MR HENRY ANDERSON

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3169, 10 April 1871, Page 3

MR HENRY ANDERSON

TO THE EDlWli OF THE INDEPENDENT.

Sir, — Mr Anderson, with his usual truthfulness, stated at the bust ings on Friday " that 300 working men were obliged to go away disappointed owing to the bungling of his committee." Of course the statement was received with derisive laughter, as it was known to be a pure invention ; but the assertion was not made for Wellington, where the facts are well known and can deceive no one, but for the West Coast, where his inventive genius will enlarge upon the statemont to show the unbounded support he receives in this city. Well, for the information, of the electors there allow me to state that there is not a word of truth in it. The number at the meeting was exactly nineteen and a small boy, and even to get those few together the most extraordinary exertions had to be made. The meeting was called for five o'clock, and MiAnderson might be seen from that time until half-past 5, every five minutes, rushing from Barrett's Hotel to the Atheneeum, from thenco to the reclaimed land opposite the Court Houbo, thence to the Nelson Ale House and back to Barrett's Hotel. He was accompanied onco or twice by his henchman, Mr Trueman ; but although hundreds of people were passing at the time, mauy of them working men returning from their daily toil, they took not the slightest notice of either of them. Being about to abandon the meeting as a hopeless ense, an individual was seen in the distance, walking considerably out of the perpendicular, who turned out to be his friond Con Croft; and although a rival for tho Su perintendency, he was known to have a generous heart, and therefore the expedient suggested itself to Anderson to send him round with the bell. The happy thought was no sooner conceived than it was put into execution ; and Con staggered forth with a piece of paper in Anderson's handwriting, and hi 9 bell, announcing that the friends and supporters of Mr Anderson were requested to meet on the reclaimed land, opposite the Nelson Ale House. Con had been previously engaged to ring up for Mies Palmerstou, aud after announcing Mr Anderson's iueoting, concluded by inviting the public to the Odd Fellows' Hall to witness Miss Edith Palmerston's performance. Tho whole scene was very funny, and elicited roars of laughter from the by-standers. Having secured Con, Andtrson retired to Barrett's Hotol ; but Con having perambulated the reclaimed land, and meeting with no responseto his invitation, retired there also. His exertions having increased his thirst, ho asked all and sundry t£ give him a nobbier ; but.no, one was humane enough to" ehout,"and Anderson, looking as if he would much rather have knocked him down, using hia most perBuasive entreaties, and patting him on the back, and taking him by tho arm, he led him out of tho long-room door. Con rung as far as the bar door, and then re-entered the house, so that as Anderson left by one door, Con entered by the other ; the tvo candidates for the Supb-rintendency apparently playing hide and seek with each other.

The working men are not such fools as Mr Anderson takes them to be. They are capable of thinking for themselves, notwithstanding ail the dust he endeavors to throw in their eyes ; and I can tell him that they do intend to think and act for themselves. £600 or £800 a year might he a very comfortable thing io«" him if he could only get the Suporintendency ; but then the working men don't quite see it in that light. They have their little properties, with tho interests of their wivos and little ones, at stake, and they are not going to be blindly lod by Mr Anderson, or anyone else. If there were three hundred working men obliged to go away disappointed at not hearing Mr Anderson, how is it they did not attend at tho hustings, where only thirty-two hands were held up for him, tho majority of whom were non-electors. Mr Anderson's letter in tho " Post," asserting that fifty three hands were held up for him shows that he is anxious to make electors in the country districts believe he is well supported in Wellington. All who were present at the nomination hero only laugh at it; Wokking Man.