WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 303, 22 April 1897, Page 2

WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

The contest for this constituency rendered vacant by the successful petition against the return of Mr T. Wilford at the general election of last December, will be decided to-morrow. The battle is between Mr Charles Wilson, editor of the New Zealand Mail, and Mr A. R. Atkinson, a Wellington lawyer and nephew of the late Sir Harry Atkinson. The former is the nominee of the Government, and the latter is the representative of the party opposed to the Government. A good deal of interest has been iufused into the contest by the fact of speeches having been made by the Premier and the Minister of Lands, and by Messrs George Fisher and John Hutcheson in the interests of the Government candidate. Mr Atkinson has preferred to engage in the battle without outside assistance, although it is due to the Opposition to say that several of the leading members were quite willing to help Mr Atkinson with speeches. The contest is a very keen one, and when the numbers are up we believe the difference between the two men will be very small. The seat ought really to be safe for the Government candidate, judging by the state of the poll at the general election, but we hear that Mr Wilson is not supported by the bulk of the electors who profess the Liberal faith, and his candidature has been forced upon the party by, it is said, the Minister of Lands. Mr Atkinson has made some stirring speeches and created a very favorable impression, and his friends are confident that he will go very near winning, if he does not actually head the poll. It is not impossible that there will be two more bye-elections before the House meets in September next.