POLITICAL NEWS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 188, 17 June 1873, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS.

Since our last, election news appertaining to this district can be said to have received no additional items. Beyond his advertisement to the electors, Mr Marsh has remained perfectly quiescent, having taken, to all appearance, no steps whatever to secure support either in the town or the outlying districts. Mr MacKellar and Mr Colclough, on the contrary, have been busy. Both have addressed meetings of electors at several of the centres of population, and advertise their intention of doing so during the week in those they have not yet visited. Almost as a matter of course, both have received votes of confidence in each case. Public opinion seems hardly to be made up yet, either one way or the other. The general belief is that the two gentlemen are well matched as regards ability to represent the district faithfully and creditably. On all sides, gladness is expressed that there is no possibility of the district's interests being neglected, and its honour tar nished, as in the past. We present side by side the speeches of both candidates as delivered in Cromwell, and from these the electors must judge. . Beyond the three already named, there is no likelihood of others coming to the post on the nomination day.— We need hardly remind the electors that the day of nomination is Thursday first, and that of polling the following Saturday. To-morrow the polling for the Superintendency takes place. During last week, the electors of Cromwell were given the opportunity of hearing Mr Gillies, who succeeded in creating a fairly favourable impression.

Doubtless his personal visit has gained him some support beyond the little his reputation would have secured him. He told ns nothing or but little further than he told them in Dunedin at his nomination. For reasons which wo gave, we last week advised the electors to return Mr Macandrew ; and nothing Mr Gillies said causes us to withdraw that advice. Throughout this district, and even in the town itself, we believe that Mr Macandrew will have the majority, probably a large one. And the result will doubtless be the same throughout the Province. Different it might have been had the “ constitutional” party succeeded in persuading a bestter than Gillies to contest the election ; although the return of even any opponent would have been doubtful in the face of so short an allowance of time for a canvass of the Province. The polling for seven candidates, out of seventeen proposed, for the representation of Dunedin took place on the 10th inst. The following are the names of those elected, and the number of votes polled by each : Davie 907 Turnbull 907 Reynolds 837 Fish 700 Turton 623 Haggitt 564 Bathgate.. 553 The unsuccessful candidates polled as follows -Cargill, 530 ; Prosser, 518 ; Reeves, 507 ; Walter, 338 ; Cutten, 321 ; Barton, 285 ; Isaac, 247 ; Millar, 123 ; Rossbotham, 83; Graham, 81. On the 11th, Mr John M ‘Lean was reelected for Oamaru without opposition. Mr Udall, the other candidate proposed, was found not to be on the roll. The polling for the Milton election took place on the 11th, and resulted as follows : Gillies, 82 ; Cunningham, 67. For Waikouaiti, the late member did not seek re-election. The polling took place on Saturday last, when Mr James Mills was returned by a majority of 14, the numbers being—Mills, 84 ; Orbell, 70. Mr David Maitland opposes Mr Clark, the late member, for the Matau district. Mr H. Daniel has been elected without opposition for Riverton. The Tuapeka polling takes place to-day. Mr Bastings is almost certain to be re-elected, and there is likely to be a close contest between Messrs Pyke and J. C. Brown. The nomination for the Dunstan took place on Saturday, when Messrs Shepherd and Hazlett were proposed. There was no show of hands, but Mr Shepherd demanded a poll, which is to take place on Friday next. Waihola has once more returned Mr Mollison, with a majority of 46 over his opponent, Mr Black. For Port Chalmers, Mr M'Derrnid has been returned unopposed. Messrs Beighton, Ireland, and Nicholson are in the field for Mount Benger. Mr Mouat has retired from the Waitahnna contest, which is thus left to Mr G. F. C. Browne, the late member. Messrs Innes and Robert Clarke, from the Arrow portion of the district, and Messrs Hallenstein and Manders, from the Queenstown, are candidates for the Lake district. It is probable that Mr Manders will give way in favour of Mr Hallenstein. The polling is on the 19th. The Taieri election (of three members) took place on the 13th inst. The following is the result :■ — Shand 330 Reid 312 Allan 294 Prain 136 Webb 80 The former members for the district are thus returned by a large majority. Oteramika, formerly represented by Sir F. Dillon Bell, has returned Mr Andrew Kinross, by a majority of five over his opponent, Mr Hamilton. The polling for Caversham is filled for the 20th. Messrs Stout and Leary are in the field. Mr Tolmie is to be opposed by Mr Cutten for the Peninsula. For the Clutha, four candidates were proposed,—viz., Messrs Thomson and Henderson, the late members ; Mr John M‘Neil, the Mayor of Balclutha, and Major Richardson. The polling on Saturday resulted as follows : —Richardson, 207 ; M'Neil, 151 ; Thomson, 140. Mr Henderson seems to have retired, although we have no positive information to that effect.