WAIMEA WEST.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 217, 18 November 1859, Page 2

WAIMEA WEST.

A Meeting of the Electors of Waimea West was held on Monday, the 14th instant, at Mr. Palmer's, for the purpose of consideringwhowouuV be^ a fit and. proper person to represent the district in the Provincial Council.

Mr. Fleming was called to the chair, and briefly stated the object of the meeting. ;A request%as made to Mr. Clias. Kearns, who had been formerly proposed; to express his political views. . Mr. Kearns declined, doing so until he had been regularly proposed and.seconded. Expressions of discontent were made by several electors, because the candidates who had been formerly proposed were hot invited to attefad. The wording of the advertisement being* that- Mr. Kearns would address the meeting, the advertisement was said to be one-sided. .; y Mr. Thomas proposed Mr.- John Kerr, Senior, as a fit and proper person to represent the district. His long residence and great property in Waimea West interested him much'for the good of tlie district. Long speeches he considered were not required for a representative. The motion was seconded by Mr. Thomas Eden. . The conduct of the advocates of Mr. Kearns in not coming forward .to propose him, was severely commented on. ' _ Mr. Kearns was then proposed by Mr. John Connor. Seconded by Mi*. Mark Newth, Senr. f Mr. William Bell moved that Mr. Simon B. Silcopk, an old settler, and hard-working man, and an independent person, would be a fit and proper person to represent the district. Seconded by Mn Henry Ford." . Mr. Mark Newth said''they wanted to have a liberal Government,'and that they required men of their own stamp who would dpjWeli- for the interests of their children.. They had left the Old country to avoid taxation and. oppression. If men. of their own stamp were not chosen taxation would be heartily laid upon the community, as much or more than at home, , An Elector said Mr. Kerr would be a satellite of Dr. Monro. . f

Mr. Kearns then rose aad expressed his regret that the other candidates mentioned were uot present, to express-their political principles, which was simply their duty, without much solicitation, and stated that lie himself stood" oh liis own merits. He said he was a thorough Provincialist, and an opponent of centralisation, which -view .had been, formed from his cradle. He then pointed out the difference between Provincialism, and -Centralisation, shewing that centralisation induced Oligarchy, in the Government and dependence i^t^scominunity; while provincialism brought olit independence and intelligence. Centralisation .caused things to be done for them and not by .them, without any redress in the appointment of officers, and imposed a great increase of expense,in salaries. He contended that the cutting up of theTrovinces syas not done by the Government but by a fadtipus opposition to weaken their strength and shew the Electors provincialism would not do ; and..make theiiVreyei-tlo csfiiviHest^n, • XHe read extracts tp. prove that subdivisioftHvyuld be t.o ma!^3 the. pro ; knm "-like partshek and i&tihpito! Sf HiS nanti-^ Government. *^|&arns< wouljnqi state the political Wasuresfhe Would m\im Q* oppose, but styled.hjmsel.f in.fovor of U»S.Fe^. Govej-hmentjand -was opposed to absenteeism. ,ku»-.-gard*n# tl}3 Waste Lands^easiirerhe wished the hthds ?o:'bfe sold'hy the Government in sniallsec-;: tidns ori defeWed iiayd^ntisi fl'l IHe''6aiy'paraes wfio would suffer bystich'a rti&sure'Wbuldhb the Jiuid

■ ■■■..-.';•.- "late-a speculators. On immigration he said, the funds came from the Provincial .Revenue,, and that-all the electors had to supply this and that until the country was opened—the present community would have to support the Immigrants. If elected, he would render 'all the service he could to the Waimea. Whoever should be elected, he hoped the electors would not send in a determined opposer of the Government. ' Mr. Simmonds expressed his concurrence in'Afr. Kearh's views, and said those who wished'for immigration at present were desirous that the large proprietors might have a choice of labor at their command and reduce wages. Mr. Wootton said he wished to. have a member belonging to their own class. - He did not desire the Government to be placed in the hands of centralists, who would do everything for the community, and not by themMr. Kearns. again rose. and. expressed his views on education, and was in favor «f a purely secular education on,the,part of the Government. A show of hands was then called for, which was declared to be in favor of Mr.. C. P. Kearas; Mr. Horn presented to the meeting his views with regard to the claims of the industrious classes at Richmond, and stated that he was aboutto draw up a memorial to the Governor of the wants of Waimea East. • A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman, und the proceedings terminated. j ' —Communicated, ,'V,"