Civil Service Insurance Act, to enforce thrift by deducting a percentage from the salary of each Civil servant, and applying it either in providing life assurance, or in investment wit.i tho Public Trustee until death or retirement from the service ; Land Drainage Act, providing for the drainage of agricultural and pastoral lands by constitution of districts and boards with rating and borrowing powers ; Stock Act, to provide against the introduction and spread of diseases affecting stock ; Cheviot Estate Disposition Act, providing for the settlement of this estate on liberal terms ; Native Land Purchase and Acquisition Act, to provide for the acquisition of waste and unproductive Native lands by the Crown for purposes of settlement, the Natives of any selected area being required either to_ sell to the Crown or to consent to tho land being disposed of by lease under the Land Act, 1892, and due provision being made that the Natives shall receive the proceeds of sale or lease, and also that sufficient land shall be reserved for tho use of the Native owners ; Mining Act Amendment Act, encouraging prospecting and deep level mining by loans of public money on liberal terms, providing for the laying oft" of miningtownships, making subject to tho Alining Acts all leases under the Land Act; Electoral Act, consolidating the law as to election of members of the House of Representatives, and granting special facilities to seauif-ii and commercial travellers by the issue of electoral rights ; Land and Income Assessment Act, exempting from tax all land and mortgages hcid by building societies, also all pensions received by residents in New Zealand from the Crown in Great Pritain or the Government of any British possession, and otherwise amending the Act; Rating Acts Amendment Act, simplifying tho rating law, exempting universities and colleges, providing for half rates ia tho case of houses unoccupied for six months, rating Native lands to the extent of half rates when occupied by Natives, and full rates when occupied under a tenancy from Natives.

1894: —Companies' Accounts Audit Act, to provide for the auditing of accounts of any company by the Audit Office on application to the Governor by a specified majority of shareholders; Foreign Insurance Companies Deposits, affording security to New Zealand insurers by requiring foreign company's to lodge a deposit with the Public Trustee ; Married Women's Property' Act, modifying the law as to separate estate by providing that every contract made by a married woman shall bo deemed to be made with respect to and shall bind her separate estate, whether she possesses separate estate or not at the time she makes th-j contract; Conspiracy Law Amendment Act, abolishing the illegality of combinations of workmen in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute ; Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, to facilitate the settlement of trade disputes by the' formation of industrial unions and associations and the establishment of Boards cf Conciliation and a Court of Arbitration ; Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Act, making bettor provision for tho maintenance of seamen incapacitated through illness or accident, prescribing the minimum number ot hands for vessels on coastal or intercolonial trade, making it compulsory to carry boats and other appliances for saving life, also to mark the loadline ; Dairy Industry Act, making better provision to secure the sanitation of dairies, the purity of milk, and the manufacture of good butter and cheese ;' Government to Settlers Act, to assist settlers by advancing money to them on mortgage at a reasonable rate of

interest. Every loan bears 5 per cent, in- j terest and 1 per cent, sinking _ fund per annum until the whole loan is paid off. Thus, if a settler borrows .£SOO. he pays merely £3O a year for years, and is then entitled to a discharge of his mortgage. He has, moreover, the right to pay off the whole or any part of the loan at any time during the period without being charged any premium or increase of interest. Land for Settlements Act, making further and better provision for the purchase or compulsory acquisition of private lands for settlement ; Native Lands Court Act, consolidating and amending the law as to the Native Land Court, defining and simplifying its practice, and extending its jurisdiction so as to confirm transactions entered into in good faith, prevent fraudulent dealings, and facilitate settlement; Mining Companies Act, consolidating and amending the law so as to prevent fraud and insure good management ; Mining Act, 1891, Amendment Act, to further develop the mining industry by assisting the prospecting of deep levels, also dealing with battery managers' certificates: Mining Districts Land Occupation Act, to promote settlement in mining districts by tho issue of leases of small areas for agricultural or horticultural purposes, subject, however, to all mining rights; Mining Companies Act Amendment Act enabling directors of a company to soil as a going concern if the sale is authorised by the shareholders and approved by the Warden ; Mining Act Amendment _ Act, to further encourage the mining industry' by the grant of extended prospecting licenses over large areas in localities which arc difficult of access, also by the granting of tunnel prospecting licenses giving to persons putting in a tunnel tho right to select ground on each side, also preventing the shepherding of claims by providing for their forfeiture by operation of law if they are not bona fide worked, also requiring foreign companies to provide for the register of transfers of shares in tho Colony. IS95 —Adulteration Prevention Amendment Act, making better provision to prevent adulteration and secure full weight of broad offered for sale ; Pastoral Tenants' Relief Act, to grant relief by remission of rent and sheep rate to pastoral tenants who suffered loss of stock in tho winter of 1895; Native Land Laws Amendment Act, authorising tho limited alienation of Native land to other than tho Crown, and empowering the Public Trustee to make advances to corporate bodies of Native owners to enable thorn to road their land and open it up for settlement; Nativo Townships Act, to promote the settlement and opening up of Native lands by the establishment of townships, the sections to be leased by tho Crown on behalf of the \ Native owners ; Land and Income Assessment Acts Amendment Act, exempting from tax all land and mortgages held by any religious body in trust for the support of aged and infirm members and their widows and children and otherwise amending the Act ; Local Authorities' Loans Conversion Act, empowering local authorities to convert their loans, and requiring the creation of a sinking fund, which is to be held and invested by the Public Trustee.

IS9G—Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, raising and applying £1,000,000 toward tho development of the goldfields, construction of rail ways, acquisition of Nativo laud, and opening up of the health resorts and picturesque portions of the Colony; Alcoholic Liquors Inspection Act, preventing the sale of adulterated liquor ; Asiatic Restriction Act, preventing the influx of Chinese and other Asiatics ; Criminal Code Act Amendment Act, raising the age of consent to 1G ; Factories Act Amendment Act, to check sweating by forbidding work being done outside the factory, also to improve the sanitation of factories and the health of the workers; Female Law Practitioners Act, admitting women to the profession of the law; Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Act, providing for loans for fixed terms without sinking fund, but with the right to pay off in whole or part at any time during the currency of the loan ; Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Act, authorising to water supply districts, making special provision for loans for the construction of bridges, and otherwise widening the scope of the original Act; Government Railways Department Classification Act, classifying the whole of the railway department ; Government Valuation of Land Act, providing for a general valuation of all landed properties in the Colony by Government tho valuations to be kept up to date, and to bo used by local bodies for rating,, and by tho various Government departments tor assessment and lending purposes ; Infant Life Protection Act. preventing baby farming ; Land for Settlements Act Amendment Act, providing for workmen's homes and experimental State farms, the development of lime and coal deposits, and otherwise widening tho scope of the original Act ; Married Persons' Summary Separation Act, simplifying the law as to judicial separation on the application of husband or wife in cases of aggravated assault or persistent cruelty, and providing for tho custody of the children and the support of tho innocent party in auch cases ; Mining Act Amendment Act, making further provision for the resumption of lands for mining purposes, with full compensation to the owners, providing for pure air in dry crushing batteries, and otherwise amending tho law relating to mines; Mining Companies Act Amendment Act, making provision lor foreign companies keeping branch in tho Colony ; Naval and Military Claims Sjf-tlk-Tient and Kxtinguishmont Act, providing for ii f urfcliur investigation of all existing claims with a view to an equitable settlement thereof on the merits, irrespective of technici! objections ; Rating on Unimproved Value Act, to provide that local bodies adopting the Act may rate on the unimproved value, thus exempting all improvements from rates; Registration of People's Claims Act, to ascertain the probable cost of an old age pension fund, and provide for the investigation and registration of claims to the pension ; Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Act, raising the statute of engineers, improving the position of seamen and the equipment of steamers ; Shops and Shop Assistants Act Amendment Act, to bring travelling hawkers under tho Act ; Urewera District Native Reserve let, providing for the local government of tho Urewera country. proposed legislation The following legislation was proposed by the Liberal Party, and would be introduced by them in the next Parliament. In bringing forward this legislation they had to contend with great difficulties through the obstacles placed in their way by the Opposition. Ho could claim, however, that not one of their measures had been repealed. Ho was satisfied that the people of New Zealand supported them, their only difficulty being that they had too many candidates professing Liberal principles, too

many for their own good. He hoped, for the benefit of the Liberal Party, there would not be so many of these selfish Liberals. He was satisfied they would never have complete representation until they had a second ballot. As to their proposals, he was strongly in favour of Imperial trade reciprocity, and would assist this, and as much as possible throw trade in the way of the Mother Country. It had been said that the present Government was opposed to the higher education. This was not so, but he held that the provision for higher education was defective. There should be State students, by which the brighter students could gradually mount up until they went through the university course at the expense of the State. The endowments given to universities were devoted to the advantages of a select few. At present the Auckland University got a grant of .£4OOO a year, of which the wealthier classes got the benefit. The next question was the reform of the Legislative Council, which was not in touch with the people, as witness tneir action with regard to the age of consent. He would be prepared to submit proposals for reforming the Council by the abolition of life tenure. With regard to the Referendum, he had not supported it at first, but had modified his views, specially in view of the friction with the Legislative Council, and would bring a Bill in next session enunciating this principle. Ho was strongly in favour of, and would press forward, a Bill reforming local government. They had too many local bodies, all performing functions which could be performed by one. With regard to charitable aid, he held that the Government, which contributed largely, should be properly represented, especially by extending the franchise. He also favoured the appointment of lady visitors and inspectors, who should assist in exercising control, in the larger cities particularly. There was a necessity for dealing with juveniles depravity. Matters had been brought before the Government which pointed to the absolute necessity for restrictive measures. They at first proposed to hand this matter over to the police, but on representations being made by women's leagues, he paused and now concluded it was absolutely necessary that the women should have control. An Eight Hours Bill was an absolute necessity, in viow of the frequent efforts made to break through the custom. If it was a recognised custom there was no harm in making it the law. This was one other matter in which the Council was not in touch with the people. The Master and Apprentice Bill was another measure urgently requiring attention. The Master and Apprentice Bill would provide for payment at the start of an apprenticeship, and the signing of a contract to teach the trade or calling. This might be called Socialistic, but it was an urgent necessity. The Private Benefit Societies Bill was another matter of grave importance. They introduced a Bill dealing with this matter, but it was rejected by the Council, where employers were largely represented. The Government would persist in endeavouring to repeal the Private Benefit Societies Bill. The wages protection legislation required further extension to prevent the compulsory insurance which was a defiance of the expressed wish of the Parliament, and he would see that it was not permitted. Government would take what steps were necessary to give effect to their cheap money scheme. It had been said that they did not get sufficient security, but he could tell them that they got £225 worth of security for every £IOO, but of the £300,000 lent under the Act the people of this country were now effecting a saving of =£14,000. In some places as much as 80 per cent interest was charged. The Government would insist on having the rate of interest made not more than 8 per cent. The Council had opposed this in the past, but the Government would still enforce the measure. The old age pension proposals would also be brought forward. They said that when old people, men and women, reached 05 years of ago and had been 20 years in the Colony, they should demand as a right from the State the small sum of ten shillings per week. It had been said the rich would not ask for this pension, but he could say they would be the first to go for it. However, he would take care that they did not possess the opportunity. He hoped next session to see the old age pension scheme on the Statute Book. He believed this would be effected for ,£250,000 a year. At present they paid £OO,OOO for a system of charitable aid under which they were breeding paupers. He would never rest till this old age pension scheme was given effect to. He had told them he had been blamed for not doing enough for the goldfields, but in tne other districts they were told they were doing too much. They had already made provisions for deep bore prospecting, but these had not been availed of. When they had large alluvial deposits th'jre should not be a selfish policy. He respected existing rights, but if the offer was not availed of, other means should be adopted by the formation of a mining council apart altogether from companies. \ Geological maps and greater facilities ; for te-ting m norals were also necessary, j In concluding, Mr Seddonsaid he was opposed j to setting class against class, but ho would j never consent to the affairs of the country being handed over to laud monopolists. He j finished a thrilling peroration by a well- | known quotation of Emerson the speech j lasting three hours. _ i Jn answer to a question, Mr Seddon said he ' would do his utmost to bring about a«i j

amalgamation and consolidation of !no:u q-overnmeuts. A votd of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, and the meeting closed with cheers i'or Mr and Mrs deddon.

Hokitika, November 20. In the course of his speech here (of which a report was telegraphed last night), the Premier, speaking with reference to the Midland Railway, said nothing further had been done, and settlement was still retarded. At the same time, they were going on with the line, and the Company had made the first payment. vVhether they would continue paying he could not say. He could only urge that it would not be wise to depart from the railway construction, but in connection with this matter he had been attacked by the press, even of Westland, and it had been said that it was a sorry day when Mr Ballauco took him in the Ministry. His action in that respect had been amply vindicated by the award of tho arbitrator, but the press had not retracted its charges or apologised. However, the resolution of thanks of the House to Sir Robert Stout and himself was a sufficient vindication. He regretted that time did not permit him to deal fully with all questions, especially the charges made against the Government. The unfortunate Sergeant-at-Arms had been trotted put on all conceiv-

able occasions. It had now been discovered that the Sergeant-at-Arms was not a Civil servant at all, and that the Disqualification Act did not apply. This was made clearly apparent when Parliament voted a retiring grant of £ISOO to the chief reporter of Hansard. The Government had been charged with seizing the sinking funds. The Atkinson Government, according to Mr Hutchison, collared the sinking funds. Since the passing of the Act, no balance-sheet of the Atkinson Government was made up without the addition of sinking funds. So far as finances of the present Government were concerned, they had surpluses of £BOO,OOO, and of this only £90,000 and .£30,000 came from the sinking funds. As to sinking funds of local bodies, they had never touched them. The fund was still in the hands of the Commissioners, butihey had drawn debentures against it. The Atkinson Government had not provided these funds at all. They had not taken them because they had ot put them there to take. It had been urged against the Government that their policy and administration was having the effect of reducing the prices of the securities of the Colony at Home. The reverse was the case, as the quoted prices would show. With regard to the Customs, he could repel the statements that the Customs increases were caused by the new tariff. Of an increase of £102,000, fully £30,000 came from sources which had never been touched, such as tobacco, cigarettes, etc. He could tell them he was opposed to setting class against class, but he would never consent to the affairs of the country being handed over to land monopolists. He had opponents even in this district. He wondered how they would like Mr Rolloston again as Minister for Mines. But for the injury to the country, he would like to see how they would got on with a term of the Conservatives in office. He strongly opposed the policy which would place the large land-owners of this country in the condition of the big proprietors at Home, and the poorer people like the unfortunate crofters of the Highlands of Scotland, or the peasantry of Ireland, who had been driven from their country owing to the large land-owners. He asked them if they wished to see a repetition of the Irish eviction scenes. He referred to the banking legislation, and stigmatised tho prosecution of his friend Mr Ward as a descent to the American system of ruining a man privately because of his political principles. He concluded a thrilling peroration by a well-known quotation of Emerson —tho speech lasting three hours. The meeting was most enthusiastic. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, and the meeting closed with cheers for Zlv and Mrs Seddon.

Ross, November 20

The Premier addressed meetings of his constituents at Kanier', Bimu and Ross today, receiving unanimous votes of thanks and confidence. At each place visited he was cordially received, and presented with an address of welcome. In response to an invitation from the people of Westport, the Premier purposes addressing a meeting there on Monday next.

KdmabA, November 22

A pleasing ceremony took place at Arahura on Saturday afcernoon, when the Hon Mr Seddon, at tho invitation of the Natives of that locality, visited their pa on his way back from Ross, and was presented with tho following address of welcome : Arahura, 21st November, 1890. —The Hon Mr Seddon. — Dear and honoured friend, —On this, the occasion of your visit to us, we beg to afford you the heartiest welcome, also Mrs Seddon and family. We all think that as long as you have been in power you have done the very best you could do for tho Maori race. We thank you very much for all that you have done, and trust that in the future you will, if you can do so, endeavour to take away those disabilities under which wo now suffer. We all feel that, inasmuch as education has progressed to the extent it has, wo aro entitled and are quite capable to manage our own affairs. Again welcoming you in tho heartiest manner, we sincerely trust that you and Mrs Seddon and the whole of your family will enjoy the greatest health and happiness that it is in our power to wish you. With these few words, we beg to subscribe ourselves your affectionate friends.

This was signed by Eli Tuhuru, P. George Tauwhare, Tipare Miehana, and the other adults of the hapu. The Premier having suitably replied, he was then abked to christen the new hall which is being built on modern lines for meeting purposes at the pa. A bottle of wine was broken, and the building named Tairua. After lunching with the Natives, the Premier proceeded to Kumara, where he addressed a large meeting in the evening, receiving a unanimous vote of thanks and renewed confidence. The meeting concluded with three cheers for Mr Seddon and tho Government. Westport, November 23.

The Premier addressed a crowded meeting at the Victoria Theatre this evening, and received a splendid hearing. The speech was practically a repetition of those delivered at other places. At the conclusion of the address, a vote of thanks was carried with acclamation. The Mayor presided.

Tin; Premier loaves by the tug for Greymouth to-night, whence he proceeds overland to Christchurch.

Mr Hogsr has this week boon meeting with splendid receptions from the electors in the lui.sh districts of tho Mastercm electorate (writes ;i correspondent). Alter his meeting's

;,..: .-. k'r.d -<>:i. Newman and t'm lir.-.umea Valic-y. ne proceeded to the scene of '.be cooperative works at Hukunai and addressed two mass meetings. The first was at Mr Hart Udy's sawmill, where a large body of mill operatives assembled and passed a unanimous vote of confidence. At the second meeting on the railway line there were between 50 and GO co-operative workers, who, at the suggestion of Mr Hogg, passed a resolution protesting against the employment of the police as Government labour agents, and afterwards gave the candidate a hearty and unanimous vote of confidence. In the evening he drove out to Bull Tail, a new and rising settlement, where he had a most favourable reception from some 50 residents, who almost completely filled the small schoolhouso. Mr Hislop addressed a large meeting of electors in the Oddfellows' Hall, Lower Hutt, last week, Mr W. H. Fitzherbert being in the chair. At the conclusion of the address, Mr George proposed a vote of thanks to and confidence |in Mr Hislop. Tho motion was carried almost unanimously, there being only a couple of dissentients. la che afternoon, Mr Hislop met a number of ladies in Ngahaulanga, when a committee was formed for the purpose of working in his interest.

A purse of sovereigns has baen presented by his old constituents of Buller to Mr R. McKenzie, who is a candidate for Motueka, this election.