ELECTORAL NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 4011, 4 January 1876, Page 2

ELECTORAL NOTES.

At present Mr J. T. Fisher, a mild Wb-' porter of the Government, stands much the’ best chance of election for Heathcotp, as every part of the district has received Sir Cracroft Wilson coldly. Mr Masked, Provincial Secretary, opposes Mr J. E. Brown for the Ashley District. He has judiciously declared himself a supporter of the Government policy. Higgins, the Provincial candidate, has vrithorawn. It is generally be-, lieved Mr Brown will be returned.

Mr T. Kelly has been elected for New Plymouth without opposition. MrE. J. O’Conor finds he put his foot in’ it at the nomination for the Buller, so he now tries to explain away the opinions he then expressed, and declares for the shire system with elective officers. He promises if elected to resign the Provincial Secretaryship of Nelson. 4 ; There will be a hot fight between Mr Walter Johnson and Dr Buller for the Manawatu seat. Voters are to be coached from Wellington to Palmerston, over 100, miles.

At the Hokitika nomination the show of hands was—Button, 61 ; Reid, 63; Barffi, ; 30 ; White, 26; Robinson, 22; Seddon, 20 ; Hoos, 9. The poll takes place on the 14th inst.

We hear there is a third candidate in the; field for Waikaia in the person of Mr G" Ireland, , r ' Mr Reader Wood has been returned undo- ' posed for Parnell, hu his speech, be said the elections throughout the Colony showed that those supporters of the Ministry, who were ready to do anything at their bidding, had either decided it was advisable to retire or were being defeated. : Messrs William Carpenter, A. Brodio, and J. Leyden have retired from the contest for the Thames. The chances of Sir J. Vogel’s return are considered very good, hut his candidature is not energetically promoted.

There are three candidates for the Waikaia district.. This will split votes and afford an opportunity for a good Abolitionist candidate to slip in. The nomination'take' 5 place at Switzers to-morrow. Mr Mackay addressed the electors at Grahamstown on Monday, and at the conclusion of his speech announced his retirement from the candidature, as the Govern- * ment declined to release him from his land purchase contract. Several candidates followed Mr Mackay, including Messrs Rowe and Gibbons. Mr Sheehan came down yesterday

and withdrew. Sir George Grey returned to Auckland. It is announced that Sir J.i Vogel will accept the position of a candidate for the Thames, The popular ticket for the election seems to be the two knights—Grey and Vogel. The total result of the polling for the election for Wellington country districts is —Brandon, 208; GUlon, 141; Wallace, 26. At the Coleridge nomination on Monday the show, of hands was—Bluett, nil; Waaon, 28 ; Tosswill, 2 ; Jebson* 8. As far as we can learn Mr Toal, jun. (Pro* vincialist) is likely to be the successful can* didate for Eden.

SIR'GEORGS GREY AT THE THAMES. On Saturday night Sir George Grey ad* dressed a crowded meeting of the electors. He explained hia reasons ,for appearing as a candidate for the Thames. He was thwe lh 1 response to a numerously-signed from the Thames people, because he waa dqder; the Conviction 'that he, could render. ?; great service to the people of that i district. vp Sib George then referred t>his connection * with Cape Golony, hia recall, and subsequent reinstatement in office. He strongly feoh- . demhed the transaction in connection with

the confiscated lands, and made special ro* ’ fee euce to the Piako swamp. Regarding the latter ho said ha did not believe a ■ Single 1 she* *• par.ee had been paid to : thv, public tori tn»t ; khd.nnd'thkt -toe' land V/as as preparty of the p staple as tfftlr it was. ®wr

• lunaactxon itself was a dirty violation erf tbe law. He also condemned the Indemnity Act of last session, and annonnceu himself as favorable to on income and property, tax, and a general adjustment of the incidence of taxation ; to triennial Parliaments, and to an elective Upper House. Some elector asked him what objection he had to name tbe form of Government he would propose if he had a majority at his back, to which he replied that if he attempted until after months of consideration to put forward a scheme, he would be looked upon as a fool. Of all the strange things he had come across, asking him off band, at that late hour, to develop a form of Government for New Zealand, was the strangest of all. He enlarged upon the subject; denying that he intended to endeavor to reinstate Provincialism as it had existed in the past. If they were to have been Provinces at all they should have been so in truth—almost sovereign states in due submission to the government of the country but Still possessing almost every power that a sovereign state possesses, so that the citizens of such state might have been educated in one of the highest functions which men can discharge to their fellow men. Whatever form of government was determined on, he would do his best to make it work and to secure good and equal law for all and just taxation. If a great radical change was to be made in the form of government of the country, his belief was that the Government ,of the day should bring in a Bill for that purpose ; that the Opposition should be allowed to criticise it and bring forward any proper measure, and that when the matter had been several months before the country there should be a dissolution, and the people themselves, through the constituencies, determine it. If a majority in the Assembly were given him, and the opportunity given' him and his friends to bring forward plans , for the future, government of the country, : not only would they place their plans before the country but they would see that they were carefully and minutely discussed in the; Assembly, and the constituencies afterwards appealed to to ascertain whether they liked them or not. At the conclusion of Sir George’s speech, which lasted two hours, and was frequently applauded, a resolution was passed, thanking bun for his “able and; statesmanlike address,” and expressing con-: fidenceinhim. ! CLtTTHA NOMINATION, Sir Julius Vogel will be nominated tomorrow for the Clutha. His return is considered safe;