MR REES AT ORMOND.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 388, 10 December 1889, Page 2

MR REES AT ORMOND.

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. So far the election meetings have been rather quiet, but on Saturday night Mr Bees had a tremendous ovation in Ormond. He addressed a meeting at tha eoboolboUM, which was crowded. Mr George Scott was proposed to the chair, and on taking the seat was loudly applauded. Mr Raes, too, was unab e to begin for a few moments owing to tho enthusiastic applause that greeted him. Tha main points of his speech were those dilated upon at the previous meeting.. Hi thanked them for the interest they evinoad in the contest, and remarked on the pleaenre be had at eeemg ao many electors who must have come from a considerable distanor in the outlying parte of the district. I: showed tha people appreciated the important task before them of sending a competent representative to Parliament, for unlesa they brought an intelligent public opinion to bear they would continue to be misrepresented in the future as they had bean in the past. (Cheers.) Tai electors would ba wise, teeing there would be only one session of the present Parliament, to tend a person who knew the run of the

ropes, and who would be mare likely to at onoe get to work in the interest of the district than a gentleman who cam; fresh and ignorant of tha procedure of Parhammiary institutions. (Cheers.) But he (Mr Bees) did not intend to base hie claim on that advantage. He represented the interests of the many against the interests of ths few. (Applause,) Referring to the Wairoi district Mr Rees said that Mr Aislabie, a olever electioneering agent, had gone over to that district, and spoke nicely to the people and raid there was only one candidate aiming out and they should form into a cmmilteo to secure a block vote tor Mr Arthur, but when he (Mr Rees) went down a bombshell wai thrown into the camp, and numbers of ths people who had been indnoad to join the committee were now warmly advocating the return of Mr Ree«. At Wairoa the Government had actually taken 12,000 acres of

magnificent land and handed it ovor ao an endowment to the Napier High School, which was probably not attended by a single Wairoa boy. That was done by Mr Ormond, who of ooutee would work with Mr Arthur, Ao to our harbor—(a voioe: It Is a disgrace to Now Zealand)—he believed that ha could secure relief for the district, but of course to mintion ouch a thing he would be railed at that wretched rag which had baen a cares ta ' the district for the past ten years. [" So it has,” " Perfectly right," and applause.' When it wae proposed to ask for tho first endowment it was also railed at, but he (Mt Rees) was asked to go down to Wellington and be had sufficient influence to get the House to consider the matter, and tor the first time iq eight years an endowment was granted. (Cheers.) He believed it tha thing ware pro. psrly put before Parliament further assistance would be granted, Hi referred attention ta the extre which had that day been issued fay the Gisborne Standard, bling a telegram at an article which had app’arol in the Wan. gaoui Harald, which was Mr Rallenoo’a neper and spoke the mind of tho whole Opposition, It said the East Coast would bs practically disfranchised it Mr Arthur wore returned, Reference was than made to Mr Arthur’s

explanation with regard to the ssrloui oharga made and admitted ot having written private letters to tho Chief Judge ot the Native Land Court, [Voioe; Did he do anything unfair?] For a suitor in a' Court of Justice to approach a Julge, unknown to the other aide, and asking a personal favor ot him, was to pollute the very source of juotioe. (Continued cheers.) [Voice : Da you mean to say that Arthnr asked tha Judge to be unfair ?] If each a thing were allowed no person in the community would bo sate, Shortly after the Btakdaxd containing a copy of the letters had been published in the morning some persona want down to try and fl nd them in the Native Lend Court, but they flafl been taken away I The speaker stated how the natives had petitioned tho House ot Representatives in reierenoo to the judgment given by the Court, and Mr Arthur immediately went down to Wellington, button-holing members. The Native AfUirs Committee, oi which Mr Carroll was Chairman, took evidence in the caee, and a report not favorable to Mr Arthur would have boon drawn up. But when the Chairmen looked rounfl he found that Mr Graham, Mr Qrmond, au-d Major Jackson (jeoesoed) hat left the r»on I (“ Oh I ’’) When be saw this be got up and walked out himself, so that no report could ' be presented to Parliament. When the House rose the natives immediately went tn the Supreme Court, and in ten minutes tha Judge granted a prohibition against Mr Arthur. (Cheers.) Directly the House ngit again the Committee would have to go fatq the subject, and the conduct ot Mr Arthur iq sending those letters to ths Judge woqlfl come before Parliament. (Cheers). Were they surprised now at what tha Wanganui Harald had said ? [Voices: No I No !j He should think not, [Mr Price: No slander.] H. waa speaking ot facte that had been commented upon by nearly every newspaper in the colony, and if Mr Arthur were elected it would be a| ones acid be went in to fix op the Tokooaarh title. [Voice : That is hie idea in going in, Another voice : Quite right, too.] There wss a supporter of Mr Arthur said ** quite right, too." (Laughter.) b|r Graham said he had gone in to fix up the Assets Cdnipany's titfea. His subseqiont explanation qqly thaflif matters worse, for fie sai l himself h« find used £6,000 ot the Aiwte Company's money

without their permission. [Have mrroy on him.] Should they have persons in that position to represent them! [Mr Price ; No slander.] Some of Mr Arthur's supported could not stand the truth being epokeu In public. (Load cheers). There were people who went about slandering others behind their baokc, and circulated all aorta ot Ilea, but when you ask them to ooms before the public they torn their tails and off they go, saying they are not to be caught in public. SLoud cheers. A voioe: Arthur would not Io that ] No. ho would bo aebamefl to do such a thing. They had a aloe specimen at tho hustings, only the previous day. The six previous members had hpeq Interested lU native lend matters,' add what did ttje/ gll do for tho dictrtat. [Voice; Put |t up a tree fl He (Mr Rees) had been accused ot holding all aorta of visionary hopw, but ho had out up more land for settlement than tho Govern* meat had done, (Qheors.) Wheteq* w poko, Matawhero—there were gentlemen • there that evening, Ou' both tides, syho had thejf tiptoe qqmpleled fly film- (Cheers). Hd was accused behind his back of having e>« tqrted money from the people whose titles hg had settled. Let them some forward before hie face. (Cheers.) When he challenged Mr Johnson and Mr Chambers, who he know had made grave statements, Mr Chambom Baid if he did he would be trapped 1 What trapping could there be In that’? If he were not afraid he would ootne out Into the light ot day. (Cheered) Was it not time tfioy had a change In the representation of the oonetitql

enoy! Were they tools enough to ltd away by a few handshakings ? (Votoe: Borne of them are.] Directly am* n came out iri the interests of the mses of the oleotore ho wae made a garget for people on the other side to fi- e slanders at. The other day Mr Qhambore advertised a reward for the dieoovery of oom® one who bad stolen his apple trees. He (Mt Rees) was glad be was not in the district at the time, or—(laughter), Mr Arthur wet q nice agreeable fellow, and at election timei could make hlmeetf uncommonly agreeable with a few hand shakings and pale on the hack, (Laughter,) He bad gone into the shop of Mr File, onoe prominent as an eq* thusiaatio man on tha Liberal aide,. (Laugh* ter.) Mr Arthur shook bands With him abd talked with him nicely, and vary toon Mr Pile found out that b* (Mr Reas) wae an impqsto;) and Mr Arthur wee the’man for th* dietripC

(Roars of laughter.) Mr Fde earns forward and proposed a vote ot oonfidoooe in Mr Arthur and got quite angry because the Gisborne people wouldn't lieton to a eeoond address, (Laughter,) It had been stated that he (Mr Boes) had brought people ont flere and deoAived'and rained them, and some of his opponents had gone to tho gentlemed referred to and tried to oonvinoe them they had been ruined. One o| the gentlemen had written a letter to the Btaxda>d denying thg truth ot the statements that had been ofren* lated. Another of the " rained men *’ would appear on the platform on Thursday night and address the meeting. (Oheere.) Ho did not believe Mr Chambers would have the courage to do the use thing. [Voioe; too bet, he wont.] He (Mr Rose) had Man opposed in all ways by that wretched paper which misrepresgata the district—Um Henldt

That paper always opposed anything that was for ths good of the district, [ Voioel: So it' has. A rag I A wretched rag f He (Mr Rees) would have strong friends on both sides of the House, and be believed he oould be of much service to the district. (Cheers.) Whatever his faults might be he desired and would strive for the good of the people. When Mr Bees sat down there was loud aud prolonged cheering. The Chairman invited questioners to come forward and Mr "Chum" Brown gave an additional hint by exclaiming, “ Come on, now ; none of your backsliding I" Mr J. Price said he meant no harm to Mr Rees; he could go into Parliament with pleasure, but he (Mr Price) bated slander in • public audience, [Voices: It’s the truth ] Mr Newman thought Mr Price was taking a wrong inference. Did Mr Bees mean to say that Mr Arthur had acted in a felonious manner and tampered with the Judge, or simply that he had acted improperly ? Mr Rees: Yes, he acted in a highly improper manner, If such a practice aa writing to a Judge with the object of influencing a case were allowed no man would be safe. ["Now, Joe!" and cheers.' Ha

believed Mr Arthur did it through thoughtlesaness; still that did not excuse his conduct. >A Voice: It was business. (Laughter.)] It WM business that could not be allowed. In reply to Mr Newman Mr Baes quoted figures to show that a land and income tax would produce as much revenue as the property tax, and it would fall on the shoulders

of those best able to pay it, and not, like the property tax, ba the heavier upon a man who was industrious. Mr Scott (Chairman) asked : Will Mr Roes, if elected, be in favor of introducing an amendment to the Gisborne Harbor Btard Act next session, to the following effect ; — That in lieu of a special district upon which is now levied rates providing interest and linking fund on £40,U00, the whole Harbor Board District shell be chargeable for the

Mid rates. Mr Hees said he certainly would, wh; should the big runholders up the Coast bi allowed to escape from their fair share of thi harbor rate. Pressure was brought to beai an Mr Graham, wbo supported the repeal ol the rating district, and when he was askec Vhat he meant by it he said it was all rlghl when understood. (Laughter.) It required a considerable amount of understanding tc know what these things meant. He (Mi Bees) would, if elected, do his best to have ' the injustice removed, and be believed he Could make it uncommonly warm for those

Who opposed the Bill. (Cheers,) Mr Newman said the reason why Messrs Chambers and Johnson would not meet Mr Bees in public was because he would be too much tor them—they had no: his powers of oratory, (Laughter,) Mr Beas said it was not that. The truth was mighty and would prevail. If Messrs Chambers and Johnson thought’ they oould malt* a matter of foot statement that oould not be denied by Mr Mr Bees, they Would be there. (Laughter), All the oratory in ths world could not get overplain facts. (Volos t They will have a deputy there.] Let them j ho (Mr Rees) would undertake to prove that the rumors were absolutely Unfounded and malicious. (Cheers) Mr Price sold he had a strong objection to anything that had been disouesed in a private bank-parlor being brought up in public ; it was wrong to bring it up in politics. He *aa no orator and oould not make a speech, put It was his opinion as between man and plan that anything said In a bank parlor should not be brought up in politics. He did pot wish Mr Bee’ t° reply t£ > J)*®TGroans and laughter. ‘Qh 1 Joe 1"] Well, ff Mr Rees wanted, he could dreis him down as much as he liked, (Laughter). Mr Bees said he had no desire to dress Mr Price down. He was an honest fellow and

spoke hie mind. He (Mr Rees) had felt bound to make some reference to these reports as they had been most industriously circu- _ hted, and many electors, not knowing the' truth, had thereby been turned against him. The thing had been carried so far that his committee had thought he should, in justice to himself, challenge these people to come forward in public. (Cheers). He liked Joe Price, who was not afraid to stand before them, and he was not all surprised at Mr Price being a little ashamed of these peqple. (pbeere.) Mr Price here walked up and held out his band to Mr Rees and they heartily shook hands, the cheers being 'deafening for some moments. When Mr Price oould get a word in he said he liked to hear Mr Rees speak (cheers), but he had not thought it right to bars the matters be bad referred to brought up in public. He hop dhe had done Mr Bees no harm, Mr Rees replied in a friendly (banner that he had not, and Mr Price resumed his seat again, the building ringing With the enthusiastic cheers. After the cheering had abated Mr Newman Mid : You bare told us what is Mr Arthur's axe to grind. Have you an axe to grind ?— tell us yours. Mr Bees said the only axe be had to grind (if it could be called suctb) was One for the -food of ihe Whole district, He wished to get the Government to take over and throw open for settlement the Paremate and other blocks. He bad refrained from abusing the Government, either publicly or privately, for the MtioO they had taken while he was in Eng. hnfi. but be bad since been in communication yitb them, and they bad come to seg they Had Made a mistake, and they were now desirous ef Msfeting in getting the blocks out up tor battlement. (Cheers,) In reply to Mr McKinzie, as to whether the Government would not prefer to throw their own lands open first. Mr Bees said they would glad to get these lands because the quality was so good. R was all very well to talk, as Mr Arthur did, about settling people on '* the ppek blocks," but settlers should have the advantage of the good land instead of having to go away back and allow sheep to take up fha OAAiI lans). /Hhaawa \

the good land. (Uheere) In reply to a farther question bv Mr McKenzie Mr Be?; said the land he referred p Bad a perfect title, " ' " In reply to Mr " Chum ” Brown Mr Rees Mid it was absurdity to talk of freetrade in fatUve lands ifotfor present conditions—(hear, bear)—for it would lead to endless litigation. , Me* bad an example of that in the Makaurl Hook, Each person wanting a piece of land would buy into a block, and when a number of people did this there would be endless con. fusion, and sack person would naturally tjjlnk himself entitled ‘to whal he held paid for and they would begin fighting it out ip gbgrt, ft WM »14ipu1ftaa fo think of such a thing unless unless title; were first fadivi. duelis*!. He was for freetrade if done in a legal manner, Freetrade as things were at present would mean that tbe monied man eould step |p and swamp gll the other purchaser, in a block,’ ffo was not inclined to tttake a landed aristocracy of the natives any more than ofEuropeane, Proper reserves Jhofild be made for the natives, and if they jnuld not di»B°be of the feth'sinder of their tend for settlement tfie fond should he taxed, (Uheere.) Mr Rees farther explained that it was untrue to say that he attemped to bring paupers into tbe district, and ha dealt with the subject in a way which proved how be bad been maliciously misseptasented by l;is opponents. l *■ -• '’Mr Btown'then said he was a supporter of Mr Beej. (Cheers,) M«n came to him and gigusd with him about tbs Liberal Ticket, pm Asserting that the Liberal; did not get Iha benefit of tbe franchise tor the working men-[Mr Bees; They say what is not true ]—but now was their opportunity, !f he (Mr Drown) was not Mr Moses, Mt them come forward and argue it Wjtb Mr Baes. [Cheers—" Bravo Chum f] He believedin men voting according to their convictions, and not aa they were told to do py their bosses. [Cheers.—Mr Price; No Mreonalitiea] He mentioned no names. [Voices: You're right Chum, give it to tbem.l He had been been both a workman and a oom, and he did not think workmen should be bullied into voting against their beljafs. (Cheers.) [Some mean wretch. Who immediately decamped by the door, rhade an insulting reference to Mr Brown’; connections, he having a fine, intelU gpnt half-caste for a wife.] If he was be firas not ashamed of it. He had stuck to and legally married her, and no one could point the finger of disgrace st bis children —(cheers)—and that was more than some people oould say. (Cheers ) Let any man who said anything of the kind to hint ooms fatward instead of trying to stab a person in the-dark. (Cheers.) The person, however, had made himself scarce, and Mt Brown tyont on to make a grand peroration, di the priiilsgM of the wwlringjpasu,” They had

the power in their hands and should not abuse it because their bosses tried to make them vote in another way. (Cheers.) Now was the time for any of them to ccme forward and argue doubtful points with Mr Rees, and not try to corner people in hotel bars. (Prolonged cheering.) Mr Lambert moved, and Mr W. Cooper seconded, a vote of confidence in Mr Rees. (Prolonged cheering) Motion carried unanimously. Mr Rees said Mr Brown was perfectly right. They should regard the franchise as a sacred trust, and vote only according to their convictions.

The meeting broke up with three ringin; cheers for Mr Rees, another for Mr Scott, ant one more for Mr Brown.