POLITICAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1193, 19 June 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL.

Mr Leonard Harper bag determined to offer himself «e a candidate for the Avon seat.

Mr Stout has decided to offer himself for one of the Dunedin electorates. Hr Bolleston has written to Mr George Harper, Chairman of bis last meeting at Papanui, expressing his intention not to stand for the Avon district at the coming elections, though he sees no reason to doubt that he would receive a renewal of confidence. He had reason to believe that the electors would prefer to be represented by one who resided among them. The following is the letter to Mr Geo. Harper referred to shove, which ws take from the Press “Wellington, 16tb Jun*, 188*. My Dear Mr Harper, —Since the time when you were good enough to take the chair at a meeting of the Avon electors at Papanui, in the month of April last, I have had time—apart from the feelings of the moment —to consider the bearing on my future action of' the resolutions passed on that occasion. Since that date, too, I have had many generous assurances of confidence from old friends in the district, and I see no reason to doubt that in the event of my offering myself for re-election I should again receive s renewal of the confidence hitherto bestowed upon me. At the same time, I should have been glad that the electors of the Avon district should have an opportunity of showing that, whatever might be their temporary feeling on matters of local concern, they would give me full credit for having in the past acted from a sense of duty in the interests of the whole colony. There are, however, considerations which have led me to the conclusion thet I should not again present myself for re-election to the Avon constituency. In bygone years I Jived among the electors, and waa in almost daily communieation with them, and, to my mind, a large portion of the pleasure of public life consists in that personal intercourse. I have also reason to believe that the electors would prefer to be represented by one who resided among them. A contest and victory over a local opponent might be gratifying to me for some reasons, but it would be won by drawing heavily on the kindnese and generosity of my friends, without any commensurate advantage to the constituency. I need not enter into other reasons at present. I desirt, however, to express to the electors my cordial seknowledgments of the uniform kindnese with which I have been treated by them for upwards of sixteen years, and to aajure them that should I continue in public life their interests will not be less cared for by me because I may be no longer their member. I remain, yours very truly, W. Eolikstojt.— George Harper, Esq., Christchurch.”

The Wellington correspondent of the Christchurch Press, writing on Monday last, says ; —“Sir J. Vogel, whose health is still exceedingly unsatisfactory, has been visited yesterday and to-day by « number of his old Wellington friends. Sir Julius has already begun feeling his way with a view to contesting a Wellington conatituency at the next general election* At first he directed hia attention to Thorndon, but finding Dr Newman's chance of re-election there practically overwhelming, it is understood that be is now seriously considsring the adyisablensai of standing for South Wellington, The same correspondent writing on Tuesday says Some leading members of the * Middle Party ’ anticipate; the new elections will result in the return of several eretwhile prominent politicians to the House. Mr Ormond’s return for Napier seems certsin, as does that of Sir Julius Togsl for one of the Wellington electorates. Mr Ballance is sure to run for Parliament at this election. The Middle Party believe there will be a great infusion of new blood. The extreme Oppositionists mournfully declare that parties will come back again much as they are at present, and that the same disorganisation will bo manifest ; while Ministerialists confidently anticipate being able to face Parliament with a good working majority. Tima will show which party is right in its views.”