WESTERN DISTRICT ELECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 88, 26 February 1862, Page 2

WESTERN DISTRICT ELECTION.

Tbe nomination of candidates fur the representation ofthe AVcstern District in the Provincial Council, in the room of Dr. Purdie, resigned, took place on Monday, at the AVaikari schoolhouse. About 15 persons were present, and the Returning Officer having read the writ, and the notice calling the meeting, requested tiie electors to proceed with the nomination. Mr Ghoiioe Hepiiukx, M.P.C, said it had become his pleasant duty to propose Mr E. B. Cargill as a fit and proper person to represent the Western district. A gentleman who was so well known to the majority of the electors that ifc was almost unnecessary to say anything about him. Although Mr Cargill was not a resident in the district, he did not live very far away, and was personally known to almost the whole of the electors. He was one of the good old stock, and the name of his father would long be revered and reverenced amongst the old Otago settlers. Mr Cargill was a gentleman of high standing, and one ofthe first merchants in Dunedin, and both as a private gentleman, and in his commercial relations, his character was well known as high, honorable, and straightforward ;in fact, lie (Mr Hepburn) did not think they could secure a better representative than Sir Cargill, and both publicly and privately he had had many opportunities of judging. His interests were their interests, and as tbe majority ofthe electors were old settlers, it was important to select an old settler as their representative, because in these bustling days, the old settlers ran a great chance of being overlooked and quite shelved, unless they endeavoured to assume their proper position, and stand up for it. Mr. Cargill being present, he would only add that he was sure he would, if elected, study the welfare of the Province generally. He had at first been very reluctant to come forward, but after repeated requests he had consented to do so as the case was one of emergency.

Mr. Hugh Sl'Diarmid briefly seconded the nomination.

No other candidate having been pro- ' posed, Mr. Cargill requested leave of the Returning Officer to address the electors before being declared duly elected. This being_ accorded

Mr. Caimjh.t. said that as he had not had the customary opportunity of laying his views before the electors by an address, through the medium of the papers, owing to the late period at which he consented to come forward as a 'candidate, be would wish to state those views prior to his election. He also wished to state how it was he appeared before them as a candidate. About ten days since, several of the electors communicated to him their desire that he should become a candidate, and asked him would he consent to do so, if a requisition were presented to him. He hesitated for some time, but at last declined, and the same request was again made in writing. To this he did not reply until last Saturday, when he again declined. This hesitation and refusal did not arise from any undervaluing ofthe honor of representing the district, but on tbe contrary, from a feeling of distrust as to whether he possessed the knowledge, time, and ability to enable him to discharge tlie duty of a representative. After carefully considering this question, he bee ime afraid to undertake the responsibility, especially as he saw that the old original mem bers of the Council were, one by one, dropping out of the House. Being therefore afraid that could not discharge the duties of the position satisfactorily, he had declined to undertake it ; but, when pressed to reconsider this resolution, he then consented to come before them as a candidate, because he saw that it required a strong and united effort to enable the old Otago settlers to assume their proper place. It had, for some time past, been to him and many others a melancholy consideration that the old settlers were being thrown into the shade. To prevent this it was necessary to put on one side the differences which had lately crept amongst them, and make a strong and united effort. If his services could facilitate this, he would give them most willingly, and he could assure them he had no other interest to serve in coming forward than that of the common weal of Otago. Although lie had not been many years in the Province, he had old amis strong associations connected with it, which bad not by any means died out, and he hoped that the old settlers would as it were resuscitate themselves, and secure the consideration which was due to them. Those were his views, and he would forward them to the best of his ability. If a more aula man, and one better qualified for tbe position, could be got, he would be very willing to retire from the field ; but if the electors were satisfied with him, he would give his best energies to their service, and endeavor to prove deserving of the honor of being their representative. Tho Returning Officer then declared Sir. Cargill duly elected, and the proceedings terminated by a vote of thanks to that officer.