PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 575, 7 May 1868, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

nomination or candipati:s. The nomination of candidates to fill the vacancy occasioned in the Provincial Council by the decease of Mr A. Irvine took [dace outside the Resident Magistrate's Court-house on Tuesday, sth inst. The weather was cold and threatening, and the attendance was not very large. The Returning Officer having read the writ,-*-Mr 11. Groom proposed Mr Thomas Edwards as a lit and proper person to represent the electoral district of the Town of Napier ia the Provincial Council. Mr T. Morrison seconded the nomination. Mr J. G. Kinross proposed Mr Arjthur Bingham Ferard. ( Cries of T Who is lie ?” “ Where is he?’’ &e.) Mr H. S. Tiffen seconded the noj min atinn. j No other candidate being proposed, —Mr R. Brf.nton adilressed the meetling on l»i half of Mr Edwards. He said they aii knew the capabilities of that gentleman as a member of Council 5 and that he had conscientiously, and to the best of Ids ability, done Ids duty ;as one of their representatives. He .ad always taken the part of the • working class iu the Council. The | members of the Council were too much ( of one interest, and such men as Mr 1 Edwards were needed among them, Ills hoped they would give him their ■ support ( cheers.)

Mr i’ERAHD then addressed the meeting. He sai l that he was not ashamed to show himself to them when the proper time came. He was not altogether a stranger in the Province, for lie had b eeu present at the first election held ia Napier, and had con-

•uandy visited it since that time. His i’ea->.r,i for coming forward was that he had been asked by his friends, and ho thought it his duty to accede to their request. Had he offered himself he would have addressed them in the usual manner through the Press ; it was not from any disrespect to the electors that be had not done so, but simply that his friends had taken the matter into their own hands. He had not yet paid particular attention to local politics, but if elected he would go into Council with his judgment unbiassed —a perfectly independent member. He felt the wisdom of the Council in electing Mr M'Leuu as Superintendent ; he believed that gentleman had been very useful in that capacity, and he would again vote for him if necessary. He would not give the Government his unconditional support, and would try to place the public money as much us possible under the control of the Council. He would also do all in his power to prevent the Executive usurping any of the powers of the Council, He was now ready to answer any questions which might ba

put to him ; but w. uld not rashly pledge himself on any subject whatever. If he went into the Council he would go perfectly independent.

An Elector : Would you take any situation under the Government ? Mr Ferard said he would not pledge himself to anything. They 'had no right to ask him that question, lie had refused better offices than any he could get in this Province ; and his circumstances were such that it was no consideration to him whether he held office or not. If elected he should

have plenty of leisure to attend to his Council duties. He had no intention of talcing any office, but if one for which he was fitted, and in whiel} he might be usefully employed, should be offered to him, no doubt he would accept it. A Voice : The office of Resident Magistrate for instance ? An Elector : Of course as salary is no obieet. you would require no rew«no»*ofinn 9 Mr Ferard ; I would take as much as I could get. The show of hands was then taken.! About thirty were held up for Mrj Edwards, and about six for Mr Ferard. The Returning Officer decided] the show of hands to be in favor ofj Mr Edwards. I Messrs Kinross and Sutton then demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Ferard, which was granted to take place this day (Thursday) between the hours of 9 a.ra. and 4 p.m. Three cheers were given for the Returning Officer, and the meeting separated.

Since Tuesday morning a most active canvass has been carried on by the friends of Mr Ferard, and it cannot be denied that those friends have great power over a portion of the constituency ; notwithstanding which—from the heartiness with which the working classes especially have espoused the cause of Mr Edwards—we believe that the close of the poll this day will find that gentleman triumphant.