The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 68, 11 December 1875, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1875.

Thu great political battle may be said to have fairly begun, though, as yet, skirmish lug is rather the order ol the day, and the foes have not mot at close quarters. This must soon follow, however, for Parliament is dissolved, writs for the new elections are issued, and are returnable on the 2nd of February next, on which day Parliament is summoned to meet. For the benefit of the uninitiated, wc may say that the latter is merely a necessary form, and it is not likely Parliament will really assemble before July. The greatest activity prevails in almost every constituency in the colony, and there are few in which a walkover, by the late member or members, will be allowed ; indeed, a stronger and healthier political feeling has been aroused on this election than has been excited for many years past. It was thought by many that the Egmout constituency wore so proud of possessing a Colonial Treasurer as its representative, were so satisfied with this empty honor and accompanying necessary neglect—according to Major Atkinson’s own explanation—that no one would think of opposing him. Major Atkinson thought so, too, apparently, judging from Ids contemptuous indiffcrence after the close of the session, and the contempt with which he has so far treated the electors who returned him. He has, in all probability, been deluded in this respect by his friends, who, courtier-like, have told him nothing but what lias been agreeable and pleasant, and have cried peace, when in tact war was browing. Wc may tell him, and tell him truly, that there is a deeply seated feeling of injury amongst a large number of electors, at the little attention he has paid to their interests since his promotion to a seat in the Cabinet, and that this has been greatly increased by the high-handed course lie has pursued, in declining to meet his constituents, in any part of the electorate, since the Assembly was prorogued. Several attempts were made to induce Mr Standish to offer himself; bad he consented there would have been little doubt of bis return, for he has been long and creditably associated with the province, knows its wants, and would have had all the prestige of a local man, Mr Buckley, ol Wellington, the well-known solicitor, was then applied to, and, for some time, it was thought he would come forward, but, a few days ago, a letter was received from him, stating that business engagements prevented him from doing so. It is just possible that, in addition to the reason assigned, he doubted whether his well-known Provincial leanings would

mitigate against 1 1 is return. They must have doii ; so if be bad promulgated thorn, fit - , however- desirous the consti Burney may be, to lie relieved of a dummy representative in the shape of a Minister, whose position prevents him from urging tlr 1 reasonable claims of hi:i constituents in Parliament, or elsewhere, still the ole ‘tors have agreed to hid goot i; >ye to Provincial institutions and their apostles. There were two gentlemen lett, both residents in tin; district, in whom hope was based, and to whom, in former issues w > referred, under the denomination of-dark” candidates. Several people deemed these to be pure myths, and Mr Middlenias. in defending the Education Hoard so unsuccessfully the other night, at llawera, grew positively facetious on the subject. They bail an existent;--, notwithstanding, but one ol them has given way to Mr Felix Maguire, M.P.C. for the district. 'That gentleman has expressed his willingness to come forward if inv't'-d by its many electors as v.ill justify him in doing so. A requisition to him is now being circulated in the district, and will be presented to him in a day or two. That Mr Middlenias, as an avowed thick and thin supporter o Major Atkinson, will be as funny at, this announcement *as be trie I to be recently, we may reasonably have occasion to doubt. In addition to this gentleman, a third candidate, a local man too, who, like Mr Maguire, is highly respected, is almost a certain starter. Shcadd such be the case, (he electors will have the choice of two residents, whoso interests arc hound up with their own, who have means and leisure at command, who want nothing lor themselves at the hands of the Government, who can afford to he independent, and are not likely to be so entangled with official affairs as to prevent them from doing their duty to the constituency. There cannot lie a question as to the relative desirability of such men, and a member incapacitated by official position from active exertion on its behalf. Mr Maguire, at present, however, is the only one before the public. He has, for several years, ably and honestly represented this district in tin- Provincial Council, and it is not only a natural, but a laudable ambition on bis part, to now wish to enter into the larger and more important political arena afforded by tie; Parliament of the colony. He has secured well earned respect in the lesser field, and, we have reason to know, will be influentially supported throughout the electoral x The third candidate, referred to, will also have many friends if he offers himself, and the struggle in such a case will he a close one. Be it which way it may, Mr Maguire fully intends to go to tin; poll, and, as it seems to us, his chance of election, despite the heavy artillery that will be brought against him, to say the least of it, is exceedingly good.