THE NOMINATION OF MR E. B. CARGILL

Evening Star, Issue 3214, 9 June 1873, Page 2

THE NOMINATION OF MR E. B. CARGILL

To ike Editor. .

Sir,— Your local in this morning’s issue, on the above subject, referato a statement made by me at Mr, Turnbull’s meeting on Thursday evening, to the effect that Mr J. < 'argill, as Mr Cargill’s representative, Mr Barnes, as his proposer at the nomination, and myself, as seconder, would publicly request the electors not to vote for Mr Oargill on Tuesday. This statement was mado by me, but under a misapprehension, as I 'understood Mr Barnes, the proposer of Mr Cargill, had been consulted, and had assented to the proposed request to the electors. V should like, with yeur permission, to explain the whole matter to the public, and thiuk a short narrative' of the facta of the case will best answer my purpose. At-the re most of Mr John Cargill, his brother, Mr E. B. Cargill, was proposed by Mr Barnes, and seconded by myself, as a “fit and proper person,” &c., Ac.. On the afternoon of the nomination day, Mr John Cargill called at my office,' -and' stated- as his opinion, and that of several of his brother’s intimate, friends, that the nomination was a mistake, and that owing to his absence the electors would not return him (Mr E. B. Cargill«)as one of their representatives’in the Provincial Counpil, and suggesting that the electors should be askbd by him, by Mr Barnes, and myself, sot to vote for Mr E. B. Cargill. Mr John Cargill further stated he had been informed that Mr Barnes was agreeable to the proposition, and 1 then, without the slightest hesitation, agreed to the course suggested, as I would, have been very sorry to see Mr E, B. CargiU amongtt the defeated candidates, unless some sqch (morse as mentioned had been adopted.; ... At Mr Turnbull’s meeting l tookadvantage of my position sa Chairman to inform the electors present that they would probably be asked, through the Press, not to vote for Mr Cargill I did not, howerer,.speak to the meeting on the subject till I had asked Mr Fish, who was present, if he had seen Mr Barnes, and if he (Mr Barnes) were agreeable to the arrangement about Mr Cargill ? To my question, Mr Fish replied iu the affirmative, aUd it Was only last night I learned . from Mr Bames that he had not been con-sulted-r-had not agreed, and had not told Mr Fish he was agreeable to anything—but that he had been quietly canvassing for Mr Cargill all day, and in no case had he been refused. The upshot was, that Mr Barnes and myself agreed that we should not take any steps with a view to influencing the electors' not tr vote for Mr Cargill, and I have only now to add, that I have been credibly informed there is not the slightest doubt bat Mr E. B. Cargill will be one of the “ seven,” and 1 would respectfully urge upon the electors of Dunedin that Mr Cargill’s absence from the Coloiiy should not prevent them placing him in the position he would undoubtedly occupy were he here, namely—at, or.near,lthe head of the poll.— lam, 4a, Kj;th E4MSAT. Dunedin, June 9. • 1 1 • r " 1

To the Editor.

Sir, —With reference to the letters in today’s Timet , from Mr Keith. Ramsay and “Elector,” I will, with your permission, state what l know about lhe actipn that has keen taken respecting Mr E. B. CargilL The naine of Mr Cargill was earls mentioned in oonneotion with the City n|nsentation, and.the propriety of bringing him forward was fully discussed hy many of his friends. It was after mature consideration that many of .these'-myself amongst the number—came to the conclusion j%lat we should beeonsoltiaghU owowijshef and the interests of the citisens, if he wore not pressed on the electors at tho prcaent junoture.: d';.. ■■ ; •;

in aO4 probability, there will be a short session of the Council immediately the elections are over, and another longer one as soon as the Assembly rises, about ike end of September or. early in October, and as it is impossible Mr Cargill oan be present at either,' the CMy wOtUd be short one nnwnber

that it Bhould b«|ully,repreß«nted. Posher, it was felt that Mr Okrgill haring resigned lately because he could not attend one session, it was unlikely that he would approve of being elected under circumstance* wher« hje l would require to be absent for two. In addition to this, both his brother and M Ttdmie are candidates for seats in the same Council, and as it was impossible to consul! hitfl, it was considered that it must be more in accordance with his feelings that he should not be brought forward. The same view of the matter was also taken by a gentleman intimately connected with Mr Cargill’s firm, who was present when the subject was discussed at a large meeting. These considerations, and the opinions 1 have referred to, were mentioned by me to Mr John Cargill, who appeared to agree with them, but he stated that Mr Bamsay and the others bringing his brother forward seemed determined to do so, or words to that effect. You may imagine, therefore, my surprise when I heard Mr Bamsay and Mr Barnes declare, in the moist emphatic terms, that it was at the special request of Mr John Cargill that tbey did anything at all in the matter. I know it is scarcely necessary that I should say that there is no one I have a higher respect for, or with whom I have wore cordially worked in public qffairs, than Mr B. B. Cargill; and when the question of his feeing nominated was being discussed, I offered, in the event of his not being elected, and he wished go into the Council on his return to the. Colony, to resign my seat in his favor—an offer which I shall have pleasure at any time in renewing. I, in common with many of his friends, regret that we should now be placed in the position of being unable to vote for him, but we consider a full representation of the City at the next session of the Council of paramount importance.—l am, Ac,, Geo. Turnbull. Dunedin, Jnne 9.