THE STANDARD. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 104, 12 November 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1873.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right : We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

As we suspected all along, the last moment of the twelfth hour finds us quite unprepared for the emergency of an election contest. A happy-go-lucky, prosaic indifference as to events, is now telling its tale. Most of the Electors, especially those who signed the Requisition relied upon Captain Read accepting, without the slightest hesitation, the proffered honor of an uncontested seat; and there can be no doubt that the disappointment at that gentleman’s refusal is as general as the signatures were numerous. Captain Read says that private reasons prevent him from becoming our representative in the Provincial Council, and it would be impertinent to ask for any further explanation. Had, however, his ■objections been taken on public grounds we might have had the satisfaction of becoming acquainted with them ; but as it is, we must do our best to make up for lost time without that satisfaction. We publish to day the reply of auother Richmond who has taken the field at the request of a body of Electors who have a very natural desire to let the politics of this district proceed on their own merits ; and as the candidate whom most were prepared to accept, has declined “ a walk “ over,” it is deemed necessary to test the qualifications of other competitors by the ligitimate method of election. We have no room to argue in the interest of either Mr. Johnson or Mr. Wyllie. Neither, according to our usual practice with respect to untried men, do we think it necessary. They are both representative men in their way ; and, saving the one mutual desire to advance the welfare of the district, each according to his lights, there seems to be little in common between them. Therefore we accept the wiser plan of allowing them an unprejudiced opportunity of fulfilling the pledges made yesterday at the nomination. This, however, will not, by any means, deter us from remarking ou the prominent conduct of the successful candidate during his public career; but, considering that the day is so far spent, we have no time to ventilate the question of personal fitness now, and can only suggest as the

best means of arriving at a knowledge of the political principles of either, that they meet the constituency prior to election and more fully explain their views than it is possible to do on the hustings. Of course this should have been done before, but the milk is spilt and it cannot be helped. [ Since the above was written, notices have been received acting on the the foregoing suggestions.]