PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 583, 20 June 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

— 0— NOMINATIONS AT CLYDE. The nomination of Candidates for the District of Dunstan took place at the Court House, Clyde, on Saturday, the 14th inst, at noon. W. L. Simpson, Esq., [Returning Officer, having read the writ of election, called on the tree and enlightened electors to nominate candidates. • After some delay, the apparent cause being a desire on the part of the intending candidates to keep their political cards “ blind.” Mr. Michael Joseph M'Ginnis, miner, of Butcher’s Gully, said he had pleasure in proposing Mr. James Hazlctt as a fit and proper person to represent the Dunstan District in the Provincial Council. Ho had known Mr. Hazlett for a number of years, and had always mot him as a straightforward honest man, and one ever ready to assist the miners and to further the interests of the Gold-fields. He considered the present elections most opportune. It gave the electors a chance of ridding themselves of men whose only object was self-aggrandise-ment at the expense of the district they represented. 1 ho gentleman he had the honor of proposing a resident among them : his interests were identical with those of the electors, and, as a matter of course, in carrying out the first law of nature—self-preservation—could do nothing but agitate for and support such measures as would benefit his district. In the past nothing had been done. The roads were quagmires, and there was no land open for settlement. To obtain a fair share of attention at the hands of the Government it was necessary to elect local men—men with a stake in the district they represented; and he hoped, on the day of the poll to see Mr, Ilazlett at the head. Mr. William Greenbank, minor, Drybread, who seconded the nomination of Mr. Hazlett, said that local men to represent the Gold-fields’ constituencies were absolutely necessary. Mr. Hazlctt had a largo stake in the Dunstan- District, and was in every way bound up in it. He not only hoped he would be at the head of the poll, hut that he would bo returned by an overwhelming majority. Mr. William I’etric, mason, Clyde, proposed Mr. Thomas Luther Shepherd as a fit and proper person to represent the Dunstan District in the Provincial Council. Mr. Shepherd’s past services ought to recommend him to the electors. He had done a

great deal and could do more. He thought Mr. Shepherd ought to be elected—nay, shall be. •Mr. Hazlett said : Mr. Returning Officer and gentlemen—The numerously and influentially signed requisition presented to me, asking me to contest the present seat, left me no choice but to accept. It is desired to have local men, and if you do me the honor to place me at the head of the poll you may rely on my exertions being devoted to your interests, faithfully and conscientiously. In seeking the honor, it not to obtain a billot or to draw the houararinm. (Reads a paragraph from Mr. Turnbull’s speech to the electors of Dunedin, wherein ho says the Gold-fields Members’ only aim is a billet, and if they don’t get one, they will not allow the work of the Session to go on.) His (Mr. Hazlett’s) object would be to get a fair share of the revenue expended in the district. It was a shame and disgrace the present state of the roads, and he could not but think it was greatly the fault of our late representatives. The system adopted of expending the moneys voted for road works he did not believe in. The appointment of surface men was worse than throwing the money away. He would suggest, and (if elected) w'onld do his utmost to have the roads let by public contract in small sections. If elected he would not go down pledged to any party or any set of measures. If the executive in office bring down a good programme I will support them; if a bad one, will oppose them. These are my principles, and on them I rise or fall. In reference to the groat bone of contention, the Land Bill, am in favor of free selection on deferred payments of 2s. Gd. per acre a year for eight years only, with improvement conditions, the system of opening blocks of 2500 acres without rights of depasturage, object to, as the area in the first place is not large enough to make a good settlement, and the idea of fanning without grazing rights is absurd. Would suggest that an area of considerably larger extent be surveyed, and from it the land be selected for occupation. The Gold-fields Bill lately prepared, and now before the country, will doubtless command attention of the Coucil.. Would suggest that all Miners’ Associations and other persona interested in mining peruse the. measure and forward to the Council any alterations or amendments they might desire. If returned will be most happy to take charge of them and will promise to have them attended to. In conclusion I may state my policy is progressive, and my utmost endeavors will be devoted towards making Otago the pride of the Colony. My pasPaotions I refer you to, and if you think they have been such as to be deserving of support you will return me. I shall be most happy to answer any questions that may bo put to mo. By Mr. Greenbank—lf returned, will see that no land is thrown open for settlement that will interfere with mining, but will agitate for land for settlement. Mr. T. L. Shepherd said, I wish to refer to several matters affecting the Gold-fields, past and future, at first, however, will explain what took place bob re I intimated mj intention to again contest the scat for the Dnnstan. Mr. W. Fraser saw me in Dunedin, and said he wished me to retire in Mr. llazlett’s favor, 1 distinctly refused, saying I had faithfully represented the district, and would give way to no untried man who aspired to have M.P.C. tacked to his name. I afterwards heard that Mr. Hazlett had intimated his intention of standing for Kawaran, and had asked Mr, Vincent Pyke to stand for the Dunstan District, in whoso favor 1 was wished to retire, I again refused, having every confidence my past services would be recognised, 1 am here to-day to explain what I have done, and the line of policy I intend pursuing in the future. Mr. Shepherd here overhauled Mr. Hazlett’s address sentence by sentence. He said the present Land Act, which was the best the country ever had, and it was largely due to his personal exertions ! ho did not believe in free selection throughout the country, such a course would be ruinous, ho was the first man who moved f( r deferred payments, with improvement clauses. He had not been forgetful of his district, having secured the throwing open of two areas of 2500 acres each, one at Spoils Creek, and the other at Ida Valley ; was in favor of throwing open hundreds of thirty or forty thousand acres, and would agitate for the area to be thrown open for settlement annually to be increased to 1(10,000 acres ; he had spoken to Mr. Turnbull, the late Provincial Treasurer on this subject, and ho was pleased to say that gentleman had promised his support. Was in favor of railways, and would advocate the continuation of the Tuapcka line up the Valley of the Molyneux to Alexandra, and from there lines up the Manuhcrikia to Blacks, (rot.) lie thought anyone who worked against a thorough railway system, was doing so against his own interest and that of the country. The reduction of the Gold Export Duty was supported by me, and I will agitate till the obnoxious tax is abolished. The now Gold Fields Bill now before the country, 1 am proud to say I was one of its framers in conjunction with Messrs. Mouat and Haggitt ; I was cnr/ae/cd upon it for over six weeks, and for which I received neither fee or reward. I will now refer to the late crisis and explain my conduct. You are all well acquainted with the dissolution and its causes, therefore it is unnecessary for me to take up your time in going over it. 1 did not speak on the subject, I was disappointed with both parties. At the close of the last session of the General Assembly, his Honor asked me if 1 would bo willing to go into the Executive, and promised to keep the office of Secretary for the Gold-fields open for me. During my absence in Melbourne, Mr. Tolmie appointed Mr. Bastings ; this was done because J. C. Brown had promised to living over five Fcid votes. His Honor the Superintendent was greatly disappoint-

Ed at me being left out, and said, he considered me a most desirable ' man to represent the Gold-fields in Dunedin. I withdrew from the .Held party because of the sale of the largo blocks of land to Clark and others, and I may say 1 was the only Member for the Gold-fields who opposed the sales. 1 consider the followers of Reid mere blocks of wood, without the slightest pretensions to ability, and pardon the Superintendent for dismissing the Council if merely to get rid of them. The Dunstan 'Times in February, 1871 considered me the best representative, and strongly advocated my return, the past few weeks, however, it has been full of attacks on me—such vacillating will, 1 hope, have but little weight on the minds of the electors. Gentlemen, I leave myself in your hands ; if I am not elected, I shall retire with the honest conviction that, 1 have worked heart and soul for the interest of the Gold-fields, if elected, I will continue to do so. Mr. i Shepherd, in answer to questions, said :—The Cargill Government contemplated selling large blocks of land to clear off the overdraft of 80,000?. I withdrew from the Keid party, because of their selling large blocks, No other Government would have done so, had I been in the Executive I should have transferred the Government account to another bank, and desired the one that was pressing to wait. Do not agree with the Gold-fields Bill in its entirety, there" is plenty of lime for suggestions to be given by the various gold-fields, and would recommend every fiield to send to the Government such alterations as may be deemed advisable by them. Am not in favor of hundreds on the gold-fields. I withdrew from Reid party because was not included in their executive. A show of hands was now taken, 23 being held up in favor of Mr. Hazlett, and 7in favor of Mr. Shepherd. Mr. thepherd begged to propose a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer for his attention. He said he objected to show of hands, and would ask his supporters to vote at the poll. Mr. Hazlett seconded the vote of thanks and the assemblage dispersed.