GENERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6440, 3 December 1881, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

The nomination for South Wellington takes place at the Princess Theatre, Tory-atreet, at noon to-day.

ME P. COFFEY AT THE PEINOES3 THEATEE. The Princess Theatre last evening was densely crowded with electors of South Wellington, and others who were attracted by the announcement that Mr P. Coffey, one of the candidates for the electorate referred to, would address the meeting on the more prominent questions of the day. There were about 400 persons present, including some discordant elements in the form of individuals who make a practice of attending election meetings simply for the purposes either of airing their oratory, or else of creating a disturbance. The chair was occupied by Mr Fraser. Mr Coffey spoke for upwards of an hour, touching upon the principal topics of the day. The candidate, referring to the views of his opponents, waxed facetious, and accused the other candidates of assuming chameleon-like hues with regard to their politics. More, particularly severe was he on the legal gentlemen who sought to be returned to the House of Eepresentatives, and whom he was pleased to designate as “forensic frauds,” who flooded the colony from the North Cape to the Bluff. The candidate again impressed upon his audience that he was one of themselves, and assured them that, if returned, he would do his duty as he had done it in the past at the deliberations of the Harbor Board. Briefly, Mr Coffey touched upon the “burning” questions which at present engross public attention. He expressed himself as being a strong supporter of a free, national, and undenominational system of education. He believed the property tax to have proved itself a “ blight” on colonial industry. He expressed himself in favor of a land tax on a graduated scale, and an income tax, excluding under the latter imposition those whose salaries did not reach £4OO per annum. The candidate went over the ground he has traversed so frequently during the past few weeks, and on resuming his seat was greeted by lusty cheer's, which were somewhat subdued by groans and other marks of disapprobation. ■ Mr Coffey was subjected to a rather severe criticism at the conclusion of-bis remarks, the interrogations, evidently, emanating from nuisances of the Con. Eyan and Carter stamp of ppliticians. On the motion of Mr Mclntyre, a vote of confidence, seconded by Mr E. Davis, was accorded to the candidate, and the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman,

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) OPDNAKE, December 2.

On Major Atkinson addressing the electors last night, a vote of confidence was put, but there was a majority against the motion.

(FROM A OORRtSPONDENT.) Sanson, December 2.

On Wednesday Mr J. G. Wilson addressed the largest meeting of electors ever held in Sanson. Two hundred were present, and the candidate received a vote of confidence and three cheers. On Thursday he addressed the electors at Cambelltown, when there were 80 present, and he received a unanimous vote of confidence and three cheers.