THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

SiiECTOMS OF -EDEN.

DISGRACEFUL B.OWDINESS.

Ik furtherance of hie candidature for Eden, Mr J. ■ Aitken Connell addressed " amoh efcer meeting of working men " last flight in the Opera House* adhii'ssiori tb which was by free ticket only. By a quarter-past seven the" pit and stalls were crowded to their full capacity, and When the meeting began the dress circle Was also quite full. No ladies were present. Copies of " The Evening Curtain " containing the "heads " of the address were distributed amongst the audience, which lost no time in indicating its intention and expectation of having a lively evening. Mr George Staines was the first individual to appear upon the platform, lie was ae ttorded a round of applause, which he acknowledged by gravely raising , his hat three times. At 7.20 Mr Council showed his head out side the stage wing, and was greeted with a few shouts : and a few minnbes later an at tendant fairly brought down the "house" by placing a glass of water upon the table. Amongst those present on the platform when the proceedings commenced were -.' —The Kov. Mr .Scott, Dr. Tenneuf, Messrs John Lundon, Hudson Williatiisoii, j. E. Grpen, G. L. Peacocke, Geo. Stuiiies, and W. j. Suiter (Mayor of Newmarket). Mr J. Aitken C'onnel). came forward amidst considerable applause and said that as they were so conflicting the last time they met, at. St. Sepulchre's School-room, in the election of a chairman, he thought it was better that they should choose theiv own chairman that night. They would remember that Mr John Lauib w«s proposed, but did nob prove ac ceptable to the audience. The meeting then took it into their own hands to elect .a chairman, and their selection had proved a success. He would therefore ask them tb select some well-known impartial 'gentleman tb take the chair. Mr Connell was here interrupted by roars of " Staines !" "Staines!" Mr Coii fnell said, "Very well, gentlemen, lot it be Mr Staines." • Mr Staines then took the chair amidst roars of laughter. He attempted to address the meeting amidst more laughter and cries of *'Hod<je!" "Hodge!" "Pub him out!" "When order was restored he said that as they had chosen him to take the chair ho hoped that they would support him, and accord Mr Connell a fair hearing. He trusted that lie had not been put in the chair fdr ahy other purpose than carrying out the business respectably. But ho would ask them to gite Mr Cohnell a fair and im partial hearing. This was a meeting of working inert. lb was very much like their old meetings years ago. It had pleased him lttiich their calling him to the chair, tor it reminded him of the old days when he was not objectionable to the public. He trusted that thoy would accord Mr J. Aitken Connell the fair and impartial hearing that ho deserved at their hands. Mr T. Graham asked whether Mr Aitken Cohnell would bo open to answer questions. The Chairman ' replied thab ho would promise them fair play as they hud called him to the chair. How Mr Connell Shipped His Marc. Mr Connell came forward amidsb ap plau.se, and proceeded to address the meet ing as follows :—Gentlemen (A voice : " Mr Chairman" and loud laughter). Nbw, lads, I am not in a hurry, tire away with your laughter. (A voice : " Ha ! ha.'." and laughter). SoulobotTy asked is this a meet ing of working men ? evidently making I-β ference to a few of my friends on the plat form. I may tell you thab this is a meeting called for working men, and I refused to give . anyone a ticket for the plat iorm at this meeting except half a - dozen of my friends. I also fave a ticket to my new friend, or enemy, Iγ Hodge. (Laughter and interruption.) I intend to open my address to-night by telling you a story. (Laughter.) It's a story and nob a lie, gentlemen. (Laughten) The other day I went over the other side of the water to take a spell. (Laughter*) Public men, you must know, have their own Ways of going about their own work. As I told you before, I am an old colonial hand, and, gentlemen, I know an old colo nial ha,nd in a moment; and I say our old chairman is an old colonial hand too. (Interruption*) Being an old colonial hand, I went about preparing my speech in niy old wayi and went over the other the other side of the water; (Laughter.) I wanted to prepare niy speech in my own way. (Hear, hear.) You will remember that I have an old mare. (Laughter, and a voice : "What about the old lady?" followed by renewed laughter). And, as I was shipping my mare on the steamer, a man standing on the wharf said, "That fellow kiloWS nothing about shipping a horse." (Laugh ter.) I said, "1 don't know about thab, my man. I don't, know much about shipping other people's horses, bub I know all about shipping my own horse." (Laughter, and a voice: "Politics/) I must tell you that I had made my own arrangements for shipping that mare upon the steamer. I said to the man who was assisting to put her aboard, "Tap her, on the flank" (laughber); and I. went up to the nian who was steering tho and explained this to him (laughter)—that the mare had one of tho most peculiar tempers in tho world, and that I myself had fought with that mare for upwarde of forty minutes be fore she would take a. step. (Laughter.); Well, J, took that mare .on, board,, the dbearoer, like a-,du6k,. arid, said, " X. know that old mare (laughter), and that old mate i knows me fine. (Laughter,..) And, gentle-; nien, I (in'fcerrMptibn)—l know there ar«j a greab many of you hero who want bo hear about politics, and 1 will give you politics ; but you must first know about my maro. (Loud laughter.) I'll tell you this story to show that I Uhow how to go about my work, and that no ori6 cam te&cft me. (Laughter and interruption.) Well, gentlemen) to rßs'ume my story about the mare. (Laughter, and a vdico: "Give us fidme thing about the horse.") I we'nb to one of the handa dn the steamer (interruption, and a voice: "Was it a Tam-b'-Shiuitei; xnare t) and.aribther voice : " Cutty, Sark," followed by loud laughter, and " Chimo up, old man," (? Where's the mare now ?" and «' Trot out the foal.") Mr Council Sab down ainidsb deafening •pfoar, riiicl a running fire bf interruptions. The Chairman : Gentlemen,—The candi date appeals to mo to get order for him, bub I must tell you that" , if the can didate gets away from tho point he cannot expect it. (Hear, hear, and •' How about the mate ?") I hope the candi date will keep himself to the point, and thab you will give him a fair hearing. Mr Connell (taking a drink of wiiter, ■whilst the audience gave further signs of lively amusement): There's no whisky in it, gentlemen. (Laughter.) Now, gentle men, your opinion and mine appear to vary a good deal. Each person obtaining a ticket for .this meeting pledged himself to listen to the speaker quietly and with at tention as far as possible, without bias or prejudice/ (Interruption, and " Shut Up 1") These were the condition's upon Which every than is here to-night, and if ahjr person does not behave himself here .to-night .lie is a dishonourable man. (Interruption;) And . I'll tell yoii more than that. If you persist in interrupting me without purpose 111 appe.al to any .stalwart follow to, take: you by ; the scruff of the neck and put <you out; (Derisive laughter.) If there is an old ctteal nere , ,he ? ll ddittdo,- (Laughter;) Now, gentlemen, you'll r be"4 Ibng time

getting thfe address if ybVll 'n6t listen- to the mare. (Laughter.) It is hot my fault that you have iiob had the aMfeks. If you had listeued bo me We have been a long wily pasfc the fnare. (Lauglitcr.) I tell you this : Ail old colbnial li'ind goes his own way, and he has it. (Interruption.) Well, I went up to this man on the steamer and said to him (uproar, and " Oh, you are cracked !" ancl " Have you lost the mare ? ") ~j At this stage Mr Council Wiis brotigljt to a full by tlie uproar in the audiejvcd. Ho paced the ])latform amidst a runMtig lire of chaff, and aftor securing comparative stillness, resumed at? follows : Well, ge'jiUe" men, the iiiglit's long. If you will Hpanfl' listening for half art hour td i'elloWs making cat-calls and calling out " boo" (laughter), you will hear very little. You hud bebter listen tb Ine whilst I tell you about tlio itiarO. 1 am very nearly done with this part af my subject, and should have been quite through with it if you had only lfp me alone. (Laughter.) Well, this man.olnj,tho steamer. (Uproar.) Gentlemen, I pijofess to bo able to toll a colonial hand iii! onb minute, By lobldng in hie eyes. I looked into this man's eyCs, tmd ekw ab onco that lie was a oolotiial hand. (A voice : " How could you tell by his eyes ?" and shrieks df laughter.) Fine j I can, toll, my friend, by your eyes, that you are not a colonial hand. (Laughter.) I'know that thab man On the Steamer is at this moment convinced that no man in New Zealand is better able to ship" that maro than myself. (Yells of laughter, cat-calls,, and applause. A voice : " Wlmt is the col&tir of the mute I"; More laughter, and cries of "Order.") 'iNbw, gentlemen, when I look ab the iirsb i|tem of my programme, I find that I have : .gob tb speak to you on the influence of bias. (Indescribable uproar and laughter, in con sequence of counter-demonstrations from individuals among the audience. Mr Council meanwhile sat down, and began a consulta tion in dumb show with the Glwirmp); Appeal, for Order. The Chairman : Gentlemen, I think it haft been clearly understood that you j would allow Mr Connell some few minjites—ft' quarter of an hour—to open his address in some way of his own. (A voieo : "About tho mare," andfouirhtfth) I hope you will listen to him, because you have put me in the chair, and unless you keep order I can, nofc. I have acted as chairman many times in years past, and I hope you will assist me to carry oub my.duties this niffht in a way that will be creditable to. the citi zens of Auckland. (A voice : " Oh, nob sb much about yourself old tart." Laud laughter, and prolonged uproar). This gentleman (indicating Mr Connell) has come before you for the purpose of asking your Suffrages' fbi ; lMen (cab-calling and dliek quacking), and through . advertising, printing tickets, and so on, he lias spent a . lob of money in this contest for Eden. (A voice: " Kdeii or Mount Eden ?") For both, gentlemen. (Loud laughter, and a voice : " Never lnind the mbney ; Wo don't waiib inohey for electioneering.") I thiilk, gentlcHien, that in self-respect you will now allow Mr Connell to proceed, for he is a-goihg to business. (Loud laughter, and a voices " Then for God's sake let him go.") I now ! ask him to do so without anything more about that story bf his mare. (Laughter.) I hope that I shall nob again have to rise, bufc that you will grant the candidate a fair and impartial hearing. You will be able bo express your opinion afterwards. (Hear, henr.) Mr Connell no Trifier. Mr Connell : (having again risen to his feet): Well, gehtlethen, having had matters so satisfactorily Smoothed away by the Chairman, we Will proceed, aiid forget all about what has passed. I only tell ycrti the story of the mare tb show you some curious questions. Bub there will be no more about the shipping of tho mare. (Veils of laughter.) And perhaps gentlemen, this yob may end in my shipping the electors of Eden quite contrary to expecta* tibns. (Applause and laughter.) I tell you this, gentlemen, because 1 tell ybil lib . Ties— that is if I know it—and I am going to tell you to-night some fine things abbiib yourselves. Ahd I tell them because I believe them to be trup things.and amongst them I am going to tell you some very hard things—things A-ety " at 'd to beai ,j -fend if you give way to the impulses they raise in you, you will get up and yell against mfc. I am going to tell you these hard things in the belief that they aro good tilings, and with the intention of ■ dping good to you. (Laughter.) i feel in the depths of my heart thab the people of New Zealand haVe been told lies too long. (Applause.) NoW, gentlemen, sonic men in Auckland imagine me to be nbthiner else but a trifier, because I can enjoy a joke. The man who thinks , I have no capacity for deep arid serious feel ing. I tell you knows nothing about human i nature. If a man is inqapable of appreciat ing, humour, even when in trouble, I say i " God help that man " (loud laughter), for he will very likely sink under his trouble. (A voice :. "Oh dry up or cut it short.") The present crisis in 'New Zealand, tremendous as ib is, should not cause a rfeal man to pull a long face and groan miserably. Sitch people will never 'stand up and face their difficulties like men. (Applause.) And I am sorry then fdr fche niah who fancies bb cause he see's me trifling with Mr Ewing ton, burning him into ridicule where he cuts Into my path, that I do not know what- I am talking about. (A voice : "Right again* old man;") I know perfectly well What I airi doinf*_(A voice : "You fancy so , ) just ad well MI did ab6ut. shipping the mare. (A voice : " Oh chuck the rtiare bver board,"laughter andapplauee.) Now,gentle men it is necessary, for me in this speech— and rhope this speech of mine will reach your hearts arid minds—to, point to ydii that you should not do anything merely through prejudice; You come to this meeting in order to near my Views tipotl question cbrinected with the working classes arid the urieihplbyed, arid when I toll yoii soinething against your preoccupied notions, you resist it, and Won't let it reach that, magnificent faculty, the human mind, (Uproar ajid. catcalls). If you aro determined to puraiib this epursb, and to do these things,- there's no use in my talking to-night. Yoii will go oub in the same frame" of iriind Ss- you came in. il 'asked you t6 doriib here i& free men, and ds true meu, prepared to listen to me, as I am prepared to teaoh you. (A voice :• " lo suck eggs," and laughter.) I dosb, gehtle meh; with a full 80rise of the reapbnßibility— (A voice : " And fudge.") I take upon iiiy solf, arid riot jri any spirit of mere boastful ness. (A voice : "Oh, carry me.out," and catcalls, and persistent uproar.) If there are- any men in this building wilHlJg to listen to me.-(lnterruption). If you are willing to listen to me 1 have the greatest hope for the future of New Zealand. But if you tire not prepared tb treat a man as a man unless he is prepared to talk 8s a day to you, I can do nothing; Well, gentlemen, I riiay tell you tliat I am nob tliab kind of man, and you may heave as many rotten eggs at, me as you like. ("HHea t hear," and roars of laughter.) Nbw is that any bebter than the mare ? (Laugh ter.) ' ■ The Unemployed. Now, gentlemen, I cbme tb the question of the unemployed. I ask you to weigh what I say. Now in the first place, where do the unemployed come from ? The other night Sir George Grey spoke to you at the City Hall about a skeleton. I was not there to hear him, and I flm sorry for that. Well, referring to that skeleton was no ' doubt yery; proper to illustrate his remarks. Sir ÜBbrg'a Grey spoke"ab6ut the great lines of arterial railways which were spreading all through New. Zealand. Well noVr, I aiii gojng to fill in that skeleton. I mean to till up .the vacancies With real flesh and blood. ;An •efiiinerit midroSCdpist, Dr. Lionel Be"ale,-'-h'as, wtifetsH & mß?t intel-gsting anS' a ttflw-*Wn

derf ul book. I have said that he was an able microscopist: well; in the course of his re searches he found Myriads of what ai-e' called ! bioplasts. He discovered that thes6 myriads of bioplasts were continually wdrkiiig; through the system find bUildiflg ilj) the body. He also told iis the necessity that existed for these wonderful bioplasts. They were reqiiireel to biiild tip the system, and when we look through the body politic of New Zealand we find who this body politic iS; It is the people of New Zea ! land (applause) who are all moved by the one common impulse of lovb for the. country. If we had our own way we Woiijdburh up our toes ori, the sofa and do nothing , ; bub we ate forced to work, for we lenow that unless we do wo shall not eat. (Laughter and.applause , .) These bioplasts work, y.ear after year continually building , up, and so should we be doing also. But ev&ry sensible man in New Zealand periodically begins to compare his position with thab which ho occupied some time before, arid that is what we must do do politically. Now, what do We.fihd? Why, that with few exceptions we have boon going to the bad. (Applause.) Well, gentlemen, if a man is an honest iritiit lie begins to say' 6o lUinself ? '.- Well, this kind of thing can't go on much longer,' and then he sets to Work to cub down his expenses.. If he's an agriculturist,, he sees tnab this riian must be dispensed with, and then another, goes, and he does the work himself. Well, it is the same in other 1 brahcliDS of labour. Woi'kmen have tdbbdis cliai'ged, and theri we have the unemployed difficulty tb face. And When wb find that these members are expressed from thfe body politic, tliuii We find that we have thfe unemployed. Nbw, who are the unem ployed ? That's the next question I am go ing to talk about. The unemployed Con sist of those people who. are oiit of .work. They are made up of all classes. Some times even old colonial hands are amongst them, but very, seldom, and when they aro it's the result of drink. (A voice,:, " You're a liar !") No, I'm not'; I'm speaking the solemn truth when 1 tell you that when ati oid colonial hand is seen iitnongsb tile unemployed it's simply because he drinks. Another Scene. This created a perfect .storm of hooting and hisses, amongst which such cries as "You're a liar. you're a liar!" "It's h. lie!" "Rob! rotI" were the niOst frd quontly repeated.. One individual who was sitting in the orchestral stalls 1 , sprang to his feet, and) flourishing a " shillelagh" vigorously, gave the speaker tho lie direct, and. to add force to his remarks, struck the stage violently several times with his bludgeon. He tried to speak to tlie ttUdie'nco, bub failed t6 make himself heard amidsb the. prolonged uproar. At length he marched oiit of the door in disgust, and next appeared on the platform)- and took a seat near the front. When the storm had somewhat subsided, Mr .Connell continued : Well, gentlemen, I think it probable that I have been too hasty. (Tins announcement also caused hissing and hooting, and cries of " Go on !") Well, 1 am going oh if you Wilt only listen. I was going to say that I thought it probable thab I have been too hasty in that assertion,but still in the main it's true. (More, uproar.) Mr Staines, after some trouble, obtained order,, when, he remarked that when a candidate said any thing that did hot please the audience, they were quite right in showing their dissent, bub having done so pretty plainly ib ■ was also right that they should afterwards let him go on. (Applause. A voice: "Then let him.retract his words.") At this stage a man in the dress circle jumped to his feet ahd tried to get a hearing, when lie received (something in his face that looked uncommonly like a rotten egg, and he forthwith subsided. After a few minutes Mr Connell continued : I was about to' say, gehtlemen, that I have made too hasty a statement. (Just then a row occurred in the pit, and the constable was seen hurry ing out a hoodlum. The audience at "once commenced to hoot and yell, and jumped to tliCir f6eb, mounting chairs and,forms iii order not to miss the fun. Under the circumstances Mr Connell took a seat.) Explanations and a Story. After a few minutes he resumed: Well, I'll moderate my remarks to this .extent only. (Interruption.) When an old colonial hand gets out of employment it's mainly through dHhk; (Cries of "No, no," and " Take it back," followed by prolonged laughter.) I'll tell you a story. (Inter ruption.) An old man came to niy house three or four days ago, and said hb wanted work. I was nob at home, and he saw my wife; , who fold him to borne again arid see me. When I saw the man I said to him, " Are you wanting work V and he said " Yes-." ' I looked at him close. (Laughter.) I always look at a man close. I looked afr-'-this man's face, and saw there were many deep lines in it. (Interruption;) I looked ab his head and down his back. (Roars of laughter.) Draw it mild, lads ; steady, steady. (Laughter.) Well, I said to myself he is an old colonial hand (laughter),ahd I said tb hini, " Times are hard and I can't afford to cjivo you more than 0s a day." ("800 "and "You are a brother to John Lamb," followed by loud laughter.) What did that old colonial hand say? He didn't cry "boo!" as many of you would have done: (Interruption.) He saidj "I know times are baa; give me something to eat, and I'll go to work." I said, "Go to th 6 girlanß she'll give you some breakfast." (Interruption:.) And I watched that man. (Laughter.) I tell you I Watched hirh like a cat (laughter), and when he gob to the.corner of the house he stopped and took his coat off. I said to myself that if that man Will take hie coat off before he gets his breakfast,, he is a good man. (Interruption). I'll end by telling you his name yet; I suppose there's a lot of you know it. (Laughter). His' name is John. (Laughter). I wont up to him and I Bald, ".You have done a lot of .work in Now Zealandi" (Interruption.) Ho had been ditching, and said he usSd tb get a bob a chain (interruption), and e,arned about, ten bob a day. And I said to him, " Why is iti that a niah of your time of life, paid at. etich good wages, and without wife or family to support, should come to such a state as this? Ib is not right* John," (Laughter.) And he said it was drink that had done it. (Roars of laughter and cries of "Narad!") No, I Will not tell you his name for the old man's sake (inter ruption), because lie is good, and, as decent an bid feilbw as fever I saw, and I would trust, him with a hundred pounds, {', Mere fool.you j" and prolonged laughter.) There's a certain, class of unemployed, and when you offer hini work he says I want seven, eight, or ten, shillings a day. (Hear, hear.) That's the kind of man no employer would care to engage. (Uproar;) But as for the - mail, who is prepared to accept an honest wage —I tell you I can shake that fellow by the hand, and sit down by him on a bank (laughter and cat-call), but 1 loathe .and despise the loafers that sit down iib'out tls6 wharves. (Great uproar.) i Gentlemen, I'll tell you about another class of the unemployed. ("Ohj go and bag your head.") There was a man (" Name ! ") came up to my place. I've got a lob of stones upon my ground. (Prolonged inter -1 fttptioh, during which Mr Connell paced the platform, patiently waiting for a lull in the storm.) N6#, I'm going to tell you about the other representative, and I'm going to sketch him trbih life. (" TSII us about bhe old lady."} He came ahd said tb me, " I wfintwork.". I showed him a large heap of st6nes that were to be r'embved, and gave him a spade arid a Wheelbarrow and told him to" g6 to 'wttffc,'' (Laughter, whistling, and general uprdar.) Gentlemen, I'm not one of tliose men that go, sjylhgab'diit after a man.,., ('! Whjr ybu tqltf. us, you watched a niari;like acat a fewminufces ago.") .Well; I left him, arictwhen I returned 'home* at

night I found that lie had done as tmich work as I cbtild have done myself in an tour and a quarter. (Cries of "Bob .' bod ! " ami lailghteiv) I gave him scveii shillings, and tokl him I could do without him. A fetV. day's afterwards this 'inftn came to iiie in th 6 stVeefci ('' Tell iis about .the iliare," and laugh tor.) He asked me why I would not give him more work, and t told him, "because you tlori'fc do a fair day's work for your nioi'iey (intemiptio'n) { and if ydti always do your work iii the same way, that's about all you'll get for sis months iii they ear.'^_ The t*iatf6rin Crowded. Air Connell Was he'l-e.brpusrhb to ft sbaiid stillj owing to the deafening- uproar which prevailed, all mariner bf chaff being hurled at him from hundreds of mouths. Ho stood quietly waithig' for a caliii, but without avail, and eventually retired amidst a- storm of cheers and hisses. l3y this time idsb the platform had become packed, .pwihg to bhe stage doors having, been left open, and the unfortunate candidate for' Eden's suH'niges found hiiriself assailed both ih front and rear. To make matters worse;, copies of the "Evening Curtain," which had been distributed throughout the hall, wel-e now wrapped up and formed into paper pellets, which were discharged frdm all quarters of the building and fell upoh the stage iri showers. Mr Connell retired and seated himself, whilst the Chairman rose to obtain order. He was met with re newed uproar, and cries of "Get up, George. Tell us about the mare," and "Gtiod boy Stanley " The, Chairman calmly faced the lively throng, bearing the sting of several paper peilobs With resignation, and eventually heg'ot in a few words edgeways as follows:— Gentlemen : You are called here, by Mr Cbhnell for the purpose bf hearing, his views; and parliamentary opinions, and such like. (Laughter.) As I am now in the chair, t must call yoii to order, and I must ask Mr Connell to keep to the point. Mr Staines having gob this far, was met with dreadful , uproar . and yells, of "Stand down, Sbaines." The erstwhile " people's champion" again and again abbempted bo get a hearing, but the audience simply gave forth roar 3 of laughter and the iiibkb absurd calls. Mr Connell rose to his feet and flourished the programme* observing, " We must support each other, and yoii must really listen to the chain" Mr Staines ; I want the candidate to give his views about Parliament! (interruption), and I hope the candidate will go into matters and tell us what he will do when ho goes into Parliament. A Lively Scene. This was followed by indescribable up roar, during Which an altercation took place between Mr CoiiHell itnd the. Chairman. This was provocative of sundry nob very choice observations from various disturbers, and the paper pellets began td fall around them in showers, until the platform looked like , a City Council dust-cart repository. This sort of thing continued for several seconds, and eventually Mr Connell retired amidst cIiCeTS, whilst the Chairman boldly held his ground, smiling with placid coun tenance upon the angry multitude. Ab this stage tho Chairman leisurely ex tracted a snuff-box from his coat-tail pocket, and with great gravity helped him self to a pinch, the action being hailed with roars of laughter from the and a pel-fecb tempest of outcries. Mr Connell, catching sight of the snuif-box, hastened across to the Chairman, and relieving him of it helped himself to a couple df pinches, and thefl, amid a regular pandomonium of i noise, passed the dojc to his friends in the front row. The audience was iniinediately seized with a hurricane of'pre tended sneezes, arid fora time "aeh-choo " became the only distinct sound throughout the building. Meanwhile the audienco had been busy rolling up their programmes into round balls, and now began a bitter fusilade of these missiles upon the stage,, the Chair man and Mr Council being the chief objects of. attack. The hubbub became fearfully intense,, and threatened to develop into a riot. 'Nob content with aiming at the chief actors upoh the stage, the audience began pelbing one another in right good earnest, and the shower of projectiles began alsb to descend smartly upon the reporters' tables. The people in the circle entered with very lively spirit into the bombardment bf their neighbours in the eballs, who found great difficulty in return ing the compliment, as those up above them were pretty well but of range. The Chairman stood his ground manfully amid a hailstorm of missiles, ahd despite loud cries of "Sib down; George." At length his determination wavered, and lie resumed his seat, the action provoking a tumult of cheering. Mr Connell then rose in the midst of yells of "Order" to resume His fepeech. In ejaculatovy phrases he said :—Now, geritle : men; I am going—(a voice : "To ride the nlare again ") to slioav you what— (a voice : " A fool you are ") is to be done with them (a voice: "Who?") —the unemployed. (A voice : " D it, give them a rest.") I showed you how they were thrown out of the body politic, and I will show you now What is the only thing possible to bo done with them, unless you are going to kill them. (A voice: " Draw ib mild, old artist.") They must be re-absorbed by some natural law into the body politic again. (A voice : "Will you absorb ft beer?" and uproar.) Only one thing .can happen to them. Sham Statesmen. Backed up by these sham politicians— these visionaries that imagine in. their absurdity tliat they are statesmen (a voice : " Yourself, for instance," and uproar), these unemployed go down upon the Queen street Wharf And pass magnificent resolu tions under Mr William Garrard (a voice: " Good company for you") or some other body; and saying, "We are going to demand from the Govern ment cheer.? in answer j to some call, and general disorder.) Well) genblemen,theso sham statesmen—(A voice: " Likei , yourself, old man." Another voice : " Let yourself down easy ") that see no further than their own hoses imagine that these unemployed are the most formidable arid powerful force of men in the country. (A Vbiee : "So they are.") They are no thing of th 6 Sort. (Lbud dissent, and cries bf "They are ; they are.") 1 tell you they are the weakest members of the community. (A voice : "Rot and balderdash.") . I say they have put themselves out bf the body politic because they can't be employed— because they do nob work enbtigh. (A voice: ''Slander," and uproar.) All'the weak arid unskilful members of the eoiij munity'-all the drinking members of the community—(a voice: " Wet your Own clay, old chawb&con") all the vicious members of the ebmimmity come by a natural law to be cast out upon the streets as uhemployed, and that is—because I tell you so.—(Hoot ing, groaning, and general uproar.) Al though I tell you that as a fact, ib is from no want of sympathy with these unfor tunate men. (A voice : " Your sympathy ! Holy Mosds! !") I tell you I have sympathy with them. (A voice : " That'll do. Tell us soinething you've done your self.") I shall tell you what I like, my friend, and if you want to make a speech you had better come forward. (Uproar, arid a voice, "You're telling us deliberate lies.") I have ten times more sympathy with the unemployed than those miserable sham statesmen who go round among them, and there will be no salvation for them until they can put some energy into them selves and go and look for the work. (A voice,: " Where is the \vbrk ?") Lot them go and find the work, sir. (Cries bf " Shame," arid loud hooting.) Mr Council Starts in Xife With Oα- There is a man in this large assemblage xvlib has stood ih the streets of Auckland with only 6d in his pocket, (A Voice: " Go oh ; whab a cram ") arid: that man was J. Aitken GonneuY (Uproar and applause.)

I had nob a copper.in the world'but that 6d,- (A voice : ."Poor dfevil," laughter, aiid J " Hear, hear") and not a friend in the shape Of a blood relatibh in the colony. (A .voice: "Nary one !" ihfieiTuption and cries of " Order.") That Wasinthe year 1859. I sl.Ofld UfJOll fcl)oQueen-striset Whai-f andl?aid to myself, " You are-—-(A voice: "A b— — fool. ) the son of an honourable man. You have got t)d in your pocket. You cannot steal. (A voice • " Can't you, now ':") You must not borrow, you must work. (Up roar.) And I tell you what I did do, and what some of ybii fellows would do well to do. (Cries of "Oh.' , ) I went intb the coiihtry aild worked as a coiri mbn hand in clearing bush, humping fencing (loud laughter), and milking, cowd. (A voice : " Go right back to it, Old man." Laughter, and general uproar). I can handle the spade as well and better than most of you, 'aiid I say that it's the bounded duty of every unemployed man to go a:id find work. (Cries-" Where.where? Anywhere ; you don't suppose that I m foirig to find work for you, do. you ?■ say go and find the work, even if it's cleaning out water-closets. (Yells of laughter.) And you should take any klrid of work and not go about the streets waitiiig for the Government to provide work, for it's not the duty of the Govern ment to find work for the unemployed. (Dissentient cries and great uproar.) I say thab when you send me to Wellington— (laughter). Oh you will do so! (More laughter, and a voice : "You'll never sde ibjOld man.") I say that when you send me to Parliament- (av&ice: " We won't do ib !v) that then I will not take away the money of the mass of the people to pub a lot of you unemployed on village settlements and keep you there. (Tremendous uproar.) No! I'll see you damned first, j (This was yelled out ab the top 6f Blr Corinell's voice, and he emphasised it by a vigorous stamp upon the platform. The announcement created a terrible uproar. The audience hooted, yelled, and hissed with, great gusto, while such cries as " Oh ! I say, that's wicked," " No bad language, please," and " I thought you said you were a Christian, i old man.") When Order was restored Mr Connell resumed. He said :—Well, lads, an: old colonial hand must use strong lan guage ab times when he's strung up, you know. (Laughter.) How to Solve tho Problem. Anyhow, well pass that by, and I will tell you about the rate of wages, and how this trouble may be perhaps cleared up. Give me fair play, and I will tell you what will naturally take place if we go on as we are. Well, suppose there are about 100,000 men employed iri New Zealand, and each of those men's wages should be 7s per day. Well, don't you see thab that makes 700,000 shillings, which just means £35,000. Well, if there are also 13,333 unemployed in New Zealand, you could with thab sum find work for these men. You could support them by the rate of wages being lowered one shilling per day all round. (Great uproar—hooting and hissing, aiid cries of " No, no," " That's Lamb's style.") Will you hear me out ? I say solemnly that there is absolutely no salvation for New Zealand until the rate of wages—(Uproar renewed.) Oh, yes, you may yell, but the bulk of you know that I am speaking the truth. Wait a little bit, ancl I'll show you what is being done by a few sham statesmen at Wellington. (Laughter and voice, " You'd like to be one of them.") They say, "Alas! alas! poor fellows, they're very hard up," and so they bring in a bill bo take £50,000 or £'60,000 of the. public money, arid put the men on village sections ; (Applause) and they are kept there ab the expense of you, the very men who have by a law of nature east them out. I say that the taking of that money by Messrs Vogel and Stout Aras a most un-English thing. ("No ! No!") I say that if they were allowed, to do such things unchallenged there would be no living in the country. (A voice: " Didn't you bring them out from the Old Country V") Protection v. Free Trade. Now* gentlemen, I am going to tell yoti something more which you are going to howl at. (Laughter.) Oh, yos, you will. I know ib just as well as if I heard you doing it now, (Laughter.) I want to speak about the work which we have to do.' We have to colonise the country. I say that we must turn this into an agricultural commuhity, and unless you have done that you do not know what true colonisation is. The man who dares to tell you that the true thing is to shnfc men up in a small room making boots ab wages which will not pay, or to shut women up making dresses at rates upon which they can scarcely live-I tell you, gentlemen, that the men who have these protectionist ideas have no idea about colonisation. I consider that it would be a misfortune if this counbry was turned into a great manufacturing community. There is too, much misery about manufacturing communities td please mo. There's, plenty of work in the country. (A voice: "Where? where?") Go and find it. {Laughter.) And I say that if I Avas out of work to-mbrrow I'd go out into the country and find work. (Applause, and a voice, "Try it, old chap!') Now, I'll tell you what protection does for countries, and I'll show you" that the men who talk of protection are men who know nothing about it. They think to get into Parlia ment, and the}'take up jthe protecbion cry just to please the electors. Mind you I sympathise with you, for you fully believe that unless you have probection you will go to the devil, (laughter) and the man who waritsa seat in Parliament takes up the Cry. (A voice: " .Don't you want, to get there yourself?") We'll, yes, I do want to go to Parliament, and what is more, I will. (Laiighter and cries of "Oh! oh.!") I.want to get into Parliament very badly. (A voice: "You'll never get there.") Yes I will, as sure as fate. (Continued laughter.) I say that you believe that protection is all you want, but if you had proper information—(A Voice: "We don't want it."). No; that's the ~ worst of you fellows, you don't want proper information. (Laughter.) They want information that will be ori their oWn side. (Interruption.) They cry out to, put 25. per cent, upon" articles which ■will • bring iii no revenue, (" Nb ! No !") but Isay that the man who cannot live in "New. Zealand without 25 percent, protective duties has no right to be here at all.. (Cries of " 800, aad great uproar.) The iiiari that is right in this colony..is the man thab can stand on his own two feet and say, "I'm here, and I mean to stop here." NbW, let me give you a. few figures. ("Oh! oh!" and interrupt tion.) That's the mischief of it with you fellows; you don't want figures ab all. (Interruption ) Now, listen to these facts. (Deafening uproar.) Well, gentlemen* I will not trouble you with the figures. (Hear, hear.) I'll give them to the reporters (a voice : " They've got it all down, arid laughter); and you can see it in the Stab to-morrow. I'll just tell you what these figures show. They show that in the Countries that are protected you have wages ab their lowest ("No! no!" and Uproar) and provisions at their highest rate. The lives of the workmen are so wretched that they are starved out of these countries and forced into other countries. ('' Bosh, "and re newed uproar.) I'll show you that distinctly. One or two of us have subscribed towards printing the speech of a New South Wales statesman, showing , 'how that colony has prospered under free trade as compared with Victoria iinder protection. New South Wales, as a colony, in every material respect is far ahead of Victoria.. ( i( No! no!' , ) Well, I'll just read you a few words from the statistics, without any figures ac all; (Laughter.) The Poor Deluded Audience. Listen, then, you poor deluded people, whilst I tell you. In the'ten years fol lowing the introduction of prbtection in NSw ; Sduth Wales, the pbpulatibn

increased 46 per cent, whilst in Victoria during the same time the increase was only 26 per cent. Then, again, in:lßß6,Victoria had a total population one-half larger than "New South Wales, and this superiority has been wholly lost. Then, again, the working power of the population of New South .Wales is far ajiead of r that of Victoria. It possesses more manhood, better Jiving, and is better in everything than that of Victoria. (Interruption.) I'll tell you more if you keep a little "cool. (Laughter.) We are a little excited • to-night, gentle man. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen!,, we will come .to the iast item _df our programme, and it is most in-, teresting. You see. I have been taking up pretty dry things, and I am not stu prised that you are tired. .(Applause.) Now , we ' get fco the practical politics and ' the election tactics. (Screams of laughter.) A few words on electoral affairs. (Uproar and cries of " Pro gramme," whilst the stage was once again overwhelmed with a shower of paper pellets.) Upon my word, gentlemen, your idea of listening with quietness and atten tion is one of the rummiest; ones I have heard for some time. (Interruption.) Electoral ScHeming. Now, I am going to tell you, gentlemen, something very interesting. (A voice : "Is it about the mare?" and laughter.) It is about electoral scheming. (Great laughter and general disorder, with yelling, whist ing and throwing of paper missiles.) "Now, I'm going to give you, gentlemen, one of the most beautiful illustrations—(roars, of laughter.) The disorder here became so uproarious that Mr Cbnnell could not be heard even at the reporters'table, whilst he could be ob served gesticulating forcibly. After a few seconds of this disturbance "Mr Connell retired, and the Chairman rose and faced the crowd. He in turn was assailed with abusive epithets, and refused a hear ing: Mr F. J. Shortb, the well-known hair dresser, next essayed to quell the storm, but -vvas met with . a storm of hoot ing and hissing, and eventually beat a hasty retreat amidst a shower of paper arid rag missiles. • :.r ~ Sir Robert Stent. -Mi- Connell eventually took a stand be fore the audience once again and succeeded in obtaining something like a hearing. He proceeded : Now, gentlemen, I said a few words at my last meeting about Sir Robert Stout (applause and hisses). I told you thatX: did not intend to talk'about .Sir Robert Stout behind his back; I would say what I wanted to say before his face in the house. (Laugh ter. ) As I tell you, lamabitof a tactician (A voice : "Oh, is that the tack you're on?'), and when I see a move made by Sir Robert Stout, I know how to defeat it if I can. Now, he has just made a very clever move, and I am about to expose it to you to night, because it is absolutely necessary:l should make a counter-move and stop it. (Disorder.) Now, listen; (A voice: " We've had enough of your moves.") In his address at Duhedin on Tuesday last we find Sir Robert Stout saying (A voice: "Oh, chiick it up")—he says he is agreed—(A pause by Mr Connell, arid a voice : " Stuck again," followed by groan ing, cat-calling, etc., arid cries of "Chair.") Referring to the . position of parties in the House, Sir Robert Stout says — (Renewed interruptions) He says that he is agreed j (A .voice.: "Oh, give us the second edi tion") with Major Atkinson upon four 6r. five points of policy. (Disorder.) Why is this ? Wliy does he say he agrees with four of live points of Major Atkinson's policy ? (Determined uproar.) What does he mean?. (A voice: "Ask that donkey of yours.") I will tell you. He is not. a man of power, i (A voice : " He isj" and groans and cheers.) He is not a man of power (cries of "He is," and " Right you are." A voice : " You mean you're a man of no power "). I say he is a man of no power, and if you form the conclusion that I am a man of no power you have a perfect right to do so, .which right I acknowledge and bow.to. I respect your judgment about me. and believe it. to be honest, but I also claim my right to judge public men, and no man iii this building know* Sir Robert Stout so well as I. (A voice : " You don't know him at all") I do. I speak.of his political acts—l take his public life (uproar), and as I watch public men like a cat (cat-calls arid outcries of all sorts), I have watched Sir Robert Stout like a cat. (Renewed inter ruptions.) I will tell you .his reason for making this move* and you will .find ifc in teresting if you will only listen. (A voice : " Oh, let it rip.") As I said before, t repeat againj he is riot a man of real power him self., of " Yes, he is," and applause 1 .) He js a very able,,a very clever, and a deter mined man, and so clever that he knows well enough that there is rib originality or native power in himself. (Dissent.) He is shrewd enough, therefore, to lay hold of that power in somebody else, and he' accofdingly lays hold of Sir Julius Vogel. (Determined up roar and prolonged hooting and groaning.) That is the.man— about' the opposite extreme—poles asunder froni Sir Bobert Stout in party and political thought. (Disorder.) He knows Sir Julius Vbgei's power—and he is a man of power (cries of "No !")—and he appropriates Sir Julius Vogel, and Vogel does the • woi'k while Stout makes a fine pretence of being Premier. (Uproar.) That is the ticket. If there is one thing in the world I know, it is the nian who can work. (Reneweduproar.) And;gentlemen; I tell you this, that for real work—mind you, real, grand work, Sir Robert Stout khow3 nothing about it—arid what ia the position now? (A voice: " You're off your onion.") Why, Sir Julius Vogel is a falling man. (A voice:, "Time he was," arid cheers.) Probably it is. I say that, being common sense colonials, we are not going to coalesce with Sir Julius Vogel in any sense whatever. And 1 say that this is recognised in our party—that notwith standing his enormbus ability, and eminent, services we don't want him Zea land. (Cheers.and uproar.) What is Sir Robert Stout about with Sir Julius Vogel now ? I venture to say he is beginning to feel like a man with a hob potato in his hand (laughter and uproar), and so he dis covers four or five points of resemblance in his policy bo Major. Atkinson's, and he wants Major Atkinson to do a beautiful part for him—to do all the /work, in fact, and for himself to get all the fine "blows-out."' (A voice: ''What you'd like yourself.")- Majbv Atkinson knows perfectly well what he is, and I will tell you that when he speaks as distinctly as Majbr Atkinson's own confidential politician here in Auckland. (Cries of "Name ! name !" and "Oh, you mean Hodge!" fol lowed by... uproar.j tHodge rose and bowed to the audience, and instantly drew upon himself a shower of missiles. In mock alarm he covered-his head with his coat, and his place in the stalls received a regular bombardment.] Mr Connell: Well, I suppose you all read the papers as well as myself, and you could see for .yourself who was the gentleman who wrote about Major Atkinson. (Cries of " Name.") I assume he is the agent. (Cries of "Name.") You know as well as myself that it's Mitchellsbn. I tell you Stout will not get Major Atkinson, notwithstanding this fine little trick of his. (Uproar.) , Sir Robert Stout, as Premier of New Zealand, must go on his own lines and fight his own battles, and we are against him—we, the common sense party. (Uproar.) Now, there is another thing I want to tell you; The colony is distinctly iii a fix, and I say if there are any men in this.building who are true old colonial hands they will know the truth of what I say. (A voice : " Oh, dry up, old wind-bag.") There are no politi cians in New Zealand whb can save you (A voice :" only Connell ") unless a man with a true i colonial heart. [Hear the speaker worked his fist up and down like a hammer, whereupon a voice: " Punch it home, old man. , ? Another voice: "You'redrunk."]

I teHycmJhat "in-thlg- ; for the men thaticaa hS'IT *?* k* active fact, fe^fflSfS^" 1 number of leading polit feS • Tr a l&nd can handle thl S^L WNe * 2e& amongst them Avho- la^ft r ?^ c as well as any- of voiV'T ,- her % : (This evoked %X f orl «ng o £ Mr Hodge, who was ri 3 the was deluged with b « : Well, «ow, gentlemen itlf pbatically that there is a ! rsing in this country. ft £ n? 0 " this country. 1 don't tL " the result If men of toue genu! ** who have done So; 4 {Lau^Fx/ , ? 8 Atkinsoiris one, {Laughter S^ Of No, he's as bad as Vo* P] t f Major Atkinson.is .one, JoL T*H another ("hear hear' ,, VT %«*•« Edwin hoots, and. cries of \<<V e o'»~ Scobie McKenzie oantake his'spad,-4 work with it. . (A voice *X? 5 Lundon?" . Another:; ville ?" and hooting.) ThefelS %* Richardson, -.the fo?|? W He is a true colonial, tad an ho J I say that these arfcth^e^S not newspaper men. . like (Cries of " Ko ! No !") nor R lawyers S&g plause.) In this juncture you 5 tit ful men, -honest mon, and I saf Z if - accept these soft-handed laSS * fessional politicians,, you, and. not these men ,'X rmnirig-fche country, ■' ><Appa& S 4°i|J' les, we know it.")' f'wiirMtW ' something J^J. : w!ssiZt IVe ) given you some. pretty Hard Ifnoi WeD, I've every confidence iatha.wS man. (Avoice: " Oh,you!recomS *| are you ?» I don't telUyeu this vSSi please you ;;I n.ean.ifc! , There ffi Sreat men : .in world ( t6 whdmf J deeply indebted. [Hereto Speaßr paa L for a momeat, aM theneaat T '¥hS both dead; how," which remark c≤!: roars of laughter, which was renewedwk a gentleman'on the platfoffti , (iiiiieHtM, passed, up his Uhen .; the laughter'-abatid .MrXJoiineli cotitinued.] Well/ two great,men, the first' of them\t, that great Scotchman .vPayid flame. f» taught me a most humiliating lesson ' ; %t the human, mind jis iiicoinpetent to great questions. • The other man' Scotchman —, James Reid, • known as the commonvsense" plifbsopte' and his doctrine .was, mass of men, when anything waa'ttajfj amongst them for their , consideraif —their, verdict; in a cmqsb cases. Ms:Mt That is a most magnifictiirb thwgliW|ij: I dp not hesitate; to say before tta voili and before <j6d that I b'eliive"tfiat tlieHeart of every honest man isßuch'thaftErffilfci justice to any;, man. ,: (Great; appja® during which a voice cried: '" Wfef alliii Sir George Grey ?") \ Sir G6org6 Grejr. Well, you'shall hear about.SlriSltoi Grey, but you must listen, to me and ft quiet, so that-I caii be heai'd, fotmypi voice is nearly worn out ; to yon.; .'.Now,.;.about. Sir George Gro" ■Well, at , the present nibinfe'riE—there-are two old- colonials irtla'fix.,,;(A Toiee: ' ! You are one' of them.") Thifs about Eden.'. Buttheriold coltiniailiandßge'Kr. ally fix" iip • their matters theiMelves, ; aJ I hope to to.feettie-:thi3 itiiito all right/ ; "(i : voice:;"'Neverfeav ( tteefo; toys will do that.") Well, abo'utgilSte Grej'. There' are too 'many':'important things to be done. One isjto /win U% seat (A voice :," You'll_ never see EdffJ and. the other is ,to : keep' Sir out of Parliament. ■ • This statement;"renewed the..npir, People yelled : and footed if tkjli gone madJ The coVeiingS; of g circle chairs were torn off anfl hurkd dw at the speaker,, and resulted ( most , a free fight amongsbifcne i: aiKiiatt. Showers of paper pellets poured ||i upon the;. platform, ''an'i " Order !" "order !" chair!" A 6 length' :ihft chairman » 'deeded'in • somefrhafc tranquillising l!) meeting, but nob before he had beeo ma a target for a large number o£ missiles, t eluding a fair-sizeil onion, which forfiuutq fell , short of the iDark. , Mr Connell -then said: ; Wellf when jti have quite done perhaps you OUfc. ':'' '' ' ' ■ ■' : }'-i§'i,' Theaudiencethen jumpedfr6mjK||B and gave three hearty cheers for.Sir K» Grey. A eecdhd and third round were gius, and in order to- be'impartial'Mβ?* were quite as hearty in their hboting SM groans when, three cheers were called'w Mr Aitken Connell; After -α-iev mm Mr Gonuell made another attapf." continue his speech, ,bnt'lds voitetfli .drowned in yells, and three "oegflW were given for Sir George Grep-" more yells for the speaker, hm of indescribable uproar then fo»* A free fight with paper pellets took.pw jg in the body of the halkand Hodge wm plentifully imtroriised that h?TOWff« to cbter his head with Ins coat, a£te p} stao'e was covered with paper bill* h The Chairman tried in' yam » 1| cure order, -bub ojly t - ( sMur»iiaKffl shower of pellets g la flv!|| his bald pate likethe shol, off an «f*|p plated ship. At length Ja» (*g™ able to resume his speech. _ I know that what I intended to try you, but unless you ""'■•fSK you should not be here. you are afraid to hear me lo*er,b| mm Grey in vouu:estimaUonf|que|M afraid to hear wha. thavgoW MM (Great uproar, during; were given for Sir.George groanlforConnelU lieve you are afraid-to say about Sir ' afraid that I'll bear him out of««»J&j ficent place that he holds.^n , W & Jg tion. (InterMipfcion, and Sir George Grey.) } m £f/diM should be returnfed. o,tto (Uproar.)' Now, gentlemen,;"^jffjjjßl you Should- «nder S tandyourtf«UM explain. ("No, io ! || all representative' uutgMJkgJU lutely-impossible meiit iinless.you l^e ■* "- [ distinct parties. ~ j MM Hodge B«bs «P Serene!! J^ Here, again, the a pitch of amazing duals seated in variou- pn» MfWrn ing commenced a «g ( fl »l4B and rag ?^« !E £» nfltgM uproar, cries ot ntf*-Ksl and the illustiious BUIT scrambled upon the platfo m J A lights. Mr Connell _ie»u o « whilst Hodge faced his aud.eg ,|, was the signal for| »" Sf amidst a hjrftj upj ' |g tempted to obtain o. yelled at the top J 1 to j|g f but all to «o ) (s» d 'jj ( I>»|e1 > »|e audience yelled louder,. n d^, ,JM& to look sorry for ha"«? Jff The paper pee ts 'X many hundreds - Wα P once again brought into 1 j, velt lj.|pp| Hodge n-as peppe *?»M ,f § he drew lus coat . ■■ ,\ h jMS covered his face. c » f rfff *" t M hasty retreat, the crowd on the ptattoo Mr Connell again can o m |«i immediately plumped V^^Jffll

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, TUESDAY, JULY 12:1887.

2

ConlinmdonP^t