NEW RIVER ELECTION.

Southland Times, Issue 706, 7 August 1867, Page 3

NEW RIVER ELECTION.

A meeting for the nomination of candidates to represent the New River District in the Provincial Council, was held 'in Mr. Blakie's barn, Ryal Bush, on Friday the 2nd current. The Returning Officer, Mr C. R. Marten, read the writ authorising the election, and called on the electors to nominate candidates. Mr C. C. Sproull proposed Mr Henry Armstrong as a fit and proper person to represent the district in the Provincial Council. Mr C. Livingston seconded the nomination. Mr J. Blakie proposed Mr J. M. M'Clure as a candidate ; seconded by Mr C. G-. "Wallace. No other candidates being proposed, the Returning Officer called on Mr Armstrong, who said he had allowed himself to be nominated, not with any intention of contesting the election, but that he might explain how it was supposed he was again in the field At a meeting a short time ago he had taken leave of the constituency in his character as representative, stating that he would take no further active part in politics, he was quite sincere in his wish to retire into private life. Since the dissolution", he had been repeatedly asked to come forward again, a deputation had waited on him urging him to do so for reasons which he felt the weight of, but having retired he felt that he would not be justified in again becoming a candidate without that he received a requisition signed by a majority of the electors, such a strong expression of feeling he would certainly have responded to though reluctantly. Not having received the requisition he asked, he would not come forward. He (Mr Armstrong) thought that the Council, about to be constructed, would prooably be the last "one, he had long considered the provincial system at fault, unnecessarily bestowing dangerous powers on small communities. The first duty before the Council will be the electing of a Superintendent, touching that he would simply state that a great error had been made in the formation of the provinces in placing the election of the Superintendent in the hands of the Council, the electors being apt to return as tLeir representatives men of no particular qualification or principles, but •imply owing to who they will vote for as Superintendent. The second question of importance would be railways, of which he (Mr A.) had always been, and was still, an advocate. Some say that railways have been the ruin of the province, and through mismanagement they have brought us into difficulties. Our North line lies useless like a carriage without wheels. The Bluff line after many stoppages was at length finished. Occasionally a deluded traveller is still attracted to shores like flies to a saucer of treacle, but the cry is not " and still they come," it is rather "10, still they go." As to education, he (Mr A.) would approve of a Colonial, not a Provincial, system of education, the principle being not to supersede but stimulate the efforts of parents. Teaching under such a system, he thought, should not be called a charity education. While he (Mr A.) had been our representative he had acted to the best of his ability for the interests of the district and the province. Now, however, he was not a candidate for New River or any other district. Mr M'Clure said that it was the second time he had appeared as a candidate soliciting the suffrages of the constituency. He had never had a seat in the Council, "but now he presumed he would have. ■That our railways have been mismanaged we are all very well aware. What they have cost us is no more an argument against railways, than is the, immense amount of money wasted on some portions of the Wallace'town road an argument j against road-making. If the original ■contract had not been departed from, the | "Winton line would now be in working order and of considerable advantage to the country. The desirability of railways is a fact few now deny, but the more economically they are constructed the better; the lightest and the cheapest plan ig the best, provided the rails are iron. It is not from a spirit of generosity that the General Government offer us railways, but from a conviction that railways will form a security that roads never can. TJiey think that they will receive a revenue from our railways which they could not from our wide acres of tussacs. Many advocate railways to serve their own ends, j Such is always the case ; where the car- j lion is there will the eagles, rather the vultures, be gathered together. Some me constantly looking for a panacea to

free us from our difficulties, such as separation, amalgamation, municipalities —^-all their panacea have long names. Now that the Provincial system has been misused, forms no argument against it. "We should not give it up for a system that we do not know. It is the present system, and we should endeavor to work it well. The question of the Superintendency should be left for the Council to decide after hearing the opinions of the various candidates. He (Mr MC.) had always been opposed to canvassing. Mr Russell on a former occasion had said that " the representative of a free people should himself be free ;" but, continued Mr M'Clure, if the freedom of the representative was no greater than that of a people that have been canvased out of their free and independent opinions, it would be small. His (Mr M'C.'s) opponents had urged that his private failing ; was sufficient reason to prove him unfit I for public Me ; yet it was a failing common to many great minds, and had never ! prevented them from rising to places of ! trust. None of his private habits would interfere with his acts in the . Council. When he (Mr MC.) gave his word he would keep it. In answer to Mr Russell, Mr McClure, said that the funds yearly at the disposal of the Council for road making were so scant that when divided among the districts little could be done. We had however unlimited liberty to tax ourselves for the formation of roads. In answer to Mr Armstrong, Mr McClure said that he thought railways preferable to roads, if they cost the Government not £3000 or £4000 but even .£IO,OOO a year. Capt. Thomson wished to put several questions for the purpose of testing Mr M'Clure's general knowledge and opinions on the railways &c. Mr M t Clure's answers were favorable to railways, he thought there was not the slightest danger of our advancing too far or too fast to prosperity. In answer to Mr Cameron Mr McClure, said, that he was not opposed to working the railways on Sabbath. In answer to Mr Twemlow, Mr McClure said that he was in favor of constructing a railway both to Winton and the Mataura. Mr Twemlow, they will stand conspicuous as the Pyramids of Egypt a lasting monument of the folly of Southland. In answer to Mr Sproull Mr McClure said that he would prefer that the Government did not work the trains, but allowed some company to do so. The' Eeturning Officer asked if any other candidate was to be brought forward-, no answer being given, he declared Mr James Morland McClure to be duly elected member of the Provincial Council for New River. Mr A. Cameron proposed, and Mr H. Armstrong seconded, a vote of thanks to the Returning Offices. Capt. Thomson said the business being over he would give them some of his ideas with regard to railways, he stated that he approved of completing the Wiuton line on which so much money was spent and it still lying useless, but he disapproved of the Mataura line. He (Oapt. T.) said Mr McClure was in the habit of talking a great deal against canvassing. Tlie other day at Porest Eill he Mr McClure talked so much against it, that he (Capt. T.) had blushed like a young lady of sixteen, feeling that he had been guilty of canvassing for Mr Armstrong, since then however he had found out that Mr MeClure, all his household and friends, had been canvassing as hard as they could for the last month. (Laughter and applause.)