INVERCARGILL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 281, 19 June 1873, Page 6

INVERCARGILL.

(From our own Correspondent.) June 4s. Although there was not much stormy weather during May, yet showers were frequent and heavy; for some weeks the rivers have been generally overflowing their banks, and the ground bas been so saturated, that on most farms the stubble land has been too Boffc for ploughing with advantage. Politics have been the chief recreation and business of the month. On the 7th ult., Mr. Cuthbertson addressed the electors in the Theatre. There was a good attendance ; and after, the candidate's address, and questions had been asked and answered, a motion that Mr. Cuthbertson was a fit and proper person to represent Invercargill, was carried. Mr. Wood had left for Dunedin to attend the Provincial Council before tho arrival of the writ : but in compliance with the advice of his committee, he returned to Invercargill, and addressod & meeting in the Theatre, on the 19th, and also received a vote of confidence. At the election on the 22nd, both committees were very active in endeavoring to" secure supporters for their respective candidates: and as the contest was close, considerable excitement prevailed till the state of the poll was announced, when it was found that Mr. Cuthbertson had boen returned — the numbers being, Cuthberston, 159; Wood, 144. With most electors the &sue was Yogel or anti-Vogel; and the result proves that the Yogel Ministry has a slight majority here. Mr, Lumaden, late M.P.C. for Invercargill, gave an account of his stewardship to his late constituents in the Theatre, on the 28th ult. After referring to the dismissal of the Reid Executive, and the action taken by a majority of the Council to maintain the right of the Council to have their wishes complied with, in the appointment or dismissal of an Executive, he said that Mr. Reid had endeavored to work with the Superintendent for the good of the country, but the Superindent had not tried to work with Mr. Reid for this purpose. In proof of his assertion, Mr. Lumsden said that whilst £he other members of Mr. Beid's Executive had been dismissed, Mr, Bathgate, a member of Mr. Vogel's Government, had continued to act " and draw his screw," as Provincial Solid' or* and member of the Executive ; if Mr. Eeicl had been a supporter of Mr. Yogel, the speaker was sure he would never have been asked to resign. Mr. Lumsden continued that he had never seen a Council more in earnest to forward the work and progress of the province ; and although if the Council had run the full term, he had determined to retire from the worry of politics , under the circumstances, he again offered his services to the electors that they might show whether they preferred living under a constitutional government, or under a despotism. At the the close of the address, this resolution was moved : " That this meeting whilst thanking Mr. Lumsden for his address, entirely disapproves of the action taken by him and the party with whom he acted in the late session of the Provincial Council, in embarrassing the efforts of his Honor the Superintendent, which have been so calculated to advance the real interests of the province, and this district in particlar." This motion was lost, and a vote of .confidence carried. The nomination for Oteramika will take place on the 11th inst. ; for Waihopai, on the 16th; for Invercargill, on 17th. The candidates announced are — for Oteramika, Mr. Hamilton, late manager for New Zealand Land Company, and Mr. A. Kinross, farmer, and member of the late Southland Provincial Council; for Waihopai, Mr. Wood, late member, and T. L. Perkins, Commission Agent ; and for Invercargill, Mr. Ijumsden, late member, and Mr. R. Tapper, ironmonger. Ido not think the Untried men would get much support on their individual merits, but as all the influence of the Macandrew committee, which is well organised, active, and unscrupulous, will be used in their behalf, tho contests will likely be close. Last night Mr. Perkins addressed the Waihopai electors ; right throughout his address he agreed with the action of Mr. Macandrew, and announced his intention of supporting him through thick and tjhin f At the close of his address, he received a vote of confidence ; but electors are generally lenient with a candidate at his meeting, and a vote at a meeting does not always serve as a guide to the result of an election. For some time an engine has been drawing ballast. <fee, for the Mataura Railway, but the progress made lately has beep scarcely perceptible.