THE FEILDING CHRONICEL AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1579. THE ELECTION.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 68, 23 August 1879, Page 3

THE FEILDING CHRONICEL AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1579. THE ELECTION.

Public interest is, naturally enough, almost wholly abiorlbed m the approaching election,? and '(the, 'competitors, for The Grand! National "7 are -now ' taking their preliminary c.*» •, their respective packers areN busily engaged taking stock of the different "bloods" and noting their form fattd probable staying powers, tha latter r beingf, ; a . very ' |important factor -as Lthb course is a long and heavy ona. -Dropping metaphor, and beginning r with, the -local candidate, we find that Mr. HAirf3oMßi repbrts having held successful meetings at O-iflitenham, Halcombe, and especially at Otaki wliere "a atrong and influential cominitt** -ho« : -booai- formed." If—i-and the hypothetical element is 'exceptionally sfctong m his case-^-if, we skyj these? re^ Ajports' be; strictly accurate, Mr. Haioombb would stand Aa; very; 'gbodr chance' of ; being .V placed " But those varsed m eleo.tioneering tactics know .well-the tendency which exists, m such matters to make bold statements more m accordance: with >the I candidate's wishes, than with facts "topaint too highly oouleur de rose, their chances of success. Makingdu* allowance for this, and taking into consideration Mr. Halcombe's j action with regard to the land scrip, and bis; persistent .opposition' to ' the Fbxtbn.Sandb"b, Railway which has alienated from Him very many. rotes, that gentleman, many consider "out biTthe running." With re-' gard to the other local candidate, _lr. Snel'sbn, .the fact that he beat his present rival when! they met as candidates for the |seat at the Education-Board by nearly two to one, is looked upon <m* auguring wall for his success on a much broader question, and of tbe two local candidates he stands by far ;the better chance. As it is ; wall known 'that he will have almost a block vote from tho Oroua to^ the Gorge, and that having expressed Himiialf m favor of the FoxtonSandon Railway, * many m that district will: support ihim, his chances are regarded as ' very encouraging. <X Mr. SNBJiSON has gained .upon the constituency i^ the outlying district by the manly ahd straightforward addresses which he has delivered, and his past services ; to the district are by no means 'byerlobkedr He will also have the Government support, and under these circumstances many willbe sui^risedif he be notretdrn'ed~ by 'a large majority, As to Mr. Johnston's candidature, whije freely acknowledging that gentleman's ability, most of the doctors think-that his chahcek of success against tht wide-spread desire for a local man have been marred by his contemptuous disregard of his constituency m past tunes, 'coupled with the fact; that he refused to pledge himself to j- visit them' during the''"recess'''-'in-future years. It is true that he has promised to resign if, at any time, his constituents are dissatisfied with his! political conduct; but, at the same time it is not forgotten 'hy the old settlers, that at his first election he made a similarpromise only to break it when called upon to fulfil it. His friends rely mainly on the Wellington and Otaki votes, "and if their hopes m this direction -".be realised, Mr. JOHNSTON may yet retain his seat, notwithstanding that so many who formerly sup>! ported- him have expressed their Jdetormipation toopposa him, The above are as far as we have been able, to gatber^tbe disposiionate conclusion arr\vad at by such as take an interest m the election without being red-hot partisans. Whether such: conclusions be just or otharvHse time and the ballot box will show.