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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5008, 12 April 1877, Page 2

The good city of Auckland has always been remarkable for the number of candidates for Parliamentary honors which it produces whenever there is a vacancy in the House. On the present occasion, the seat vacated by the resignation of Mr. Tonks is, we are told, to be contested by Messrs. Von der Hbyde, Goldie, JRoohfort, and Wallis. The name of Dr. Lee was also mentioned at one time, but it is understood that he is not coming forward. Of the remaining candidates Mr. Von her Heyde, we should say, is decidedly the best man. He is a leading merchant, a good man of business, and has been in the House before. Mr. Goldie will have the support of the Good Templars, who are a somewhat numerous body in Auckland, but not sufficiently so, we imagine, to carry this election. Mr. Rochfort is well known as the eccentric District Judge, at one time, of Napier, who presented a petition to Parliament last session praying that Sir Julius Vogel might not be sent Homo as AgentGeneral until he had paid damages for “ sacking ” the learned gentleman, who has been unsuccessfully billet-hunting ever since. The constituency of Auckland is a curious one, but not singular enough, wo think, to elect Mr. Singleton Rochfort. Mr. Wallis, or rather “ Doctor I ' Wallis, is a Greyite proper, and as such will recommend himself to a considerable number of the electors who swear by the martyr to the cause of posterity, and swallow all his extravagant utterances as sound political doctrine. “ Doctor” Wallis is a clergyman of some kind, and possesses a sort of fortyparson power of tongue, which carries weight with such people as elect men like Mr. Rees, and we should not, therefore, be at all surprised to hear of the reverend doctor showing up well on the poll. The personnel of the House will be somewhat altered when Parliament meets. The familiar and kindly face of the member for Napier, Sir Donald McLean, will be absent from the scene, and his place will be filled by Mr. Sutton, who, from what we know ’of him, is likely to make a capital member, but of whom it is no disparagement to say that he is hardly Sir Donald’s equal, or likely to carry so much weight in the House. Totara has lost a very useful if not brilliant representative by the death of Mr. Tribe, and as yet it is uncertain who will succeed him. The outgoing member for Auckland City West, Mr. Tonks, had he remained in Parliament, was likely, as he gained more experience, to have become a very creditable member, especially for Auckland, but he was not prepared to go the “ whole hog” with the Greyites, and therefore displeased those of his constituents who do go the “ whole hog,” bristles and all. Under the circumstances Mr. Tonks has deemed it his duty to resign, and leave it to the electors to choose somebody else more in accord with themselves.

The programme of the Greyites, as set forth by Mr. Tore, a humble follower of Sir George’s, is an “insular separation,” a most insane notion, and one which we should think the good sense of the Honsc would at once set down as preposterous; but that we shall have some long-winded orations on the subject is likely enough, and probably some time, which might be devoted to more useful purposes, will be wasted in discussing the matter. We have not yet seen any election addresses of the several candidates for Mr. Tones’ seat, and are therefore unaware of what they have have to say for themselves; but we presume, if they have any idea of being returned for Auckland, that they pledge themselves to support the Opposition programme sketched out by the hon. member for Eden.