ELECTION FOR THE CITY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4433, 4 June 1875, Page 2

ELECTION FOR THE CITY.

Yesterday being the day appointed for the nomination of candidates to fill the vacancy in. the Provincial Council, caused by the decease of the late Mr. O. B. Borlase, a crowd of about sixty persons assembled in the vicinity of the courthouse toward the hour appointed for the nomination. The hour of twelve o’clock having arrived, The Returning Officer, J. O. Crawford, Esq., mounted the hustings, and having read the writ, called upon the electors to propose candidates. Mr. J. Lockie proposed Mr. E. T. Gillou as a fit and proper person to represent the city in the Provincial Council, and in doing so stated that although Mr. Gillon came before them in a new light as an aspirant for political honors, his name was not altogether unknown in connection with public affairs, for he had for a number of years been connected with the Press of the colony, during which time he had had many opportunities of expressing his political opinions, and had on all occasions done so in no unsparing manner. In returning Mr. Gillou the electors would put the right man in the right place, and he therefore had great pleasure in proposing him for the vacant seat. Mr. Jas. Chisholm had great pleasure in seconding the proposal, because he felt, convinced Mr. Gillon would do his utmost to advance the interests of the city. No other candidate being proposed, the Returning Officer declared Mr. Edward Thomas Gillon to be duly elected. Mr. Gillon returned thanks for the honor done him, and said that he regarded it as no light honor to be returned to represent in its provincial parliament the chief city of New Zealand, which contained a population of 11,000 souls. He also had to thank the electors for returning him without opposition, thereby saving him expense and trouble, though he certainly should not have shirked the contest had he been forced into it, feeling confident that the electors of the city would have decided favorably upon his claims. However, he was now their representative, and he should always do his best for the interests of the city and the province to which it belonged. He knew it was somewhat the fashion to run down provincial institutions, and probably his return without opposition would be referred to in certain quartern as a proof that the electors of the city took no interest in the election -whatever. He did not regard it in that light atall, for he knewthat vigorous but unsuccessful efforts had been made during the last fortnight to get some one to oppose him. He wished the electors to understand that he had no particular admiration for the provincial system, nor was he a thorough-going supporter of it, but he believed in making the best of what they had. To his mind it would be extremely unwise first to do away with the existing state of things, and then simply to trust to what was to come after, like children opening their mouths and waiting for something to drop in. Nor did he believe in the North Island being experimented upon in the introduction of constitutional changes. Provincialism in the provinces of Canterbury and Otago had simply run riot, but that was more the fault of the men than of the system. Provincial Councils curtailed of some of their powers might yet be very useful bodies. Even if they were abolished altogether, it would still be necessary to establish some such body as a Central Board of Administration to come between the General Government and the local bodies, whatever form they might take. Some such body would be necessary as a means of communication between the two, and it would be more necessary still as a power to be referred to in determining the expenditure to be incurred in each province, for it was not likely that » province like Wellington, with a revenue of £260,000 a year would consent to have its entire interests dealt with by the General Legislature. The whole question after all was one of administration, and he quite agreed with Pope, who said—- " For forms of government let fools contest, VVliate’er is best administered is best.” The provincial system as carried out in Canterbury and Otago gave ample proof that its limits and duties should be better defined. Here in Wellington the Provincial Government had taken up its proper position. It was nothing more than an administrative board. But whatever changes were made, he did not think it at all probable that the people wou’d consent to part with their control, through their representatives, over the revenues of the province, and as one of those representatives he could assure them he would look after their interests to the best of his ability. (Cheers.) Mr. Maginitt : Mr. Returning Officer, before you close the proceedings, I wish to ask Mr. Gillon a question. Mr. Gillon : I shall be most happy to answer any question any elector may choose to put. Mr. Maginity ; Are you going to “ shout 1” This sally was followed by a roar of laughter, during which the proceedings were brought to a conclusion.