MR. MENTEATH AT TOTARA FLAT.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1415, 11 July 1884, Page 2

MR. MENTEATH AT TOTARA FLAT.

On Wednesday evening last at the School House, Totara Flat, was met one of the most influential mooting which has ever taken place in the district to hear Air Menleath, who is a. candidate for the Inaugahua ' seat. Amongst those " present "we noticed Messrs S. M. Mackley, J.P. Robert McNeill, J. P., James Marshall, M.C.C., Craven Mirfin, David Donald, R. W. J. McNeill, Planter Clapcott, Dr. Campbell, J. Dooleu, P. McKinley, W.

Meth.ven, A. Duncan and others. It was proposed by l\lr E. McNeill, and seconded by Mr David Donald, that Mr James Marshall, M.C.C., take the chair. - j Mr Menteath, after being received | with a perfect ovation of applause, then addressed the meeting, which was one of the most orderly and interested oik; which has ever been held here. It is only justice to Mr Menteath to state that in his address, which was continued throughout without a single hitch, that he thoroughly astonished his hearers, by the clear, fluent and able manner in which he expressed his views on the different principle topics of the day, viz, gold, land, and education, &c, Ac. Coming as he did single handed amongst us, without the usual cortege of followers which generally attend a solicitor for the peoples representative, and without patron or clique to interfere with the independence which ought to characterise an election, Mr Menteath succeeded in impressing upon all those present, the conviction that the right man would be in the right place in the event of his being returned as their representative. His cure for the proposed abolition of gold duty his sensible, firm, altho' liberal views on education, won for him golden opinions from the audience. In conclusion, I may add that coming after such a person as Mr Wakefield, whom all classes must recognise as a man of very great ability, that the present occasion was a trying ordeal for a gentlemen of less pretensions, but I am glad to say that from beginning to end the audience were bound as it were with the sensible views, and most agreeable style the candidate had of delivery. Suffice to say that he imbued till parties with confidence lind respect for his future action. After Mr Menteath concluded his speech, and answered a few points about future loans, and laud reform, S. M. Mackley Esq., J.P., proposed and David Donald Esq., seconded, that Mr Menteath has our full confidence and support, and is the tit and proper person to represent us in the coming Parliament. The motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded one of the most united election meetings yet held on the flat. There is every reason to feel assured that the candidate, Mr Menteath, will obtain a large majority here over any person who may now come forward and show their hand. A good many here are inclined to think it will be a walk over, and people hero arc very dubious of members who are hanging fire in such ways, it being so suggestive of some screw of the political machinery being unsafe, and india-rubber like.