The Premier's Tour.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8957, 5 December 1905, Page 1

The Premier's Tour.

By Telegraph. i (From Our Own Correspondent.) I Dunedin, December 4. i There is no doubt that the Premier's j visit- to the South and his stirring addresses have had the effect of hardening j up the Ministerial following:. It onlv needed that Mr Seddon should speak ! in Dunedin on the eve of the battle, a;, was his desire, to have made his southern j campaign noteworthy and a complete su-- I cess, tip to Saturday he was extrem-H-; hopeful that he might have addressed a mass meeting in the city either in the ; Garrison Fall or the Princess Theatre. In:* j Mr Millar was so determined to win T)»v>- ! edin Central off his own bat that the id"-' .' had to be abandoned. It is understood that both Mr Arnold and Mr Barclay wei'content to have cried off their engagement for this evening but, as the programme could not he carried out, Mr Seddon betook himself to Port. Chalmers, where w assistance was needed, since Mr E. ('- Allen is confident of winning by a eN"margin. But even there a spirit of mischief was abroad and Mr Gibb, whom •' will take all bis time to save his deport, tried to be clever by holding for to-nigh! the only two available halls in the m:-h> borough. The Mayor of Port Chalrrc--however, was equal to the occasion, and promptly commandeered the railway sherN which are lighted electrically and can hoM nearly 2500 people. There the Prem ; e? to-night is addressing one of the largest and most enthusiastic political gatherings ever held in the Port. But the echoes of that great meeting will not penetrate into the far corners of Dunedin North or o f Central as a Garrison Hall speech might be expected to have done. The Ministerialists are sanguine of capturing the three city seats, and even Mr Barclay's friends are now "cocky." There is-' nn I doubt that the voucher business and the I tactics of the New Liberals have done Mr Bedford much harm, hut the indications of I discontent are not apparently sufficiently strong to discount! the solid backing- of prohibitionists, church followers, and sectional adherents, who have swarmed round him on all his platforms; added to which is the hearty Opposition vote which has always heen located in the best residential area in Dunedin. If the Labor-Liberal element in North Dunedin asserts itself in its full strength on Wednesday Mr Barclay must win. If, however, many persons, women especially, refrain from voting because dissatisfied with the choice, of candidates offered to them, then Mr Bedford will he returned. In Dunedin Central, though the prohibitionists are making this contest a real test of strength; against the trade, I fancy, when the numbers go up, that the solid work done by Mr Mili lar and the favor with "which the commercial classes regard him will J>e potent facI tors in securing his re-election, though it, will be a narrow margin. Thai ;there is some measure of disaffection against Mr L Arnold admits of no question, but it is

i difficult to trace its origin, lie a steadfast upholder of Lib principles, and therefore stands the unionists, but. the prohibiti disaffected because, be lias not nor countenanced their '"rallies." other hand the. trade, which is this part of the city, may lie on to give him a compensating vi of tho easiest seats are Cavershat JSidey and Taieri for Mr Keid. w I sonal popularity is undiminishct Hnico Mr Alien will retain his Mr -Mason has been making st I headway during the week and, In ! single-tax proclivities, would ha a closer light of it. These and 1 towards Socialism, pure and undih the. betes noires of the small fa lluiha. The ptoh.ihilitics arc Daniel Stewart will just win on i'ron; Mr Malcolm. Both are pro! ists. I mt the latter is tile more pro ami. if returned, would be a tlevo iower of Mr Tommy Taylor, being after his heart. The purchase of vale Kstate and the retention in t of .Mr Hoy, who will take a mil farmers' votes from Mr Malcolm, factors in the determination of (1 test. At Tuapolca Mr Helmet's pos generally acknowledged to be abi safe, and the commencement of tli rence-Roxhurgh railway will inere majority of 66 three years ago to 1 200 and 300. Reports to band sn Mr Gilfeddor has sirong backing around Cromwell, but. Mr Eraser's rities will come from the Lake ai

Hiver.sdale ends of the constituency, remain staunch. Mr Thomas Mat r=!jo111 (I have a. substantial majority fo: kouaiti. The contest around which r interest i.s concentrated is that for Ida. concerning which most conflicti ports are in circulation, but a- carefu l-.-sis in anticipation warrants me in i thai the. key of the position is held < side of the range between the Kal and Nasehy. Ojnakau, Blacks, and ( and the districts which are crying 01 iho unlocking of the lands, will ral Mr Maepberson on account of the Gc menl taking over Blackstonc Hill Xaseby and tho Maniotolo Plain swe .Mr rierdman, and the candidate who heaviest in and around Droitroon wi Kuredlv get the seat. One reliable, est shown me gives Mr Macpherson a ma of 150: another gives .Mr Ilordman a l rity of 60. I expect the Ministerial didate to win because there i.s the s inducement that Mr Macpherson pre ties Literalism and that close settle moans doing for Naseby what it hat eomplished for Oamaru. The no-license campaign is in full sv and is productive of some degree of terness. The prohibitionists held { meetings yesterday, and to-night have door rallies in front of the Town I while the trade's representative is hoi forth at the Princess. The latter is eiised of unauthorised and unwarrant use of the names of eminent divinei the Presbyterian Church, to which ho self belongs, and mischief is brewing that account. Open-air meetings arc ti the order of the night to-morrow, an novelty is to be furnished in the si of a. mass meeting of women at which possibility of "revelations" are vag hinted at. It is greatly regrettable that ling day was not a, week earlier, as tlieatr phero is decidedly electric at present, an< explosion may take place- at any momi Both newspapers have strong articles t ing on the sober sense and calm judgiv of the community to assert itself and j vent serious financial disaster to the > as well as to avoid economic disloeati Prohibitionists are sanguine of victory 1 though I expect reduction to be carri [ don't, anticipate that the top lino i be struck out to the extent it was tli years ago. If the contrary should hap] then it goes without saying that the vn that can accomplish such a. result must .successful in electing Messrs Adams ; Bedford, who are the chief exponents the extreme temperance sentiment. Tl prohibition will bo carried in Bruce, CI mcrs, Waikonaiti, and Oamaru is genera acknowledged as highly probable, 1 f'aversham, Taieri, Tuapeka, and Wal tipti are expected to decide in favor continuance, though the trade will win very narrow majorities in Taieri and Tt peka.