West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY 28, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 215, 28 May 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, MAY 28, 1866.

The " Lyttelton Times" of the 24th inst., reports the proceedings at tho great meeting of electors held at Christchurch for the nomination of candidates for the Superintendency. We have read the narrative with feelings of considerable disappointment. Amongst tho gentlemen who appeared on the hustings were many of tho most influential politicians of tho province, but not one of the speeches delivered rose to the level of tho occasion. Upwards of two thousand persons were present, and the meeting was characterised by an orderliness remarkable under the circumstances of political excitement prevailing, which called for the marked commendation of tho returning officer. Tho topics discussed, however, consisted almost exclu* sively of matters personal and recriminatory. Mr Moorhouse was proposed by Mr Ollivier, and seconded by Mr John Anderson. Mr. Travers found his sponsors in Mr Cutler and Mr Hanmcr. Mr James Edward FitzGerald nominated Mr Lance, who was seconded by Mr J, L, Wilson, in a speech which that gentleman was obliged to conclude summarily, after he hud delivered himself of tho sentiment that the province " wanted a respectable and moral man," and that "Mr Moorhouse's moral character was not up to the mark." Perhaps the best speeches delivered were those of tho candidates themselves ; and- of these the most racy, if not tho ablest, was that of Mr Moorhouse, who was most tho object of persona] attack. Mr Ollivier said the electors were on the horns of a dilemma, for " there were threo very good men coming forward." lie supported Mr Moorhouse in preference to the other two, because "he had been a tried servant of the people, and had not been found wanting." Mr Travers* in justifying his candidature, repudiated all participation in the personal imputations that had been made upon Mr Moorhouse. Ho did not believe that gentleman " had ever done anything dishonorable. He might have erred in tact nnd judgment, but he believed him to bo a straightforward and honest man. The best proof of that Mas that Mr Moorhouse had retired from the Superintendency none tho richer for tho office ho had held, lie could not see the advantago of tryin.* to put down a man by attacking his private character." He, however, held that Mr Moo'rhouse, although an honest man, was " a weak one, who allowed his natural capacity to be overshadowed by his sense of justice to those who were most powerful; he could not resist thoso who cried the loudest, who were those who had not consulted the greatest interests of the community." Mr Ollivier said "tho contest mainly hinged on tho interpretation of the Waste Land Regulations," and Mr Travers rested his pretentious to the support of the electors chiefly on his opposition to tho preemptive rights claimed by tho squatters. He said "ho hda suspicion, during his practice as a lawyer, about the matter, but had no opportunity of examining into it. When he came forward to bo Superintendent, he thought no man should do so without enquiring into these things ; so ho told one of his clerks to procure a map of pre-emptive rights. When he saw it he was struck with political horror, at this evil creeping in all directions, and admitted by all parties to bo a downright blot on our institutions. When he saw it he was determined to expose it, because, whether elected or not, ho could put his hand on his heart and say, * I have raked up a largo evil, which will bo got rid of.' "

Mr Lance discussed no political questions, and [contented himself with justifying his candidature as "a new man" by a reference to the many inducements that had been offered him to como forward, both by (private friends mid by

electors from all parts of the province His speech was undoubtedly that of an honest and honorable-minded man. Ho deprecated the attempt that had been mado to render the contest ono of class against class. Ho defended himself against the chargo of being a puppol. If ho had not hitherto taken any prominent part in public affairs, it Jwas not because ho had not taken an interest in them, but because he had been occupied in establishing his own position as a settler. He " had watched those affairs with care, and know, not only those of the province, but of the colony generally. He was requested to stand by many of the oldest and most influential gentlemen of the province ; they asked him to devote tho leisure timo he now had to tho province. Amongst this number of persdnal friends, able to judge of his ability and capacity, he waa proud to say woro those on whom they had frequently bestowed marks of confidence. He was not going to insult those friends, and he was quito certain they would not intend to put into such a position a mere puppet." It was "no use, however," Mr Lance said, " going into tho differont policies before the province ; thoy had been discussed both in doors and out of doors." His address was received with favor by tho olectors, as was deserved by its temperate lone. i

Tho principal passago of arms occurred between Mr FitaGerald and Mr Moorhouse. It would be a very profitless task to enter into any discussion of the specifiic charges mado against the lattor gentleman's former administration of the government of tho piovince» Very few persons hero are familiar with these details of a past chapter of history, or have the materials at command for forming a dispassionate- and intelligent judgment upon them. One sample of charge and defence will suffice. Mr FitzGerald :— " Ho did not say thero was anything wrong or dishonor, ablo in Mr Moorhouse's career. They were talking about whether a man was fit to conduct tho Government, not of wrong or dishonor. He did not think it was wrong or dishonorable of Mr Moorhouse to havo purchased all that land round tho railway station ; but a man in his position should not havo done it, because his private interest was tied up with his public duties, and circumstances might havo arisen to make it a hard thing to disentangle them. Supposing, for a moment, that it had been necessary to remove tho station for tho railway (for the contract was not then made) to some other part ; he would ask them, would Mr Moorhouse, the proprietor of all tho land round the station, have boon in tho same position to exercise a fair and honest discretion as if he had no land at all there ? - As a public • man, Mr Moorhouse sold his right of public judgment" To which Mr Moorhouse, in reply : — " When he had bought property near tho Railway Station, had it never occurred, to Mr FitzGerald that his object was to give a portion of it to the Government, and so set an example ? He did give land to tho Government for L2OO which he could have sold forL3ooo, because he was Superintendent, and it was incumbent on him to set an example. The chief Magistrate ought to walk amongst the people with clean hands." Mr FitzGerald's main objection to Mr Moorhouse, however, is that he is intent on keeping tho reins of the State coach in his own hands, and governing by puppets and back stairs influence Perhaps the confusion of metaphor is excusabl ) under tho exciting influences of a contested election, Tho meaning is obvious:— "Ho did not think Mr Moorhouse knew how to administer government, because he had reduced the whole Provincial Council to the state of mere puppets. Thoy might talk of puppets ; but ho remembered thirty-six puppets sitting in the Chamber, dancing while Mr Moorhouse piped. He believed the tendency of Mr Moor- 1 house's government was to destroy the peoplo's sense of thoir power, and that he wanted to bo looked up to as v despot. He (Mr FitzGerald) wished to live in a freo country, governed by public thought, and not where things were done in a mysterious underhand manner."

Now appears Mr Moorhouse himself 1 upon tho stago, with a sort of grim humor. " All well disposed persons must regard the occasion as one of sovero trial" to tho candidates. During tho protracted proceedings ho had boon "measuring his shortcomings, with a viow to amelioration, 60 that, notwithstanding tho eloquenco of Mr FitzGerald — which was no joko— and tho moro finished eloquenco of Mr Cutler — which was a still more sevoro trial — or the interjeotions of Mr Wilson— and tho fact that he was paraded as an immoral man — ho was as fresh as new paint — prepared, if possible to serve the province, more zealously them ever,"

Mr FitzGerald says, "I, J. E. FitzGerald, Esq., by the Grace of God, nominate J. D. Lance, Esq., to bo the Superintendent of the province." Mr Moorhouse vindicated his acceptance of tho representation of Westland in the General Assembly, and declared his object to be " not to exalt himself or to add to a reputation which he did not desire to increase, but to serve tho province." Whatever the result of this election might be, he and Mr FitzGerald would go into the Assembly together, and would doubtless do some good. "He should endeavor to make use of all Mr FitzGerald's talents, by agreeing witbflhim on every occasion when ho could do so. He would join the leaden weight of his own dull stupidity to Mr FitzGerald's talent when the enthusiasm of tho latter got the better of his judgment, aud he trusted that with the assistance of those other good men who wore going to the Assembly with him, some good would bo done to the province."

Suoh was the staple of the talk that took place on the occasion. Tho "Times'' concludes its report as follows :—": — " Tho show of hands was declared to be in favor of Mr Moorhouse. There were about twice as many hands held up for him as for Mr Lance ; and about three times as many for Mr Lance as for Mr Travers."