PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1200, 27 November 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

DISTRICT OF WARKWORTH. '^

The nomination of; candidates to represent the above district in the Provincial Council took place on Saturday last at uoon/'inl'the public hall, Warkworth.. There were about 40 electors present. The Returning Officer, Mr Angove, having read the writ, called on the electors present to nominate one person to represent the district in the Provincial Council. Mr H. W. Pulham proposed, and Mr James Buchanan seconded, Mr W. P. Moat. Mr Robert Meikle proposed! and Mr Josiah Hudson seconded, Mr-rHenry Palmtr. Mr Moat then addressed the electors at length. He declared himself an anti-pre-vincialist, and thought the sooner provincial institutions were done away with the better it would be for the community. He was in favar of free secular education, but thought it should be conducted by the General Government, and paid for out of- the general revenue of the colony. But until the Qeneril'jGovernment took it in hand, or untilthei collapse of provincial institutions,. he; thought, the present Act, with the obnoxious Uniform- ♦ rating clause amended, might suffice. He .advocated the principle. of the Permissive Bill, and thought no fresh license should be issued in any locality if two-thirds of the adult residents objected. At the same timo he wou 1 d not go in for confiscation, and thought that no house already established, and which was properly conducted, should be deprived' of its license unless the owner received adequate compensation. He considered that; the police force should remain under the control of the General Government, and that Mr Gillies deserved the gratitude of the community for the stand he had made upon; that question. He was in favor of that spirit of thepresent FencingAet, but thought* the definition of what should constitute a legal fence ought to be amended. With regard to reads he thought two were absolutely necessary to connect this district with Auck-land—one-to the North Shore, and another via Riverhead. As to the route to be taken ..< that was for the highway trustees—the representatives of the people—to determine. ■ In conclusion, Mr Moat stated that*! if elected he would not offer any fuctipufe opposition to Mr Williamson or his executive. He would not go into the CuuuciWto oppose or to support any party, but as far as tie could to represent the opinions of the great A majority of the settlers of the district,which!, he believed were identical with his otrn; Several questions, mostly relating to roads,were put to Mr Moat,: which he answered tothe entire satisfaction of the meefcingV-^f Mr Palmer, on rising, was well received. 4 He saidik that My*.rMoat's ideas of going into the Council ■ and acting. iv :; dependent of party were.' all nonsense. To do any good a man must join either ojiii party or the other, and he was going in i£ h . join the party from whom he thought "he^L could get most for the benefit of the district.' He also spoke at some length respecting roads which should be made, and blocks ef land which should be opened up, and said he had intended t0,.-speak on other., matters, butVas Mr MoiatVhad already ex-J plained them so fully and clearly there wai "• no use in his-taking up tHe time of the^ meet-:!, ing by referring t« them. In- conclusion >hf ~\ begged to assure them that if returned hemi!, would do all he possibly could for the benefit of j the district. In reply to questioner Mi1 Palmer said he was in favour of the Permissive,, p Bill; lin 5 favour of the control of t the police remaining in! the hands r6fl the General 'Government ; in favour of free secular education, &c. ; in favour of,thepresent Fencing Act as it stood: Mr Murray then asked : Is is true you are going to Wellington ~ shortly? Mr Palmer : Yes ; but I hope to *X bejback some day. Mr Murray :Is ifc true, as peported, that you only intend to Bit for one session, and then resign. This question was put several times without h eliciting '•'"if satisfactory reply.—Mr C. Greenwood: It - is evident Mr Palmer wishes to evade the question.—Mr. Murray put the question once more, when Mr Palmer replied in the] negative.—The Returning Officer then" ! called for a show of hands, when eighteen '. were held up for Moat and eighteen for Palmer. He then called for a second show for Palmer, and the same number were held up. He then called for a third rr shoy of hands for Palmer. One or two parties were brought in from outside, and 21 hands were held up, Mr Moat then de- -.■■■ manded a poll, which will be: taken on the third December next. The proceedings, which passed off in a most quiet and orderly ■ ,"[ manner, were brought to a close by a vote of thanks to the. Returning Officer. , V ;;i