MOUNT BENGER ELECTIONS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 280, 12 June 1873, Page 5

MOUNT BENGER ELECTIONS.

A very large meeting was held on Mondayevening, the 2nd inst., in th« Assembly Rooms, Roxburgh. It waa called to hear the various opinions of the residents as to the best person to represent tha district in the Provincial Council. After some delay, Mr. Kinnaston, Secretary of the Progress Committee, was called upon to taka the chair. Mr. Kinnaston briefly stated what the meeting -was called for ; also that a telegram had been received from Captain Baldwin, declining to come ferward as a representative, and stating thatjhe resigned in favor of Mr, John Beighton. Mr. Gibson proposed that Mr. John Beighton was a proper person to represent the district. Mr. Ireland said he wished to know from the Chairman if ho waa taking a proper view as to the real object of the meeting. He (Mr. Ireland) thought it was called for the purpose of hearing the various opinions of the electors of the district as to the nomination of a. proper candidate for t\x& Provincial Council, and not to fthovo any one man ux before the meeting. (Applause). Chairman : Mr. Ireland took tha proper view of the meeting ; but that the members of the Progress Oommitteo, at their last meeting, had nominated Mr. John Beighton, as a local man and one fitted for the office. Mr. Ireland : Can you inform me how many members form the said Progress Committee ? Chairman : 8 or 9. Mr. Ireland : Was it the majority who took it upon itself to nominate Mr. Beigkton for the district, and please mention the names of the members present ? Chairman : All were present but Mr. Cormack and Mr. Woodhouse. Mr. Ireland said he hated any one-sided affair. He considered that the Progress Committee were taking the whole management of the district to themselves, and were going to have Mr. Beighfcon at all hazard ; but, to his idea, the meeting wa3 called for the purpose of finding a suitable person to represent the district. He had great pleasure in proposing a gentleman of ability and principle, and one fatted for the position, and he belived, if elected, tho gentleman he was about to propose would do his utmost to promote the welfare of the district — that gentleman waa Mr. George Mackay. Mr. Tamblyn seconded the resolution. The Chairman begged leave to state that this was taking a good many aback, for at the meeting of the Progress Committee, of which Mr. Mackay waa a member and present, he was proposed aa a representative, and positively declined tho offer, and said he would not oppose Mr. Beighton, but aid in getting him returned. (A voice : Don't hurt hia feelings.) The motion was put to the meeting and carried. Mr. D. Anderson stated that there were eight members present at the meeting of the Progress Commit<ee ; and at that meeting Mr. Mackay was asked to come forward, but refused, aud said he would support Mr. John Boighton. Mr. Ireland : The opinions of this meeting are not to be ruled by the opinions of seven or eight men of tho Progress Committee. One would suppose by the expressions of members of the said Committee that all the wisdom and intelligence of the district were embodied in them. (Applause.) The Chairman : The Committee did not think so. Mr. Ireland : This meeting is to select a representative, and not to have one pushed upon it. Mr. D. Anderson : It was arranged at the meeting of the Progress Committee that if Mr. Beighton and Mr. Mackay were brought forward, only one would stand, is. if the votes were split, a stranger might be elected. {A. voice : Another Bradshaw.) Mr. Ireland : The nomination does not rest with these learned individuals. The Chairman : Mr. Beighton asked if Mr. Ireland would stand himself, and he (the Chairman) said Mr Ireland said "no." Mr. Beighton came forward and said that he wished to relieve the minds of the electors by seating that he was not aiming forward to contest the election. He was asked when, the dissolution of the Provincial Council took plactrff he would, stand, and he said he would not' tie then Vent to town ou some business, and there met Captain BalJwm, a gentleman whom he highly esteemed. He

'(Mt. Beighton) had heard on the road down that the Captain was going to staud. Iv town he spoke to the Captain on the subject, who replied he had been asked to stand for the Waikouaiti district ; but that, as he was better acquainted with the Mount Benger district and its requirements, he would sooner stand for it than Waikouaiti. When lie (Mr. Beighton) arrived back from town, he was waited upon by several gentlemen, who requested him to come forward as a local representative. He wa3 informed there had beeu a meeting of the Progress Committee, and that Mr. Mackay bad beeu asked to stand and had declined, and ho (Mr. Brighton) came forward as a last resort, as he did not wish that Mr. D. 11. M ervyu or Mr. Bradshaw should get in to ruin the district, as they had done before. He had heard it was the intention of Mr. Mervyn, if uot elected for Mount Ida, to contest the election here. Ho (Mr, Beighton) merely concurred with the Progress Committee's wish that lie should be nominated this evening. Ho (Mr. Beighton) then telegraphed to Captain Baldwin, stating the position of affairs, and mentioning that he (Mr. Beighton) was coming forward. The reply he receive© was to the effect that it was only right ha should, and further that he (Captain Baldwin) would withdraw. As to himself, he was indifferent as to whether he was returned or not, as it would cause him a deal of trouble and expense. He would not say anything at present as to his abilities for office, but, aa a member of committee, he thought a gentleman ought to know his own mind, and not make a fool of people. If he was not nominated as a can ; didate, he would consider himself in honor, bound to ask Captain Baldwin to stand. He did not like the underhand work which seemed to be carried on in the matter. ( Applauso.) Mr. Mackay said he had not the most remo'e idea of coming forward. He was also asked by the Progress Committee and refused, and stated that if Mr. Beighton stood he would support him. However, on Saturday evening, some gentlemen called on him and asked him to stand. He replied he would give them an answer to-day, and when they called this evening, he told the deputation he would stand, and he could not see any underhand work as far as he was con cerned. He wished to act straightforward and honestly. (Applause.) Mr. J, Beighton again rose to speak, but was interrupted by a person hissing. Mr. Beighton remarked that the person hissing need not hang his head, as he was one of the Progress Committee, who had not the moral courage to come forward. He (Mr. Beighton) then continued by saying he did not wish to come forward unless he was asked to do so by the public ; that he was not coming forward for the £l a day while in office. He was sacrificing his time in an unscrupulous manner to do good to thedistrict. It was needless for him to referto the extensive amount of land sold in large blocks in the district. He believed he was blamed for the selling of the Island Block. He now stood before the public, and if there was any one who wished to ask him any questions on the matter, he was quite willing to answer them. He would meet the electors at another time, but he was now at their services. (Loud applause.) Mr. G. Duigan said he had great pleasure in bringing forward another candidate, whohe hoped would be supported, as ho was quite sure he would be the right man in the right Elace. He then proposed Mr. Charles [icholaon as a fit and proper person to represent the district in the Provincial Council. Mr. M'Rae said he had much pleasure in seconding ivlr. Duigan's proposition. The Chairman then asked Mr. Beighton if he would come forward, seeing Mr. Mackay had withdrawn Mr. Beighton replied that he would. He thought he was bound to do so in justice to Captain Baldwin, who had resigned in his favor. Mr. Nicholson in coming forward was loudly applauded. He said he would not make a long statement, but that at a very early period he would address his supporters at the Teviot. The Chairman put the proposition to the meetiug, when there was a show of hands in favor of Mr. Beighton. Mr Ireland said he could not help considering that some underhand work had been going on, and that a slur had been cast upon Mr. George Mackay, causing him to withdraw from the contest. He now hoped and trusted some other candidate would come forward, as he considered it was the cause of a deal of mischief. He was afraid by the arrangement come to an outsider would stand and go in. (Cheers .) The Chairman : If there is any other one to stand, he would like one to make a proposition, as he wished to get across the river. He was one of the Progress Committee, and disclaimed what Mr. Ireland had said. Mr. M 'Donald then proposed Mr. G. Ireland as a fit and proper person to represent the district. Mr. D. Cormack seconded the proposition. (Loud applause. ) Mr. Ireland rose again and said, with the permission of the Chairman, lie would describe the manner in which he was asked if he would represent the district. On Saturday morning, he was repairing the chimney of his domicile, and he saw the" worthy Chairman coming along. He (the Chairman) sang out, " Are you going to stand for the Provincial Council," showing a notice of the meeting. He (Mr. Ireland) answered, "Do you think I am an ass," and asked who was in the field, and the Chairman answered that Mr. Beighton and Mr. Nicholson were the candidates. That was all the asking he got from the Progress Committee. Mr. M 'Kay had his entire confidence. He believed that gentleman to be the real representative of the district. Let them imagine the Progress Committee sitting roucd a small i table, and nominating a gentleman to come | forward Perhaps, it may be thought wrong j in his coming forward. The Chairman said had he known Mr. Ireland was coming forward, he would have had hie whole suppcrt. Mr. Ireland said had it not been for the proceedings which took place to-night, he should not have came forward ; but he considered they were very unmanly. The Chairman could not see that as Mr. M'Kay distinctly stated to the Progress Committee he would not stand. Mr. Beighton said he that so far as being personally concerned, he did not care whether he was elected or not ; and that as far as being concerned v/itli any underhand work, he for one was not. He was asked, and presented with a requisition to come forwar-l, and he did so. (Loud applause.) A little discussion then ensued between the Chairman and Mr. Ireland, which eventually ended in Mr. Ireland proposing a most he^fty v «te of thanks to tbe Chairman, which was unanimously carried. Thusended the first meeting in Roxburgh for the forthcoming election.