ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3220, 16 June 1873, Page 2

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

Mr Hazlett had a very successful meeting on Saturday night at Alexandra, and received an unanimous vote of confidence. , A correspondent telegraphs ;—“ Mr Shepherd, in addressing the electors of Dunstan, said that in Mr Macandrew the miners, he believed, had a firm friend, and that he had rendered valuable aid in the reduction of the gold duty last session. The known .supporters of Mr Gillies are working hard for Mr Hazlett. Mr Basstian is opposed for Aparima by Mr John Gumming, a local farmer; Mr Macarfchur, for Makerewa, by Mr Wilson, an ex-M.P.O. ; and the Hon. Mr Holmes, at Oreti, by Capt. Hankinson, R.N.

CLUTHA.

The polling for two candidates to represent the Clutha took place on Saturday, and resulted in the return of 'Major Richardson and Mr M'Neil, Mayor of Balclutha. The numbers were Richardson - • • • 207 M'Neil - • • 151 Thomson .... 140 Our correspondent telegraphs as follows “The official declaration of the poll takes place on Tuesday. The Wairuna return reached Balclutha at ten o’clock on Saturday night, after which Mr M'Neil was carried through the streets. Mr J. W. Thomson, who was rejected, notwithstanding Mr Henderson retiring in his favor, has represented the district for some six years, we believe.

WAIKODAITL

The polling for a member to represent Waikouaiti took place on Saturday, and resulted in the return of Mr James Mills, who represented the district for a session about jour years ago. The polling was as follows Mills. Orbell. Hawkesbury ■ -57-55 flag Swamp • -27-15 8* 70 Majority for Mills, 14, THE ELECTIONS. CAVERSHAM NOMINATION. The nomination of candidates for the representation of the Electoral District of Caver sham, took place at the drill-shed there to-day at noon, in presence of about fifty persons. Th* ‘Wit having been read and explained by the Returning Olfioer, 1 ' Mr Robert Stout was nominated by Mr William Read, and seconded by Mr Robert Chisholm. Mr Richard H. Leary, was nominated by Mr Edward Wills, seconded by Mr William Bridgman. Mr Stout who, on coming forward was received with applause, alluded to the fact that while Mr Leary’s proposer had lauded his candidate on the ground that he was a man of few words, he (the proposer) had indulged in a long and irrelevant speech. Amongst other allusions, reference had been made to the sale of the Moa Flat block. He was glad that matter had been touched upOn, inasmuch as it enabled him to explain that he appeared before the Waste Land' Board, and had otherwise done all he could to oppose that sale. His action with respect to the' proposed sale of the Waipahi and Maerewhenua blocks were also WeU knqwn to have been in opposition to these sales. He had brought twp questions before the electors, viz., the constitutional question, and the cry that had been raised about obstructiveness. He understo id, so far as he was concerned, that the constitutional question was now dead. The point, however, had been renewed by that morning’s publication of the Stab, which had devoted no less than two columns to the subject. In answer to the remarks made in that article, he denied having attacked any man. All that he had said about Mr Vogel was that he was net well up in matters of constitutional practice, The Stab said that it had spent more time and trouble upon him (Mr Stout) than he was worthy of. Now, the factwas, that he had received more attention at the hands of the Stab than all the other candidates put together, consequently he had a right to deem himself the most worthy of all the candidate put forward. With regard to the real"

merits of the the facts of the case ’ werb. that , sides of Mr Bastings' biwsetf got 1 up apd waid that the Superintendent hid acted wrong id nqt calling the Council together when asked to'du so. Regardingthe cry ofobstructiveness, the speaker went on to saythat that cry was effectually refuted, by statements and admission! made by the party with whom it originated. He quoted from a speech- made by Mr Bastings at Tuapeka. in which he (Mr Bastings) alleged that the Opposition party in the Council attempted to purloin their policy. Now, if that was the case, if it was true that they were willing to adopt their policy, he wished to know where theobstructiveness was. —(Applause.) One thing had been laid down for their guidance as a test for their selection of a candidate —viz., that he should be a man able to concentrate his ideas. Now. they should see that they got a man who had the first thing he would say to them was that ideas to concentrate. —(Laughter.) He proceeded to deprecate tlift of tli© representative they selected being a man who was simply able to record a vote by holding up his hand. A representative of that stamp reminded him of twelve pasteboard niggers exhibited by Heller. Heller had simply to hold up-; his hand, and the niggers, by means of some mechanical arrangement, did as they were told. — (Laughter.) He had no hesitation in leaving himself in their hands. So long as their aim was to elect the beat man, he had no fear of the result. Mr Leary, who was also received with applause, referred first to the question of retrenchment. He did net believe in cutting down salaries to a starvation pitch. What he aimed at was making two good men do what was presently apportionedamongstthree, and paying the two well for what they did. The first step he would advocate in the way of retrenchment would be a reduction of the honorarium paid to members. Three weeks was, in his opinion, sufficient to despatch the work of the session, and a sum of 10s per day, or LIO 10s for the entire session, was*.sufficient compensation to the members. Besides that, he would allow country members travelling expenses. Respecting the land he thought the acreage proposed to be.thrown open in any one year was not sufficient, and he would support any measure having for its object an increase of the acreage. His idea of the public works policy was that it should be made to keep pace with the times. He would be in favor of having the railways made from one end of the Province to the other. Regarding immigration, he thought that they should get as much as they could out of the General Government Loan; but that the Province should take care to see that immigrants were brought into the place, even although Provincial funds were devoted to the purpose. He was favorable disposed towards the Road Boards which, he said, had done more good for the Province than even the Provincial Government itself. The removal of the toll-bars and the appointment of a Harbor Trust were also mentioned, and he professed himself strongly in favor of both of . those measures. Respecting education, he had been charged with having shuffled the question. He was opposed to the denominational system, and, in token of that fact, he read from his address, published in Saturday’s Stab. The people of Dunedin had put in at the top of the poll a man of business capacity, Mr Davie* He claimed to be a man of equal ability with Mr Davie, consequently he expected that le would be equally fortunate as a candidate fe r Caversbam. He believed the Tohnie Execute o was the best that had been for many years. With Messrs Tohnie, Turnbull, and Bastings, I e was well satisfied, still he could not give them a blind support. —(Applause,) He would support them in so far as they maintained their present policy, but not further. —(Applause;) On a show of hands being called for, the Returning Officer declared that fifteen hands were held up for each candidate, a poll was demanded by Mr Leary, and fixed to take place on Friday next. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer.

MESSRS MERYYN AND ARMSTRONG EXPLAIN. That must have been a funny meeting at which Messrs Armstrong And Mervyn explained their past actions to their late constituents at Naseby. . In order to assist our readers in arriving at the same conclusion, we clip from a report in the Chrmicle the choicest portions of the speeches that were then made ; Mr Abmstbong said; When the Council was opened we were all there. We heard his Honor’s Address, and we listened to it, and came to the conclusion it was first rate. However, Mr Reid moved an amendment, which completely upset us all-ran amendment on Fish’s motion in reply to the Address. During this time my colleague (Mr Mervyn) had promised to support the Government, and I agreed to it—save my objection to Mr Tolmie. Any quantity of talk had been perpetrated. 1 don’t believe in any secrets in politics at all. I was asked to go to the Government caucus. I told you Mr Mervyn had promised to support the Government, and I told the Government Mount Ida would act as one. Everybody, however, had put their motions on the Order Paper, among which was Dr Webster’s. I came to the conclusion it would be carried, and I saw Mr M'Lean and asked him if he supported the amendment. He said he would do ms best to get Mr Tolmie to resign his seat in the Assembly for Caversham. “Oh, oh!” says I, “ that is the little game, is it, to keep Tolmie at the head of the Province ?” I saw, too, the Superintendent usurped the powers belonging to the Council only. Dr Webster’s motion would havg excluded Tolmie from the Provincial Executive,'unless be resigned fop Caversham. During this caucus, I believe it was arranged that Dr Webster would move another amendment on an amendment, which was much the same, only that the Executive had taken office unlawfully ; upon which Mr Mervyn came to me, and said, “ You are free now. - (Loud laughter.) I said, “Well, then, as far as I can, I will turn them out.”—(Great merriment.) I made a statement in the House which should clear me from the charge of offering a factious opposition to the Government. Previously, Mr M'Dermid had said he would vote for Dr Webster’s amendment, and another member of the Executive told me the same. Now, as to his Honor’s I6gal action.—(Mr Collett i “We will take the large view of that.”) Mr Mervyn had promised to support the Government, and I, as a sort of good child, always followed Mervyn.—(Laughter.) I may say that, a few days previous, I waited on his Honor, together with my colleague, and were well received. After |hat ttye House adjourned, after Mp Tql : mie sard he would resign—after which'there was a fearful lot of talk. Mr Bastings said he should press his motion for adjournment, being convinced that the Council not being called together after their appointment was an irregularity. Gentlemen, we all cry out for Macandrew and progress.—(A Voice : “ Except our members.”) Now, I was supporting his Honor the Superintendent. The real object I wanted was to have the Government carried out other than through Mr Tolmie, who was on ’the Waste Land Board and the Executive, and because he was a squatter, a squatter’s agent, and, in Victoria, & dummy’s agent; and I will oiyect to him if again returned for this district. It was my duty to represent you by supporting his Honor. — (Oh, oh.) A Ministry that Lad disagreed with his Honor in this way should be turned out I Would havb stuclf to them if they bad stuck to their principles.—(Hesitation and laughter.) Never mind; I know my remarks will be licked into shape, and wifi be read. —(Hear, hear.) Mr Tolmie was to have been a sort of permanence.— (A Voice ; “ Fixture—like.”) Exactly.—(Cries of “Time.”) Well, I’ll come up to time. At any rate, I will tell you, you have to elect two members to a new Council. All this must be gone through again. _ It is my intention to stand, and if I have given conti deuce you will return me. My friends tell me, “ Have nothing to do with Mervyn; he will spoil your chance.”—(Hear, hear.) ’I say It would have been unmanly, after working and voting together—except once, When we agreed to differ. ’ v ‘ " ‘ Questions were then put as follow What was the one question?—l agreed in the last Council to support Mr Macassey op thq Education question; but skid Was not with me.—(A Voice : 4 * That' is the. salt question.”) No, It is hot a sore questien.—(Salt, I said.) Oh! yes.’ then Mount Ida was nullified on the question—lt was A aqrt of tickle Toby business?—Mr Armstrong: 1 never tickled Toby yet.—(Great laughter) Mr Armstrong : Well, my dear boy——-(Uproar.) I have no answer yet.—l supported Macassey because he supported King Solomon. lam not going to be put off. Why did you disagree ? I told you Mervyn did not go quite so far. There is a secular education, and a denoqjnational education. Mr Mervyn weht foh' the first, and I for the last. Did you not agree each to take one side? now be candid.—(Orderi he’s answered it.) In answer to other questions, the candidate said: lam in favor of exactly what I was before—deqonrinationaLeducation. (Voice; “Yourreasons.”) Bemuse wiere was a luge section of the community who would not 'take advantage of tbepneentWe' ,:m r : V-r , - , ,

-tern, and Idid not think thw should be deprived o! a part of the taxes collected from the whole.—(Cheers.) (Throw n the sponge ) A Mr Inder asked if Mr' Armstrong still adhered to a statement he had made that, if his constituents in a body asked him to do one thing and Mervyn asked him to do another, he would obey Mervyn first ? Hr Armstrong said Mr Inder is in error. I deny it (Clamor.) If you are elected, will you follow Donald Reid ?—I never did. (Groamnga and bootings.) If lam returned, I will act upon my own judgment, as I have done before. It is a pity-to return two men who are not of one mind. Was your only objection to Tolmie ? —Exactly 1 I aid not consider the little ones. Were you of opinion that the Executive were capable of conducting the business of the Province? —Well, Mr Tolmie was on the Waste Land Board and paramount. If they were capable, would it not have been better to support them ? —This expense and bother was all hatched in Wellington.—-(Oh, oh.) And you supported the egg?—No, I cracked it.—(lnterruption and dog fight.) Did you follow as a child because you had no judgment ? —I don’t think I am deficient in common sense, although no speaker.. What about Reynolds?—As a citizen of Dunedin, I am ashamed to be represented by Messrs Reynolds and Bathgate. I don’t think twenty or forty years would make any difference to Reynolds, because he is like “ The Old Arm Chair,” “ I love it, I love it,” &c * . ' . .. , Hr Mkbvtn in the course of his speech saidl will refer to our actions, which leads me to make a remark as to my colleague. He is not so happy in expressing his thoughts as he would like to be; but on all points we consulted each other, so as not to disfranchise the district. That should not be a reproach to us. I have given way to Mr Armstrong’s judgment often, and times have occurred in which Mr Armstrong was kind enough to give way to me. ... I may state that Mr Armstrong and myself could do very little individually, without working in accordance with a knowledge of the ropes. We, i. e. the country members, banded ourselves together to get the requirements of the districts.—(Voice: “ Log-rolling.”) That, sir, is log-rolling, and I wish I may be able to roll many logs for the district’s good. We found this necessary to protect ourselves against Dunedin and the inlying districts. Consequently, we immediately got the Press of Dunedin down upon us, and this is the reason why I have been picked up by these miserable rags. Will take advantage of this. They wer’nt chivalrous enough. The consequence is the action of the Mount Ida Chronicle.— (“ Oh! what about Auckland and Wellington papers?”) This is a fair statement. We did look for the 4 support of the district paper. Whether we were right or not, the poll will tell. Now as to Teviot. Owing to circumstances, I was unable to get returned for the Dunstan, and you returned me here instead, and I come before you as having fought your battles. I will refer to one statement made by the Chronicle, that I preferred the Mount Benger interest. Now, when that was under discussion, I left the House. I should not have done this,—(Voice : “Then you are not to be trusted.”) These are too nice scruples for Mr George to understand; that I can quite believe. . . , With regard to Judson’s dye, I may say that the whole thing is a fiction, and is in the hands of my solicitor. In answer to questions, Mr Memtn said: He voted against the sale to Cargill and Anderson. It does not matter what the Tuapeka Tima says. That gentleman questioning me, I think, is wanted in the Mount Benger district.—His questions touch you up, anyhow.— Mervyn should not equivocate—it speaks very little for him.—Some personal questions as to the candidate’s household property were put, but the Chairman very properly ruled them out of order.—The candidate further said; I was an opponent of Mr Vogel’s Government, but I now support it. I might have absented myself from the House during the debate on the gold export duty, but I always took care to secure a pair. I opposed inquiry into Cargill and Anderson’s sale.—Mr Roberts said in page sixty-eight of Hansard , your remarks were entirely opposed to the requirements of the miners.—l gave no evidence at all—l distinctly read it.—l stated nothing in Committee, but in the House.—Did no such emanation come from you ?—No! certainly not. Indeed, so false were those ideas, that they all wanted at Mount Benger for me to contest ih&t elec* tion now.—(Voice : “ They wanted to drag him in the river,”) I claim the protection of the chair.—Did Mete Kingi, or some other Maori, offer to carry you from the House ?—No! it is not true. Allow me to explain. I did apologise, I took advantage of the forms of the House, if you don’t do this, I said, for Mount Ida—(Oh) —arid the only action taken was to divide the House too far. There was nothing derogatory Ip this. My apology was—if I had exceeded the fprms of - the house, I regretted it.—As the Vogel Government were the first to recognise our interests, why was our member found voting with Donald Reid and Stafford ? I con sidered the Government were mis-managing the country. In the first place, they insulted the inhabitants of Ireland and Scotian i' We all know that the English are the backbone of the people—(Voice: ’“I hope the answer is satis factory to the meeting”). Immediately MrVogel went into other associations, I went for him.— If so why oppose Macandrew and progress?—l was favorable to the Tolmie and Bastings Government if they had acted as men instead of as cowards and sneaks. Why did you notcome here as you promised ?—I was unwell—it was a matter of life or death.—Could you not have called on your way down ?—I had intended to call coming' up, and 1 thought the electors would concede me that much; and lam happy to say my colleague had been up and found out your wants. With regard to supporting Mr Macppdrew, Mr Mervyn said: He Typvddbegladto tpjp two pf the best of the Gpvernriient in office. He himself had no desire for office or the LI a-day. All I have got for honorarium is L 96 all tiie time I have been in the Council. I cannot say whether I would support Donald Beid as Provincial Secretary. Mr Inder proposed: “ That, seeing that a ppblic meeting had expressed their intention to support Macandrew, we don’t recognise Messrs Armstrong and Mervyn.”—Mr P. Morony proposed as an amendment: “ That we, as the body of the ininers, approve pf the action of Messrs Armstrong and Mervyn as pur representatives ; and that the meeting presided over by the Mayor yras not a public meeting. - ’ —Mr Ross moved an amendment: “ That Mr Mervyn |>e thanked for hia address.”—Mr Collett proposed to test the meeting (simply) a full vote of confidence.—These resolutions were by the chairman’s request narrowed down to simply a vote of want of confidence find one qf oonfiappoe, ti*e latter carried by 3—48 for, 45 against, the majority of those present refusing to vote. Mr Armstrong, earlier in the week, had addressed a meeting, which is reported in the Chronicle this wise : Mr Armstrong seemed to lean very much in favor of the action taken by the Council, the only thing he seemed to regret was the deep laid scheme to get a dissolution, and it had, he said, succeeded, as his Honor had the right bower, and euchered them. He (Mr Armstrong) had done always what Mr Mervyn told him, and as bp had no claim to be a speaker, he would allow Mr Meryyn to give an account of their mutual doings. He would support Mervyn, and give him his vote, and he hoped they would all vote 1 the same way. Mr Armstrong was listened to ver|jr gboq : bursts of laughter, A vote of confidence jfltas passed iri fils favor, every one taking him at his word, that if he had done wrong, he had only done what he was told.