KUMARA GENERAL ELECTION.

Kumara Times, Issue 1616, 1 December 1881, Page 2

KUMARA GENERAL ELECTION.

THE NOMINATION. Precisely afc 12 o’clock the Returning Officer, W, A. Barton, Esq. (who had mounted a platform constructed for the occasion adjoining the Court), announced that the meeting was calle I by him in pursuance of a writ from the Governor for the purpose of nominating candidates for the general election for the district of Kuraara. After reading the writ., Mr Barton said he was now now prepared to receive nominations. Mr John O’llagan addressing the Returning Officer and gentlemen, said the nominations to-day were a great deal more than a simple matter’.of form. The people were now settled down here it may be for a period of nine or, ten years ; we are anchored here, and it behoves us to put in the best man—the very best man—as our representative. There was one man amongst them whom he felt proud in the honor of proposing, and that beyond the possibility of a doubt. He had the honor of proposing this man as the best; he was a straight-forward, honest mm, and this is more than can be said of a good many—[Hear, hear.] He would not waste three or four weeks from Parliament. He was a man who from the position he had occupied so long, he was sure would serve their interests well, with ability, and, above all, honestly. He had great pleasure in proposing Mr Blake as a member of the House of Representatives for the district of Kuraara. Mr Blake had a larger stake in the district than any other man.—[Hear, hear, and applause.] . Mr Edward James Price said he had much pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr Blake. It was scarcely necessary for him to say much ; they all knew Mr Blake better chan he did ; and the previous Speaker had said quite enough.—[Loud applause.] Mr James Holmes begged to propose Mr Richaid John Seddon as member of the House of Representatives for the district of Kuraara. He said it was hardly necesary for him to say liiuch ; they all knew Mr Seddon as well as he did. They had hea.’d him in almost every capacity; and they would not find a better man in the district.—[Hear,] He repeated it—they would not find a better man in the district.— [Applause.] He had the experience of the last Parliament, and he trusted they would return him to this. [Hear, hear.] He believed they had the two best men in the district as candidates.— [Hear, bear.] He had great pleasure in proposing Mr Seddon.—[Applause.] Mr M. Davidson was in the act oi stepping on to the platform, when Mr Thomas Jones seconded the nomination. There were calls for Mr Barlf, but he did not appear. The Returning Officer said if the candidates wished to address the electors before be took a show of hands, they might do so. After a pause, Mr Seddon stepped forward. He said it should never be said of him that he was afraid. His friend who had proposed Mr Blake had shown very little courtesy in proposing Mr Blake first, when he. was in the position of being a member at the present time. But that gent'-eman was now making Himself a political pawnbroker when he appeared to-day in the position of dictator to this community ; atid he asserted that any man who would do this had no right to be in the position he now is.—[Hear, bear.] He. had spoken of dishonesty. Ere yet the native bush was cleared from off this place, and before that gentleman trod this soi l , be was developing improvements in this town.—

[Hear, hear.] He caused the town to he laid off well, and he claimed a small share of merit for these improvements. Who suggested that monument yon see yonder of a Public School?—[Hear, hear.] My friend here [turning to Mr O’Hagan] is not in a position to judge of what he says, and he would prove his assertion to be fallacious and untrue.—[Hear, hear.] He had many years’ experience in tins town ; he was first Mayor of this town—he was sorry to see it had so much degenerated.— [Hear, hear, and laughter.] The time it takes to serve an apprenticeship in Parliament would be a loss to you ; you have that experience in me now as against my opponent. —[Hear, hear.] If you wish to break in the colt, you must put him in the shafts first.— [Hear, hear.] He (Mr Seddon) humbly admitted he had made a mistake, but not a wilful mistake—[Hear, hear.] Have you suffered at all by it; he maintained they had not. He contended there had been more money expanded between the Teremakau and Jackson’s Bay than between the Buller and the Teremakau—the total he believed would be about £73,000. These rumors were fallacious—[hear, hear.] He would give a direct denial that this district had suffered since he had been in the House. He was the only member that had got the Hold Duty Bill passed in the House of Representatives for the last ten years.— [Hear, hear.] Sir George Grey was the best man the West Coast had ever had. He (Mr Seddon) was opposed to the Hall Government. [Hear, hear.] He would support any Government that would do justice to this district. He considered that every man should declare himself whether for or against. The contest on the present occasion was of brain-power against wealth. He should deliver himself more fully at Dillman’s Town to-night. If returned he would be proud of the position.— [Loud app’anse, during which “ Three cheers” were called and given for Mr Seddon.] Mr Blake then stepped forward, and said he was very sorry to hear the expressions made use. of this morning. Although opposed to Mr Seddon, they %vere good friends. [Hear, hear.] Much had been said about honesty, but practical honesty was his motto ; he had equal education; equal abilities.— [Hear, hear.] He was not asking them to send him to Parliament to make a living.—[Hear, hear.] There was nob a man amongst them that could puts black spot on a letter of his name. If you return me, he said, I. thank youj and if you dont, I believe 111 be more obliged to you still—[Loud applause.] The Retur.vixg Officer then called for a show of hands, which he declared to be in favor of Mr Seddon. Messrs Tons and O’ Hag ax demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Blake. A vote of thauks to the Returning Officer closed the proceedings.