MANUHERIKIA ELECTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 202, 10 March 1866, Page 3

MANUHERIKIA ELECTION.

MR. JOHN JACK AT CLYDE,

Mr John Jack addressed the electors on Tuesday evening last, at the Union Hotel, Clyde. Mr James Hazlett Chairman -of the Town Improvement Committee occupied the chair, and introduced Mr Jack to the meeting.

Mr. John Jack said that he was personally known to most of them, and they were pretty well acquainted with his political opinions. He had not printed an address, but he was at the meeting purposely to give a verbal explanation. He contradicted a rumor that he had pledged himself to support Captain Baldwin. He (Mr. Jack) had been informed by Captain Baldwin that he intended to contest the Goldfields Boroughs. Subsequently that gentleman told him that lie would contest the Manuherikia, and asked him for Ids support. He consented, provided no better man entered the field. Without being egotistical he (Mr Jack) thought himself a better man. The speaker then proceded to dilate upon the principal topics of the day. (We give only the principal features of Mr. Jack's speech, that gentleman's opinions having appeared in print on a recent occasion.) He believed that, from the commercial and geographical position occupied by Otago, it should be the port of call as well as departure for the Panama steamers. That contract was, lie believed, not yet closed, and if strenuous exertions were made Auckland and Otago might yet become the ports of call and departure. Would do his best to keep up the service between Port Chalmers and Melbourne : a mail between these two ports at stated intervals was of immense importance to the people here. The 28th clause of the Goldfields Amendment Act lie would do his best to have repealed, and would endeavor to obtain a definite settlement of the land question. With respect to municipalities he thought that shire councils and other local boards were, in our case, preferable, as money raised in towns could only be spent in towns, while in the cuse of local boards it could be spent all over the district it represented, He was strongly in favor of opening up roads throughout the province, and thought something might be done to assist a system of water carriage. He had a large interest in the district, and would do his best to promote its welfare.

A vote of confidence in Mr. John Jack was unanimously carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.