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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 67

[preamble]

page break

Mr J. Aitken Connell (candidate for [unclear: den] delivered in the Choral Hall, Auckland, on July 25th, an address to "Young [unclear: lonials,"] being the second of his series [unclear: of] Monday Evening Political Addresses." [unclear: ere] was an assemblage of fully a thousand [unclear: sons,] of which by far the largest pro-[unclear: tion] were youths and young men.

Mr Connell, on making his appearance [unclear: upon] platform, was received with cheers. He [unclear: id] Ladies and Gentlemen,—I am compelled to ask you to-night as usual to choose [unclear: ur] own chairman, for I have no chairman [unclear: is] propose.

After an awkward pause Mr Geo. Akers [unclear: posed] that Mr Wm. Kelly (former [unclear: mber] for the East Coast) should take the [unclear: ir] (Applause.)

Mr Council called for a show of hands in [unclear: our] of the proposition, and a large number were held up. Another long pause

Mr Kelly declined the honour on the [unclear: nd] that he was not an elector of the [unclear: trict]

Mr Connell: Well, it is rather an unusual [unclear: ing] in a large meeting of this kind that [unclear: cannot] get a man to take the chair. If [unclear: cannot] give me a chairman, I shall be [unclear: ged] to choose one myself. I am quite [unclear: your] hands, gentlemen. Mr Akers was then proposed, but de-

Mr. J. R. Green next moved that Mr. [unclear: A. M.] Philson should take the chair.

Mr. Philson : I am not an elector in this [unclear: drict]

Mr. Connell: That does not at all matter; [unclear: you] had better take the chair. Mr Philson : Much obliged, but I would [unclear: ther] not.

At this stage, loud cries of "Hodge!" were [unclear: ed] and Mr. Connell said that he would [unclear: very] glad if Mr. Hodge would come for [unclear: rd] and take the chair.

Mr. Hodge, however, did not appear to be [unclear: ent] and the proceedings again hung

After a minute or two of hesitation Mr [unclear: nell] said: There is a gentleman here I would like extremely to take the chair. I will tell you why later on. He is a young colonial (cheers), and I beg, therefore, that this gentleman here [pointing to Mr George Sexton] should take the chair. Mr Sexton, however, preferred to retain his seat, and firmly shook his head to all Mr Connell's inducements for him to mount the platform.

Finally, Mr Connell said : Well, gentlemen, if you cannot give me a chairman, you cannot expect me to give you a speech.

Hereupon Mr Geo. Akers rose from his seat, strode up to the platform and took the chair, amidst loud cheers. In opening the meeting he said : Ladies and gentlemen,—Electors of Auckland city,—On account of being called to the chair, I think I am here in my right place. (Applause.) Mr Connell told us the other night that he was an old colonial. Well, I am also an old colonial. (Applause.) He told us too that in the year 1859 he stood on the Queen-street Wharf with only sixpence in his pocket. To that I may say that, in the same year, I was for three weeks in Auckland with only sixpence in my pocket. I went up in the world after that, but I have come down again since. Ladies and gentlemen, I trust you will give an impartial hearing to Mr Connell for his address. (Cheers.)