Thames Election.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4842, 16 July 1884, Page 2

Thames Election.

THE NOMINATION.

t iilhere was a large attendance":of elect? ors at to-day's nomination. I r; , t M^ Eenrick, the reiicirning officer, said ih^lectors had met,^for the purpose of nominating candidates to represent them in Parliament, read the: writ authorising the election, and called upon the electors to nominate those they wished to represent them. - ', —i-.•■-■=;■•<-•■'- -;•-;>;;--■•-■.'■■■:---■

Mr W> G. Ord proposed Mr Speight as a fit and proper person to represent the district, and,in doing ,so said that his nominee was an honest, straightforward, and Upright man, and who in Parlismon t was likely io^ attend to their wantsV The land question^was one requiring attention, and local wants alone should not be studied; such a system meant poverty in the futurev instead of only attending to local wan ts their member should go (or a general policy.-". ;. ;•'•■■■; ";:;'^; ■■■.::;.:' ;' , V': ': Mr M. Moroney briefly seconded the nomihatib.n.; '.■..'.:^'.-"%■■■■■...■,■■••.,'T; .' " '•'<

Mr James McGowan proposed William Fraseras>afit andproper.person to represent them,"and Stated that he^had known -'Colonel Frailer from the earliest days of the G^oldfield, and j had found him to be a, man- who did hot attempt to, show the silvery, sidei of his character with any desire to seclude the faults of it. .He was open and straightforward, and pre T sented no polished surface to any man' more than another. ' Captain Wild man seconded the nbmina tion, and expressed pleasure io. doing so. The Keturning Officer then called for a show o.f,hands on the proposals, which resulted as follows :— Fraser ... ... >.; 113 Speight ... ■ ..; ..^ 80 • Mr Speight demanded a poll. . v Upon being called upon by the Returning' Officer to address:the electors, Colonel Fraser thariked them for their attendance ; not only those who supported him, but also those who didn't. He felt that he was not an orator, or a flowery speaker, and would not detain them long. Should he go. to .Wellington, he would go there unpledged, and with the desire to do his best for the Thames. He would not -countenance any mud throwing in the con* test, and he felt sure that his friends would not indulge in such misconduct. On his part, he inteoded to carry out the election in a straightforward, gentlemanly, and honorable manner. He hoped that when at the ballot*box the electors would consider their interests, which were his, and return him. He then thanked them for putting him ahead at the "first shot," and hoped the final result would be to the same effect. '

Mr Speight said he appreciated Mr Eraser's remarks from the bottom of his heart, and he would—he felt assured his supporters would not require to be asked to—refrain from any of those practices which had been spoken of. He meant to conduct the contest with credit to himself. He would meet the electors in different parts of the electorate, and thought his views wera well known. He had been solicited to work under Government, but had declined to do so. He would go to Wellington in «the interests of the people. As Mr Speight was about to conclude his address, lie gaid that an elector had - placed a question in his hand asking him if it was true that be had applied for, and intended accepting, an appointment down South, and he dis« tinctly denied the assertion ; he did not intend to leave the Thames.

, Col. Eraser proposed a tote of thanks to the returning officer which Mr Speight seconded. : ; r " " ■ .

Mr Kenrick said that it was necessary in complying with the Act, and, as he thought, for the convenience of. the; public, tha.t .there should be three polling places.