REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 437, 31 December 1861, Page 2

REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY.

Yesterday the nomination of candidates to represent the City of Nelson in the Provincial Council, took place at the Provincial Hall. The Returning Officer having read the writ authorising the same. V Mr. H. Adams was proposed by Mr. Wemyss with a few prefatory remarks seconded by Mr. W. Jenkins. ■ Mr. D Sinclair whs proposed by Mr. M'Rae, seconded by Mr. Hackett. Mr. 0. Curtis was proposed by Mr. Pritchard, seconded by Mr. J. L. Bailey. Mr Mackay was proposed by Mr Wells, seconded l»y Mr. W. Collins. Mr. N. Edwards was proposed by Mr. Bentley, seconded by Mr. Nancarrow. V." ; Mi. A Domett was proposed by Mr. B. Jackson, seconded by Mr. Steel. M. S. Kingdon was proposed by Mr. H. J. Goodman, seconded by Mr. Lightband sen. Mr. J. Symons was proposed by Mr. Lightband, seconded by Mr.. H. Dr«w. Mr. 11. J. Goodman wa9 proposed by Mr. I. M. Hill, seconded by Air. M. M'Artuey. Mr. R. Burn was proposed by Mr. Wilkie* seconded by Mr. Watts. . Mr. C. Elliott was proposed by Mr. Webb,. seconded by Mr. Everett. The Returning Officer then called upon th» candidates 10 a Idress the electors in turn. Mr. Adams as one who had represented the^ electors lor eight years, need not say how he had fulfilled his duties, he might however, say what no other members could—that during the whole--of the sittings he had never once been absent. He was not aware of any measure that would be brought forward that required further remarks on this occasion. My. Rrinkiu asked if Mr. Adams was prepared to ninki' retrenchments and 1 educe the number of" oveifmid officials. Mr. Adams was quite prepared to do «U he could if some special case was named. Mv, Sinclair h*V«i occupied some of the highetjfr -

positions iv the province during the 19 years he had been here, his principles were therefore well known, he would not identify himself with either Superintendent or party, but would support all good measures, and check expenditure. He thought the Executive were too slow, and the sooner some change took place the better. The Council need not waste the public time and money by making long speeches, as was but too often the casp. Mr. O. Curtis had served for the pist four years, the only question he would refer to was the subject of the Waste Lands. There was a way of disposing of it to bona fide settlers, and keeping it out of the hands of the capitalist by dividing it into sections to be leased (not sold) for a given term, perhaps GO or 100 years at a rental of say , Is an acre, so that the small capitalist, instead of laying out all his money to buy land, would be able to devote it to improvements. Mr. Curtis then referred to the way of managing forfeitures through non-payment of rental; to the charge of factious opposition being unfounded (he had voted 41 times with the Government, and 42 times against it—that did not look like opposition) ; to the Water Supply, to which he was favorable, &c. Some questions from Mr. Eban upon his Waste Land project were as follows: —He was glad to hear that Mr. Curtis was disposed to rent Government Waste Lands at a low rate, and would be glad to know if he would rent such as bordered the pastoral districts for the purpose of agricultural farming. Mr. Curtis said ho was not opposed to that, as he considered the public lands had been thrown away. Mr. Eban: would Mr. Curtis assign the pastoral lands to similar objects when the leases expired, and would he require a guarantee to cultivate a given per centage of the land ? Mr. Curtis: yes, if it was desirable and expedient to cut up such land into sections, was not favorable to guarantees, as it was impossible to define clauses that determine residence on or cultivation of such lands. Mr. Mackav dwelt upon the interest he had taken in maritime matters connected with this port. We were indebted to him mainly for our new wharf. A pier head was wanted at the harbor. The Maitai should have proper bridges erected by a vote from the Council. He had always advocated compensation to the workingmen. Mr.NEowAHD3 appeared before the electors for the first time during seventeen years' residence. Would offer no factious opposition. Was of no party. Would use b«st intelligence for the advancement of the city. Mr. Domett would be glad of having the confidence of his fellow-citizens, though he cared very little for what else the position gave him. Was no party man, and would vote as he pleased in the Council, although ho. might be overruled in the Government. Mr. Kingoon made a neat speech upon the prospects of the province through the discovery of the West Coast coal. If elected would serve them faithfully, if rejected would bow to their decision and cordially thank those who voted for him. Mr. Symons would do all in his power to represent the wants of the city with honesty and zeal. Mr. H. J. Goodman thanked the electors for the compliment in nominating him as a candidate for the city of Nelson. He considered the grave responsibility of representatives to be such, that no one should accept the office from vain ambition or refuse it from selfish considerations when requested to come forwerd; and though long resisting their wishes out of respect to self, he was now willing to stand out of respect to them and their good opinion. He stated his political opinions to be as a partizan of truth and justice rather than of any distinct party, but lie would promise that he would do all he could to hasten forward good measures with reflecting speed. He trusted that when the session was over, should the Speaker be asked what had passed in the house, his answer would not be the same that, was made to Queen Elizabeth, "If it please your Majesty, seven weeks," inferring that time had been wasted only. 'In conclusion, he stated that if elected he would endeavor to deserve their approbation ; he considered that the best way to do that was to act justly for their interests. Mr. Burn came forward as a duty. He would like to see a new Town Improvement Act: was opposed to £30,000 for a water supply, but recognised the advantages that might be gained from something at a smaller outlay. All he Asked was a fair trial that he might serve the council and electors faithfully and justly. Mr. Elliott was ever ready to advocate measures for the improvement of the town; discussion was the essence of the Council, and unanimity to be deplored—discussion brought out truth ; he had no pledges to make. , Mr. I. M. Hill wished to ask the candidates if they were agreeable to resign their seats if requested by two-thirds of the constituency or half of those who voted for each of them, The candidates agreed to this without retervatiou or remark, with the exception of Mr. Sinclair, who considered it an unfair question, but ■ would hold a seat no longer than was agreeable to the constituency. i Mr. Edwards would pledge himself to nothing, as he did not care twopence whether he was i elected or not. ' Mr. Elliott, when convinced that the electors i required him to resign his seat, would do so. Mr. M'Gregor would ask if the candidates wers i all favorable to giving land to naval and military i settlers ? All the new candidates opposed it. Mr. Curtis had once favored it as part of a system of immigration. If brought forward again he should oppose it. Mr. Elliott saw that the question was levelled at him ; but as there was no matter of principle involved, he would at once say that he might have made a mistake previously, and would oppose it now. Messrs. Domett and Edvrards were absent. The Returning Offjceb then called for a ■how of hands, which resulted as follows :— AJams ... 52 Domett 51 Kingdon ... 42 Burn 41 Symons ... 37 H. J. Goodman 36 O. Curtis 33 C.Elliott ... 31 D. Sinclair 29 N. Edwards 25 Mackay ... 23 The poll will take place on Monday next, at the Provincial Hall, the Court House, and the Odd Fellows' Hall; the result to be declared at six o'clock the same evening. Our space only allows the most meagre details of the speeches; the heads, however, will'give the gist of them, the filling up being of the usual stereotyped character.