WEST COAST ELECTION.

West Coast Times, Issue 66, 4 November 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST ELECTION.

A meeting was hold by Messrs Hawkes and Young on Thursday afternoon at the Corinthian Hall, for the purposo of expounding their views to the electors of Hokitika, Avhose suffrages they solicited at tho forthcoming West Coast Elections. A considerable modification of their plans was,howevor, occasignecl by tho arrival of intelligence by special messenger from Christchurch, bearing to Mr Sale an answer to his enquiry as to who were qualified to offer themselves as candidates for legislative honors. Iho answer was most unfavorable to those gentlemen who had already como forward, all of them being disqualified, and tho consequence was that tho meeting eventually resolved itself into ono of indignation. Mr M'Nab, being voted to the chair, briefly stated tho purpose for which it was originally convened. lie stated that Messrs Hawkes and Young were there to explain" themselves, and called upon Mr Young to address the meeting. Mr Young said ho should not detain tho meeting long. Ho had intended to have gono into a lengthy explanation of Ms principles and stated the reasons ho had for coming forward as a candidate for the West Coast. The astounding intolligonce, however, they liad that day received from Christchurch rendered such a proceeding on his part superfluous, as ho was not on the roll of Canterbury olectors. He thanked the meeting for the honor thoy had paid him in attending, and hoped tho next timo he camo boforo thorn he should bo better qualified. Tho speaker was loudly applauded on concluding his address. Mr Hawkes next came forward. He said ho could only repeat that which Mr Young had already stated. He considered it a great hardship they were obliged to return Christchurch men, as it would only increase the difficulties they had been labouring under during tho j>ast six months, if they added two moro to the already too long list of those arrayed against them. It was, however, their duty not to let the matter drop there, but by tho adoption of every constitutional means com})ol Government to comply with their just demands. The speaker, who addressed tho meeting in a manly straightforward manner and to the point, received loud applause on resuming his seat. Cuptain Budd, evidently highly excited, requested permission from tho Chairman to, speak, and vaulting on the stage with astounding agility, plunged at once into tho subject by stating it was the last feather that broke tho camel's back, and that if they could bear that thoy could bear anything. Ho considered it was tho duty of tho jieople of tho West Coast to resent to tho uttermost such a barefaced infringment on their rights, and to opposo a Government who could bo guilty of such paltering with the dearest rights of thoso, whoso veins contained Saxon, Gaelic, or Celtic blood (cheers.) The speaker hero alluded to the unparalleled hardships endured by those who first brought to light the treasures of the West Coast, which had proved so conducive to forwarding the interests of Christchurch ; and that tho returns made by that section of tho Province wero insulting in tho extreme, and no less ungrateful; and the only course left open for them to pursue was Separation at tho earliest opportunity. (Immense excitement and cheers.) Ho had travelled the coast of Now Zealand (from the Threo Kings to Stowart's Island, and no part that ho had visited was fitter for sclf-govornmont than tho West Coast of Canterbury. Tho conclusion of the speaker's address was received with coutinucd applause. Mr Chamberlain next addressed the meetiiig. Ho had eouio thero that afternoon to hear Messrs Hawkea and Young express thoir sentiments, and folt griovod that such a stop as tho news they had that heard from Christohurch should have been put to tho proceedings. Ho considered it was tho heaviest blow Hokitika and tho West Coast generally had yot recived, and, moreovor, it \i-ns a stab in tho dark, coming as it did at tho last momont on the* evo of tho election. Tho present policy of Christchuroh was proving the bano of tho land, and redress must be obtained. Ho felt suro no Christchurch man would bo elected — it wouid be a dishonor to ourselves to do so. A liberal franchise must bo demanded, and our

own men put it. This was not the only grievance wo had to complain of, only too many more existed (applause). The speaker hero spoke strongly against the expensive undertakings the Canterbury Government had now on hand (applause) ; denounced the overland road, and complained bitterly that in spite of tho immense sacrifice of human life, through tho absence of bridges and tracks here, no attempt was made to improve the country by the formation of roads to outlying diggings and tho construction of bridges (cheers). Separation was tho only remedy, and that we must obtain at any prico, by constitutional measures if possible, but if not by the strong hand. (Loud and continued cheering). This concluding tho business of tho meeting, a vote of thanks was awarded tho chair, and the assemblage separated.