The Peninsula Election.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 850, 24 January 1883, Page 2

The Peninsula Election.

It may be said to have been a fore gone conclusion that Mr Larnach would be elected as member for the Peninsula, but we doubt if his most ardent supporters expected to see him returned by such an overwhelming majority. Ihe contest created considerable excitement in Otago, and a more than local interest was shown on account of the presence of a Bishop among the candidates. But now the election is over, and we find that Mr Larnach actually polled more than double the amount of votes obtained by both Mr Donnelly and Bishop Moran, it is evident that the gentleman who has been elected could never have had any doubt as to the result. That the Peninsula has chosen wisely will be the almost universal verdict. Mr Larnach is a man who has had previous experience as a politician, he has made money and report says that he has used that money wisely, and has done much good to the district of which he is now the representative. His business capacities will make him a useful member ot Parliament, and he will be a decided acquisition to whichever party he may join. He came forward as an “ independent ” candidate, but he is too practical a politician not to know that he can do little good unless he links his fortunes either with the Ministry or the Opposition. The addresses I delivered by Mr Larnach during his 1 candidature showed that he is a Liberal in the truest sense of the word, and for that reason we do not expect to find him in the ranks of the noisy demagogues, who for the most part compose the Opposition. Of the unsuccessful aspirants for political honors on this occasion, Bishop Moran claims the first notice. His position, indeed, is the lowest on the poll, but he was not defeated ingloriously. He has fought a good fight with energy, and if the victory has been lost it may be truly said that he has used no weapons unworthy of a gentleman. He has stated his opinions clearly, and although he naturally differed widely from the views of his opponents in the matter of educational policy, his ideas of government in other respects were both liberal and enlightened. Mr Donnelly, on the other hand, has done his best to destroy what little reputation he gained when he wooed the suffrages of the people at the general election. Not only has he changed his political opinions in one short year, but he resorted to unworthy tactics during the contest. On the Saturday previous to the election he held a meeting at which Mr Fish was present. The latter gentleman made an attack upon Mr Larnach, in which he characterised that gentleman as a, “ shifty politician,” and indulged in personalities in a way that only the member tor Dunedin South can. Mr Donnelly, though more moderate in tone, spoke in the same strain, and if he did manage to secure a little applause at the time, he may be sure that should he ever again come before a constituency, the fact of his having attacked an opposing candidate when there was no opportunity for a reply being given will be remembered against him. However, it is evident that the good sense of the Peninsula electors prevailed, and without doubt they have done well in returning Mr Larnach.