Okaramio.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 86, 25 November 1890, Page 2

Okaramio.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Mr Hursthouse addressed a well attended and orderly meeting in the Okaramio School-room on Saturday evening, Mr G. Watson was voted to the Chair, and after making a few rani arks, introduced the candidate. Of course the major pcjctiop of the address was the same as tliap delivered at othe'r places.’ Al ! thoftgh the’ address was very ably delivered, tile most of those wbV attended the meeting' have djaappomlnient-at! several of

the short-sighted and one-sided views held by the candidate. Further several of his statements clashed one with the other, and showed a want of due deliberation on the part of the speaker. His remarks, for instance, as to the true position of the colony and the existing depression, which he maintained was put right by the Atkinson Ministry, but Mrs Grundy wants to know if reducing wages and inflicting heavier taxes and driving the best colonists out of the country can be called improvement, then, if so, she can understand it. Amongst other matters Mr Hursthouse did not forget to condemn the colonial beer, but thought the quality much better on this side of the dividing range from Nelson, but if returned to Parliament would endeavour to have the liquid analysed. Referring to the single-tax he admitted ignorance, and at present could not grasp its importance, but if the meeting wished to know all about it he would refer them ] to John Godfrey of Picton, who had 1 promised to make him the Premier of New Zealand within three years if he, Mr Hursthouse, would only become a convert to his views. (What will Johnny say about this?) Mr Hursthouse is at one with Mr Mills as to the importance of Picton and its requirements, as well as other local matters that require attention at the hands of the successful candidate whoever he may be, but in reply to several questions put by the meeting Mr Hursthouse distinctly stated that in his opinion the Union Steamship Company should be exempt from taxation. He also stated that he had assisted in framing laws, during the time he was a member of Parliament that he never understood, or that few could comprehend. When questioned on the Catholic question, could see the justice of the demand made by them, and would support it, hut if any other denomination could produce the same results, and as just a claim for assistance at the hands of the Government, he would not support it, as it would be the means of breaking up the present schools. Further, the Catholics had a further claim on account of their difference of religious belief. Of course poor old Lady Grundy could not see through all this catch-vote business, and wanted to know from the candidate if there were two roads to Heaven. I presume she meant one for the Catholics, and the other for the Protestants, this caused a little amusement. I must just add that Mr Mills, when questioned on the same point, admitted that if other denominations could at any time put forward the same claim as that now set forward by the Catholics, he would support it so long as it did not interfere with the country schools. We have reason in this as well as justice, but in the other we have none. If one sect must be allowed to burst up our Government schools on account of religious differences, why not the others do the same, and on the other hand if our legislators are satisfied that the Catholics have a just claim, let them grant it by all means—but the injustice set forth by Mr Hursthouse has lost him a number of votes here. To sum up his address in a few words I may say, with Mrs Grundy, that it was a disappointment, and the meeting closed by Mr Hornby proposing, and Mr T. O’Sullivan seconding a vote of thanks to the candidate for his address, and a further vote of thanks to the chairman by Mr Hursthouse, closed the meeting. I have been informed that the Rev. F. Whitmore Isitt, of Nelson, will deliver one of his many popular lectures in the Atheneum Theatre, Havelock, on Thursday evening. Those who have heard him, speak in glowing terms of his ability. We have no doubt that he will have a crowded house, as the newspapers all speak very highly of the above-named gentleman.