THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2476, 23 January 1871, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

ROSLYN NOMINATION,

The nomination of oandidat's to represent Roslyn ill the General Assembly, took place at noon to-day, at the Drill .Shed, Kaikorai. Mr J. Burnside, the Returning Officer, presided. The following nomination Avere made :

Mr Henry Driver, proposed by Mr David Baxter, seconded by Mr Walter Simpson. Mr Arch Hilson Ross, proposed by Mr J. Canning, seconded by Mr W. Pillison. Mr John Graham, was proposed by a Mr John Newman, but there Avas no seconder. In seconding Mr Ross’s nomination, Mr Pillison said that in that gentleman the electors had a man rot unknown to them, and although new-to politics, he deserved a trial. He had no doubt that if ho Avere elected he would make as good a representative as could be got. Personally he had no objection to Mr Driver, who acted consistently, hut at the same time his interests Avere not hound up Avith those of tho electors; and if he Avere not successful, he would no doubt be able to obtain a scat for some other part of the Province. He thought a local man avoulc! be preferable.

Mr Driver stated it was not his intention to detain the meeting, as he intended explaining his views fully at a meeting in that shed to-night. He had at first thought he was going to have a walk over, which certainly would have been more pleasant to him, as showing that the electors were fully satisfied with his conduct. The opposition offered was, however, the next best thing, for he believed it could do him no harm. It had been reported to-day that Mr Ross had not intended to be nominated. ('A Mr Chisholm here stated that he jfwas authorised to state that Mr floss had not withrawn from the contest.] He (Mr Driver) considered Mr Ross had taken an unwise step, and had deliberately insulted the electors. As an elector Mr Ross had a perfect right to conn forward, but being a public servant it was not for him to come forward in the way he had done. It wouiu I' 00 ’ 1 more becoming had he come forward in a manly >ay and placed himself

in the hands of the electors. Mr Ross’ seconder seemed to think he (Mr Driver) was not a local man. He had lived in the district for ten years, and had tried to do all he possibly could for the benefit of the district, and should continue to do so. He had always listened to any section of the electors, and had always tried to further their interests. That passage in Mr boss’ speech, where ho stated that ‘‘as an humble member of the Civil Service, whom to malign is considered by many aspirants to political honors to be the sorest way to secure popularity.” he (Mr Driver) took to refer to himself ; but he denied that bo ha I ever maligned tiie Civil Service, having on the contrary in his place in the Provincial Council been a most consistent supporter of the service, having on all occasions opposed redactions of salaries, he favoring a reduction of the useless people who were drones about the-Go-vernment b siblings, and the retention of useful officers at fair and reasonable salaries. He denied that he had been tiie means of altering the district; it was done in accordance with the map sent to Wellington by Mr Hislop. In conclusion he stated that he could not be accused of inconsistency, or having changed his opinions to avoid p ditical wrangling, and he would maintain the opinions he had hitherto held, whether he lost votes or not. He had, however, no fear of the result. Mr Graham put some questions to the candidate, but became so personal that the meeting refused to listen to him. A show of hands was called for, with the following result: —Driver, 16 ; Ross, 8. A poll was demanded on Mr boss’s behalf, and fixed to take place on the 30th inst.