CITY ELECTION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3115, 4 February 1871, Page 2

CITY ELECTION.

* . (to the editor of the independent.) Sir, — Your contemporary, the " Erening Post," having, with the unblushing mendacity which is now its peouliar characteristic, given two statements — each equally false — of the occurrences at the publi'o meeting on Wednesday evening, I deem ifc right to let the few people who read the " Bail" know the truth of the matter. The meeting was convened by Messrs Hunter and Pearco's Committee for a special object, and being a meeting of electors of Wellington was one at which Mr Richmond had no right whatever to be preßent«<-bis name not being ou the roll — he was an intruder, endeavoring to obtain the use of the Hall without paying for it. Shortly after Mr Harfc commenced his address, one of Messrs Bichmond and Travera* paid touters rusheS to the Athenaeum and informed Mr Travers — who was addressing a very small gathering of his admirers— that the Hall was filling. Immediately oh hearing this, Mr Travers closed his address, and he and Mr Bichmond, accompanied by a number of their paid " bullies and touters," among others the notorious Mr Ryan, the redoubtable " Jock," and Mr R. J. Duncan. I mention these worthies because they took a prominent part in the disreputable scene which ensued, immediately these individuals— l am sorry I cannot say gentlemen — arrived, Mr Hart was subjected to an organised system of interruptions olthe moßt disreputable character. These interruptions being led off by Messrs Richmond and Travers themselves, and continued by their 10s per day supporters, under their instructions. Mr Hart, however, was not to be put down, and made out bo strong a case against Mr Bichmond that that worthy began to " wax exceeding wrath." The Hon. Mr Johnston followed Mr Harfc, and- although through the whole course of his speech he made no allusion to either Mr Richmond or Mr Travers, except as regards their public and political conduct, the shafts of his eloquence wero'so keen, and the points so true, that even their rhinocerous hidea were pierced, and they winced under his severe treatment of them. He clearly convicted them both of being politically untrustworthy and untruthful — and I regret to add, that they convioted themselvea of untruthfulneßß anil deceit, both socially and politically. When Mr Johnston concluded, Mr Richmond was loudly called for by his "touters," but several gentlemen who recognised the indecency of his conduct, in systematically disturbing a meeting convened by his opponents, declined to listen to him. So soon, however, as the Chairman and Mr Hart requested that he might be heard, he was allowed to proceed, and he commenced by saying that " if he was not allowed to speak no one else should be. This, you will udmit, was rather " cheeky" for a person who wus absolutely an intruder. He made the usual rambling and confused statement of his misdeeds on the Eust Coast j but with this exception, that he had to admit the truth of Mr Hart's charge as co his attempts to wheedle the natives out of their land immediately after the full of Ngatapa. Although he was listened to, if not with patience, at any rate, with quietness, bo soon as another gentleman attempted to follaw him, he was' met by a etorm of interruptions from both Mr Richmond and Mr Travera, as well as their paid " tail," and when these gentlemen ! 1 ! were appealed to by the ohairman, to assist him in keeping orderj Mr Travers worked himself into an affected passion, and indulged in language of a character which could only be conceived by a depraved

mind, and uMereckby.fi filthy, tongue^; And this conduct was actively enronraged and abetted by one who holds a commiesion.- M • Justice of the Place! ! I have said: that Mr Trover/affected to be in a passion, ad viaedly, because the offending speech had been deli* vered more than an hour previously, and the worthy lawyer had. been quiet enough while his confederate wag speaking. From this it is clear tome that he only assumed passion, in order to avoid the natural consequences of his most unjustifiable, ungentlemanly, and ruffianly conduct. I would ask the electors to consider whether this is the man for whom they should vote. Eleotob.