The Hawke's Bay Times. Published every Monday and Thursday. MONDAY, 14th MAY, 1866.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 376, 14 May 1866, Page 3

The Hawke's Bay Times. Published every Monday and Thursday.

MONDAY, 14th MAY, 1866.

“KUIXITJS ADDICTU3 JUEAB.E IN VEEEA MAGISTEI.”

Friday’s polling has demonstrated beyond cavil that however supine in appearance the electors .of the Town of Napier may be, they are capable of acting in the case of an emergency such as that unquestionably was. Webelieve that almost up to the hour of nom:‘, nation none of the electors had any idea tf there being an opposition offered to the return of Mr Newton; —certain it is that, several of the most consistent opponents of the Government party residing in the outlying districts actually left Napier for their homes on that day, not supposing that tiiere would be any contest, and, while regretting that it should be so, believing that the Government man would simply walk the, course*

In the town itself this belief and feeling of regret existed with an intensity increasing as the hour of nomination approached, and the electors fancying that they were unable to avert their fate, took refuge in the consoling idea that it would be - only for one short session, and that even if the Government party were permitted to fill both vacant seats for that time, it would not be of great con-, sequence, and that it would tell better for the popular cause at the coming general election next year. It was, therefore, with feelings of great surprise that the electors found that two of their number had stood in the breach, and brought forward once more their old, hardworking, uncompromising • servant, William Colenso; hut no sooner was it known, than confidence was restored, and it was resolved to prove to him that though his opponents had so far triumphed over him as to deprive him of his seat in the General Assembly, and occasion his; resignation from the Pro* vincial Council, that.they had still confidence in him as their man, —that they had need of him, and would still have him to protect their interests there, in spite of all that has been said and done to his detriment by his foes. This last triumph must be of peculiar gratification to Mr Colenso; he had only recently suffered a defeat through the exertions of that very party who now sought to place Mr Newton in the Council. This defeat placed him in a false position, and the only course left for him Wes' to resign a position which that defeat seemed to show that he had forfeited; but whatever appearance to that effect might have existed, they are now scattered to the winds, for we find him actually re-elected without an effort on his part, and indeed without his knowledge until the election was well nigh over, and all this before the writ declaring his old seat vacant had been published in the local papers.