THE ELECTIONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 159, 23 February 1871, Page 6

THE ELECTIONS.

(To, the, Editor)

Sic, — The election, for Waikaia is a fait accompli. I ask leave to tresp^s

on your space for a few remarks . on the possible issue, A more critical period in the history of Otago is not likely to occur for a considerable time. The elections now pending will settle the question of progress or retrogression for the next four years — there if no standing still, no statu quo for us ; we must go either forward or backward. The exigencies of the country demand that to men of talent and ability only should be intrusted the important interests which will be discussed in the Assembly and Council. The people of Switzers and the Nokomai have polled a majority, a large majority for Mr. Dean — a young man of very mediocre abilities, a very poor speaker, and anything but a profound thinker. "Whether the influence that has been brought to bear here in his favour will be equally successful at the Teviot, I cannot say. I trust not. With an opponent such as Mr. Bradshaw, who has for years devoted himself to the interests of the mining community, who has commanded the respect of the General Assembly and the Ministry, and has been the persistent friend of settlement and liberal institutions ; who has, for the interests of his constituents, refused offices of emolument under Government, and shown an independence of principal, which has been the admiration of even his political opponents — with such an opponent, Mr. Dean's committee have managed to secure a majority here for their pet candidate. The country ask for bread, and the Switzers and Nokoinai people offer a stone. Talent is demanded in the Assembly, and behold they return a Dean ! ! I hope sincerely that our brethem at the Teviot, who are, to a great extent, removed from the petty local spirit which has actuated the two districts named, will have been able to counteract the evil done by the unthinking majority here. It is hardly credible that an impartial hearer could listen to the addresses of the two eaiididates and vote for Mr. Dean. The fact is, that a great number of the votes were given at the request of the committee — a small body of Mr. Dean's friends meeting at Switzers, who wrote letters to a number of people representing their views as the feeling of the district, and requestiug, as a favour, that the recipients should support Mr. Dean. Tin's is how the majority has been obtained. But T call upon my brother miners to act differently at the ensuing election for the Provincial Council. I don't say to them, vote for Bradshaw; but I say this, "Respect yourselves — don't give either man your vote, simply because a friend may ask you so to do ; but learn all you can of the capabilities of each candidate, their antecedents, .and their political views, and' then judge for yourselves — allow no man to influence you ;" and then, if full play is allowed for the intelligence of the mining community to mauifest itself, we shall acquit ourselves more creditably in the eyes of the country in the provincial elections than we have done for the Assembly. — I am, &c, A Miner of 1854 Nokomai, February 11, 1871.