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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5345, 15 May 1878, Page 2

The nomination of candidates for the Grey Valley constituency took place on Saturday last, and judging from the number of gentlemen who came forward on that occasion as candidates for political honors, the Grey Valley, as has been its wont, exhibits a considerable amount of political activity. Our first telegrams, announcing the resignation of Mr. Kennedy, also announced that Mr. W. H. Harrison, the former member for the district, intended entering the field, with the probablity of a walk-over. This piece of information may have been original, and merely expressive of the hopes of Mr. Harrison, who no doubt would fain have it so. The labor and expense necessarily involved in contesting such an election are very considerable, . the district being fully fifty miles square, with nineteen polling places and a population of from ton to twelve thousand. The Grey Valley people have evidently decided it otherwise, as .will be seen from the fact that there are three other candidates in the field seeking the honor of representing them in Parliament. Of Mr. Harrison we need say little, as his political principles and .character as a gentleman are known, not only in this city, where he was long resident, but in other parts of the colony. In his published address ha has stated that be comes forward in the interest of that party which calls itself liberal, and acknowledges Sir George Grey as its leader. Mr. Heber Newton (No. 2), a comparatively young man, and a lawyer, is much respected by the profession, and stands deservedly well .with the public as a gentleman of high principles and unblemished character. What his political creed may now be, wo have not yet the means of judging, but from what' wo do know, we predict", that he will claim and maintain independence of judgment and action, without allying himself strictly with party. Whatever course of action in politics he may think it fitting to take, he may undoubtedly be depended on, in racing parlance, “to run straight. Mr. Reeves (No. 3) is we believe an auctioneer and commission agent, and a gentleman of undoubted ability and indomitable energy, and would make a useful member; but there are doubts as to his influence and popularity being sufficiently widespread to secure his return. Of Mr. Barrowman’s (No. 4) qualifications we know but little ; it is said that he may be regarded as out of the running. The real contest will probably be between Mr. Harrison and Mr. Newton. Of the two, we regard Mr. Newton as. being.jthe more.eligible. It will be well for the Grey Valley electors if they are so fortunate as to secure the return of a gentleman who will take as great and active an interest in their affairs as that taken by Mr. Martin Kennedy during the time he had the honor of representing them. This district is generally little known. If equalled, it is not surpassed in mineral, wealth by any : district of the same area in the colony. It not only possesses thousands of acres of auriferous country, but numerous welldefined gold-bearing reefs, many of which are at present being worked with considerable advantage to the district, and with large profits to numerous shareholders. In addition, there are very extensive fields of coal of. the very best quality, some of which are now being tepidly developed, and must ere long become a source of groat wealth to the colony. The lowest computation as to the quantity of coal which lias been already discovered and partially opened upon, is one hundred millions of tons, geological character of the country gives promise of yet further discoveries.