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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 353, 26 February 1866, Page 3

[To the Editor of the Hawke’s Bay Times.] “1 do not intend to canvass the electors,—l have never done so.”— Mr Stafford at Nelson. Sib, — I have to thank you for the able article which appeared in your last issue, and particularly for the manner in which you have again (unasked) spoken of me in my public capacity as member for the Napier electoral district in the Q-eneral Assembly. 1 did not intend to say anything more in the public prints previous to the coming elections, having already urged on the electors, at the public meeting and in print, to do their duty and to elect and send their best man. You, sir, have spoken truly, in saying, that “ Mr Colenso declines to canvassfor the suffrages of the Napier constituency .” Like Mr Staiford, (whose words I have again used above as a text or motto,) I too can say,—“ I have never done so.” And like him of old I may say,—“ I dwell among my men people," and they know me. I cannot but think it would ill become an old public servant like myself to go round from door to door begging votes, (date obolum Belisario,) and it would bo just as lowering to the electors to expect it; as such would shew a want of true British independence and confidence on both sides,-—not to say a want of love of fair play. Besides all that, —feeling as I do that I have tried bard always to do my duty in the General Assembly during the years I have had the honor to represent Napier, and havibg never heard anything to the contrary,—l acknowledge, that I fully expect all those old electors who voted for me in ’6l ivill to a man vote for me again now in ’66, (mainly because they chose me and sent me and I did my duty,) or, fairly, honestly, and openly, show their reasons for not doing so. Late events have also furnished strong additional reasons why the electors of the Napier Electoral District should again support me as against all comers ; two or three of these reasons 1 may mention: 1. The final retiring of Mr Weld (and of Mr Sewell), and the consequent strengthening of the Stafford Ministry, which I assisted in bringing into office. 2. The fact, that everg one of those gentleman with whom I worked on that memorable occasion will be again returned by their respective constituencies, precisely because we then worked as we did—knowing this, can the Napier constituency act directly opposite to all others ? 3. The Napier electors originally elected and sent me, in 1861, to support the Stafford Ministry; and as I have always supported Mr Stafford, it would be a most strange and unexampled t hing, now that Mr Stafford has just again become premier (after five years of hard and costly struggle) not to return the man who has always supported him! more particularly as we now find that Mr Stafford is strongly fixed in office. But I am not altogether without hopes, (especially now that Mr Weld has finally retired,) that Mr McLean will reasonably listen to a letter I yesterday addressed to him, and abstain from bringing on in our little town an unseemly and unnecessary pohlical contest.—l am, Ac., WILLIAM COLENSO. Napier, Feb. 22, 1866.