REPRESENTATION OF WESTLAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 153, 15 March 1866, Page 2

REPRESENTATION OF WESTLAND.

On Tuesday ovoning last, a meeting of electors was convened at tho Kanieri township, to hear Mr Shaw, tho local candidate for tho General Assombly, givo an exposition of his political viows. Tho largo room of tho Commercial Hotol was engaged for tho purpose, and by tho timo appointed was filled .to oxcobs, by a quiot and attentivo audience. At half-past eight o'clock tho ohair wa9 taken by Mr Dale, of tho Post Ofllco Store, who briefly introduced Mr Shaw to tbo meeting, and requested it would givo him a patient hoaring. Mr Shaw, who, on rising, was rccoivod with marked approbation, oponod his address by explaining why ho had visited thorn that ovoning, and sarcastically alluded to tho liberality displayed by tho lato Assorably, which had allowed Westland to send one member in, whilst Otogo had no less than fifteen representatives in tho Houso, whilst tho numerical difference in tho population of that province and Wostland was uot bo marked us to warrant such an excess. He alluded to tho candidates who had been nominated on Monday last, and hoped that the electors would boo how nocossary it was that they should be represented by a local man, ono whoso interests lay in Wostland, and ono who thoroforo would bo rnoro likciy to faithfully "servo thorn, than ono ohoson out of a, community whose sym« pathios woro antagonistic to their own. Ho gavo an illustrafion that such was, and had boon, tho caso, and entered into a rqyiow of tho financial polioy of Ohristohuroh during tho past twolvo months, clearly demonstrating to his hoarors tho injustice, rapacity, and sol(Ulmcsß, which had characterised that policy. Ho drew a graphic picture of tho past and present condition of Westland, and stated it to bo'his conviction that* tho time had arrived that rondored separation from Ohristclmrch in* disponsablo for its future- woll boiug, and that he trusted ho should, if elected, bo tho means of oflbctiug so dosirablo a rosulfc. Mr Shaw doolarod ho camo forward to represent tho district vory unwillingly, as ho felt sure it would intorforo very seriously with his business, but rathor than tho district should bo unroprosoutod, or left to tho lender mercies of a Ohristohurch nominee, ho would for a fow months saorifioo his own interests for tho public good. Ho warned his audionco that many Christchuroh men woro in tho Held intriguing; for Mr Moorhouso, and trusted that tho electors woro m flvor of a local man, aud would remember that Friday noxt was tho polling day, and not fail to record thoir votes, Tho sper.kor touehod upon tho approaohiug land saleß and tho important measures likely to bo brought boforo tho Assombly during tho noxt session, and considered it would be au anomaly if any other than a man who could givo a substantial guarantee of good faith, was entrusted to advocate tho cause of Westland when such measures camo boforo tho House. On resuming his seat Mr Shaw was loudly applauded, and on its being proposed by Mr J. M. Rynn, and seconded by Mr Schubart, that Mr Shaw was a fit and proper person to represent tho district iv tho Assembly, tho motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to tho Chair terminated tho proceedings,