NELSON PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1643, 10 November 1873, Page 2

NELSON PROVINCIAL ELECTIONS.

We have already published the list of gentlemen nominated at Ahaura as fit and proper persons for election as a member of the Nelson Provincial Council. The following is given by the " Grey Valley Times " as a report of the speeches of the candidates, with the exception of Messrs Corbett and Gray, the report of whose speeches was held over. Mr Guinness came forward and said that for the second time he came forward to seek the suffrages of the electors. He had hitherto done all in his power to advance the interests of the Grey Valley, and was satisfied that he had done his duty to his constituents, and it weuld remain to be seen whether the electors thought different. If elected, he would continue to persevere in what he considered to be his duty. He would, if elected, always regard the interests of the Grey Valley as paramount, but would not altogether overlook the other parts of the Province. There was some very important business to be brought before the Council next session, and it was necessary that the electors should be careful in their discrimination. One of the most important matters requiring legislation was a reformation in the existing law referring to the constitution of the Executive. The present Executive was constituted by an Act of the Provincial Council, but the effect of that Act was to completely set aside the interference of the Provincial Council with the functions of the Executive. Under the present Act he considered that the Superintendent had too much power, and preferred to see him amenable to \ the Provincial Council. He would, if elected, make it his business to at once introduce a Bill to make the desired changes in the Executive under which the Council should have power at any time to eject the members of the Executive. The powers exercised by the Superintendent under the present regime were excessive. He preferred to see the Superintendent under the control of the Council and would endeavor to effect that end. The representatives of the people were the best judges as to the manner in which the duties of Superintendent should be discharged, and to them he should wish to commit the power of controlling the office. After a few additional remarks, Mr Guinness thanked those present for their expression of feeling in his favor, and concluded that he would take an early opportunity of meeting the electors. Mr Pinkerton thought that it was more important that the business of the Court should be resumed, than that candidates should make long speeches, and therefore he would not detain those present with any lengthy remarks. He might, however, say in relation to his candidature, that on the occasion of his visit to Nelson he was astonished to find that himself and his colleague carried considerable weight in the Provincial Council, and thought that if returned his influence would be still greater. In Nelson there were three interests, namely, the City, the settled districts, and the gold-fields. In the Council the gold-fields representatives conciliated the city members, and with their assistance were enabled to work with great confidence and he thought that if he was again returned he would be able to do good service. Mr M'Kenna said that notwithstanding the remarks of his predecessor, he could not pass the opportunity of briefly addressing those present. He was disposed to look upon the present occasion in a more serious light than Mr Pinkerton, and thought that the electors would also: view ifc in the same light. He came forward without any great pretensions to political experience, but he had . been a resident of the Grey Valley for eight or nine years past, and had had every oppor-. tunity of ascertaining the decay of this part of the Province^ through the past mismanagement of the Curtis administration, and as an old resident and one largely interested in the development of the district, he considered it his duty to come forward. He thought it was the duty of the electors to send to the Council men of determination and energy, and it would then be found that neither Mr Curtis or Mr O'Conor would be able to set it aside. He thought the time was past when the Superintendent could rule the West Coast with a predominate hand. People were nofir taking a more active interest in political matters than iv times past ; and he considered that it augured well for tie future. No one had had a' better opportunity of ascertaining the real requirementa of the district than himself, He had travelled from one end

of the district to the other through the bogs and sloughs called tracks. While carrying on business a3 a storekeeper at Nelson Creek, he, with other residents of that place, had contributed as much as Ll5O per annum to the Nelson Government, for years, for business licenses, miners' rights, &c, and yet had been under the necessity of making tracks himself, and his hand was scarcely ever out of his pocket. For six or seven years past nhe Provincial Council had been in the habit of voting sums of money for public works for the district, but had habitually set them aside, and the only decent road in the district had been made by the General Government. He instanced the tracks to No Town, Red Jack's, Nelson Creek, Half-Ounce, and other places. If returned, he would speak out boldly and freely without fear or affection for anyone, and whenever he had anything to say for the distrist he should express it without restraint.

Mr Corbett did not intend to occupy the meeting! He desired merely to introduce himself to those present, as he was comparatively a stranger in the Ahaura. He had been a miner for twenty years, seven of which he had spent in the Grey Valley. There was a strong desire among the miners that their class should be fairly represented in the legislature. He had been invited by requisition to stand, and finally consented to do so. Mr Gray having briefly addressed those present, a vote of thanks was passed to the Returning Officer, and the meeting separated. ...