THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2350, 17 November 1908, Page 5

THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

LARGE CROWDS OUTSIDE THE

“TIMES’* OFFICE.

NO-LICENSE THE DOMINANT ISSUE.

Tlio night before the election was spent in the streets by largo crowds, who were evidently taking the keenest interest in the No-license campaign. Political meetings jtvere more or less neglected, and the people were evidently in the humor to listen to nothing but the liquor issue. Mr. Davies was the first to commence speaking, and he made his appeal on behalf of Continuance from the Sievw right Memorial. Shortly .after'halfpast seven Mr. A. J. Black made his appearance on the “Times’ 1 balcony, and was greeted with cheers. He spoke for nearly an hour, and on the whole had a good hearing, although a section of the crowd kept up a running fire of interjections. "When Mr. Black commenced his address Mr. Davies had not concluded, and both speakers were addressing audiences simultaneously, but the larger proportion of the crowd was listening to Mr. Black. A great- many of the interjections were of a distinctly-hum-orous nature and caused roars of laughter on mil sides. Rev. L. Dawson Thomas then addressed the crowd, stating that ho wished to make an explanation in regard to an advertisement which had been inserted in yesterday "morning’s “Times” by Mr. 11. S. Chilton, of tho British Empire Hotel, and which had reference to that gentleman’s donation to the Church of England. Ho characterised the statement in the advertisement as a base lie and a cowardly statement, and -said' that Captain Ferris, one of his churchwardens, has been in the British Empire Hotel, and had received a' cheque from Mr. Chilton for five church building fund. He (the speaker) had refused to accept the cheque, and had strongly protested against the vestry doing so. He wished to point out that Captain Ferris had stated that he never asked Mr. Chilton for the cheque, but had been offered it. 'Under the circumstances be characterized Mr. Chilton’s action in inserting the advertisement as base and cowardly. Mr. Chilton, who was in the crowd, interjected that he was on hand, and Was prepared to speak for himself in explanation. Rev. Mr. Thomas: I say it is a lie. It was a base and cowardly action, and if you are not -a cur you will come up here alongside me and have your say. Mr. Chilton thereupon left the crowd, and a moment or so afterwards appeared on the balcony amidst mingled cheers and groans. Adjutant Dickens, of the Salvation Army, also made reference to the advertisement. He said he had received the donation from Mr. Chilton for the Army work, and had received similar donations from the other publicans in town. He was thankful for the'donation, but considered that- Mr. Chilton had taken a very mean course in publishing the statement that lie had done. . Mr. Chilton then came forward, and addressed the crowd. He said that some six or seven weeks ago Captain Ferris bad approached him for tho cheque, and had got at. A day or two later Captain Ferris had come back and said to him, “The parson won’t take the cheque.” Later oil somebody had been found who would take the cheque, and that man was Colonel Whiter. He (the speaker) held that if the cheque was to be returned to him it should have been returned by the Rev. Mr. Thomas himself, and not by anyone else, as be thought that the- rev. gentleman should have power over the vestry. Referring to the Salvation Army, Mr. Chilton said that they claimed to be doing good, when they tried to cut a man’s throat and run "him out of his business? A voice:. What about the throats you cut. (Cheers.) Rev. Wm. Lamb then addressed the crowd on No-license, speaking for some fifteen minutes. He urged them to consider the question carefully and to do what they thought right as men. He deplored the personal references to tho Rev. F. u. Cbatterton made by Mr. Davies, and considered that the latter gentleman, in making an attack on Mr. Chatterton was not fighting the game fairly. Amongst some disorder Mr. Davies interjected from the crowd that lie had made no personal attack on Mr. Cbatterton, and anything that he had said was perfectly fair comment on the actions and statements of a public man. , .. ' At the conclusion of tho No-license addresses, Mr. W. Lissant Clayton delivered the closing speech of lus campaign, and later on in the evening Mr. A. J. Black returned to the balcony* from the Garrison Hall, and spoke for ten minutes, reminding the electors of tho great duty and privilege that awaited them on the morJ °At tho conclusion of Mr. Black’s final address, permission was given to two gentlemen who wished to addiess tin audience.

Mr. Long said tliafc he wished to contradict a statement made by Mr. Black regarding State control' an Western Australia, and read -a- letter to tliC' effect that a certain hotelkeeper in that State received nothing but his-salary. Mr. Williams' was the next speaker. He claimed that he spoke as a working man lto working men, and announced that he was in favor ol S< The cmwdivas rapidly dwindling to email proportions at this stage, and finally dispersed close upon 11.<30 p.m. The proceedings during the evening were marked with intense interest and with the exception of inter,lections and some hooting_ lyei e on the whole orderly. Two individuals nearly coming to: . blows, but the prompt intervention of the police-vpre-ventod any serious disturbance. Many of the older residents of the town state that never before in the history of the district has there been such a large crowd at any meeting .as was gathered together last night.