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Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 478, 16 March 1869, Page 2

Whek we last noticed the ensuing election of a member for the Buller district in the Nelson Provincial Couneil, Mr Luckie was alone in the field, not so much in the capacity of a candidate as one who had been solicited by the electors, or a section of them, to allow himself to be nominated. Notwithstanding the preference which the electors would very properly give to a local man, we were inclined, in the absence of such a one, and a good one of his kind, to favor the claims which, in every other respect but that one of location, Mr Luckie undoubtedly possesses. It happens, however, that Mr Luckie (not to speak of one of his *' good-natured friends " in Westport,) has destroyed the opportunity we had of arguing why our second member in the Provincial Council need not necessarily be a Separationist—of showing, in fact, that it would be better if he were not so. Mr Luckie has cut almost a little before the knot by intimating that, as there were several local candidates in the field, and as it was only in consideration of there being no such candidate that he consented to come forward, he now withdraws. He has done so, of course, on the assumption that Mr

Pitt was an eligible candidate, and that others mentioned by us were equally likely to become candidates. In this assumption he has been wrong, but in his action, as it happens, he has been right, for in his " good-natured friend " aforesaid has there since been found that desideratum—a " local man." A requisition has been presented to Mr E. C. Eeid, and Mr E. C. Eeid, " vowing he would ne'er consent, consented ;" his'virgin soul finding itself no doubt, subdued by the sweet soliciting of so many of the electors. The qualification of local residence has thus been Becured, but it may be that other and more reverend, if not more grave, gentlemen may be found to come forward, and we would have our readers remember that that one qualification is not all that is required. Whether the constituency consider that Mr Eeid possesses sufficient of other qualifications to serve the purpose, or whether they care the cost of a farthing candle as to anyone bein<> returned or not, will be seen on the day of nomination. Meantime, it is gratifying to reflect that there are some pleasing points of fraternal or even twin-like resemblance between the sitting member and the standing candidate. As politicians, both Mr M'Dowell and Mr Eeid may be said to be as yet "on the bottle." They also possess, in somewhat equal proportions, those characteristics which distinguished a certain sailor's parrot—they have more of a genius for contemplation than the gift of great facility of speech. They have the reputation, however, of ordinary capacities for the transaction of very ordinary business; and that, and not politics, may be said to be the subject of a Provincial Council's deliberations. Extending the parallel, we may take it for granted, that although they may even be '' Endowed 'with intellectual sense and souls Of more pre-eminence than fish and fowls," the one might be a fish and the other a fowl for all the good they are likely to effect in the face of the phalanx of twenty-one to whom the affairs of the Province are at present virtually committed.