WAIMEA WEST NOMINATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 275, 15 November 1873, Page 2

WAIMEA WEST NOMINATION.

The nomination of candidates took place yesterday at noon, when there was a good attendance of electors. The Returning Officer having read the writ, Mr Charles Kelling was proposed by Mr Albert Benaemann, and seconded by Mr Frederick Beasemann. Mr John Win was proposed by Mr George Bell, and seconded by Mr Thorn. Mr John Kerr was proposed by Mr Win, Bell, and seconded by Mr Richard Andrews, No other candidates being proposed, Mr Kelling having referred to the number of years that he had represented the district alluded to the present state of stagnation, and said that he did not think it was caused by any fault of the Government or Council, but by circumstances that they were unable to control. Many years ago they had endeavored to raise £300,000 for a railway, and failing that to give land for its construction, bat on both occasions had proved unsuccessful. Had money been available public works would have progressed, but in the absence of it and of any means of raising it by loan, the Government were not to blame that affairs were not more prosperous. It was folly to compare the state of this province with that of Otago and Canterbury, with revenues ranging from £400,000 to £600,000, while we had only £80,000. Had the Government been empowered to borrow money, our position would have been very different, but Mr Yogel had kept all the borrowing to himself. We htd a very small land revenue, and; but very little valuable land to place in the market. With regard to education, a subject he had much at heart, he felt that unless it waa taken great care of, it would fall throogh, for already the West Coast members were grumbling at the amount spent upon it, and wanted to take the money for public works. Only last session Mr O'Conor had attempted to raise the rates, bat that, with many of the other members, he had strongly opposed. He was to be opposed by Mr Kerr, who certainly had the gift of the gab, but they must remember that it was the " Ayes " and the "Noes "that did the work, and not excessive talking. He believed the times were brightening, and that our mines and manufactures would soon be in full work In the valley of the Moutere alone, a distnot that had been much despised, there would shortly be eight engines at work dressing the flax, sawing the timber, and grinding the com. If elected he would always specially support works of local importance, Mr James Arnold : You have told us a great deal of the past, but we want to know what you are going to do for the future. Mr Kelling: My very best, brtt it must be remembered that little caja be done without borrowed money. OVhnt™ I*'1 *' WiU y ° U BapP ° rt Cartis or Mr Kelling : I certainly shall give mv warmest support to Mr Curtisf for I believe the policy he proposes will be for the good of the province. As for Mr that he has abused the past, and omitted to tell us what he intends to do if elected, to Arnold: Will you resign if asked to do «o by three-fourths of the electors ? Mr Kelling: Yes. *? A J? ol i : 3 Mi ?* y° a do » and totft act fr™ l-\ * have S ot all l ***** from yon, which was to be assured that you will not support O'Conor. Mr Win was n ot a public speake?;. Fe ™ id «*«a few words th , t he sho^ Bn PP°? *ae « ilwayj afl the J q ™ should be jammed up. He alßo wißhfld to ft Oadß ., ma iV n TB^ous parts, He had J£ JTS"? l 9 *-W™™ in the Eoad roSa SS?,I * 7 <* done hiß beßt t0 obtein lfrf to 1 r ba^ country. He would iwsL « - * be Catile Trespass Act rehn*«;n.-. Ib S ave rise t0 man 7 hearttokT t He tboD e ht lt woald be a miß - If elfifl? tam P er wifcn tne Education Act. *fc a !l • cd ' he would act honestly towards taena ag he did in all things. Mr Kerr made his appearance before an audience of this sort for the first time, and they mnst excuse him if he was not a very fluent speaker. With regard to the Education Act, he would go the whole hog. H did not care where the money came from or how it wes got, but for that purpose they must have money. If they could not get it without touching their own pockets they must raise it that way None could appreciate the benefits of education better than himself, for he felt how greatly he wanted it. The system was by no means so efficient as it might be, and if £500 or £1000 more was wanted they must have it. He was a strong advocate for progress, and was only opposing Mr Kelling because he was altogether too slow. As for being behind other provinces that was entirely our own fault, for we had huge resources, and the development of our coalfields alone would raise us to a position second to none of the provinces. Other people thought this too, and we were laughed at outside for! being so sleepy. The fact was, we wanted better men in the Council. In M r Curtis we had a good Superintendent and one who was quite able to hold hia own in Wellington, but he wanted to be backed op by more energetic and pushing men in the Council, and by our representatives in the Assembly working together instead of pulliog different ways as they always did. There would soon be railways all over'the country and we muit take care to obtain our fair share of the expendittzre.? I What Mr Kelling aaid eboat our having little or no land licked

him altogether. If there was no land why did we want a lot of officers in- the land department. He did not thoroughly understand this yet, but he would take care to do so before long. If he were elected he would investigate the matter, and if he found anything wrong he would soon tell them of it. If money was to be got here or elsewhere, he was the man that would go to the front and look after it, and if there was to be a scramble he would take care toba in it and to look after their interests. He might have got in for another district, but Waimea West had been his home, and by it he would stand or fall. He would be proud to go to the Council and step into his father's shoes, and if he served them as creditably as he had done he should consider he had done well. He should call the electors together before the session commenced and consult with them as to what was most wanted. He did not believe in the supplementary estimates, the thing was to get the works they required placed on the right ones. Waimea West had figured in the Supplementary Estimates too long altogether. He thought he was as good a horse to go as his opponents, and would promise always to do his best for his constituents. Mr Arnold : Would you discharge a public servant who had done his duty well, and was getting, say £400 a year, because you could get a muff for £50 less? Mr Kerr : Certainly not. I would act as I do with my own servants, and if they were good ones, rather increase than reduce their pay. A show of hands was then taken with the following /«jsult:—