INVERCARGILL ELECTION.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 229, 16 March 1866, Page 3 (Supplement)

INVERCARGILL ELECTION.

The nomination of candidates for a seat in tha House of Representatives for the District of Invercargill took place on Bth March at the hustings in rear of the Court House. A goodly number of electors were present, and at the time appointed (12 o'clock) the Returning Offices, (Mr. Hare) having briefly opened the proceedings. Mr. H. E. Osbobkb after some little delay come forward and proposed Mr. William Wood M.P.C. as a candidate, and in addressing the meeting refered to the candidature of Mr. Heale and his recommendation by his supporters that he was a clever man. Mr. Osborne thought this Province has had enough of so called clever men. Governor Grey was a clever man, and so was the Bishop of New Zealand, but they had managed to inclose the colony in a war which has incurred liabilities it would take years to recover from. Mr. Osborne contrasted the conduct of the war with the native tribes of New Zealand with the vigorous and decisive action taken by the authorities on the occasion of the recent outbreak in Jamaica, with the view of showing thatr the present unsatisfactory position of the colony arose from bad government. ' Mr. Ltjitsden, ha seconding the nomination of Mr. Wood, spoke at some length in that gentleman's favor, and wound up his remarks by abusing the press of Invercargill generally, and the Southland Times in particular. Mr. T. M. Olaekh, by permission of the meeting, spoke in favor of Mr. Wood's nomination, and referred in pretty strong terms to the unfitness in his mind of his opponent. Mr. John Mcxso then addressed the meeting, and said that he felt called upon to discharge what he he considered a public duty in mentioning tiie name of Mr. Theophilus Heale as a fit and proper person to represent the district. In the absence of Mr. Heale, he (Mr. Munro) was laboriug under some disadvantage, but Mr. Heaie had pledged himself to meet the electors before the session of the Assembly. Mr. Woods' speech and conduct at the meeting at the Theatre the previous evening did not satisfy him (Mr. Munro) that Mr Wood was a fit person to send to the General Assembly. Mr. Wood's opinions did not seem to be sufficiently comprehensive. In fact he did not seem to understand anything about the state of colonial politics. He seemed to have no ideas beyond the Mokomoko jetty or a bridge over the Mataura, and, in fact, from the replies which Mr. Wood gave to several important questions put to him on that occasion, it seemed that he was unacquainted with even the A B C of colonial politics/ Taking into consideration the vast importance attached to colonial legislature at the present time, involving changes which would claim the most serious attention of the Assembly it was the duty of every elector to secure the services of a person capable of enforcing his opinions by -that inliuence and personal standing in the House, which could only be gained by an acknowledged political position in the administration of colonial affairs. Mr. Heale was known to be an experienced politician who had been engaged with others in the preparation of the constitution, which the colony now enjoyed, and whose opinions were listened to and valued as those of an able colonial politician. Mr. Heale had been viewed in this contest in the light of a Surveyor and Engineer, and not as a politician ; but it was as a politician only that he was now brought forward. But in his professional capacity as an engineer loose calumnies had been industriously circulated in his absence -which he (Mr. Munro) would contradict, and challenge refutation. The Mokomoko Jetty about which so muoh had been said against Mr. Heale, was constructed as it now stood, in opposition to the recommendation of Mr. Heale, whose estimate of the cost of tha the work according to his proposed plans and specification t was only £6000. In fact Mr. Heale's estimates had invariably arrived at economy, which was not then the order of the day. With regard to Mr. Heaie's leaving the Province i when it was in trouble and difficulty, so far from his deserting the Province he had to leave it because its financial condition rendered it incapable of supporting him and he was forced to take his labor to a better market. Mr. Heale had also been charged as being two speculative, but he (Mr. Munro) would like to know whether such a quality was notrather a recommendation than otherwise. At the conclusion of a somewhat lengthy address, \lr. Munro,retired, expressing a strong belief in the result of the contest being in favor of Mr. Heale. Mr. M'lvofi seconded the nomination of Mr. Heale, when Mr. Wiiiiam Wood addressed the electors his remarks were precisely the same as already appear in tlie report of his speech at the meeting on Wednesday last, which we publish in another column. At the conclusion of Mr. Wood's addres3 a show of hands was cailed for by the Returning Officer which being declared in favor of Mr. Wood, a poll was demanded on behalf of Mr Heale. The poll will be opened at 9 o'clock this morning and close at 4 p.m. After the usual vote of thanks to tho Returning Officer, the meeting separated. .©.