NOMINATION DAY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4032, 30 November 1881, Page 2

NOMINATION DAY.

The nomination of candidates for th« representation of the Borough of Thames took place to-day at the hustings erected outside the Court House, Queen street.

At twelve o'clock H. Kenrick, Esq., E.M., Returning Officer for the Borough, mounted the platform.

On the platform besides him were the Messrs H. C. Lawlor, John Sheehan, W. J. Speight, J. Wilson, J. Osborne, R. T. Douglas, and S. M. Hutchinson.

The Returning Officer announced that the meeting had been called together for the purpose of nominating a candidate to represent the Thames electors in the House of Representatives. He then read a certificated copy of the writ, and called upon the electors to nominate their candidates. He said a candidate must be an elector on some electoral roll, and he must also be proposed and seconded by duly qualified electors.

Mr John Wilson said: Mr Returning Officer and fellow electors, J beg to nominate Mr John Sheehan as a'fit and proper person to represent the Thames in the House of Representatives. Mr Sheehan is an old and tried servant, and has done his duty. I,hare great pleasure in proposing him. Mr John Osborne seconded. Mr E. T. Douglas said : Mr Returning Officer aud fellow electors, I am entirely unaccustomed to public speaking, but on this occasion the duty devolves upon me of proposing a gentleman who I have known for a great number of years on the Thames. I belie*© it was on the occasion of some transactions, in regard to some Friendly Society that I met this gentleman first, and the . sterling business qualities he' then displayed made me a friend of his immediately. He has been amongst us from the first in connection with school committees and other public bodies. Ever since the time this gentleman entered public life, he has acted consistently, and with more than ordinary ability. (Hear, hear.) His conduct has been open to you to criticise. Apart from all this there is one very important feature in the gentleman I am about to nominate —namely, his honest, sterling manliness in having the courage of his opinions, even against the greatest odds. Some people hare raised an objection on account of Mr Speight going to the Land League meeting. (Thanks.) Mr Speight went to the meeting as an advocate of Liberal Land Laws, and not to exonerate those men who had committed outrages against the law. (Hear, hear, and " dry up.") It has been said that he is a windbag. (A voice: You're a flourbag.) Both wind and water are good when used in moderation. It has also been said that he is a political loafer, but as a matter of fact, Mr Speight could easily do without the honorarium, as he had a private income. (A voice: He couldn't do without it.) I consider all those objections to Mr Speight are so many compliments. In conclusion, I would beg to nominate Mr William James Speight as a fit and proper person to represent us in the House of Representatives. Mr S. M. Hutchinson seconded. He said he believed the people would find in Mr Speight a thoroughly good representative.

A voice: Good bye ! Mr Xenrick then read the nominations, and asked if there were any other gentleto be nominated.

A cry was raised by some for McGowan, and a wag caused great merriment by saying that he was dissolved in his own tea.

Mr Kenriek said it' they Here much longer they would be late for dinner. (Laughter.) He called for a show of hands.

The forest of horny hands resulted in favor of Mr Speight; the numbers beingMr John Sheehan ... ... 106 Mr W. J. Speight ... ... 135 Mr John Osborne and Mr John Wilson demanded a poll, which will take place at the Court House on Friday, the 9th December, between the hours of 9 and 6. .^ ' .: £'-■■-. "'■■.■■'■■■ : : '

Mr Sheehan said :—Gentlemeu, I have seen too much of this kind of work to attach very great importance to the show of hands on nomination day. 1 hope that my opponent will take the eatati advice. I believe, however that a public aominatiou does good as it gives to some au opportunity of showing off hidden talent. Who for instance, would have thought that we had such orators in our midst as Mr Douglas. If I had,thought so before it would have deterred me from coming here, and I should have taken a back seat &t once. I won't take up too much, time. About 2£ hours ago four candidates w&io in the £eld— Mogsr? Qteighfc, ■

McCullouih, MeGowan, and myself. It. is not tjfl now that I was aware tbat Mr Speighfcj&ad withdrawn in my favour. (Boars.V Mr SMight: "What!" Mr j^behan: I must beg pardon for the lap^mlingua, but if Mr Speight does not wittKaw he ought to do. (Renewed laughtefjfr I should have said McGowan. Mr McCfllough retired from the contest yesterdKigJternoon, and so left it as a fair fit^^Rweea myself and Mr Speight. Mr M^Hfiough retired in a most unaelfish^Bianner, and did so because he coaßered he would cause a loss of nfl^B Tt^tes to myself by standing. I beliei^Kuit all four candidates are running oVpractically the same ticket—ai Liberalfland as supporters of Sir George Grey.^R^fcuve always voted with my party. IE; hare firm belief in them, « hare eveWtaben a lively interest in th Thames,^nd shall always do so whether I am in orAit of Parliament. I have been for tenißpars in public life, once for Hodne^^nd for the Thames, and consequent!/ I have a large number of friends, and no or can say of me that I grabbed the loaves and fishes of office. (Hear, hear) ■:Asto ony friend here, I helped him intb/i^arliatueut when he went for CityEalt. A voice : " Don't hit him too hard." I decline to strike below the belt, but shall give him every fairness in my power, and I have uo doubt Mr Speight will do the same. I may only hope that the election will be as good humored as the nominations have been, to day. If you elect me, I shall be honored, and I shall not be at all angry if you reject me. This meeting today is what in fighting parlance is called the preliminary walk round, and we had better shake hands before we begin. I only look for' the same fair play from Mr Speight as I shall give him. I have not found him saying one word against us; however, as I said, this is a preliminary meeting, and we had better tuck up our sleeves and begin. All I have to say is may the best man win. I shall address the electors at the Academy to-morrow evening, and would ask everyone having anything to say against me to come to the meeting and say it, so that I may have the opportunity of refuting the statements, and proving that I have been in the right. (Loud applause.)

Mr Speight said: —I look upon the show of hands as of greater importance than my friend Mr Sheehan. By all means let us have a fair fight. Mr Sheehan said he helped me in getting in for City East. What did Igo for? In the interest of a party that was broken up; and I may say that I never swerved from my allegiance to that party. (Hear, hear.) I have been asked to run for some other place but this, but if I am not capable of representing the Thames, where I have resided for such a number of years, I am certainly not fit to represent a place I know nothing about. I may say this, that during the whole time I have been in public life, I have never said I would carry out any measures but what I have carried them through. [A voice: That's a lie.] I thank you for the show of hands, and I look upon it that such a demonstration is an evidence that you mean to put me into the House. I trust this hope will be realised by your placing me at the head of the poll. (Loud cheering) Mr Speight then proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. Mr Sheehan seconded. Mr Eenrick said he trusted that when he announced the result of the poll on Friday week, he would be able to say that the voting bad been in as pood humoured a spirit as the nominations of to-day. -

The essemblane then dispersed