WAIANIWA ELECTION.

Southland Times, Issue 647, 22 March 1867, Page 2

WAIANIWA ELECTION.

The nomination of candidates for this district, in the room of W. H. Pearson, Esq., took place at the school-house last Saturday, March 16. About 20 electors were present. The Returning Officer (James Surman, Esq.), having briefly opened the proceedings, Mr James Wilson proposed Mr W. Boyd as a fit and proper person to represent the district, and spoke at some length in favor of the candidate. Mr Boyd had the advantage of age and experience, had a large stake in the district, and, as an old resident, must be better acquainted with its wants than Mr Reinecker, who was a stranger to most of the electors, and he thought that gentleman would show good sense in retiring in Mr Boyd's favor. Mr J. H. Menzies seconded the nomination. Mr Theophilus Daniels proposed Mr B. H. Reinecker. He (Mr Daniels) had .heard that day for the first time, that Mr Boyd was a candidate. He had always understood that Mr C. R. Marten was coming forward, in which case he (Mr Marten) would have had his own and all the Riverton support, but he found that gentleman had refused to stand, and was a warm supporter of Mr Reinecker. He thought youth and energy were more needed in the Council than age and experience. It was a mistake to say Mr Reinecker was unknown to the electors. He waa well known to all in the western part of the district, and had been promised good support in all parts, and had every prospect of success. Mr J. B. Sutton said he had great pleasure and confidence in seconding Mr Reinecker's nomination. Mr Boyd then addressed the electors. He said he had come forward reluctantly at their wish, and without any ambition. He should not be at all grieved to be defeated. He thought, however, that their member should be a resident in the district, and he considered there had hitherto been far too much young blood in the Council. If youth possessed the advantage of energy and activity, they could not deny th&t age possessed that of exgSM-% fe fe.Qß|«t t„9 most m«

portant point was — roads. We did 'not wish the Government to put its hands into our pockets, but we did wish them to give us the power, to tax ourselves. He thought railways could not possibly pay, ahd those at present constructed should be worked by a mercantile firmnot by the Government. Mr Wilson asked Mr Boyd's views on education. Mr Boyd said he was not able to answer that question— it required consideration. Mr Daniels asked what he would do with the railways ?. -■--•--- Mr Botd said he did not know, and did not think anyone in the Province knew what was to be done with them. Mr Reinecker said he had come forward at the request of a large number of electors. It might be objected that he was a squatter. Granted, he was a squatter, but he was also a freeholder to an extent quite as large as most farmers, and therefore his. interests were the same as theirs. He was warmly in favor of finishing and leasing the railways on as favorable terms as possible. The Provincial capital had been spent on them, aud fro ought to dorivo as much benefit as possible from the outlay, and not allow them to remain in a useless unfinished state. He was in favor of doing away with Provincial Governments as soon as possible. He thought education would best be provided for by reserves of land as in other Provinces, where such reserves became very valuable. If they did him the honor to elect him, he pledged himself to do his best for their interests. Mr C. R. Marten said, as Mr Daniels referred directly to him, he felt it necessary to state his reasons for declining to stand, although requested by a large number of the electors. Hearing that Mr Boyd had some thoughts of coming forward, he felt that delicacy towards a gentleman so much his senior in years, and a resident in the district, required him first to ascertain his intentions. He had, however, been unable to obtain any other answer than that Mr Boyd would stand if he had sufficient support, and one of that gentleman's principal -supporters had promised to let him know the decision nearly a fortnight back, but had not done so. Eailing to obtain any direct answer, and unwilling to stand in opposition to Mr Boyd he (Mr Marten), decided not to come forward, and on Mr Reinecker entering the field, he had great pleasure in supporting him. Mr Wilson here objected to any speeches being made in favor of a candidate, except by his*proposer or seconder. . Mr Marten maintained that as his .... name had been irregularly introduced, he had a right to make any explanation he thought fit. As, however, he had said all he intended, he should not discuss the point. He would now put two questions to Mr Boyd. Mr Wilson again objected, that Mr Boyd answered all the questions put to him, and the other candidate was now in possession of the floor. Mr Marten replied insisting ori his right to put questions to either candidate at any time before the show of hands. The Returning Officer ruled that he was iri order. Mr Marten then spoke strongly as to the necessity of returning men who would pledge themselves to support measures of public utility, without regard to the political party or clique which might.;.; bring them forward. Insuchasmall place as Southland there could be no great parties as at home, and votes ought to be given to measures, not men. The rejection last session of the Railway Leasing Ordinance, was a lamentable instance of the prejudicial effects of small local politics, and narrow views. He also urged forcibly the paramount importance of Separation, as compared with any merely provincial question., , Every session of the Assembly brought some new impost, the Stamp Act being one of the latest*, We should riot object to a stamp Act, if we derived any advantage from the accruing revenue, but that was all spent in a place with which we had not the least community of interest or feeling. At present five-eighths of our customs, and some -£10,000 a year of pastoral rents went to the North Island, and the remaining three- eights to snpport the incubus of Provincial Government. He therefore would ask Mr Boyd — Ist, would he pledge himself to act independently, and to support !&nj goQd measure, whether introduced by Government or opposition ? and 2nd, would he support a motion in favor of Separation from the North Island, the Council having already passed one condemning Provincial Governments ? \* Mr Boyd replied to the former question in the affirmative, and said the second required consideration, he could not say there and then.. '■'■-.?■■ o y. Mr Reinecker answered both in the affirmative. On a show of hands being called for, it resulted in favor of Mr Boyd, a -prill was demanded on behalf of TMr Reinecker, to take place on Tuesday, the 19th. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings.

The polling took place on Tuesday morning, which resulted as follows : — • Reinecker, 22; Boyd, 37; majority for Boyd, 15. ■■' *