The Elections.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 463, 21 March 1867, Page 2

The Elections.

NAPIER DISTRICT. The nomination of Candidates for the representation of the Electoral District of Napier in the Provincial Council took place at noon on Wednesday, the 20th inst. The returning Officer having read the writ _ Mr '-L'. u. Smith proposed Mr Donald M‘Lean as a fit and proper person to represent the electors of the Napier district. Mr A. GK Kinross seconded the nominal ticn, Mr John Slater proposed Mr James Alexander Smith, Sir James Swan seconuod the nomination. Mr John Slater proposed Mr Thomas ITennedv Newton. Mr A. C. Haynes seconded the nomination. Mr M. Mullaney proposed Mr Thomas Edwards. Mr John Pritchard seconded the nomition. Mr John Begg proposed Mr James Melliss'Stuart.

Mr William Beagley seconded the nomination. Air Robert Brenton proposed Mr Frederick Sutton. Mr D. E. Lindsay seconded the nomination. Mr D. E. Lindsay proposed Mr Samuel Mr T. D. Smith seconded the nomination. Mr E. Williams proposed Mr Henry Charles Eobjohns. Air H. J. Cotterell seconded the nomination, Mr Alexander Irvino proposed Mr Alexander Kennedy. Air A. C. Haymes seconded the’nomination. Air Thomas Morrison proposed Mr John Buchanan, Air Robert Brenton seconded the nomination. Air Robert Brenton proposed Air William Alaltby. Air George Charlton seconded the nomination. Mr Al'Lean, who was received with

great applause, said that he came forward as a candidate, iu full confidence of the friendship of the electors which he believed he had gained during the four years he had held office in the Province, lie would, if elected, continue to act in the same manner ns he had hitherto done. Ho had an objection to any pledges, as they were very seldom fulfilled, and often made use of to catch votes. The measures ho had initiated during the tim e of his holding office as Superintendent ho would endeavour to carry to their fulfilment; and if he received the fair and cordial support he expected from the electors, he would support the interests of the Province at large, as he believed there was no real distinction between, those of Town and Country. He was proud of the support ho had received from the electors during times of trouble and danger, and though ho did not think the Province would be in such a position again, he hoped that support would bo long continued. [Applause] Mr Brenton : Are you in favor of extensive immigration ?

Mr M‘Lean : I am favorable to the system as at present carried on, but not to any extension.

Mr Hawes: Are you in favor of a Thistle Act ?

Mr. M'Lean.—l should support one for the agricultural districts. Mi*. Newton said that ho had been in the Council before, and on his election had said that he meant to follow an independent course. This promise ho had fulfilled. He admitted that his votes had been principally with the Government, but they were so when ho approved of their measures. If he should bo again elected it would give him,pleasure, as being a proof of their satisfaction with his previous conduct. Mr. Bronton.—Would you support the boring of Artesian wells in the town ? Mr. Newton.—Yes. Mr. Hawes.—Are you in favour of a Thistle Act P Mr. Newton.—l will support any measure in that direction which I may consider beneficial. Mr. Edwards said that there had always been a great interest brought to bear against the town in the Council. He considered that when he occupied a seat there he had always done his duly, and spoken his mind freely, and had never studied his own interest. If elected now, he should be proud of his position, and of the confidence placed in him by the electors. A candidate had just said that the interests of the town and country were iden•ical, hut yet had said that he would sup* port a Thistle Act for the agricultural districts which were close to the town, and not for the pastoral districts. The Government had brought forward an Act of that nature last session, but it had not been passed. He would oppose such a scheme if it shouldjcome again before the Council, but he feared the runholding interest was sufficiently strong in the Council to carry it., Mr Charlton : Why did you then vote for a runholder at Betane ? Mr Edwards: Because he was a freeholder. I consider a man with 900 acres of freehold land to have a stake in the country, and more likely to be independent than a man who leases laud from the natives.

Mr Locke said that as a public man he was well known* its had been in the Council one session, but the time ha was there was so short that the electors would

have very little opportunity of judging his actions. Ate would, if elected, endeavour to aot independently, and do his duty. In answer to a question by Mr Hawes, he said he was not favorable to a Thistle Act.

Mr Sutton said that he was a fresh man in politics. He was as old a settler as most of the Electors, and as well acquainted with the local politics. He had been requested bj many of the electors to ! como forward. He would vote for Mr M'Lean as Superintendent. Mr Brenton asked if he would support or initiate any measure to reclaim the land in the town covered by stagnant ponds of water, which would be very likely to cause a malaria in the town. Mr Sutton said that he believed that it was out of tiio power of th 6 cjounoil to rio so.

In answer to & question by an Elector Mr Sutton said he should support a scheme for a branch post-office in town to be presided over by a post-office official. Mr Kennedy said that ho had been in th& Council for the last four years, and bad always acted to the best of his ability. An Elector: Why did you rote against an increase of members for the town ? Mr Kennedy : Because the general feeling of the electors was that they were sufficiently represented. Mr J. M. Stuart was then called for, but not appearing, Mr Jchn Begg came forward, as his proposer. He said that Hr Stuart, in the Council, had proved himself the most independent member and altogether the best representative of the electors of the town. The show of hands was then taken, and declared to be in favor- of Messrs McLean, Edwards, Stuart, Locke, and Maltby. A poll was then demanded and granted, to take place this day.

Peoobess op the Elections.—About one half of the Provincial elections are now over. Mohaka has returned its old member (Mr Dolbel) without opposition ; Petane, Mr. Parsons ; Te Ante, Messrs Tan* ner and Carlyon ; and Havelock, Mr Jas. Wood. —Yesterday was the nomination day for two other (inland) districts, besides that for the Town of Napier—Porangahau, which will return Mr Ormond, and Wairoa. With regard to the latter district, we anticipate the return of Lieutt-Colonel Whitmore, who, we believe, is a candidate —there is however, bat one resident voter there, and it is not very probable that others will visit it for the purpose of voting. The four remaining elections take place as follows Napier Country, Monday next, 25th ; Hampden, Tuesday, 26th ; Waipukuran, Wednesday, 27th ; and Clive, Thursday, 28th ; so that, in about a week’s time, the whole of the elections for the New Provincial Council will be over.

Havelock Election. —The nomination for the Havelock district took place at the School-house, Havelock, on Tuesday last. There were two candidates—Mr James Wood and Mr W. J. Birch. Mr Wood wasjproposed by Mr Danvers, and seconded by Mr Reynolds); Mr Birch was proposed by Mr Bousfield, and seconded by Mr Richardson. Both candidates were questioned upon a Thistle Act. Mr Birch believed that any scheme- that could be devised for the eradication of the thistle would be impracticable ; Mr Wood, on the contrary, was satisfied that agricultural districts could be protected against the thistle nuisance, without any undue or vexatious interference with the runholder. The show of laid* was considerably in Mr Wood’s favor. Yesterday, (Wednesday,) the poll was taken at the same place, and also at Mr M'i.ean’s woolshed, Maraekakaho, resulting in a majority of one vote in favor of the first-named candidate. The numbers were as follows ; Wood. Birch. Havelock 5 7 Maraekakaho -1 1 S 8 Majority for Wood ... 1 —We understand that Mr Wood will take his seat as a thoroughly independent member, ho having gone in against a strong government influence.