The Weekly Times. “Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri.” MONDAY, 25th MARCH, 1867. THE NOMINATION.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 12, 25 March 1867, Page 69

The Weekly Times. “ Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri.” MONDAY, 25th MARCH, 1867. THE NOMINATION.

Nomination day. for the Napier district has come and passed, and not withstanding the apathy of which we have-seen cause to complain, there certainly was a goodly muster of electors before the hustings—very consi derably more than we expected to find there. There were not less than eleven candidates proposed, some 61 them being new the rejected of former elections, and others who have filled the office of M.P.C. on former occasions with more or less satisfaction to tlieir constituencies.' There was considerably less than the usual amount of chaffing and baiting of the candidates; though there were a few close questions put, and some smart rejoinders made : in fact, good humour seemed to be the predominating feature of the day; a show ol bands exhibited a* pretty fair average for each of the candidates, with perhaps one exception. A resume of particulars will be found in another part of this journal. To-day the poll will be taken between the : hours of 9 a.m. and 4: kt which latter hour the declaration of" the. poll will be made by the Returning pfficer.

TmisapilT's polling resulted precisely; as might have, been .anticipated.. Up to : the; hour of nonaination no person was aware with a'ny degree of certainty of ho /would be brought forward as candidates. Thofce brought for ward, were so almost on the spur of the moment by the electors proposing. them, without any previovs communication with the candidates themselves, without any organisation andongst the electors, —or in fact we might almost say without any defined reason.;; It was not generally believed that Mr Buchanan would sit if elected ; it was currently reported that'Mr Stuart was only in the colony on a ‘ land of visit; and neither of the other defeated candidates, except* perhaps, Mr Sinifh, were, so anxious for a seat as ip ask a single voter for iiis. suffrage ;; while on; the part of the Government ithfe’rewas an extensive system of • whippihg ; iuj' conveyances being; engugedvahd running throughout tbe’chiy bearing ‘the of.-: ,thle Government r party and ' convjeyjng a mbst'itfdustnous working, agent to,all parts,,for the k purpose [ofy beating up recruits. No wonder then thW names on the Government ticket were

those of the candidates returned, the great wbnder would have been if it mp Ben in any way different from what it was. : ' .

m' . » ; >.• - 'i r : \ * r ,„ In. a retrospective glance over the past few weeks that have in-

tervened between the dissolution of tlie old council and the late election ws can but be. forcibly struck with the conviction that a much more desirable state of things might have been most easily brought about with a very light expenditure'of time and labour on the part of the electors who with us are convinced of the essential value of an enlightened opposition in the Council. A few preliminary meetings to decide on the candidates to be nominated and the measures to be takento ensure their election, with only a small amount' ofpersonol work would have accomplished all that could be desired As it is we have a Council which, whatever its other faults may be, will* not be guilty of opposing or obstructing the Government in the execution of its will, let it lie in what direction it may.