HOKITIKA

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1362, 10 December 1872, Page 4

HOKITIKA

(from our own correspondent.) December 8. As might naturally bo expected nothing but politics, if such a term cau be properly applied to anything connected with County Council elections, can be talked about, and the election flavor pervades the whole community. The Hokitika people, as a rule, are of a phlegmatic temperament and not easily moved into anythiug like excitability, save and except at election times. Then tho spirit of restlessness is truly, evoked and the dull city changes its character entirely. However scarce money may be, and however little business may be doing, this town is not likely on the present occasion to depart from its . old traditions, and the pending contest promises to be quite as lively as any of its forerunners. As your readers are aware, there are four nominal but only three real candidates, the fifth nominated (Mr C. E. Button) having withdrawn in compliance with the terms of the Act. Prior to his formal resignation, indeed at the hustings, when he was nominated, he intimated his intention of declining, so no surprise is felt at the course he has taken. There remain now Messrs Bonar, Caaaius, Hoos, and Hinchcliffe. Mr Hoos was the first to break the silence that has been characteristic of this contest, and addressed the electors on Thursday last. The success he achieved was at best doubtful, though a vote of confidence was passed by a very large majority of the meeting. You have already extracted from the Wed Coast Times the leading features of his address, and therefore I need not recapitulate them, but may add that his defence was very coldly received and that the effect was positively nil. There are, however, persons sanguine enough to believe in his re-election, of whom I may say most decidedly lam not one. There is in this election one very marked improvement, viz., the absence of the personal fooling that has been to frequently the characteristic on similar occasions, and, whoever wins, there is at least the satisfaction of knowing that no sting or heartburning will remain after the issues have been fairly tried and determined. There are, as I have already said, really only three candidate?, for though Mr Hinchcliffe intends to go to the poll, his chances are of the most minute description, and the other three will have the battle to themselves. Mr Bonar's ftiends have already bestirred themselves, and there cannot be the faintest shadow of doubt as to his election. The only question or matter that can affect him is overconfidence on the part of his supporters. They are so sure of success as to be somewhat lukewarm in their advocacy, and this very fact, if anything can, will be productive of disaster. The supporters of the other two candidates have also been busy, and the committees are jubilant over the chances of their proteges, A very large number of plumpers are expected lor Mr Hoos ; indeed he may be said to probably receive the Germau block vote, and the German element is strong in Hokitika. Mr Cassias will havoa very strong following, and there can scarcely be a doubt as to his return. He has on his committee and amongst his warmest partisans many who were enthusiastic on behalf of Hoos two years ago, but who have on this occasion turned completely round. It is not the duty of a correspondent to comment on candidates, but it is not beyond his privilege to forecast events. with more or. less success, and therefore I venture to predict that Mr Bonar will be at the head of the poll, Should the fatal confidence of his friends to which I have alluded above, be kid aside. Mr Cassius will make a respectable second, Mr Hoos, despite plumpers, a ba'i third, and Mr Hincholiffo distanced. Apropos of elections, I have always un.derdtood that it is the special province of journals to comment on candidates and election matters generally, but I am somewhat shaken in this belief through the emphatic silence that the leading journal here (the West Coast Times) has preserved , since the war has begun. It cannot be that this is owing to the absence of decided opinions, for two of the candidates now wooing 1b.3 electors, viz., Messrs Hops and Barff, aro under the special oegis of that paper, aud it would seem as thoagh it was afraid or ashamed to protect its own political yoi nj. The little twinkler, the Register, shows no such diffidence* but tilts valorously at the windmill,, of which these two form sails, There is, I may >ay .whilst I am, on the subject, a probability of a new paper being started here by a company on the limited liability system, similar to that which has- been so successful in Dunedin. If it comes to j anything an offer will be made to the proprietor of the Times to sell out at a fair valuation, and if this is declined a paper without reference to that plant will br> floated. As soon as the election excitement is over, a meeting on the subject will beheld, and there is very little doubt that the project will be persevered in. The Arahura election promises id be one of the hottest that has occurred for some time. The three remaining candidates, Messrs Barff, White, and Seddon, intend to go to the poll, and even at this early date some free fights on the subject have taken place. Mr Barff, the retiring member, is making a strong fight for it, and no wonder, for if he la kicked out he sheds his last leaf of political honor and subsides into plain , Edmund Barff, without any chance of letters, to bis name. Mr White is very strongly supported, and the party who were, at the last election, wholly in. favor of Mr Barff, now divide between the two old adversaries. This is chiefly owing to Mr BarfPs complicity in the Hungerford contract matter, which may be and to be the pme de resistance of the present olection. Tho promised revelations on this subject have not yet been made by Mr White, but as soon as they have, turned up I will duly forward them for the edification of your readers. In ' conclusion, with this election a rather singular feature will be introduced, viz a largo number of Chinese voters, who,