PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Dunstan Times, Issue 582, 13 June 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Dunstan District. To-day will decide the number to come forward to contest this seat, Mr. Ilazlett, Mr. Shepherd,and Mr. Oheeseman, a miner residing at Blacks, are the names mentioned. Of the last the least said the soonest mended. He is known only in his own district, and even there we doubt if he would head the poll. The contest will lie between Mr. Hazlett and Mr. Shepherd. The latter has, during the past week, been doing Black’s, Drybreal, Tinkers, and the surrounding district, but, to all accounts, his reception has not been the most flattering. Mr. Hazlett’s requisition is evidence that he will not be far from the head of the poll, lie advertises his intention to meet the electors during the coming week. Without anticipating what we desire, we would ask all to attend the meetings and judge for themselves if he is the fitting man to represent them. Cromwell. By the retirement of Mr. IHazlett, the list of declared candidates for the representation of Kawarau District has been reduced to three—viz., Messrs. M'Kellar, Marsh, and Cololough. It is stated, upon undoubted authority, that Mr. Shepherd—whose chance of re-election for the Duustan is considered to be almost annihilated by Mr. Hazlott’s candidature—would be glad to contest the Kawarau election if ho saw the remotest chance of success, or was even offered the smallest encouragement to stand. If be does not wish to bo iguominiously defeated, Mr. Shepherd will act wisely in not coming forward. Cromwell Ari/us. Nasebv. Meetings have been held by three of the candidates who ]are in the field, Messrs. Mervyn and Armstrong, jointly, and Mr. Do Latour. All three gentlemen secured votes of confidence. The St. Bathau’s correspondent of the Mount Ida Chronicle says: “The forthcoming election is causing some commotion here, and the merits of the various candidates for the honor of representing the district arc being eagerly discussed. Judging by the remarks that arc made on all sides; I should say that our late members have not the ghost of a shoav of re-election, at least, so far as the constituency of St. Bathan’s is concerned. Mr. Mervyn especially is spoken of in the severest and most uncomplimentary terms, and will doubtless he relegated to the obscurity from wh : ch he ought never to have emerged. Mr. Armstrong is much respected and so far as the local requirements of the district are concerned, has exerted himself to the utmost of his ability in tbo interests of ’his constituents ; hut it is felt that lie is not equal to the duties of a representative. He is a miserable speaker, his opinions when bo ventured to express them in the Council Were hardly ever listened to, and while be has the credit of acting conscientiously and with the best possible intentions, ho is charged with having permitted himself unwittingly to become a mere tool in the bauds of an usorupulous party in the Council. The above appears to be the general opinion of the electors, although there arc a few here who have the utmost confidence in Mr. Armstrong, and who believe that Mr Morviu takes an interest in political matters, apart from honorarium.