RAETIHI NOTES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11725, 28 November 1905, Page 3

RAETIHI NOTES.

(FrDin o:ir own correspondent). Tn spiie oi it being a very stormy night uno of tho largest meetings ever held m Haclilii took place on Wednesday night to hear Mr Remington's political address. Mr John lunch was in tho chair and briefly opened -the meeting. He was pleased to see such a marked impfc'bvsmcnt in the district during the last three years and hoped that it would ttill more- progress during the next three years and that the railway would be here and .the. settlers would have the good time they deserved. He read some items from the Estimates and said that tho Raigitikei electorate had a bigger vote than any other electorate in the colony. This was not including the money voted for the 1 Main Trunk railway. He said that the Ma.taroa tunnel would be complete in four .weeks and that it would.be to -T-uranr garcre"ncxt winter. He hoped to see the branch lino to Raetihi .authorised next session. He explained .his attitude on the land question. ■ Ho had never believed in land being- taken from one man and sold to another. But he did believe in bush fawners holding 999 year leases being allowed to convert them into freeholds, but would never vote for land under the. Land for Settlement Act being dealt with in the same way. If", the Opposition had not blocked a vote being- taken the Crown tenants would havejiow. been able to convert their leaseholds into freeholds. He had to refer to Bible in Schools as ho found that there was still an agitation going on about it. He strongly condemned the idea as its supjjorters aimed at teaching and not reading. He read some answers given by children in England, showing what strange ideas children got on religious subjects that wero taught in the day schools there. He also spoke of the financial condition of the colony which he considered in a highly prosperous condition and said that in an* other 25 years he believed the national debt would be on© hundred and fifty milions, and tho colony better able to pay the interest on it that they were to-day. In answer to questions, he believed in Stal? control of the liquor traffic and would support it. That all persons in a district should be allowed to vote for Councillors, as County Councils were subsidised by Hio Government but should not have any vot^ in raising loans. Mr Remington's remarks were frequently applauded. Mr King ].ioposed and Mr Ingram seconded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Remington, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting:. On Thursday afternoon Mr Kemington left for Ohakure, Mr Sommerville, the Opposition candidate, being there the same nio-ht, so th?y agreed to sjjeak for an hour each. Mr Remington intends going to Pulcerimu to-day, and Mr Sommerville speaks in Raatihi on Saturday night. ' Two solicitors, Mr J. Cuff, of Mangaweka, and Mr Shortland, of Taihape, intend settling in Raetihi almost immediately- _1