THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2393, 3 December 1881, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

ME C. CLAEK AT WALTEAH. Mr C. Clark addressed the electors of Svdcr.hara last evening, in the Oddfellows' Hall, Walt ham. Mr C. Ludds oecnpied the chair. Mr Clark began hy recapitulating what he had said at his former meeting, and then went on to f peak of oilier p.:into not yet noticed by him. He would endeiivonrto get the bankruptcy laws amended so as to gf t the honest tradesman protected from the dishonest debtor. He wonld snpport an Employers' Liability Bill providing for the payment of compensation.in the case of an accident to a workman through a master not providing proper appliances. He was in favour of a reform in legal procednre, f.o as to place the machinery of oar Law Courts within the reach of the poor as well as the rich He cad always been a believer in the volunteer movement, and he would vote for the capitation grant, and would consider it money well spent. As regards Native affairs, after Mr t. oll'eston's explanations, he approved of what had been done at Parihaka by the Government. Ke was in favour of opening up the land for settlement, and the sale of the runs in small blocks by auction. He announced his intention of supporting the Hall Government, because he approved of the manner in which they had dealt with the affairs of the colony, especially with our finances. Among other local matters, he spoke of the drainage question, and promised, if elected, to oppose any Act relating to drainage or rating till the mind of the ratepnvere was known. Mr Clark concluded bv stating that in. this contest he intended to have neither committee room nor clerks, but to depend entirely npon-the ballot.

Mr Kitchenman proposed and Mr Burnett seconded a resolution—-' That Mr Clark is a lit and proper person to represent Sydenham in the next Parliament." The motion was carried unanimously. The hall was fairly filled. HEATHCOTE. The nomination of candidates for the representation of the Heathcote electoral district in the General Assembly took place at noon yesterday at the Oddfellows' Hall, Woolston. The Eeturninr Officer, Mr J. Grierson. having read the official advertisement convening the nomination, called upon the electors present to nominate candidates. Mr H. A. Bamford briefly proposed Mr James Temple Fisher as a fit and proper! person to represent the district, referring to what That gentleman had done for Heathcote. Mr A. Dunbar seconded the nomination. Mr Eichard Vincent proposed Mr Alfred Hornbrook as a candidate. Mr John Smith seconded the proposition. Mr William Neighbours felt proud to propose man who would do justice to the district colony. He begged to propose Mr W. H. Wyu Williams as a candidate. Mr A. C. Wilson seconded the nomination, characterising Mr Williams as the best candidate of the three. A voice—•• Are yon an elector ? " Mr Wilson—" The Betnrning Officer will tell you." The Eetnrning Officer certified that Mr A. C. Wilson's name appeared on the electoral roll. No other candidate having been proposed, Mr J. T. Fisher rose, and referred to what he had said on a previous occasion as to his candidature, because even if beaten he preferred to contest the Heathcote district. [A voice—*' Why don't you go to Lincoln."] He did not go to Lincoln because he belonged to the Heathcote district, where ho started in politics. He objected to the candidature of Mr Wynn Williams on the ground that he was not a resident of the district, and he thought that the practice that had once obtained of adventurers and provincial secretaries, who were outsiders, seeking election in the Heathcote district, a reprehensible one. He opposed the present Government, which had no more backbone than a starfuh. bat, Micawber like, were always waiting for something to turn up.

Major Hombrook trusted that as ha was suffering from a severe sore throat, the electors would excuse his making a speech. He had omitted to state at his meeting that he was in favor of the dog tax being returned to the districts in which it was raised, and that economy in government could be effected by reducing many salaries. When borrowing powers were available, a loan might be obtained for purely reproductive works. He was in favor of cutting up and selling large runs, and also of. blocks of land ranging from 50 to 5000 acres being sold on deferred payments. A Voice—" Are you in favor of the Hall or Grey Governments ?"

Major Hornbrook—There is no Grey Government. As far as possible he would support the Hall Government, but if a better Government came into office he would support it. Although he would support a better Government if formed, he believed in "measures, not men." Mr Wynn Williams would not detain them long, as he should address them at length on Monday nest, when he would show them he was entitled to their confidence. Daring the twenty-five years he had been in Canterbury the Heath cote people could not say he was a stranger to them despite tvtt Fisher's kind remarks. It had been said that the Drainage Board people had asked him to come forward, but it was certain he was the last man they wonld ask, seeing he opposed the actions of that body, and had fought against the outside districts paving for the drainage of the city of Christchurch. He was quite certain that if any Drainage Board people had lived in the district they would vote against him. Heathcote was the first" place he sat for in the Provincial Council, when they did him the honor of returning him unopposed, and he must not be considered egotistical when he said that he had done a great deal for Canterbury in the Provincial Council. Ho was certain that all three candidates were prepared to carry on the contest in a friendly maimer —[Hear, hear] —and nothing that could be S 3 id or done should put him out of temper. He would not canvass for votes, as he thought it was time the electors of every district should learn that they had minds of their own, and should decide who they should vote for without being bothered about it. His principles as to the Government and Opposition were well defined, and on this point he wanted no misapprehension. If he was elected, and it came to putting the Hall Government out and the Grey Government in, he would stick to the Hall Government to the very last. [Loud cheers. 1 And he was surprised that Canterbury members were opposed to them. He wonld do his best to oppose such au effete party as the Grey and Sheehan party getting back to office. [Protracted cheering. J His friend Fisher had said that he was in favor of a reorganisation of the railway tariff. Now if any Government could reorganise and alter that tariff, it was the present Government, Did they think Grey and Sheehan would rednce Canterbury railway charges and pnt it on the North Island railways. [Cheers.] Mr Fisher was inconsistent. He would oppose the Hall Government, and yet wanted the railway tariff altered. He (the speaker) was surprised to see Messrs Montgomery and Fisher persistently opposing the only men who were likely to benefit Canterbury. He was a free and independent man, but he would not for the sake of gaining or losing a single vote go behind his convictions, but would stick to the men who had done well for the province and colony. [Loud cheers.] Mr Fisher rose to explain—What he said was, ho would support any body of men who would bring forward good and liberal measures. A Voice—All you have done has been to assist Grey and yourself. The show of hands resulted as fallows:— Fisher li Hornbrook 21 Williams 4 A Voice —Oh, Hornbrook has got all his woolsorters here to hold up their hands. Mr Fisher and his proposer demanded a poll, and the former proposed a vote of thanks to the Heturning Officer, which was unanimously accorded. SYDENHAM, The nomination for this electorate took place yesterday at noon, at the Borough Council Chambers, Sydenham. Mr George Booth, the Returning: Officer, after going through the nsnal preliminaries, called for the nomination of candidates. Mr Thomas Henry proposed Mr J. H. TreadweH as a fit and proper person to represent Sydenham in the General Assembly. Mr TreadweH seconded the nomination, owing to the proposed seconder's name being wrongly spelt on the electoral roll. Mr Edward Pavitt proposed Mr Charles Clark, briefly referring to his political career whilst in the Provincial Council; also to his known action against the squatting class, describing him as likely to occupy an influential position in the coming Parliament. Mr H. B. Campbell seconded the nomination.

Mr Stephen Powell proposed "Mr J. It. Andrew in eulogistic terms. Mr E. 11. Balliuger seconded tlw nomination.

Mr Edward Jones proposed Mr William White, jun., speaking of his plucky action on the Drainage Board on behalf of Sydenham, and referring: also to his able discharge of his duties as a Borough Councillor. He confidently expected to see him at the head of the poll. Mr William Miller seconded the nomination, and no other candidate being nominated,

Mr Trcadwell addressed those present, condemning the present Customs tariff, and also the squatting interest, stating that attempts had been twice made during the past six years to buy him over from advocating the interests of the labouring classes, once by the Editor of the Press and certain shareholders in the Press Company, and again when he was offered £I2OO in Miles ami Co.'s office for a piece of land, on condition of deserting Grey and writing up Hall. Mr Clark said he was a friend of progress, and as such entitled to their confidence. He would he prepared to give the Hall Government his sttp]>ort, and would urge them to pass other useful measures required by the colony. He described Mr Treadwell as one mad with fignres, by which he had been so bewildered that he (the speaker) gave him np n« a difficult conundrum. He then made some satirical remarks on Mr White's candidature, and his delay in making np his mind, describing him as having abandoned nine contracts for the chance of becoming Prime Minister. Mr Clark concluded by commending himself to the electors. Mr Andrew spoke next, describing Mr Trcadwell as one who could excel all others in proving black was white, or vice versa. He vainly imagined himself the only competent financier in New Zealand, but he was a deceiver. He thought a great injustice had been done regarding the sale of Native lands, and quoted from a speech of Mr Brice's in 1579 in support of his assertiou. He concluded «y asking the electors to prove at the pull whom they considered the best man. Mr White denied that he was opposed to tho West Coast railway, neither was he in favor cf. reducing men's wages. The Government had not acted rightly in the matter. He contradicted the rtimor that he had been allowed by the Government to abandon his contracts, on condition of giving them his support. Beferring to remarks made about him of a disparaging nature, he expressed niH intention of avoiding personalities. He had never led Mr Clark to believe he was not coming forward as a candidate, neither did he remember any conversation with that gentleman and Mr Hill of the Bank of New South Wales about his candidature. The Eetnrning Officer then called for a chow cf hands, with the following result : Trcadwell • Clark « Andrew ' White, junr., .-- •■• •-- •- j Two electors demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Charles Clark. A vote of thanks, proposed by Mr Charles Clorfc and seconded by Mr W. White, jnnr., was accorded to the Returning Officer. The Avon nomination took place in the Biecarton public school. There was a small attendance. At twelvo o'clock the Kcturmng Officer (Mr 1". J. Kimbcll) read tho writ and called upon the electors to nominate a candidate. Mr C. C. Bowen said he had great pleasure in proposing the Hon. Wm. Bollestou as a fit and proper person to represent the district in the General Assembly. He did not use the words " tit and proper person " only in a conventional senfe. It was very important for the electors of a district to remember that they returned a represei.la.tivc

either to do them credit or discredit; aud ho thought it. would bo universally conceded that during the time Mr Eolleston had represented Avon he had done credit not only to the district, but to the country. It so happened in the case of Hr Eolleston that the whole constituency of Canterbury had more tlmn once had the opportunity of expressing its opinion about his public services, and it was very sal isfactory for the electors of Avon to be ablo to say not merely that they were electing tho best man they could get, but one wlin had given general satisfaction as a reproBeastativc of the people at large. It was not necessary, "or wonld it. bo advisable, to make a speech, espeeia.lv as there was no opposition. He would c:i'v sav"that it was exceedingly satisfactory, as well as convenient, that, at a very busy time, a Minister of the Crown should be returned so unanimously that practically his electiouwas takon aa a matter of course. As there was no opposition ha would content himself with sayiug that, though some might differ from Mr Kolle3ton on points of policy, men of all shades of opinion in the district wore' perfectly satistkd that ho would use his utmost endeavors to carry out what he conscientiously believed to bo right, aud wonld not, uuder any circumstances, support or countenance a Course Of action which he considered to be wrong. Ho hid great pleasure in proposing Mr Kjllestou as a tit and proper person to represent them iu tho General Assembly. [Cheers.] MrJupp seconded the nomination.

There were no other candidates proposed, and the Returning Officer declared the Hou. William Eolloston to bo duly elected member for Avon. Mr Eolleston, in returning thanks, said—l could scarcely expect to have a large audience on the occasion of an uncontested election; but yon will allow me to take this opportunity of expressing my most grateful thanks to this constituency for retnrning mo for tho fifth time as member for the Avon district. It is, as Mr Bowen says, a matter of groat congratulation to me that the district shonld not bavo lost tho confidence it has so freely reposed in me ever since the year 18GS. This confidence is at the present time the moro satisfactory to me because the Government has lately been taking action involving tho heaviest responsibility, iu respect to which it cannot bnt bo gratifying to it to feel that it has the confidence of the public, and it is to me especially gratifying that tho electors of Avon have at this time nnammoasly expressed their confidence iu tho Government. No public man can be insensible to public opiniou. I, myself, am far from being insensible to it, and I am particularly grateful for the mark of confidence that has now beeu bestowed upon me by the Avon district. I am not, as I have said, going to make a speech on tho present occasion; bnt it is one of those opportunities of sayiug a few word 3 which I shall take advantage of. Tho particular point I wish to bring oat to-day is in reference to correspondence from two gentlemen that appears in tho " Lytteltou Times" of this morning, and in respjet to which I wish the public to have from me a statement that I think thoy are entitled to. The first lettor I have to allncte to is from Mr Stont, lately a Minister of the Crown. Iu my address to the Avon electors at Papanui a few days ago I referred to a letter that had been published by Mr Stout, in which ho spoke of the action of tho Government in respect to the Native difficulty in terms which. I think, as a public man, recently a Minister, bo should not have used. Iu that letter he stated that there wore general rejoicings at the prospect of a Native war, and went on to say that he spoko more as a protest than with any hope that auy one colonist could aid in preventing the murder of tho Maoris. It seomed to me that expressions such as those ought not to have fallen from Mr Stout—from Mr Stout particularly, because he himself was a Minister of the Crown ■wheu in the year 1879 surveyors were sent upon tho Native lands—a proceeding which led to very considerable embarrassment and difficulty iu the country ; and, again, they ought not to have falleu from a man who, having himself held the position of a Minister, shonld have recognised the Ivery heavy responsibility which the Government was under in taking tho action Which it did with regard to the Maoris. I am not going to reply to the letter of Mr Stont's which appears to-day, farther than to say that eo far as it professes to he a statement of facts it contains iuaccoracies, which Mr Stout ought to have known better than to circulate. It "was his business as a public man. if he chose to give a narration of what he called facts, to make those facts accurate. It would take too long now tor me to go into a statement of the facts, bnt I will just call your attention to one only of the inaccuracies of Mr Stout. He says, first of all, *' Tho survoys had been ordered by the continuous Ministry." Now the fact is this, that the snrveys ■wero ordered in the year 1877, but they were ordored iu connection with a system by which payments were made to wipe out all Native title—a system which went by the name of takoha and also in connection with tho making of sufficient reserves, as was most distinctly laid djwu in the instructions that were given at that time. Subsequently, it is true, the Grey Ministry withdrew the order for the snrveys to continue, and then they committed that gross blunder which led to the difficulties that afterwards occurred—the surveying of the land without tho reserves being made, and withont any proposals being before the Natives as to dealing with the apportionment of the confiscated lands. Then, Mr Stout in his letter of to-day—which I am very sorry to seo, because it is an exceedingly careless one for a man who ought to bo acquainted with tho facts to have written—goes on to make a series of statements it wonld ill-become me to deal with at the present time. These statements bear upon their face evidcuce that they are more or less ridiculous. To give you one instance — He says, " It isabsurdfor Mr Eolleston to say that it was the September speech of Te Whiti that caused Mr Eryce to be recalled." I am not aware that my speech contained any such statement. I never alluded to Mr Bryco's recall. The action of the Government in this matter has beeu continuous throughout. Then he goes on to speak with regard to the Printing Office and the relation of his Excellency the Governor to Ministers, and other matters which I think you will recogniso it would uot be proper for mo to go into upon the hustings, and I shall decline to do so. I will only say that Mr Stout has written openly, and has stated what he professes to believe in this matter, but he has written carelessly and recklessly; and if iu the pursuit of truth in other ways—which he professes to be very anxiong about—his statements are not more accurate and his investigations more trustworthy than those he has given utterance to iu his public letters with regard to this Native difficulty, then Heaven help his audience. I come now, gentlemen, to the other correspondence to which I alluded—that with the Bishop of Nelson. Now, he is a gentleman who, I say positively, does not know what he is talking about on this r>.'ative matter, —simply does not know what he is talking about; and, therefore, it is a great pity that he shonld take upon himself to make statements, and to circulate them, which are without foundation, and which, I think, it is entirely wrong for a man in his position to utter. The correspondence which appears this morning I will supplement with a telegram which the Bishop has not published. It was sent by me from the South. After I addressed the electors I had to go South, and I sent a telegram from Temnka on the 30th November. Whether his Lordship had received that telegram when he published the others in the "Lytteltou Times" this morning, I cannot say. If he had received it, he certainly ought to have published it, as it makes pretty clear my opinion on the whole correspondence. It is as follows :—" To the Bishop of Nelson, Napier.—l have received yonr Lordship's telegram of the 20th inst. The whole correspondence will be published on my retarn to Chri-tchureh to-morrow or Friday. I have only to remark that it is not your opposition that I deprecate, nor should I wish to avoid fair and intelligent criticism. But no public man, any more than a private individual, can silently tolerate tho slanderous imputation of base motives. His character is the property of the public, and by the public he must be judged." In reference to this correspondence I felt this : I had no desire to avoid criticism—far from it. The Government of the day, if it is worth anything, courts the freest and fullest criticism. It has no right to complain of its actions being condemned. Hostile criticism it has no right to deprecate. The public should be at perfect iiberty to express their opinions on the actions of the Government on all occasions. But what I do deprecate, and what, I think, you ■will agree I am in deprecating, is the imputation of base motives, rHear, hear.] Isaythis, that the Bishop of Nelson has shown by this correspondence that he is lacking in his moral perception of what is right and wrong. It is not, as I say, criticism that I deprecate, but it is a statement that amounts to this : that the Government of the day of which I was a member—and I was at the time of the action he speaks of Native Minister—actually took a course of action which might have involved bloodshed and war, with a view to influencing the elections throughout the country. Now, I say that any Government who would do such a thing as that would be utterly undeserving of the confidence of the public. I will not go farther into this matter now. Tho handsome way in which the electors of Avon have again placed me iu the position of their member shows that the pablic will not concur in such a view as that entertained by the Bishop|of Nelson. Gentlemen, I will not detain you longer, but will conclude by thanking you very much for the handsome way in which you have treated me as your member, and by expressing a hope that my publ c actions may continue to meet with your approval. [Cheers.] A vote of thanks having been passed co the Hetaraing Officer, the proceedings terminated. KAIAPOI. The above nomination took place outside the Kaiapoi Court-house at noon yesterday. About eighty were present. Mr J. Beswiek, Eeturning Officer, presided. He said by virtue of a writ he was appointed to conduct the election for one member for that district, and called for nominations. Mr W. Buss had great pleasure in proposing Mr Lwac Wilson. Ho hal known him twenty-one years, and referred to his services as a member of the Eoad Board, Provincial Council, aud Connty Council. Having shown snccessfnl management in local affairs, ho trusted they would now return him to the more important position as a member of the Assembly. His action in the promotion of tho woollen factory in tho district had given great satisfaction, not only to shareholders, but tho pablic generally. In the town alone, tho starting of that industry showed that where these manufactories were established property increased largely in value. He trusted that day week to see the gentleman named at tho head of theipoll. [Cheers.] Mr G. H. Blaekwell seconded. He thought after sixteen years' service in the local bodies, Mr Wilson had fairly qualified for the position iu which the electors sought to place him. He would give the time and all his energies, bat not, he hoped, in tho direction of wasting time in tho House. Mr Wilson was, no [doubt, in addition to iis other qualifications, entitled to hearty support for the way in which ho had striven to maintain their industries. At last election the speaker assisted in nominating a gentleman who was returned, and had largely benefitted tho district, and he hoped the same wonld followl this time. IX'heers.] Captain Parsons was pleased to propose Mr John Hodgson Leo. While Mr Lee could not claim to have tilled a lot of petty offices, he could claim that, if elected, he would be in an equal position with Mr Wilson, both being new to the work of the Assembly. Ho was able to give every time and attention to their interests, and had no axe to grind. The opposing candidate had, no doubt, itnadc up his mind to go for Kaiapoi alone and for protection, hat he (the speaker) did not hold with those institutiouß being bolstered up at the expense and .to (she detriment of the ratepayers. Mr James Hnrse seconded, reminding electors that if they retnrnod Mr Lee they returned a man of ability, who had more leisure on his hands than Mr Wilson, who was always saying his hands were too fall. He had no wish to detract from him, bat maintained that if the gentleman last named iwas returned it would be in his own interest, and contended that, although some expected to profit fry the good which Mr Wilson might do, thoy •wonld not have him to thank for it. There were other shareholders in the woollen company who claim to have assisted in its success besides Mr Wilson, and, apart from the question, it was a matter for the electors to consider if Mr Leo had not the most ability. As an advocato for freo trade ho trusted they wonld return a farmer, and ono

whoso interests were opposed to protection and taxation. There being no other candidates proposed— Mr Isaac Wilson began his adlress, by stating that all present wonld acquit him of tho selfishness attributed by Mr Hurse. The position of a member of a Eoad Board he denied being any petty affair, and from his experience on local bodies and the forms of the Provincial Council, ho should bo quite in his element in tho Assombly—probably not as a speaker, but iu committeo, where all the real work was done. Some privato matters had been referred to in tho election, to which he would reply by saying that tho employes at tho factory were persons who took as much interest in their work aud tho progress of tho woollon industry as the schoolmaster or any ono else did in their particular occupation. The hands were as determined as he was to mnko that concern ono of tho leading factories south of tho line. [Cheers. J At tho top of the district it was said ho was in league with Mr Guild for adding certain lauds to tho Draiuago Board. Snch was not a fact, and before any charge was made any proposal of the kind would have to go through a proper channel. In another place it was asserted ho was hard on tho working men. Now' he saw that there was a halfpenny per lb on su<*arnnd -Id per lb on tea. This he was in favor of abolishing'. Again, it had been iurged against him that ho was chairman of directors for the I woollen fnctory, aud was paid. This was quite untrue. That institution had, however, proved a boon to the whole country. £20,000 had been spent on new bnilaiugs and locally-mado machinery. Three hundred hands were at present employed, and soon there would bo 500, who might bo termed the bread winuers of thoir families, and at least 1500 people, therefore, were interested directly in that one industry, and who probably paid in tho aggregate at least £IO,OOO towards the country's debts through the Customs. How far the encouragement of local industries might benefit the country would bo a useful subject for the consideration of the chairman of tho Kaiapoi Farmers' Club. Mr Wilson then gave his opinions npon the leading questions of tho day, which have already been reported. Iu reforring to freo trade, he said that Canada found it necessary to keep up protection, and the duties went into the Government chest. The duty ho urged did not increase the price of goods made here, and the manufacturers simply made the importers' profit, and in point of fact the locally made goods wero therefore cheaper. He was not going to ask for a smglo vote. He was not going in for log rolling. [Choers.] Mr Leo said that most of them had heard his views on the platform, and ho would cut his remarks short. He was not Mr Wilson's opponent. He had come forward, and had as much right to do so as anyone Ho would go in to reduce tho railway rates, and thonght they had as much local government as they could manage. Hejbelievcd iu freo trade. Protection was radically a tax on poor poople, whose inability to pay it was more and more apparent. Tho tax of 161 per cent, was a most serious one on clothing, which was as much a necessi>y as tea and sugar. He was iu favor of amendments in the Bankruptcy Act, and thought that civil cases in the Magistrate's Courts onght to bo heard more on equity than on points of law, which law went back sometimes as far as Elizabeth. Money was now cheap, and if reproductive works were gone on with, a largo amount of labor would be available for working classes. No doubt a stun of money spent in improving tho river would do more good to the town aud district than the Woollen Factory. Ho called himself a farmer, and came forward in the interests of that class and the laborer. Farmers as a class wero men who were always waiting for good things to drop into their mouths, and they never caino, and it was time their interests were represented. As a freetrader he was decidedly opposed to Mr Wilson's evidence before tho Colonial Industries' Commission for 20 per cent, duty on mannfactnres. [Cheers.] The show of hands was declared by the Eeturning Officer to bo. for Wilson about 60 and Leo •*. Mr Lee demanded a poll. A vote of thanks to the Eeturning Officer concluded the proceedings. SELWYN. The nominations for a member to represent the Selwyu county in Parliament took placo yesterday at the Leestou Eoad Board office. There were about forty electors present. Mr Lunn, tho retnrning officer, read tho advertisement convening the meeting. Mr W. J. G. Bluett, in rising, said that he had very great pleasure in proposing the Hou. John Hall as a fit and proper person to represent this district, in Parliament. He went on to say what Mr Hall had done for the country—how ho had taken the reins of Government when the country was in a very critical state, and had brought it into a very satisfactory flnaucial position. As regards Native affairs, he said that the Government had acted in a very fair and jnst manner. Mr J. Cunningham in a few words begged to second Mr Bluett's nomination of the Hon. John Hall,and considered he wasthebest mantheycould get to look after their interests. [Applause.] Mr S. Forsyth then proposed Mr ilobcrt Lockhead as a fit and proper person to represent them. In bringing Mr Lockhead forward, ho might say that he did not do so as a fluent speaker, bnt as an honest farmer and a man that knew well their wants, aud would look after tho interests of the district. Mr Job Osborne, in soconding the nomination of Mr Lockhead, said he was a lit person to represent them, and a man who would not be led away by party feeling. Although, perhaps, he was not such a good financier as Mr Hall, neither would he be such a good land sharker, but he was a man they could thoroughly rely on to see to the interest of tho district.

Mr Bluett said in explanation, that he had received a telegram from Mr Hall, who was in Dunedin on public business, and thu3 wa3 nnablo to be present at the nomination. Mr Eobert Lockhead said that the reason he was so late in coming forward was that at a meeting of tho opposition held some time back they (the conveners of the meeting) had been treated unfairly and baulked from their object, which was to discuss the affairs of the district and its requirements, and to consider whether it was advisablo to bring forward an opposition candidate. At that time ho had no intention of coming forward, but Mr Hall's speech, in which ho had told them that ho was glad to see that his supporters had sqnashed them, had so roused him, that he was determined to come forward himself if no better man did so betweon that and the nomination day. Mr Bluett, in a few words, said they had aperfeot right to bring forward an opposition member, but at the same time expressed himself very strongly against the manner in which thoy had done so, leaving it so late, and doing it in Mr Hall's absence. The Eeturning Officer then called for a show of hands, which resulted as follows: Mr Lockhead 11 Hon. J. Hall 18 Mr Forsyth, on behalf of Mr Lockhead, demanded a poll. Mr Frankish asked Mr Lockhead to give them his views on the Native difficulty, but he declined to do so. sayiug he would address them at all the centres of the district. A vote of thanks to the Eeturning Officer terminated the proceedings. ASHLEY. Tho Eeturning Officer presided at Oxford Court House yesterday at noon, and the attendance on the occasion was very good. Mr Whitefoord read tho notice of the meeting, and asked for the nominations. Mr W. Free proposed Mr J. A. Cunningham as a fit and proper person to represent them. He oxplained that it had fallen to his lot to propose that gentleman through the fault of the electoral laws, which made havoc with their rolls. Mr Cunningham was a gentleman who would, if elected, carry out his promises, and his experience in public life recommended him to their notice.

Mr G. A. White seconded the nomination, saying it did not pledge him to support him, bat fair play prompted him to take the place of the gentleman who had come to do it, but fsund his name accidentally off tho roll. Mr B. L. Higgins nominated Mr Marmadnke Dixon, a gentleman all know very well, and who had served them well in other capacities. Ho continued to say that he was surprised and annoyed to notice the weakness of the various candidates in Canterbury on the question of local government and tho railway tariff. Mr J. E. Gorton seconded, and, in doing so, said it was due to Mr Dixon that he should be elected for this district, as a reward for his past services. Mr T. B. Howson, in a long speech, gave the meeting a biographical sketch of Mr W. F. Pearson's life and experience, alluding to Mr Pearson's special fitness for a representative, and said that he was not an easy convert to Mr Pearson, but had, after some years, como to see that Mr Peaison was litcoly to make the best representative in tho district. Mr K. H. Parish seconded the nomination, and read a letter from Mr Hugh Elder apologizing for his unavoidable absence, bnt expressing the hope that Mr Pearson would be returned, and promising bim every assistance. HSMr A. Ascworth proposed Mr W. Patterson as the representative of the " Cockatoo " interest. WrH. Eees seconded.

Mr Peter Duncan proposed Mr James Guild as essentially a progressive farmer, and who was in every respect a good business man and gentleman.

Mr F. Denton soconded the nomination, saying that it was twenty-five years since he had taken an interest in an election, and tho last was when Mr John Ollivior was putting up, and he and Mr Gnild were, he considered, to be compared, as they were both good men, and thorough representatives of the farming interests.

Mr Whitefoord then said that there was no provision in the Act for candidates addressing the meeting, but in courtesy to them and to tho meeting, he wonld give them tho opportunity of speaking, recommonding them to be brief, as there were so many. They would take the order in which they had been nominated.

The candidates then addressed the meeting, Messrs Cunningham and Dixon at considerable length, and Messrs Pearson and Guild briefly, Mr Pattersou having left prior to this. A show of hands was then Uvken, which resulted as follows: —

Cunningham ... ~, 4 Dixon 7 Pearson 39 Patterson 31 Guild 14 A poll being demanded in due form, and a vote of thanks being passed to tho Eeturning Officer, the proceedings terminated. [press association teleokams.] AUCKLAND, December 2. At Franklyn, Messrs Smith, Lawry, and Hamlin wero nominated. Tho show of hands was in favour of Lawry. WELLINGTON, December 2. Tho nominations for South Wairorapa to-day wero Messrs W. Buchanan, H. Bunny, and Barton. Boys was proposed. The show of hands was in favour of Bunny. The nominations for Manawatu District took place to-day. The Hon. W. Johnston was the only candidate proposed, and ho was declared duly elected. HA WEE A, December 2. At the Egmont nomination Major Atkinson and Mr George Hutcheson wero proposed. The show of hands was—Atkinson, 100; Hutcheson, 20. NEW PLYMOUTH, December 2. At the nomination for tho town of New Plymouth Mr Thomas Kelly snd Mr Charles Brown were proposed. The show of hands was—Brown, 22; Kelly, 17. TIMAEU, December 2. Messrs John Hayhnrst, Edward Wakefield and William Postlothwaite were nominated to-day for Goraldino. Mr David Leach was also proposed, but obtained no seconder. The show of hands was declared to bo—Hayhnrst, 41; Wakefield, 40; Postlothwaite, 14. DUNEDIN, December 2. Messrs J. C. Brown and G. F. C. Browne were nominated for Toapeka. The show of handji watt— J. C. Brown, 51; G. F. C. Browne, 29.

BALCLUTHA, December 2. The nominations were—Messrs James William Thompson and Alfred Norton Jowitt. FOXTON, Decembor 2. At the nomination Messrs Buller, France, Izard, Newman, Russell aud Wilson were the candidates proposed. The show of hands was iu favor of Mr Kussoll. _ , ~ INVEECAEGILL, December'_'. Tho nominations for Wallace wero Messrs H. Hirst, S. Daniel, J. C. Ellis, M. Johnston, G. C. Buttolph, 11. T. Hodgkiuson and H. Mcintosh. For Hokonui—Messrs C. Cowan, H. Driver and P. F. Finn. Tho show of hands was in favor of Mr Driver.