MR HOULAHAN'S LECTURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2045, 4 May 1893, Page 23

MR HOULAHAN'S LECTURE.

A lecture was given in the Ciby Hall last night by Mr Houlahan on " Landlords, Land Rings, Banks, and Pawnshops." Tho Hon. W. M. Bolb presided, and bhere were aboub 100 persona present.

The Chairman, in introducing Mr Houlahan, said that so loDg as there was occasion for meetings to discuss the subject of his lecture, he would be willing to give every aid to anyone who wanted to express his opinions on the subject. Mr Houlahan, before commencing his lecture, said he never had the honour of knowing the chairman until that very day. He was proud to have been inbroduced to him, and he trusted that the more they knew one another the better they would like one another. The hon. gentleman was just like all his countrymen, who were always willing to fight for justice and what was right ; and he thought the people of Dunediu owed a doep debt of gratitude to the present Government, who had pnb the hon. gentleman where he ought to have been long ago. This statement elicited from the audience loud laughter and applauso. The lecturer then proceeded to say, in an apologetic tone, that it was not according to the rules of etiquette to praise a man to his face, although the people of the sounfcry fcfaab he came from got the credit of being able to " tip bhe blarney a bit." Mr Houlahan then went on with the subject of his lecture, which was, for the most part, practically a repetition, of the lecture given by him in the same place in December last. As on the previous occasion, his remarks gave rise to a considerable amount of merriment. In referring to the question of a State bank, which bulked largely in bis discourse, he urged that it should be made a test question at the next general election, and that those candidates for parliamentary honours who were uot iv favour of tho State controlling the currency should be black-balled by the electors. He also intimated that he intended, during tho

next six months, to bring the matter more prominently before the publio. In alluding to the evils arising from the existence of landlords, land rings, banks, and pawnshops in the colony, the lecturer, in a tone of indignation, observed that he was an old man, but he would be prepared to shoulder his rifle in defiance of what ■had been done by these men and institutions. During the delivery of the lecture, Mr Houlahan took occasion to refer frequently to the Government, whom he warmly eulogised. He hoped the Government, who were against landlords, land rings, and pawnshops, would carry out the policy of the late Premier, and he thought that the Hon. Richard SedHon, who, he stated, was an old colleague of his in a mining claim, w.ould have the stamina to do it. He deplored the loss to the country of such men as Mr James Macandrew, the Hon. J. Bathgate, and Captain Fraser, and asked why their sons, who had high qualifications for being in Parliament, did nob come forward and endeavour to carry out the reforms thab bhe gentlemen mentioned advocated. If he were in the position of having 20 good men at his back in the House he would soon see thab we had a State bank in New Zealand, and that other reforms to which he had referred were carried out. After speaking for about an hour, Mr Houlahan intimated that he did not know that he had done well that night ; but he had done his best, and what more could be expected of him? The audience, however, manifested a strong desire for the lecturer to continue his remarks, but he could nob be prevailed upon to address them any further. He, however, consented, after some persuasion, to sing them an Irish song, which wa« vociferously encored, but nob responded bo, Mr Houlahan apparently being somewhat exhausted with his evening's work. Before bhe audience dispersed, on bhe mobion of Mr Speaes, seconded by Mr J. F. M. Fraser, bhe lecburer was accorded a hearby vote of thanks for his "able and lucid address."