GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 714, 24 December 1875, Page 3

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

—o— Nomination of Candidatis for Dunstan District., Yesterday, (Thursday, the 23rd inst.,) at noon, at the Court-houso, Clyde, the Nomination took place. About sixty persons wo; e present. Mr W. L. Simpson, the Returning Officer, having read the writ, called upon the electors to nominate candidates. Mr George Aitkin proposed, and Mr James Ri'chie seconded Mr Borthwiek Robert Baird ; Mr Thomas Sims proposed, Mr William Auckland seconded Mr Vincent Pyke. _ Mr S. M'Cullough, of Dryhread, rose and said he had intended to second the nomination of Mr Pyke, but was forestalled > y Mr Auckland. He desired to say he had known Mr Pyke for the past twenty years. He considered him a fit and proper person to represent tho Dnnstan District, and he was prepared to support him in his candidature. Mr Baird rose and said, in appearing before them as a candidate he did so at the request of a large number of his fellow electors. He had a large interest in the district, and consequently thought he should be supported. As he was to address the electors that evening at the Town Hall, he would defer till then his speech. He must admit not having the same eloquence as his opponent, but thought, if returned, he might be able to do as much good. Mr Pyke said ho felt flattered at Mr Bairds opiuion of his eloquence. He thought, if returned, his eloquence would assist him as the representative of their interests, whereas, the want of eloquence in his opponent would he detrimental. He hoped and cxp°cte I to be returned at the head of tho p< 11. His opponent talked of b4ing a local man, but he (Mr Pyke) had been a local man before Mr Biird came into the district. Mr Baird also boasted of having a large interest in the district. He believed it was a large interest—sometimes as much as fifty per cent. How Mr Baird had contrived to make as much money out of his salary as he claimed to possess, perhaps tho miners could tell. He (Mr Fyke) was opposed by various influences, by the squatting interest particularly and strongly, by Government influences, and by Government officers who had been canvassing the district against him. He asked his friends to. put their shoulders to the wheel for it would .he necessary. A show of hands having been taken with an overwhelming majority for Mr Pyke. and a. poll declared, tho Returning Officer adjourned further proceedings till Monday, the 2'Jth inst, for the poll to be taken at the various polling booths throughout the district.