THE COMING ELECTIONS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5994, 1 August 1887, Page 4

THE COMING ELECTIONS

SIR JOHN HALL AT LEESTON. | On Saturday evening Sir John Hall addressed the electors of the Selwyn district at the Leeston Town Hall. There was a very crowded attendance. At the cloao o£ a speech lasting more than an hour and a half, the candidate replied to a number of questions, after which, he received a vote of! thanks. The meeting closed with three cheers for Sir Julius Yogel and three for Sir Robert Stout. MR KOLLESTON. Mr Eolleston during the paßb week has addressed meetings of the Rangfitata electors at Memington, Waterton, Willowby, and Wakanni. At each meeting he had unusually good attondancos, and was very favourably received indeed. His Wakanui meeting on Friday evening was attended by about 150 people, Mr James Brown being Chairman. Mr Eolleston spoke for two hours, and was very attentively listened to. At the close of his speech he ■was eubjooted to a severe, but friendly and healthy, cross-examination by many of the veteran . politicians o£ the district, and at the close of the proceedings received a hearty vote of thanka. Mr Rolleston persistently declinea to accept votes of confidence passed at the electors' meetings, holding that they are against the spirit of the ballot. This week he addresses the electors at Chertsoy, Pendarvis, Seafield, Kyle, and other places in the district. THE ASHBURTON ELECTORATE. Mr W. C. Walker, the only candidate a3 yet announced for Ashburton, speaks in the Town Hall of the County town on Tuesday. MR SAUNDERS AT LINCOLN. j Mr Saundera addressed the oleotors of Lincoln at the schoolroom, Springfield, on Friday evening. Mr James Cunningham was called to the chair. In his speech Mr Saunders stated that he is in favour of the present sytem of education. It is cheaply administered, more so than in other Australasian Colonies. He would support the present exemption on the Property-tax. In regard to borrowing Major Atkinson is an apt pupil of Sir Julius Yogel, and ho ia , one who wishes to see the country governed by men other than either of these gentlemen. As to Protection, the amount at present levied throiigh the Customs is quite sufficient. He never proposed to interfere with the salaries of working men. Such earnings were so much added to the happiness and prosperity of the country. Regarding the Midland Railway, it is not in the least danger by putting new men in power. More is to be feared on this account by having either Major Atkinson or Sir Julius Yogel at the head of affairs. From theiv reputed extravagance more economical men than either ia what is wanted. At the conclusion of the address a very large number of questions were asked, occupying over an hour, and answers were given more or lees satisfactory to all of them. A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr Ferguson, was carried, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. MR BARNETT AT AKAROA. Mr W. Barnett addressed the Akaroa electors, at Akaroa, on Saturday ; the Mayor occupying the chair. At the conclusion of the address, in reply to numerous questions, he stated that he thought the Vo'gol Government would not be in long; that the reserves for Eecondary education might bo used for primary education ; that Government aid to High Schools should be "tapered off" till they became private Bchools; that tho retrenchment fie had proposed in education would not be sufficient to provide for tho increasing number of children,; that he favoured the reduction of tho honorarium to JJISO, but not to a guinea a day ; that farmers ought not to pay 2s por 100 for sheep besides Propertytax, though they should pay something for expense of inspection ; that ho would not oppose local option, and would not reduce the duty on whiskey or tobacco j that it was no use for him to pretend to know anything about the totalieator'or the Gaming and Lotteries Act, or various other matters he was questioned on. The question, "If you are not in favour of Atkinson, Stout, or Yogel, whom would you follow ? " elicited loud crioa of " M'Gregor ! " from the audience, but Mr Barnett said that he would not follow Vogol or Stout if they got in. He would not touch the present Customs duties ; he approved of taxes on incomes over .£SOO, would not alter the Property-tax, or tax Chinese. A vote of thanks was given to Mr Barnett for his address, which greatly interested the audience, and was often loudly applauded. A vote of thanks was also given to the Chairman. "NOTHING BUT STOUT-VOGL." Our Springfield correspondent writes : — Political feeling is getting sultry, and it is gradually narrowing into one groove. All the candidates have now addressed the electors, and nothing will go down but Stout-Vogel. Mr Enys, certainly, from the warm personal respect -which he commands in thi3 neighbourhood, would have found large and liberal support, but a fear is entertained that between he and Mr O'Callaghan votea would be divided, and thrown away, thereby allowing Mr Saunders to slip in between. Since Mr Enys declared against the late Government, his chances have been very much lessened, and no hopo is entertained by his friends of his return. On this account, some of his supporters are urging him the advisability of withdrawing from the contest.

Sultan