THE ELECTION—LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

Westport Times, Volume 1, Issue 144, 16 January 1868, Page 2

THE ELECTION—LAST NIGHT'S MEETING.

A meeting of the electors of "Westport took place yesterday evening, in the dining-room of Hamilton's PostOffice Hotel, to hear an exposition of the views on politics and things in general of Mr James Graham, the only candidate who has as yet come forward to solicit the votes of the constituency. The room was densely crowded, in fact was not near large enough to accommodate the number who we : e desirous of gaing admission. After some delay, Mr Ferris was voted into the chair. He called upon Mr Graham to address the meeting, which he did at considerable length and with much unction, v explainining that he v/as altogether opposed to provincial institutions and to the " Superintenders" which belonged to them, but was in favor of the creation of " Musonic-Pallisses" and of Roads Boards. He advocated the opening up of the country by the cutting of tracks in places where the diggers had never yet penetrated, and the establishment of Mining Boards for the settlement of disputes. He likewise dilated upon a number of other measures with a native eloquence much more forcible than elegant, and concluded a lengthened address amidst the enthusiastic applause of his supporters. In reply to a question, he said that he would be in favor of one miner's right for the whole colony as soon as the General Government had taken entire charge of the colony. With regard to the railway from Nelson to Cobden, he would decidedly approve of it if it could be made with private capital; but he didn't think they'd got any public " funs" to pay for it.

Mr Gillespie proposed, and Mr Corrigan seconded, a resolution to the effect that Mr Graham was a fit and proper person to represent Westport in the Provincial Council of Nelson.

Mr Neil said that the candidate had talked about making tracks, but he had not told them where he was goinoto make them to. He could not regard such talk as anything but a " bit of bunkum." He had not favored them with a synopsis of the requirements of the district. He (Mr Neil) would like to know if he would be in favor of free ferries.

Mr Graham said he should be quite ready to go ia for a free ferry when Mr Neil gave a free loaf.

Another gentleman wanted to know something about brickmaking on the Buller, but the nature of his queries was somewhat vague and misty. Mr J. B. Clarke rose to make some objections to Mr Graham's fitness to represent them. If,ashe said himself, he was notable to find words to express his views to them,; who were all acquaintances of his, of his own class in life, and quite prepared to listen to what he had to say every indulgence, what sort of fix would he be in when he got to Nelson among a quantity of gentlemen who had had a long experience of public affairs and had

made politics their study ? He would rejoice in seeing a dinger come forward to ask their suffrage?, provided he were a man of more than average intelligence, who would represent not merely the interests of the miner, but of the commercial maii, which should go hand in hand. Mr Barff was a noble evainple of this class of men, and we ought to try to find a similar one to represent us. This ought not to be trusted as a burlesque ; it was a subject of vital importance to the whole constituency. An individual on the platform was about to address the meeting, but hesitating a little, was stopped by a voice calling out, " If you're not going to speaking, lave that." An amendment was moved by Mr Adam Porter to the effect that Mr Graham was not a fit and proper person. On being put, this was negatived, and the previous resolution adopted, almost without a dissentient.

With a vote of thanks to the Chairman, who seemed never to tire of repeating that he was the Chairman, and would be supported, the meeting separated shortly before 10 o'clock.