Wellington Notes.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 114, 12 November 1896, Page 2

Wellington Notes.

(Frcm Our Own Correspondent.) THE CANDIDATES. The retirement of Mr Dutbie from the field is regretted by all parties. He was not so much of a politician as a representative of the mercantile interests and commercial houesty. And people were content to put op with a good deal so j long as they knew nothing of a suspicions i nature was likely to pass unchallenged by him. His place cannot be adequately filled by any man who is in the field, but as be has already sacrificed much for the benefit of the citizens he cannot be expected to ignore the claims of his family, and his business. The selection of candidates is not yet finally decided, but it almost certain that the Government candidates will be Messrs J. Hutchison. Geo. Fisher, and C. M. Lake ; and the Opposition Sir Robert Stout, and Messrs A. 8. Mentieth and A. R. Atkinson. Mr Hutchison, in his maiden speech, left no doubt as to where he would be " Perhaps a dumb dog." he said, " but never a rat." He will get the Women's Political League, and the vote of the Unions— a total of 800, and eyen among them there are many who are openly members, but only so for bread and butter reasons ; he will also get the votes ot the out-and-out Seddonitea. The highest number polied by a Liberal candidate in 1893 was 3863 by Mr Kennedy Macdonald, and he was just abont 1000 behind the lowest of the Opposition members, and the Liberals have decreased enormously in strength since then, and Mr Macdonald was a strong candidate with a good deal of the mercantile interest behind him, and having the advantage of being the best platform orator i n Wellington to boot. Mr Hutchison, on the contrary, has nothing but a share of the Labor party behind him, and is a very poor speaker, with the single idea that Mr Seddon is the only statesman in the colony. Mr George Fisher the present Mayor, is an able man ; clever to a fault, but so unreliable. His political whereabouts has been a matter of some curiosity for the past few weeks, but it is openly stated that he is to be one of the Government candidates. He is also in the field again for the mayoralty with Mr H. D. Bell for an opponent and will inevitably fail Jo secure either of the honors he is trying for. Mr C. M. Luke is an ex mayor and as he and MrFiaber have recently carried on a somewhat vitriolic warefare regarding Municipal finance it is a rather carious combination to hear of them being on the same political ticket. The candidate who secures a seat for Wellington will have to put up 6000 votes, and it is hardly possible that any one of the three mentioned will secure that number. Coming to the Opposition candidates Sir Robert Stout's chances require no comment ; and he will do much to help Mr Atkinson who will get the Temperance vote which is about 3000, and he will poll heavily with the women. Mr A. S. Mentieth will get the business and liquor people and has a wide circle of acquaintances who all admire his abilities aud past career in the House. These three will, according to the verdict of the " Man in the Street" be the Wellington members in the next Parliament. An analysis of the candidates announced throughout the colony and a careful pricking of the card by those in possession at the latest intelligence guess the probable result as a majority of 10 against the Government, counting Oppositionist and Independents who have declared themselves Anti-Seddon-ites.