SUBURBAN NOMINATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 339, 21 December 1875, Page 2

SUBURBAN NOMINATION.

The nomination of candidates for the representation of the Suburbs took place at the Provincial Hall at noon to-day. The writ having been read by Lowxher Broad, Esq., the Returning Officer, Mr. Wells said that he had great pleasure in nominating Mr. Richmond. For three sessions he had been their member, and had judiciously and faithfully represented them. He had steadily supported the Government in their public works and immigration policy, aud also in passing the Abolition Bill, which the Government had declared to be essential to the successful development of their public works policy. For many years he, when 1 himself a member, had been personally acquainted with Mr Richmond's character in the House, where he had always been studious and attentive to bis duties, was zealous in obtaining^ anything wanted by his district and province, and altogether he occupied a very good position in the House. Therefore, he thought they could not do better than reelecfc him. The measures now before the country were more likely to be carried to their legitimate end by their sending men of some experience than by sending strangers. Mr Ke&lixg was very pleased to second the nomination. Three years aa;o he had retired in favor of Mr Richmond (Mr Alfred Harley— You were well paid for it.) Mr Kelmxg— That is .untrue, and if Mr Harley ■ has got anything to say perhaps he will wait till I have done. He had retired because he and Mr Richmond were on the same side in politics, and by both standing their opponent who differed from them in political views would probably have got in. Mr Rout was at me time the chief mover in pressing him to retire, but perhaps he had since changed his mind as he had a perfect right to do. Mr Richmond had fully aud completely carried out the principles on which he had been elected, but as for Mr Rout he could not make out whether he was an abolitionist or not. Mr Richmond had served them well in the past and he was sure would do so in the future. Mr Malcolm had great pleasure in proposing Mr Rout, not from any personal friendship, but from a conviction that his views were most in accordance with those of the electors, and that he would fearlessly carry them out. The duty of the electors was to send men who would see justice done to them, which Nelson had. not hitherto received, especially in the matter of the Consolidated Loans Act, and the public works scheme. In returning Mr Rout they would be electing a member who had always been to the fore in political and agricultural matters, and had invariably had the interests of the town and country at heart. Mr Freeman Mabtin came forward as Mr Rout's seconder wit i v.'ry much pleasure, for he was a straightforward and honest man who had always taken a:i intere t in all town and country ma'tets. He vna a string a>ivo:ate or education an I would make a faithful representative. He bad exprepsed opinions which were in scco d will those of the majority of the electors, and would most certainly act tip to them. Mf Richmonl asked how he hal forfeited their confidence; he, on the other hand, wou'd ask what he ha.i done to teUlo it. He had jus- followed the leal of the Government in everything t' ey those to bring forward, and during his three years service »ad displayed neither talem. nor energy. Most of them h*d seen a n*mb r of an' nymou3 newspaper attacks on Mr Rout, Jind he r>ad also heard in conversation inmiendxs thrown out against him but none of them had bum established, and it was clear that the wriiers of the letters were ashamed to sign their nam- a to them. So far from strengthening Mr Ricbmond,s causs thjsy weakened it corsidtrb'y. No other candidate being proposed, Mr Richmond said that having already addressed the electors in the various districts,]|there was nothing left for him to say. He had served them for three sessions, and during the whole of that period had never heard a single word of disapprobation of his votes or actions. . At every meeting he hid held he had asked any elector who might be displeased with him fco state his complaint manfully, but not a single one had done so. Therefore he concluded that he had retained tlieir confidence. This was his chief reason for coming' forward again, and, if returned, they might depend upon his faithful services. Mr Rout ought perhaps to apologise for his impudence in coming forward, as an anonymous letter bAI accused him oftakiDe a great liberty in doing so. There seemed to be a self-constituted governing class here, I and he as a clerkly drudge had no right to iQfor.lpi«U. M tf tb etofton m&%

differently he asked them to show it by their votes. Mr Keliing seemed to think that he had changed his opinions because he was now opposing Mr Richmond, whom he formerly supported, but at that time his (Mr Richmond's) opponent was opposed to the Yogel policy; and therefore he sup- ' ported Mr Richmond, not on account of his transcendent" ability, bnt because he would support the Government. In the » lonymous attacks that had been made on liim he had been described as the cuckoo that was trying to drjye Mr Richmond out of his nest, but was it his nest ? They would see. A scurrilous article signed " F." had appeared in the Mail, whieti did not redound to the credit of the writer, who was sometimes funny, often foolish, and on this occasion ferocious. He (Mr Rout)" had made no personal attack upon Mr Richmond or his friend, the Editor of the Mail, and he did not see why either should thus attack him. It had been said that his cry of economy was baseless, but he wished to say that when the Government of which he was a member took office there was an overdraft of £14,000, which had been paid off, and they had a balance of £11 in the Bank last quarter. This, he thought, substantiated his claim to be considered economical. It was unkind and unfair to refer to his origin. It was true that his father had never had the benefit of State aid, but if he had he did not know that he would be a worse man for it. Misrepres ntatioaa h*d been made regarding what he had oail about Ro»d Bwda. .He hat) no wish to slander the men on thosa Boards, but what ha hai said wsa that settlers in the back country had neither the time nor the education to serve upon them satisfactorily. If returned, as he feifc aure he would ba, he was certiin that be should represent the views of his constituents, while, as fo* Mr Richmond, he could not from his speech fiad out that he hid any views at all, particularly on the subject of education. Once more he promised, it elected, io do his bet to forward th* i«* intf rests. The Returning Officer then called for a show of hands, the teault of which was as follows; — Richmond ]g Rout „, g Mr Rout having demanded a p 11, tba proceeiiaga terminated with a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer.