Thames Election Nomination.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3337, 2 September 1879, Page 2

Thames Election Nomination.

RETURN OP SIR GEORGE GREY AND THE HON. JOHN BHKEHAN UNOPPOSED. ;,; The nomination of for tho Thamea seats in the General Assembly took place at noon to day in front of the Court House, where the hustings were erected. There was a large assemblage, and great interest was evidently taken in the proceedings. . - The Returning Officer, H. Kenrick, Esq., H.M., opened the proceedings bj reading tho election writ calling on them to elect the members to represent the Thames Electorate. He then asked for nominations. Amidst loud cheering Mr McCnllough, Mayor, eawa forward, and addressing the Returning Officer and electors said he was present to propose Sir George Grey i as a tit and proper person to represent the Thames constituency, and thought it would need no argument on the present occasion to prove that Sir George Grej was the best friend the Thames had erer had. (Cheers). And as an expression of their gratitude, he thought they should return him as one of their representatives. He could assure them that Sir George was most anxious to represent the Thames, and had informed the speaker that nothing less than the! interests of his party would prevent him from sitting for tho Thames, and if he did sit for any other place they might be assured the interests of the Thames would none the less be attended to. (Applanse.) Mr Mitchell said he rose to second the nomination of Sir George Grey. (Cheers.) He was not present to jump into the position of the seconder, but had come at the request of those acting for Grey. On the same ground, Mr Carpenter should hare taken the initiative in nominating Sir George Grey. He referred to Sir G. Grey's absence as the cause of bis speaking for him. The Ministry were to be tried by a jury of their countrymen under many indictments. lie thought that, looking at the position of the Thames they had made a good choice when they first elected Grey for their representative (cheers), and he did not think they had any reason to regret that choice. He said this, and he had been n candidate

himself on that occasion. He thought they should olect Sir George Grey as the principal count in the indictment against him was Thames Valley Kailway. (Cheers.) For years they had been pushing and struggling for this ; he himself had gone down to Wellington and obtained Iracinf s of the plans of the first trial surrey. «He 'thought this centre of population had done more fcr the colony than any other centre, as colonial affair a were at a very low ebb when the Thames opened \n 1867. They bad therefore a just right to the railway and a fair proportion of the loans, j There were doubtless many present Who had turned out the other night when the news of the: Ohinemuri outrage arrived.' He said if they had been able to go up by railway, the perpetrators of the outrage would have now been in the hands of justice. There were minor charges brought against tho expenditure of the Hinemon, salaries, etc. He did not care for that. If we put in men of any claia we must pay them.. Ho maintained that it was the worst kind of radicalism to place representatives in the way of money influence.' Referring 1 to the matter of Triennal Parliaments, he: said he believed in thnt, and even in Annnal Parliaments, and expressed him* self in faror of manhood suffrage. He believed in the sale of Native Lands in tho open ratrket The natives had a right to take tho land to the best market.

The Kcturning Officer called Mr Mitchell's attention to the fact thai he was to second the nomination, and not to speftk on general matters. Mr Mitchell fluid that he bowed to the Beturnine Officer's ruling ; he thought he bad a right to say what he believed to bqj the policy of the Gorernment. After

some further remarks the speaker lit down amidst applause. Mr John Brown, in a brief speeeb, nominated Mr John Sheehan. He euloKistically referred to Mr Shcehan's career, and praised the manner iv which the Government had grappled with the land question.

. Mr Cadman, of Coromandel, in seconding the nomination, referred to the fact that Mr Wakefield, one of the Opposition, had.given Mr Sheehan the credit for-being ouo of the cleverest men in the House. The JKeturning Officer then asked for other nominations, but none being forth* coming he declared Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan duly elected as the Thames representatives. (Loud Cheers.) Mr Sheehan said he had recently addressed them and he need not go into the policy of the Government again.: He would briefly refer to the Obinemuri affair and might say it was no.worse than many others they had bad to deal with. These required very careful handling, and depend upon it the Maori people of this district' will do the : correct thing. He had just received satisfactory advices that the natives who were mid to be aiding and abetting the Ngatihake intended to take them prisoners and hand them ever. He might "tell them he was empowered to act in thii matter as he aaw fit, and he coald say within 24 hours there would be a force on the spot quite sufficient to accomplish all that might be required without effecting the people of the .Thames or Ohioemuri at all: He returned tkank* to them on behalf of Sir George Grey and himself and the other candidates'for withdrawing. A vote of Thanks to the Beturniag Officer, moved by Mr Sheehan and seconded by Mr Mitchell, concluded the proceedings which were most- orderly i throughout.l Three cheers were given for Sir G. Grey. . : ,