NOMINATION FOR THE GREY DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 593, 4 November 1869, Page 2

NOMINATION FOR THE GREY DISTRICT.

The nomination of candidates for the representation of the Grey district, in the Nelson Provincial Council took place at the Warden's Court, Cobden, on Tuesday, at noon. There were about twenty persons present. The Returning Officer, J. Henry Lowe, Esq., read the writ for the return of two members, and expressed the hope that now that the district was separated from Charleston and Brighton, the residents would take a hearty interest in the election of local men. It might be as well to state one point at once, in order to set any doubts at rest. The question was, whether it was the duty of the Returning Officer to consider the qualification of the candidates about to be proposed. His answer was the terms of the writ, by which he was bound. It required that candidates were to be proposed in a manner strictly in accordance with the Act, which required that the mover and seconders should be legally qualißed electors, and also that the candidates themselves shall be legally qualified persons. (Applause.) Mr John Hamilton proposed Mr W. N. Franklyn. Mr Hall seconded. Mr Wilkie protested against Mr Franklyn's nomination, he being in the Government pay. The Returning Officer said he was not aware of any disqualification for Provincial Government Officers, although there was a disqualification for officers in General Government pay. He would take a note of the protest. Mr Ray proposed Mr James Wilkie, which was seconded by Mr Jackson. . Mr J. Ryan proposed Mr W. H. Boase. Mr Foster seconded. Mr Hall proposed Mr W. H. Harrison. Mr Franklyn : As an elector, I call upon Mr Harrison to show his qualification. I object to him because his name does not appear on the electoral roll of the Province, as required by tl:e Constitution Act. Mr Harrison : Mr Franklyn is in error. Men who have miners' rights or business licenses can vote in this election. 1 am duly qualified to stand for this district. The Returning Officer : Will you state what your qualification is ? Mr Harrison: As an elector of the Colony, I am eligible as a candidate, and I refer you to the Constitution Act. The qualifications of voters and candidates are two different things. The Returning Officer : I again call upon Mr Harrison to state to the meeting what his legal qualification may be. It is no part of my duty to enquire too particularly into the facts of it, but I require that his proposer should state Mr Harrison's qualifications, so that should he be returned, I may be able to enter it on the writ. Mr Harrison : My qualification is being registered as an elector of the [ Colony as a householder. The Returning Offioer : I cannot accept that. Mr Harrison : I bow to your decision, sir, but still I know that the question has | already been decided in the Supreme Court of the Colony, and that my qualification is sufficient. The Returning Officer : 1 am bound by my instructions on the writ, which re-

quire the return of a duly qualified candidate. Mr A. M'Donald proposed Mr Samuel Mack ley, and Mr Dent seconded the nomination. Mr Thompson proposed by Mr James Payne. Mr Franklyn protested, unless the candidate's qualification were shown. Mr Thompson believed Mr Payne's qualification was a business license, but he could not say, as the candidate had not come over, The nomination not being seconded, was allowed to drop. A show of hands was then called for, with the following result : — .' Mr Mackley 10 Mr Wilkie ... 8 Mr Boase 7 Mr Franklyii .. 6 Mr Franklyn demanded a poll. The Returning Officer said the poll would take place on Friday, sth inst. Mr Franklyn said : Before the proceedings wore brought to a close, he wished to take the opportunity of addressing a few words to the electors present. It was customary when nominated as a representative of the people for the candidate to state, aa well as his ability would allow him, his intentions with regard to his conduct should he be returned. He would shortly state his principal reason for coming forward on this occasion. It was in consequence of an address which he read in the Grey River Argus from Mr W. H. Harrison — one of the movers and originators in that great blunder on the other side, the County of Westland. (Mr Harrison : No.) That gentleman had stated that he started with the doctrine of separation of the Grey district from Nelson. Such a doctrine as that at first startled him — that such a monstrous doctrine should ever be preached to them in Nelson. He knew that the whole influence of the Greymouth merchants and press would be brought to bear on the upcountry districts to secure the return of a candidate who might properly be said to be a man after their own heart. (Hear, hear.) The electors were aware that he (Mr Franklyn) was one of the earliest residents in the Grey Valley, and from its earliest infancy he had taken a deep interest in its welfare, and endeavored to press forward and foster every measure for its benefit. He spoke with truth when he said that he had a considerable number of friends up the river, and there were few persons, occupying the position he did, who enjoyed more of the confidence of the miners than he did. He knew that if Mr Harrison came forward he would be. able to show him that there were men in the Nelson province who had the confidence of the people at large, and that they did not require to go over to the other side of the river, and borrow candidates from that broken-down spot the County of Westland. (Applause.) Another reason why he came forward was to prevent the people of Greymouth from meddling in Nelson affairs when they could not manage their own. (A voice : We'll send them a, book-keeper.) It might be out of place for him to go into any detailed scheme of what he intended to do if returned to the Council. The residents in Cobdeu comprised a very small portion of the population of the district, and it was his intention to go up the river and explain to the miners his views more fully than he intended to do on that occasion. There was an objection raised I to him at the commencement of the | proceedings by Mr Wilkie, because he was in the pay of the Nelson Provincial Government, but he would mention that if returned he intended to resign his present appointment. If elected he would urge upon the Government three things — First, the apjiointment of a travelling Warden for the district, under the directions of Mr Lowe, in order to take off some of that gentleman's arduous duties— duties so onerous as to be almost impossible that he could continue to discharge them for a few months longer. The second was that he would endeavor to remove the toll on pack-horses between Ahuura and Napoleon Hill, by throwißg open the road and pay-, ing the owner compensation. Taxing pack-horses was actually taxing the working men, who had to pay au enchanced price for their food and tools. The third was a matter which he believed Mr Harrison had mooted — the appointment of a Secretary to the Gold Fields.— (Hear, hear.) All these affairs would be conducted more to the satisfaction of the people if they had an independent member of the Executive on the Coast, who could be applied to on all occasions, and who could give an answer at once, without having to refer to Nelson for instructions 1 . He thanked the electors for the manner in which they had received him, and hoped they would consider him a competent person to represent them before the sth ins>t., and return him as one of their representative**. Mr Wilkie said that if they returned , Mr Franklyn they would be sending in a 1 Bnllerman again, which would give Westport four votes against oue for the Grey. If returned he would see that theßrunner coal mine was properly opened'up, and a tramway laid down from Cobden. He would also endeavor to have e\ery facility given to the miners to prospect the country by means of tracks; and he would endeavor to serve the district to the best of his ability. — (Applause.) Mr Mackley thanked the electors for giving him the show of hands, stating that he would address the residents up country. Mr Harrison said he believed it was usual even for defeated candidates to return thanks, but he was not even allowed to be a candidate. He did not complain of the decision of the Returning Officer, although he differed with him. He was not disappointed as to the result Mr Franklyn rose to order. Mr Harrison had no right to speak unless to propose a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. — (Laughter.) Mr Harrison was just premising before he moved the yote. But he would mention that Mr Franklyn was in error aa to his (Mr H.s) address. It was the very opposite of what he stated. H«j would not endeavor to separate the district from Nelson, but to annex the country as far south as the Teremakan, so as to do away with the present objectionable boundarylino. He would never xease to labor to bring about this result). He proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer for his courteous conduct. Mr Frankiyn seconded the motion^ which was carried. Mr Lows returned thanks, referring with pleasure to the courteous remarks of Mr Harrison. He was glad he had succeeded in doing his duty without giving offence. The proceedings then terminated.