EAST COAST ELECTION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 387, 7 December 1889, Page 2

EAST COAST ELECTION.

THE NOMINATIONS. The nominations for the vacant seat in Parliament were taken by Mr Booth, Returning Officer, just after noon yesterday. Captain Tucker, Mayor of Gisborne, proposed Mr Rees as a fit and proper candidate, who, he said, not only had a desire to serve them, but had what was more important, the ability. (Applause). It was untrue to say, as some people did, that Mr Rees was a visionary, but there were many things could be done if only the effort were made to do them. If they were told one man could beat elsven men at cricket they would not believe it, but Mr Hess had done so. (Applause). Mr George Scott (Willows) seconded the nomination and said he was sure Mr Rees was in every way qualified, for the position, and would do justice to the district. (Applause). * Mr O. Dunlop proposed Mr A. C. Arthur. He was not going to be ridiculous and say Mr Arthur was absolute perfection, He did not wish to set him up as an ideal for them to worship, as Mr Rees would be set up. [Captain Tucker: He could no doubt.] They knew perfectly well whioh ot the two candidates would be most acceptable. [Cries ot “ Rees. ”] His opinion differed in oue or two respects from that of Mr Arthur, but ho certainly could not abide by the opinions of ths other man. A good deal had been said about Mr Arthur having been seventeen years in the district, but he had shown himself to be a practical, downright honest, and straightforward man (Hear, hear.) Could the most ardent supporters and admirers of Mr Rees say the same of him! (Voices: Yes.) They could not say anything of the sort. How could they expect to have good laws if they did not send good men to Parliament!—men of upright and honest principles. That alone should be sufficient reason for them to set Mr Bees acids. Ho was not to be trusted.

A commotion occurred at this point. Captain Tucker wanted to know if Mr Dunlop had come there to propose a candidate or to abuse Mr Bees, Mr Dunlop : Is it your business? Captain Tucker; Yes, it is my business. Mr Dunlop: You have had your say. Mr Dunlop, continuing, said Mr Arthur's utterances had a ring of practicability about them which was entirely wanting in those of the other candidate. We wanted practical legislation, and the present Government, of which Mr Arthur was a supporter, had been the salvation of the country, and the credit of tfie polony had been so completely restored that the Imperial Government was about to admit English trustees to invest in colonial securities, Would such a good result have ooms from what Mr DeLautour called the advanced school of progress, which had made the dishonest proposal to tax foreign Investors iu the colony ? Certainly not. Were they going to let this partial restoration of affairs to lead their reason astray, and embark on a wild goose chase with Rees, Ballance, and Company! There never was a time when practical legislation was more required than at present. They flld not want sentimental humbug and talk on abstract qne«. tions. Mr Arthur appealed rather to their reason than to their feelings, while Mr Raes would go in for experimental government and tried, by setting class against class, and by plausibility of speech, and a multiplicity ot promises, to catch votes, Who were they going to vote for ? (Loud cries of '• Rees I ” " Arthur I”1 They should remember the story aboqt the spider and the fly, He would advise them to go straight tor Alexander Creighton Arthur (applause,} MrTuohy seconded the nomination. He had been accused publicly of having deserted his colors, He supported Mr Rees through the former buttle and would have done so this time were it not for Mr Rees's big immigration scheme. If he flooded the country with immigrants the pioneers and their children would be driven out of it. Mr Rees would find on the 13th he would bo in a minority, and Arthur would walk over him by hundreds. (Laughter.) Mr Rees, who was enthusiastically applauded, said he wae never afraid of meeting an opponent, especially when the opponent did not apeak behind hia back and then try to shield himself. Mr Dunlop, with impertinence whioh he supposed was characteristic (Cries of Oh 1) Those persons who exclaimed " oh " ought to be ashamed of themselves. The same tactics were employed all through, Tfle very same persons who had cheered Mr Dunlop when making such personal remarks now objected to allow him (Mr Rees) even to defend himself. (Voice: Don’t pay any attention to him.) That might be the best plan, but one of the papers would pay a deal of attention to him. [Voice : They're paid for it. ] As to settling people upon the land how many had Mr Arthur settled! (Voice :Sh<)3p.) He (Mr Bees) then referred to the lands oh Kaiti and elsewhere he bad been instrumental in cutting up, but he thought those personal matters ought not to be introduced, although they might give a gentleman like Mr Dunlop an opportunity to write a speech, learn it, anfl then oome there and give it out, and it showed' that his utterances were not of the moment, but that there was a deeper feeling. (Some one here made reference to Mr Rees’ bankruptcy). He challenged anyone to prove that he had been dishonest, and then made reference to the vote of condolence whioh had been passed in regard to Mr Graham's bankruptcy. He had got the titles of 180,000 acres cleared [Volos: How many have you upset ?] Not one. It was the friends ot Mr Arthur Who upset them. He (Mr Rees) had done everything he ooqld tq settle the disputes regarding titles, and then to have the lend out up for settlement. (Applause,) They might depend upon it such work did not find favor with those who oould bring pressure to bear on such people as Mr Dunlop. Were peqple of his alatfii likely (a throw land open for settlement'? [Voices; No, nd] If people of—he wrs nearly saying Mr Ormond—of Mr Arthur's class—(Voice: frlq all the seme)—hafl their way the people b? ergwu 9 n 'l replaced bp iiheep, with a couple of shepherds wfl 4 cgok' (Laughter and applause.) If the lands Pf the di?t;ict Be “ ,ed P e °P le « being driven out Q» iorqefl into the Bankruntoy Court would be able to. prosper. Allusion w»s »I»o made to the' way the lands were looked up in Wairoa. and many people had to leave the place because they could not get land, while a large ftrcß of beautiful country was allowed to be overrun with briars, Between he and Mr Arthur personally, there was the best of feeling, and he felt sure in regard to Mr Dunlop's yerv injqdioioqs speech it would be considered by iff Arthur a case of save him from h(s friends. (Applause.) He (Mr Rees) had solicited no man's vote, nor gone about shaking hands with people ; he would ask no man's vote as long as he lived. IMr Dunlop interpolated a remark about Mr Bees’ bankruptcy.] Mr Dunlop well kqew that he had to go bankrupt owing tq hiving taken upon himself the liabilities ot other persons. Two Maoris, put UP by European friends of Mr Dunlop, had been the crum of it, He had for years to endure such lies spoken behind his back. He believed in meeting his opponents face to face and hitting above the belt, He was sorry to see that Mr Tuohy had deserted his colors, He bad never proposed '• flood the country with immigrants, He had proposed to bring people who would make good settlers, and in preparing for whom there would bo plenty of work for the nioneers. In reference to his candidature Mr Bees said he was desirous of doing his duty, and add to the general prosperity of the people. It had been said that he used catch words and phrases, but hs asked them to examine what he had said and test the untruthfulness of such assertions. It they believed he was the best man they should vote for him. As to his dishonesty, so politely alluded to by Mr Dunlop, he might say that he had bean unable to pay some of his debts owing to a friend of Mr Dunlop's not having paid him (Mr Bees) the amount due to him for getting that person's estate settled five years ago. He had since made arrangements with the Maoris to pay him, aqd he was glad to say he would be able to pay every sixpence he owed. (Applause.) There was no man there who did not believe be (Mr Bees) would pay the money it he had it. (Applause,) He oared no more for money than for dirt, He regretted that personalities had been introduced into the contest. If elected he would represent the interests ot the bulk of the people and not that of the squatter. If they consented to be Still governed by the sheep owning clsseeti they had only themselves to thank tor retardiag progress. '

Mr Arthur (applause) said he now stood legally before them. They had heard him on several occasions and read his speech in the papers and knew what his views were. He regretted that not being a practised speaker, he could not speak to them so ably and consecutively as Mr Boes. His opponents, he said, had sought to prove that the incompleteness of bio title to the Tokomaru block was the reason he had for trying to get into Parliament, but he assured them that it made no difference whatever, and that his title was only waiting the slow process of the law to be completed, He again referred to his political opinions, and said that he was not a carpet bagger who could leave at any time. He had an interest in the place, and it was to hie advantage the place should progress. He was sorry that personal reeling had been introduced, but between he and Mr Rees there was no feeling of bitterness—he believed they would fight the election fairly, but they could not always help what their supporters did. Mr Arthur then read an extract from an article in the Standard—an article which while deprecating Mr Arthur's candidature objected to Mr Bees individually. Ho considered the extract showed much inconsistency on the part of his opponents, Mr Arthur was loudly applauded when he had concluded.

On a show of hands being taken only 43 were held up for Mr Bees, some of those who were present misunderstanding the Returning Officer. For Mr Arthur there were 80, including many country people. Altogether there were about 200 people present.

MR REES AT PATUTAHI.

Mr Rees addressed a most enthusiastic meeting at Patutahi last night, Mr Gallagher being in the chair. Several questions were asked and satisfactorily replied to and an unanimous rote of confidence was passed, on the motion of Mr Henderson, seconded by Mr Hill. The enthusiastic meeting was a striking contrast to the cold and chilly one addressed by the other candidate.