NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 107, 17 March 1871, Page 3

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

I According to advertised notice, the lommation of candidates for the ProBncial Council took place at the Court H>use, Naseby, at noon on Monday Bst. There were about forty persons ■resent. ■P- W. Robinson, Esq., the ReturnK Officer, having read the Writ authorising the election .of two. fit, and proper to represent the Mount Ida District in the Provincial Council, balled upon the electors present f to ■ropose candidates. . . ■*The following gentlemen were then and seconded - I John Philip Armstrong, proposed by Bonn Grauld Bremner, seconded by Michael Brookes. I Charles Erancombe Boberts, proposed by Arthur . Simpson, seconded by Shannon. .. .? Z G-eorge B. Barton, proposed' by L. W- Busch, seconded by Robert Grlenn. M)avid Hunter Mervyn, proposed by G-eorge Collett, seconded by John '(xauld Breniner. , William Nathan Richards, proposed jby Arthur Simpson, seconded by Robert Grlenn. . / j David Maitland, : proposed, by John Creighton, seconded by Patrick Bleach. Mr. Roberts then came forward and said that it was not necessary for him to % trouble the electors by making many remarks, as his views upon most of the t;opics of the day had been already )retty fully explained. He was iir favor of liberal land laws, with free selection and deferred payments. He would also support, as far as he was able, a reduction of the duty on gold. The Electoral Districts should, in his (pinion, be re-arranged, and he would do all in his power to effect this object, as also to obtain a" manhood suffrage. Commonages round the centres of population he looked upon as indispensable, and he would do his utmost' to obtain one for this place. Mr. Roberts• then alluded to the bad • state of the ifjttds, and said that the revenue deifved From, the Groldfields should be expended in improving the means of communication. The subject of water, supply was one of the .gteatest importance to the mining community, and .consequently-to the Province generally, lie would endeavor to get it in'tTeascd. His only interest was at Naseby, and as he inteiided to continue to reside there he would at all times, if ejected, be within reach of his constituents should they at any time desire to consult him. Mr. Mervyn said that, as he contemplated addressing the electors in the evening at some length upon the general topics of interest, he would' not, detain them long upon the present occasion. He was not, like the candidate who had just spoken, in favor of free selection on Groldfields, as he felt sure that were such a law in force the whole Country would soon be in the hands of speculators. s It ; was, a fact generally well known that there were not more than six or eight unmortgaged runs in the Province. The squatters' agents, would soon pick out the eyes of the "%untry. He believed in throwing open ton-auriferous land on Groldfields. Mr. Mervyn went on to say that he felt extremely surprised that,'lira place of so much importance as Naseby there were neither hospital, athenaeum, r or any 3ublic institution. The district had lithertobeen shamefullyneglected. Imtense sums had been extracted from Pf but nothing, or next to nothing had Keen done for it or expended upon it. |lf elected, he would make himself acquainted with the wants and requireinerits of the district, and do his best to s§e them attended to. He had been ■■quested to stand for two other dispicts, but being member for Mount fcla .in the Greneral Parliament of the Polony, he felt his first duty was to ■Ait district, and for that reason he Iffered his services to represent them n the local Council. Mr. Richards, in coming forward said that, in his opinion, the" GrOld fields should take precedence of all other mestions. Above all things, it was in lie highest degree indispensable that water supply should be increased Bhuaatity and reduced in price. He Bbuld, if elected, do all in his power to msh the Groldfields ahead. He felt Ts[ e w -Zealand merely required ible honest, and independent men in he ' Councils, .who would use. their bilities and their energies to, .push her toad, to make her a name. If the

electors thought him a lit and proper person to represent them, he would try and do "his best for the district. Hie was in favor of free selection upon deferred payment to extend over seven or eight years. The system had answered well in other countries, and he could not see why it should not answer here also. He was in favor of the immediate construction of a sludge channel, and would, if returned, endeavor to get £4,000 placed upon the estimates as a first instalment. The owners of vested water rights were, he was aware opposed to an encreased-water supply. He would say that, unless we could get a much larger supply of water, and at a very reduced price, we might as well pack up' our swags and be off. In conclusion, he trusted that the electors would return the best man.

Mr. John Creighton, who appeared on behalf of Mr. Maitland, said that they all knew Mr. JVEaitland ; that he was a gentleman of independent means, of good education, and good abilities, and had as great, if not greater, interest in the district than anyone else. Mr. Maitland was very liberal in his views on the land question. He had alway.s allowed people to settle on his ran. Mr. Maitland's views on the water question were also liberal, and he had as great an interest in the construction of the sludge channel as had the miners. ITe felt sure that, if elected, Mr. Maitland would well and ably represent the district.

. A show of hands was then called for, with the following result Armstrong ... .. ... 10 Koberts ... . 9 Barton ... ... 1 Mervyn ..." ... ... ... 9 Kiehards 7 - Maitland ... 10

■ A-Poll was demanded "by Mr. Roberts, and with a vote of thanks to the lieturning Officer the proceedings terminated.