The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 43, 19 February 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1878.

The Wellington election has terminated in an extraordinary, and, if we may judge from the tone of the local papers when discussing the merits of the respective candidates, an unJooked for manner, Mr Barton, vrho is at present undergoing a well-merited sentence of imprisonment for contempt of Court, having been returned by a majority of 44 over Mr Pearce, aud 243 over l£r Hutchison. This result may be regarded as a great triumph to the Grey Government, as there is -every reason to believe that the election was fought upon a party basis, although— strange though it may seem— Mr Barton's peculiar position has doubtless had something to do with his success. To the plucky conduct of his son, too, is to be attributed a large measure of the support he has received. That gentleman addressed a meeting of the electors on Saturday night, and obtained an unanimous vote in favor of his father. Mr Henry Anderson, who seconded the resolution, touched the right chord when he spoke in the following terms of Mr Barton junior (we quote from yesterday'B Times): — " Mr Henry Anderson seconded the resolutioe, and said that although perhaps not agreeing with Mr Barton with regard to his disagreements with the Judges, still he sympathised with Mr Barton in his present misfortune 5 hut having been punished for his actions, and as he was not able to plead his own cause, he (Mr Anderson) felt a natural sympathy for him. He was upon the hustings when the various candidates were proposed, and when it came to the turn of George Elliot barton to make his speech he was not there ; but suddenly there came forward a brave, gallant young gentleman~(loud cheers) — and after he had exchanged a few words with the Returning Officer, and obtained permission, he told the assembled multitude he was George Elliot Barton's son, aud came there to speak for his father. (Continued applause.) He had done a gallant, brave, and English thing, and he (the speaker) afterwards shook hands with him and said: 'There are good things in you; I think you have done a brave and generous action, and my opinion of you is five hundred per cent higher than ever it was before.' (Applause.)" Whatever the causej whether he owes his electiou to the Grey interest, to his being looked upou as a martyr, or to the able and earnest advocacy of his son, Mr Barton is now a member of the New Zealand Parliament. It is to be hoped that he will t here be more snaring of speech and more regardful of decency and order than he appears to have been in the Courts of Law, otherwise his advent to the House of Representatives will hare the result of prolonging the already too lengthy sessions by at least another month.