The Wellington Suburbs Election.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8604, 8 March 1897, Page 2

The Wellington Suburbs Election.

In its report of the stormy meeting accorded to Mr Hislop at Petone on Monday, the New Zealand Times says:—

Mr Hislop went to Petoue last night te explain his connection with the now notorious Mulvaney letter. He entered the hall shortly before 8 o'clock, accompanied by Mrs and Miss Hislop, Mr Bruce, ex-M.H.E., and several friends, and was greeted with tumultuous hooting by the large crowd which had packed themselves into the building. The interval between Mr Hislop's arrival aud his assumption of the platform was taken advantage of by the audience in a demonstrative display, in which good-natured banter alternated the more sinister hooting and tip uipiiij? which proceeded froai all parts pi the hall. One of the audiiac:

created great amusement by producing a pair of stone bottles in the shapes of opera glasses and directing then ostentatiously at the convener oi the meeting whenever opportunity allowed. Some delay was caused by the fact that a eh airmail was not immediately available, rumours of rotteu eggs having militated against the desire for fame which might have actuated any person in accepting the position in the ordinary way. As a matter of fact several well-boiled potatoes were thrown amongst the audience, but they spattered harmlessly against the walls and did no damage. When Mr Hislop, with his chairman and supporters, arrived on the stage, the uproar was deafening, and the chairman (Councillor Findlay), after several fruitless attempts to obtain a hearing, subsided.

Mr Hislop then came forward and attempted to address those present, but his every effort was nullified by-bois-terous exclamations of disfavour from all over the hall. Two or three policemen were present and tried to quieten the interrupters, but their efforts only led to greater uproar. The whole of the people at the rear of the hall, both men and women, were at this time standing on the seats, and some horseplay, which was resented by certain of !)he fair sex present in accents not soft and low, added to the confusion. . .

After further parley, in which Mr Hislop again tried to broach the Mulvaney letter subject, some music-hall artist in the back vigorously proceeded to sing " Still his whiskers grew," and the rest of the audience, having but a cursory acquaintance with the words, time and tune of this ditty, the effort was weirdly incongruous, and was succeeded by a contagious outburst of laughter. The man with the impromptu opera glasses advanced towards the stage at this time and acted in so comical a manner that the audience was convulsed.

Still Mr Hislop stood steadfast, and pluckily kept to his subject. He went on to say something more about the celebrated letter, but those present preferred the " music" and ran off " A bicycle built for two," with a rattling pedal accompaniment A further pause was made while members of the company contributed scraps from a Maori haka, and as that concluded amidst signs of approval and considerable enthusiasm, a small boy gave the first two verses of •' Mary had a little lamb " in so ludicrously pathetic a voice that his hearers laughed till the tears ran down their cheeks.

A voice, bluntly: " Who stole the letter ?"

Mr Hislop : " The letter was never stolen. It was given to Mr Mulvaney for the Premier,"

The voice Premier."

" You are not a

Another: " And never will be."

Mr Hislop: "So much the worse for the country." (Cheers, hooting, and uproar.) A voice : " You thought you had copped a job, didn't you ?" Mr Hislop said Mr "Wilford had said that he was the victim of a trap. (A voice: "Sohe was.") He would explain the whole matter. (Voices: " Why didn't you take your beating like a man ?") Mr Hislop went oil to say that there was no trap. (A voice s " Oh, yes, there was; it was baited with forty quid," and great uproar.)

Mr Hislop, to the speaker: "There is. no doubt you are the most persistent liar I ever met."

The meeting continued with cheers for the Government, groans for Mr Hislop, and general uproar. A proposal for three cheers for Mr Wilford met with a doubtful response. A sympathetic voice called out to Mr Hislop stating that the obstructors were not electors, but hoodlums.

Towards the conclusion, a brawny worker rose in the centre of the hall and called for " Three cheers for Seddon, and one for the Liberal candidato, whoever he may be," a sentiment which met with tumultuous response. Mr Bruce then essayed to address the meeting, and got a fair hearing, and as the reporters withdrew Mr Hislop was endeavoring to make himself heard in proposing a vote of thanks to the chairman.