THE RETURN OF MR COLENSO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 383, 7 June 1866, Page 1

THE RETURN OF MR COLENSO.

(From the IZawke’a Buy Times, 14th May.) 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. We believe that almost up to the heur of nomination none of the electors had any idea of 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 outlyiug districts actually left Napier for their homes on that day, not supposing that there 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 he 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 consequence, and that it would tdll 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; but 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 Provincial 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 was to resign a posi‘ tion which that defeat seemed to show that he hud 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 thi s before the writ declaring his old seat vacant had been published in the local papers.