THE WAIRARAPA ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5079, 4 July 1877, Page 2

THE WAIRARAPA ELECTION.

NOMINATION DAY.

The nomination of candidates for the representation of the Wairarapa District in the ' General Assembly took place yesterday at Featherston, at 12 o’clock. The occasion was marked as being one of considerable interest, as it should be, to the electors. During the forenoon there were evidences in the township (usually the reverse of lively) that something uncommon was in the wind, numbers of people being congregated in knots, chiefly near and about the hall. Just prior to 12 o’clock the sound of music, was heard in the distance, and presently, the sweet strains (of a brass band) became more clear, as a- coach, in which the musicians were seated, followed by other coaches; all well filled with passengers from Vlasterton, Greytown, and Carterton, drove right into Featherston and drew up at Mr. Shirley’s Hotel. At the appointed hour a movement was made towards the place appointed for the nomination, at a point just opposite the public hall.

The Returning Officer, H. S. Wardell, Esq., R.M., having intimated his willingness to receive nominations, Mr. Richard Barton said he had great pleasure in proposing Mr. George Beetham as a fit and proper person to represent the Wairarapa constituency in the House of Representatives. He could have wished that the task of making this proposition had fallen into abler hands, but under the circumstances he would do the best he could. He had known Mr. Beetham from his boyhood, and that gentleman had always exhibited qualities which had rightly gained for him the character of being what was popularly known as a nice man, and he commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mr. Beetham had represented the district in the Provincial Council of Wellington in the past. His position there, however, had been very unfortunate, owing to the action of older members in the Council, which led to opposition ; and again a younger member started an opposition on his own account. Therefore his position at the time was a most awkward one. Mr. Beetham had throughout, however, displayed an honest intention to act for the best in the interests of the people ; and he (the speaker) believed that Mr. Beetham would be in every sense of the word an honest politician, always voting when occasion arose on the light side. Therefore he had much pleasure in nominating Mr. Beetham as a candidate to represent the district in Parliament.

Mr. R. G. Williams seconded the nomination. It was the first time he had had the privilege of appearing on the hustings before the electors, in which his friend Mr. Barton had the advantage of him ; and he hoped that the present occasion would not be the last time that he should have the pleasure of seeing that gentleman on the hustings and in the position of a candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives. He (Mr. Williams) had groat pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr. Beetham, and in doing so he would make allusion to one or two things. He considered the ' article that had appeared in the Evening Past in reference .to Mr. Beetham was a:i\’ihiug but creditable to that journal. That article made a statement to the effect that the gentlemen working to secure Mr. Beetham's return were , actuated by mercenary motives. Now, looking at the list of names on the committee, he sincere!)' felt that such a charge was utterly unfounded, and that none of the committee men were actuated by motives of personal gain. No, they were prompted by a ■ far different and higher minded motive, namely, that promoting the interests of the people in the district, which would be best served by electing Mr, Beetham to represent them iu Parliament. Mr. Beetham had addressed the electors through the newspapers, and he thought there was very good evidence in favor of that gentleman’s capability and honesty in the way that the papers who were opposed to his return treated his remarks. It simply amounted to this, that they could not pick holes in the views he enunciated. Of course, Mr. Beetham was to a certain extent inexperienced, and might not be able to cope with some of the gentlemen in Parliament, such as the hair-splitting Stout, Macandrew, or Rees : but they knew that he was a gentleman of integrity, and would exercise the ability he had in carefully watching over the interests of his constituency, whilst he w'ould do his best for the colony as a whole. The Returning Officer then asked whether,,* any elector desired to nominate a second' candidate. Mr. R. A. Wakelin briefly proposed M Charles Pharazyn, remarking that he thong it was a healthy thing to have oppositiothe election of a candidate, and he heM Mr. Pharazyn would make a very member.

Mr. Gundy seconded. He thought Mi. Pharazyn would make an excellent member,. and of course the electors would pronounce their opinion in a practical manner when the proper time came. (Loud applause and aughter). Gentlemen, continued the speaker, I do not intend to say much. A facetious party (name unknown) : 1 hanks old boy; so glad. Mr. Gundy : Gentlemen, I never expected to say a single word here to-day. > A Voice (encouragingly): The less you say the better. Mr. Gundy" : Brother electors) X did not come here with the idea of making a speech on behalf of Mr. Pharazyn, but as I understood that it was the desire of a number of the electors that Mr. Pharazyn should stand, I felt great pleasure in seconding his nomination., , , r Musical party in rear of the crowd: Mother I’ve fik-afe home'to die.” Mi- ClfJgP* came here rather with the idea cf hear. Heggarty’s case. Musical party (disgusted) sings : “ Goodbye, Charlie.” Mr. Gundy ; I have much pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr. Pharazyn. A Voice : How about the Benevolent Society. Hu ! An Elector (seized with a happy thought): Where’s Silas Pugsley ? Another Elector (similarly stricken) : “ Gone where the good niggers go.” The Returning Officer after waiting to

see if any other candidates were to he proposed, stated that he believed he should be consulting v the convenience of the electors if he departed from the 'usual custom, and gave the candidates an opportunity of addressing the electors pretent before, iustead of after, he had taken a how of hands. Accordingly an adjournment was made to i Hall, which was soon crowded. Mr. Beetham, being called upon, came forird and said he had great pleasure in meetly so'large an assemblage of the electors iere, and had sincerely to thank his proposer md seconder for the manner in which they rad referred to him in his present position. He also thanked the electors for the evident favor shown to him on this occasion. He was not likely to detain them by a long speech, as he had arranged to deliver an address at the Hall during the evening, when he would explain his views at length. He had not expected to be called upon on the present occasion, and consequently he had no notes of the different points in relation to which he should desire to express himself. But he should like to make a few remarks as to what fell from his proposer and seconder. Mr. Barton had alluded to his (the speaker’s) careerin the Provincial Council. He was mistaken in saying that Mr. Pharazyn alone had organised that opposition. Older heads than his were responsible for it; and he (Mr. Beetham) believed that in the course pursued with regard to the debate on certain public works proposed to be instituted by the Provincial Council he had acted rather foolishly in taking up the position of seconder on that occasion; but he had not thensufficient experience in political matters. Experience only came with time, practice, and thought; and he had not the opportunity at that time to exercise thought or care in such matters. This he could say, however, that in looking back he could not find cause to regret the exercis; of any vote he had given while he held the position of a Provincial Councillor He had always endeavored, as far as possible, to judge fairly and honestly, and that was the position he hoped to occupy in the event of his being returned as a member of the House of Representatives. (Applause.) Some of the Wellington papers had said that no one “ could accuse Mr. Beetham of being a genius.” Well, he did not profess to be a genius. He merely professed to be an honest man, and a seeker after truth. (Applause.) As to what had been said of the committee who had worked for him, he heartily congratulated himself that be had so many friends. They had worked for him thoroughly ; and what was more, he conscientiously believed that none of them had been actuated by the hope of present or future reward. (Applause.) It had been said, too, that this election was one chiefly influenced by money. He did not believe this, and he sincerely hoped the time would never arrive when such a state of things should arise. He woald. be very sorry indeed to see honest and, capable men shut out from entering Parliament- in consequence of the power of capital. 7 No one ■would regret this more than he. (Applause.) Mr. Beetham then referred to the personal statement that had entered into the contest. Mr. Pharazyn had stated a little while back that he did not intend to stand, because his views were almost identical with those of Mr. Beetham, andtoprevent the ont-country settlers being subjected to the inconvenience of recording their votes. He (Mr. Beetham) sympathised with those settlers, but he, was glad that there was to be a contest. He liked to see political questions thoroughly ventilated. It was desirable to have an open expression of opinion from any man seeking public office, and when two candidates were before them the electorahad the opportunity of hearing their respective views, and judging of them accordingly. He was glad, therefore, that Mr. Pharazyn had come forward, and he believed that the settlers would poll to a man. In conclusion, Mr. Beetham referred to Mr. Silas Pugsley, who, it was supposed, would be a can-' didate, and he was glad to see that some discretion had been exercised in that matter, for had he been nominated, the proceedings of today would have been reduced to a farce. Mr. Pugsley was supposed to be brought forward as a working man’s friend. Well, he (Mr. Beetham) did not come there on a special ticket; not to serve specially either the working man’s vote, the vote of proprietors, or of Maoris, or Scandinavians. He desired to represent all classes of society, and he would do his best in regard to the interest of all. That was the stand he took, and he confidently expected that the electors, knowing him to hold these views, would return him as their representative. (Applause.) Mr. Chas. Pharazyn then addressed the meeting. He said it had been currently reported the day before that the election would be a walk over for Mr. Beetham, and he was of the same opinion, subject to his having been asked by certain persons during the day to allow himself to be nominated. It was put to him in this way. He had retired from the contest in order that the votes might not be split up, and so to prevent an outsider coming in; but there was now no reason for that, Mr Beetham being the only candidate. Well, it would be seen from this that be was placed in an unpleasant position. He was asked by a number of people to come out, and he had grave doubts as to the course he should adopt. Now, in the decision he had come to this day they might say that he was frightened, and of course the papers might say so; but, of course, as many of them would know he cared very little about what the papers said of him. he fully expected that when a show of hands was called for, the result would he about 100 to 5 against him ; hut nevertheless he did not for-'a moment imagine that that would represent the real feeling of the district. He regarded this question in a purely businesslike way, discarding consideration of little points of vanity or feeling, the main questions to be considered being the interests of the district as a whole. On this occasion ho was opposed to a personal friend, one of whom he had a very high opinion ; and he thought he would make a very good member for the district. Their views, too, were almost identical. Mr. Beetham was a popular man, and he (Mr. Pharazyn) was not to that extent popular. He should not therefore demand a poll ; but he desired it to be understood that he was not afraid of entering on a contest. He believed Mr. Beetham and himself were the two best men to represent the district, and he desired that should another seat become vacant, that they would elect him to be Mr. Beetham’a col- , league. Mr. Pharazyn then gave a few words of . dvice. He warned the electors against letting udidates come forward before a vacancy was vm and soliciting votes. He made no allu- ' ■ o what had taken place, but simply mon-/-VM/t lIk; matter as a desirable thing to bear mind, because such a practice was against all proper idea of representative government: He had a great ambition to represent that district, and if ever that ambition should be satisfied, that he was elected because of his ability to represent the district —for he deprecated the

practice which very often obtained, making money a lever to place a man in such ;i position ; and this he desired should be distinctly known. Of course this would be set down as meanness by the Press, but as a matter of fact it was nothing of the sort. It was principle. Mr. Pharazyn concluded by paying tire other candidate a high compliment, and thanking the meeting for their attention. The Returning Officer said he did not understand Mr. Pharazyn to have withdrawn, having simply expressed his intention not to demand a poll. He should therefore take a a show of hands.

On a show of hands being demanded, none were held up for Mr. Pharazyn ; but every man in the room held up his baud in favor of the other candidate. The Returning Officer then declared Mr. George Beetham to be duly elected a member of the House of Representatives for the District of Wairarapa. The meeting then dispersed, Subsequently the candidates and a number of gentlemen sat down to lunch, and “toasting” appropriate to the occasion was indulged in.