CAPTAIN RUSSELL'S CHARGES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2239, 28 January 1897, Page 7

CAPTAIN RUSSELL'S CHARGES.

WsiLiKSTOK, JanuarySl. At a social to tho Hon. T. W. Hislop' Cap. tain Russell was present, and referred to tha statement attributed to him at Rongotia. He said he was not so foolish as to say any registrar of eleotoro had told him he (the registrar) had put on men in order to canvass against himself. What he did say, and what he repeated, was that he found in his own electorate there were certain persons canvassing the electorate against himself. He was told there men were receiving Government pay for their work, and he went to the registrar of electors and asked him if there were certain pßraons receiving Government pay going round the country canvassing votero. The registrar said : " No, they are not going round the country canvassing voters, but going round to got names on the electoral roll." fle asked the names of these persom, and was told the names of three known to everybody in his district as three of his most vigilant and active political opponents. He asked the registrar, "Are these men paid?" and the Registrar replied that- they were paid by instructions signed " Hugh Pollen, Undersecretary," at the rate of 15a for horsemen and 8s a day for men. He had since been charged with grosi inaoouracy for saying men received 15s a day. He ought to have eaid 8s per day and 7s extra for riding their own horses. As a matter of fact he understood there were also other ■ person* employed.