THE NOMINATION SPEECHES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1454, 14 October 1872, Page 2

THE NOMINATION SPEECHES.

In our brief notice of the proceedings, at the nomination on Saturday, it was impossible to do justice to the remarks of either of the candidates. We there fore give below a more detailed report of their addresses to the electors. Mr T. K. Newton said he had noticed j.n Thursday's Herald a letter, from a warm supporter of Mr Colenso, and an opponent of himself, and, lie thought ha would not be far wrong in taking that letter as representing the views of the party opposed to him. The first objection seemed to be that he had come forward, not "on his own hook," but at the request of friends. Perhaps, the fact was, that the writer was angry that he had not come forward alone, but with a body of supporters at his back. He had looked upon bis political career as closed; but a man who. had once taken part in public affairs was not always allowed to follow hi* own inclination when it prompted him, to remain in retirement. So. many of" his former supporters had requested him to come forward once more that felt he would have failed in his duty and shown a want of courtesy to them if he had not responded to their call. He had replied to them : "I will consent to come forward if you think I will be of service; I place myself in your hands, and I will not ask any elector for his vote." The other objections urg<;d against him were, that he had once resigned his seat in consequence of taking a contract and that, he was a warm supporter of ibe educar tion rate. Heither objection was per. fectiy true. The education rate was a, part)'- cry to damage him; but he looked upon the question as. one of schools orno schools. At any rate their late member was more interested in the rate than he. It it were where was his salary to come from ?: what would become of bis office ?--? for there would be no schools for him to inspect. There were many individual cases of hardship under the Act, and? he would do his be*l to ease the pressure of the rate in such instances. He would like some scheme by which buildings could be rated, and a kind of sliding scale adopted. There were many in the community who. would gladlypay an extra 5s or 10s to reduce thepressure of the tax upon others. With, legard to the other charge, he had twice resigned his seat in the Council. On the first occasion he had accepted a contract, and he submittted silently to. the opprobrium ca*t upon him; but he believed he was more blamed for not, coming forward again than for taking; the contract. The second time he resigned, it was for the public good. He was about leaving for England, and he did not wish the town to lo?o a vote; for occasions might arise when a singlevote might be of importance. Some electors seemed to believe that he was. in favor of closing the road through Cli%e Square. This was not the case—lie would oppose any attempt in this, direction. Regarding the other pot* tion of the Square, he considered it. would be an ad vantage to enclose it,, and lay it out; but this was a matter of opinion, in whiph he would defer to, a majority of his constituents. In conclusion, he thought the electors in fault in returning members and allowing them lo do as they liked—in fact, to, represent themselves. A member should repiesent his constituency, but that he should do so, he must be acquainted with their views, and it was their duty*, in matters in which they felt interested, to, make him acquainted with those views;; if they did not. do so, they could not blame him if he failed to carry oiit their ideas. If elected, he would always W glad to know the views of his constituents, and would always defer to the wish of a majority, if he could not con.-pientiously carry out their viewy, he would feel it his duty to resign —ln reply to an elector Mr Newton said it a bill was introduced to abolish the education rate as at present levied, he would support it. In reply to Mr JBegg, he said he believed the system of public tender was the only fair meafl?* of distributing Government patronage. Mr W. Colenso said that lie canw before the electors on this occasion as a plain English gentleman, addressing an intelligent assembly. He would begiu \>y laying down an axiom; he wqiuM

*fcake it up again, he believed, on Thursday next. The ace of hearts was worth more than the four of clubs or the five of diamond*. [A Voice j That all depends on what'.s trumps.] He was not going to travel over the things that had appeared in the papers; but would briefly notice one or two matters. The Heiald had said that the personal question might - , be left out of sight in view of the consideration whether a salaried officer should sit in the Council. He denied that the personal aspect of the case was insignificant. The Herald, politically speaking, placed Mr Newton and himself on the same platform. Good gracious ! If Mr Newton had given as much time and study to politics as himself, there might have heen some justice in the remark. Mr Newton had said he would vote for the abolition of the Education rate. He (Mr C.) had resisted that rate to a division. [Mr Sutton : No.] Mr Newton had said vaguely he would like the pressure of that rate reduced. He (Mr C ) had moved distinct amendments with that object [Mr Sutton : No, no.] He could enumerate them. He moved that a person with a dwelling house and workshop distinct should only pay one rate; he moved that a man educating four children should be exempt; and he moved that small houses should not be subject to the rate. Mr Newton had said he would oppose the closing of the road through Olive Square. Had he (Mr C) not fought in the Council for Clive Square, it would long since have been clo:-ed. If the promised railway and promised causeway were mnde, the people would yet bless Colenso for saving Olivu Square. Holding the views he had expressed Mr Newton should have supported instead of opposing him. In many things he would not think of opposing Mr Newton —if, for instance, a chairman was wanted for a chamber of commerce, or a director for on insurance or navigation company—- in such things he would knock under him ; but in politics —to which he had served three apprenticeships, and his opponent none— let Mr Newton knock under to him. Regarding the abuse which had been been cast upon him by the Telegla,ph —old slanders once more raked up against him—he challenged the writer to prove them : as they stood they were unworthy of notice. All who had written about the Inspectorship of Schools—both for and against him—seemed to have forgotten that he held the office in iormei years. [Mr Colenso then proceeded to narrate the particulars connected with his acceptance of that office on both occasions, and said that his detractors had illustrated the truth of a Chinese proverb—« No lie is so deadly as that which contains half a truth."]' Among his constituents he did not suppose there was one who disapproved of his acceptance of that office. Mi Fox had borne testimony that no system of education was worth anything which did not provide for inspection, and he had found that since his visit of inspecr.ion the attendance at all the schools had materially increased. Two years ago the town electors had returned him at the, head of the poll ; Mr Newton was then a candidate and was a long way below him. If the electors returned Mr Newton on the present occasion he should conclude that in some way he had lost their confidence, and would probably resign his office. They should not set aside an old and tried servant without, assigning some good and sufficient reason.—ln answer to Mr Spilleu, Mr Colenso said he did not oppose the Hat hot* Bridge Bill except in its original crude state. When he was satisfied that the scheme practicable he ga\e it his hearty support. Years ago he had sought to Ime that scheme carried out, but the lowest estimate then given, was far beyond the means of the Province. In replj to a second query from the same elector, he repeated what he had said hi Council —that in case of threatened invasion the bridge would be regarded us an element of danger, an.l its de- , would be advocated a* a precautionary measure.