WAIHOPAI NOMINATION.

Southland Times, Issue 1146, 13 October 1869, Page 2

WAIHOPAI NOMINATION.

Yesterday, 12th inst., at noon, th< nomination of candidates for the repre , sentation of the district of Waihopai ir i the Provincial Council, took pJace at the hustings in rear of the Invereargill Courthouse. The Returning Officer appeared upot '. the platform, and, haviag read the Writ 3 called upon the electors, of whom ther* y their canafHKles."™ 1 ™ 1 * nrfisent ' to nam< After a short pause, Mr H. E. Osborni proposed Mr Geo. Webster, stating thai he did so solely on his own responsibility having consulted no one about so doing 5 Beferring to the views of the annexa ' tionists, he said — " We are all in the 1 frying-pan, and they counselled us tc ' jump into the fire." He would prefer tc see some other plau tried first, and ther i( no better could be done, he would joir. Otago. Mr Webster held similai 1 opinions, but would, no doubt, speak foi ; himself jhe was a man who could express • himself, and he (Mr O.) thought sucb i were the men to send in. Too many » dummies had been returned formerly. Capt. George Thomson seconded the nomination. Mr Pratt proposed Mr W. Johnston, saying that that gentleman's long service in the public cause left him little to say in his behalf, his opinions and abilities being both well known. He* "(Mr P.) explained why Mr Johnston was not present, and further that he stood purely on the re-union question. If not returned on account of his views on that question, he would prefer to be left out. Much was said about getting new blood into the Council, but unless new blood could show us how to raise the money, he didu't see what good it could do. He (Mr P.) thought experience as valuable, and although he might differ with Mr Johnston on many points, he was a gentleman whose vast knowledge of the country and experience of provincial politics rendered him a most desirable member of the House. Mr Geo. Lindsay seconded the motion. Mr Wade proposed and Mr Thomas Perkins seconded the nomination of Mr C. E. Marten. Mr W. Wood then proposed Mr James Wilson (late Speaker), dwelling upon his long and honorable career as a representative, and his straightforward character, as giving him a large claim to the consideration of the electors. Mr W. R. Perkins seconded. Mr Wade next proposed Mr John Blacklock, saying he trusted on the morrow to see so old and tried a servant once more occupy the position he held at last election — the top of the poll. Mr Thomas Perkins seconded the nomination. No other candidate being proposed, Mr Webster said he was much surprised at being nominated. He belonged to that unfortunate class called squatters, and the electors of Waihopai should have had more sense than bring him forward. He had been told he was " living on the vitals of the people," that lie was " fattening on their blood," so often that ! he really began to believe it himself, and look upon himself as a very wicked monster indeed, notwithstanding that hitherto he had led a moderately honest and respectable life. All he could say regarding diversity of interests was, that he had worked very hard, tbafc he had been pretty successful, that he had invested all his earnings in the province, and that if the province went to the bad he would go with it. For these reasons he would like^to see it out of the mess in

which it now%as, and wasHvillin^td help in ifcs extrication. • before touching on re-union, he ; refer to more general questions. He was in fefcvor of ' main raods, gaols, polic^ "arbors, <fcc.j being taken fron£lfebe provinces and managed solely by tire General Government. The Provincial' Councils sphere would thus be circumscribed to" 'the levying and expenditure of « purely local taxation and other minor matters, and the weightier affairs of the country would not be in danger of suffering from petty local squabbles as they did now. If this were done, it would be better to retain the Council here than have it sitting at Dunedin. He would prefer to see the Province fight its way out of j its difficulties itself, but if he found, on i further enquiry and trial, that that was hopeless, then he would consent to re-union. He was a stranger to most of ; and they to him, therefore they . must take a good deal on faith. A voice — " We can't trust squatters." j Mr Webster—" Well, don't ; but I J generally find that you do trust them, though, when there's any money in the question." (Cheers and laughter.) _ i Mr Webster, continuing, had no intention of coming forward, until he saw the class with w-hich he was connected, wickedly maligned by Mr Wood, and the party to which he belonged. Mr Wood had that day withdrawn a statement complained of, and would probably have done so yesterday, had he but known his error. Mr Wood — Oh, certainly ! Yes. Mr Webster, in continuation, believed it contrary to English spirit to malign an opponent behind his back. If they were against the squatters, take it fairly and openly. He would not pledge himself to anything, but must be trusted to give questions as they came on, a fair and impartial consideration, and to act accordingly. He did not belisve the people, as a body, thought the squatters actuated by selfish or base motives. Eor himself, he could say that, rather than condescend to the selfish designs imputed to them by their detractors, he would again don the blue shirt and return to hard labor, although he had no great desire to do so ; he had had plenty of it iv his time. He thought the close run he had given Mr Wood at the Bluff the day before, an evidence that the squatters had still numerous supporters, and he trusted to give their opponents as hard a run yet, on some more important occasion (cheers). He would now answer questions. Mr Calder put a question (which we did not fully catch) relative to the dispute between his Honor and the Executive. Mr Webster approved of turning out an Executive which was " rather cheeky than otherwise." Mr Calder — As re-union is the issue before the people, don't you think that as a candidate you should be prepared to pledge yourself one way or the other ? ivxT vv eoscer — i uuu'u icvuguMc n, as tbe issue. I have only your authority for that. Mr Calder — You don't answer straightforwardly ; you only equivocate. Mr Webster — Equivocation may be part of your policy; it's not mine. I don't come here as a genius or leader of the people, but merely as a candidate prepared to consider the questions coming before the Council fairly and well. Mr Wood enquired the candidate's opinion as to how the Land revenue should.be spent. Mr Webster thought the first charge upon the Land revenue was the debt, after that the making of roads, bridges, &c. Mr Marten next ascended the platform and stated that he retired in Mr Webster's favor. Mr Wilson as next in order, came to the rail ? and delivered a speech of more than an hour's length. It is utterly impossible for us to give even a summary of it in the space at our disposal. We may, however, state that he declared in favor of reunion, being, he said, forced j to that alternative, through the non- j support given to an opposite scheme of his own propounding for the salvation of the province, and through no other tangible scheme having been proposed by any other opposer of re-union. Mr Blacklock said that Mr Wilson having kept those present till all were cold and hungry, he could not ask them to remain longer. He would therefore prefer to meet them at the Theatre Royal in the evening, wheti he could go fully into all the points. In the meantime, he might just say he blamed both parties for being too extreme, both for and against re-uaion, and instead of quietly discussing the matter, had severally assumed the position of special pleaders, and he was in favor of further consideration of the subject, and then if no better way opened up, he would reunite. On a show of hands being taken, it was declared to be in favor of Messrs Wilson and Johnston, wheraupon a poll was demanded on behalf of the other candidates, which will take place this day.