THE SUPERINTENDENCY OF NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 575, 2 November 1869, Page 2

THE SUPERINTENDENCY OF NELSON.

YESTERDAY'S ELECTION. The vexed question of present and greatest Provincial interest—the election of a Superintendent—is by this time settled. How it has been settled —whether in favor of Curtis, Akersten, or Gibbs—is not yet known, though it maybe shrewdly suspected, nor is it likely to be locally known until to-morrow, or even Thursday. Numerous polling places—perhaps a majority —are without telegraphic communication, and information of the result of the polling can only be received in Nelson by ordinary and slow means of conveyance. But, no doubt, every despatch will be used in forwarding to the Principal Returning Officer the result of the poll at the different places, and, immediately upon the receipt of the particulars here, either in part or whole, we shall publish them in extra editions. The events preceding the polling are, of course, now of little interest. The disposition will, no doubt, be, as it ought to be —to obliterate any recollection of the past, so far as display of antagonistic feeling has gone, and to allow the world to wag as it wont. It is proper, however, for the perfectness of narrative, to record the few incidents which locally and immediately preceded the election. At the date of our last number, a Committee existed in Westport—a Committee appointed by public meeting—for the purpose of obtaining evidence as to the relative chancas of Messrs Akersten and Gibbs on the Nelson side of the Province. The original intention of the Committee —to send a deputation to Nelson jointly with Charleston—was abandoned, in consequence of the short space of time preceding the date of election, and in consequence also of frequent interruptions to communication by telegraph, which, as usual at such a critical season, was playing most " fantastic tricks." Instead of a deputation, the Committee sent telegrams to three gentlemen in Nelson—Messrs Lightband, Barnicoat, and Tasker. From the first-mentioned, a reply was received on Friday morning, in these words : "Gibbs has the greatest chance in town and couutry. Unless the West Coast poll for him to a man, Curtis will go in."

This was received by Mr John Munro, as one of the Committee, and was by him retained. The purport of it became known through the medium of some of his friends. On the same afternoon a meeting of the Committee was held, to communicate with Charleston, at which a meeting was to be held in the evening. It had previously been arranged with the assent of the Charleston delegate, Mr Neale, that any information received was to be mutually for the benefit of Charleston and Westport. A telegram was sent to the Charleston people, stating that a deputation could not be present at their meeting, as was requested. Another meeting of the Committee was proposed for four o'clock, so as to decide upon the information received, but this was not agreed to. The contents of the telegram were not communicated to Charleston, and in the evening a meeting was held there. Its result was the carrying of a resolution iu favor of support being given to Mr Akersten. Next morning the Westport Committee met and debated the telegram which had not previously been produced, and which had not been sent to Charleston. The result of this meeting, after much argument, and against a series of amendments, was the passing of a resolution affirming the weight of evidence to be in favor of Mr Gibbs. This was passed by five to three, and there had been a previous resolution that the minority should abide by the decision of the majority. The minority protested. The majority were Messrs Powell, Alcorn, Whyte, Sheahau, and Ueid. The minority were Messrs Munro, O'Conor, and Simpson. In the evening, the determination of the Charleston people became known by the receipt of the day's issue of the local paper. Except as published in these columns, in a subdued form, the contents of the telegram from Mr Lightband were unknown, and the news from Charleston naturally caused excitement. Most people were waverers, waiting for some definite or impartial evidence, and the feeling with many was that, as Charleston and Brighton had apparently declared in one direction, so should Westport. There were others who had still, from their own private sources of informamation, faith in Gibbs, and there were some who, similarly informed, were determined, on his merits, not to vote for Akersten under any circumstances. The minority thought with those who thought with Charleston; a list of names favorable to Mr Akersten was obtained; and a public meeting was called. At this meeting (part of the proceedings at which—we refer to the part taken by Mr Munro—it would be unsafe, with any respect to " narrative," to even faintly characterise) Mr O'Conor spoke warmly and well in the cause of Akersten and unanimity; and a resolution similar to that adopted at Charleston was carried by a considerable majority. Thus encouraged, a nominal committee was formed; placards were issued on Saturday night and Sunday; and self-elected deputies were despatched—Mr O'Conor to Addison's, Mr Munro to Gilea's. There bad previously been no cohesion of friends of Mr Gibbs, nor was there now, except that, in the afternoon, a few called themselves a Committee and

issued a small poster. One or twc friends of Mr Curtis did the same on a large scale; and up to the hour of polling the following was the printed information by which the electors were guided:— FOB AKEBSTEN. As a Guarantee of Unanimity, the attention of the Electors is directed to the following list nf Mr Akersten's Committee :—J. Simpson, J. A. M. Turner, G. Nicholas, T. Watson, F. Arenas, J. Murray, J.* Simon, J. Johnstone, J. lluehes, J. L, Munson, E. Koehe, P.Byrne, F. Luff, J. G. Hay, J. Dupuis, J. Milne, E. Rowlands, D. Emanuel, F. White, F. Hunger, T. F. Dutton, J. Shulhoff, J. Magner, J. Tonks, E. J. O'Conor, J. Seaton.P. F. Smyth, G. Limbrick, T. Bond, J. Suisted, J. Corr, G. Jarviss, G. Falla, J. Harris, T. W. Melville, S. Hughston, P. Monahan, J. Grady, G. Jordan, F. Sontgen, E. Smyrk, J. Draghiravich, T. Field, \V. Bull, D. Dowd, J. Sheldon, J. Grant, A. H'Rae.—Jno. Mitnbo, Chairman.—W. Lloyd, Secretary.—Committee Rooms, Moles worth street. Electors! Every vote given for Gibbs is a vote lost—Charleston and Brighton have declared for Akersten.—See result of meeting at Charleston in the Charleston Herald : Unanimous in favor of Akersten.—Pull together, now or never, and show the influence of the West Coast. Electors! Support Charleston and Brighton by Voting for Akersten.—Go early to the Poll and record your vote in his favor.—lf you vote for Gibbs, Curtis will be Elected ; therefore vote fot Akeisten. i'OK GIBBS. Mr Gibbs's Westport Committee numbers 89.—Names being published.—All Electors —No absentees. Vote for Gibbs, and do not be led away by Munro's faction. —By Order of Gibbs's Committee. Electors ! Do not be led away by falsehood and clap-trap.—Mr Elliot, Chairman of Mr Curtis's Committee, writes to an Elector in Westport stating that Gibbs is much the more dangerous opponent to Mr Curtis in the present contest. He writes, "I don't believe Akersten will poll 100 votes in Nelson, and not over 200 in town and country. Encourage the Akersten party."—lf you vote for Akersten, Monday will show your folly. —Vote for Gibbs.—By Order of Gibbs's Committee. FOB CUBTIS. The Right Man in the Right Place.—To the Electors of Westport, Curtis is the only man to vote for.—The Guarantee of Unanimity is all a farce ; A Vote for Akersten being as much thrown away as one for Gibbs. Therefore, Vote for Curtis.—By Order of the Committee. After the close of the meeting there was, of course, a retirement by many to the National Concert Hall, where Mr Jim Hull sang several songs " respectfully dedicated to the free and independent electors," and sang also a wail of warning, with this refrain and moral:— Now take my advice and be careful, Or the election will give you surprise: If you go splitting up into fragments, Mr Curtis will open your eyes. In the next verse I will give you a picture That has often occur'd to my view, And the moral you find by deduction I think may be useful to you. MOBAL. Two bull-dogs were having a battle, Disputing the claim of a bone, When a little unfortunate mongrel Was watching the contest alone. The two noble creatures went at it, With arguments angry and fast, While the little outsider '' played 'possum," And collar'd the morsel at last. There were other meetings, in bars and bar parlors, prolonged to the small hours, characterised by loud and long talking, but ending with hope in the bosoms of the unbelieving majority that Akersten was the coming man, and doubts in the mind of the minority that Gibbs was not.

PUBLIC MEETING. Of the meeting of Saturday it is not necessary to give a full report, as it was all anticipatory of an event which is now an accomplished fact. We simply give sufficient to indicate the steps which, with others taken previously, led to the decision of the Westport electors. Mr O'Conob was called to the chair, and he explained that he did so then as an avowed and open partizan, favoring one candidate, Mr Akersten; but he promised to act impartially as chairman, bespeaking only leave to address the meeting according to his sympathies. He upheld Mr Akersten's candidature because, on the one hand, they had no reliable information as to the chances of either in Nelson, and they had with them the weight of the votes in Charleston and Brighton. By a slip of the tongue Mr O'Conor said the candidate whom he favored was Curtis, whereupon there was laughter, and such exclamations as " Tes; that's what you're doing." Whereupon, again, Mr O'Conor said he had got "the Irishman's answer" for that. He concluded by reading a letter from Mr Elliott, Nelson, Chairman of Mr Curtis's Committee, to Mr J. Ellis, Charleston, saying " The more the votes are divided between Akersten and Gibbs, the better for our cause." Mr Mtjnbo referred to the remarkable coincidence of Mr O'Conor and him appearing on the same platform.. This he did not think it necessary to explain, except by referring to the one great object of securing unanimity to oust Mr Curtis. He hoped the meeting would give him credit that he had no other motive. He then gave, amidst frequent interruptions and exclamations, his version of the Committee's proceedings, and also gave his version of the telegram received. He read the telegram when cilled upon to do so by Mr Whyte. He repudiated being an unreserved supporter of Mr

Akersten, but ho considered that the resolution of the Committee had been arrived at unreasonably. The minoritywere not to be " done," and they had called the meeting. Why should they not agree with Charleston and Brighton ? He concluded by moving: " That this meetiug pledge themselves to support the decision of Charleston and Brighton, twice confirmed, in favor of Mr Akersten, and recommend the electors of the Nelson South-west Goldtields to vote for that gentleman as the surest way to oust Mr Curtis."

Mr O'Conob during Mr Munro's remarks, solicited him to avoid personalities, and, at their conclusion he reminded the meeting that, with reference to the Committee, Mr Munro was speaking solely for himself. Mr Whyte seconded the motion pro forma, for the purpose of contradicting Mr Munro's representation of the Committee's proceedings. The Committee, upon the evidence they had received, considered, by a majority, that Mr Gibbs was most likely to contest the election most successfully. The action of the majority of the Committee had been placed in a suspicious light by Mr Munro, without the slightest sense of straightforwardness, and the action of individual members had been wantonly impugned. Mr Whyte proceeded by narrating the proceedings of the Committee, the proceedings connected with the telegram from Mr Lightband, and the different effect which might have been given by the Charleston people to their meeting had that telegram been forwarded to Charleston, as it ought to have been. He cared not whether the meeting decided for Akersten or not. He would vote for him if he thought he had the slightest show of getting in. To his mind, the weight of evidence did not go to show that Mr Akersten would succeed even if the Charleston people went for him. Mr Simpson, as one of the Committee, said the fact was that " the Gibbsites were too much for tbem." At the same time he said that, not till he heard the news from Charleston, did he go in for Akersten. Mr Alcoen would not vote for Akersten, if ho saw he had the slightest chance, but he challenged anyone to produce evidence that he had a chance. On the other hand, though he objected to the selection of Mr Lightband, from subsequent explanations he considered his telegram valuable evidence. Why should they throw over any such evidence for the preference of Charleston and Brighton, which were without the evidence ? Mr Bbown, in a speech which was applauded, approved of the action of the Committee, and counselled the meeting not to commit itself to Akersten. They would be doing so against the evidence the Committee had received. Mr John Hughes ireutioned that another telegram had been received—a telegram from Mr Barnicoat; and there were loud calls for it. Mr Munbo produced the telegram referred to. It was in these words : " I have taken no part in the election, and cannot estimate the relative chances of Akersten and Gibbs." If it had at all affected the interests of the election, he would have produced it before.

Mr O'Conok wished lo address the meeting, but the meeting seemed to forget the terms upon which Mr O'Conor had taken the chair, and called upon him to vacate it. Mr Simpson volunteered to OGcupy the chair pro tern., and Mr O'Conor vacated it, when he spoke strongly in favor of the resolution. During his speech Mr John Harris ascended the platform. Amidst the noise his appearance created, he was lifted off hi? feet by Mr O'Conor, and dropped gently from the stage to the floor. He again ascended, and succeeded, amidst a turmoil, in expressing his" feeling that it was too bad of Mr O'Conor to detain the meeting so long "when Jim Hull was at his house (the National) able and willing to give all of them advice on the election " Having delivered himself of this puff presumptuous, Mr Harris left the stage, and " went on his way rejoicing." Mr Munro, as the mover, replied. Heaven knew that the two men were scarcely worthy fighting for; but he fought for the love of order and unanimity. The resolution was put, and carried as stated. THE POLLING. Sunday was mildly desecrated during most of the day, and in the evening there were 6ome hot scrimmages in the streets, but only in words. The hopes of Mr Akersten's friends were strengthened by that time or on the following morning by the receipt of several telegrams. One was from Mr Rowlands : Large meeting last night. Divided between Akei-sten and Curtis. Vote to a man for Akersten. And there was another —the following—from Mr Haller: — Exciting meeting last night. Town divided between Akersten and Curtis. Gibbs nowhere. Vote for Akersten to a man. There was a third telegram signed Thomas Tasker, not addressed to the Committee, but to Messrs Hughes, O'Conor, and Munro. It was : If the West Coast vote for Akersten he wins. If the votes are split, or for Gibbs, Curtis will go in. These were posted prominently in the situation in Q-ladstone street which may Borne day be chosen as a site for a monument to a Superintend-

ent with West Coaat proclivities. They were eagerly perused, and no doubt had—and very legitimately—considerable effect with the electors. This situation —opposite the Post Office —served as a sort of political exchange for the day, and a crowd, varying in dimensions according to the demands of appetite for shandy-gaff or other deleterious mixtures, surrounded it until the declaration of the poll. Except one trivial and temporary loss of temper, there was the utmost goodnature exhibited—we were going to say by both sides, but there was really only one side, or, at best, a side and a half. The Akersten party went to work and wetting with a will. They looked up the waverers, rallied the indifferent, argued the opposition into reason on the plea of unanimity, and did altogether some active electioneering work. There could not be said to be any distinguishable party for Gibbs, and, after the resolutions of the meetings at Westport and Charleston, no doubt many declined to vote. So far as they were known, the Curtis men —who voted for their man for a variety of reasons —were estimated to number from 15 to 25, and it will be seen that they just split the difference. Not more than one " squib " was issued during the day. Some one was bold enough to pay the printer for this :—■ " Will the Chairman of Akersten's Committee take 40 to 1 on Akersten ? Remember, money down. No billiard touch. —Electob." There would, no doubt, have been much more indulgence in " squibs," telegrams, and pretended reports of the state of the poll; but the Rangitoto had arrived at Hokitika, and the wires were occupied with the transmission of the news to the exclusion of all private telegrams. Any telegrams that were forwarded were received only after the poll had closed. The most demonstrative gentlemen in the assembled crowds were the professional bell-men. They, no doubt, served a purpose, but it was not that of affecting the chances of any of the candidates. More interesting than them, a great deal, were the two scrutineers as they emanated papers in hand from the office in which Dr Giles had acted during the day as Returning Officer, and as they intimated the result of the poll, which was received with cheers. From that time, the interest was concentrated on the telegraph office, and the receipt of the intelligence of the astonishing—it is to be feared, the much misplaced—unanimity of Charleston was received with tremendous rounds of cheering. The telegraph office then closed, and excitement subsided. At a later hour, the office was opened when we received a report of the result at Brighton and at Nelson, and from Addison's and the Caledonian the Returning Officers arrived. The following, so far as yet learnt, is the RESULT OF THE POLL.

WESTPORT : Akersten 62 Gibbs 28 Curtia 21 CHARLESTON : Akersten 131 Curtis 16 Gibbs 1 BRIGHTON: Akersten ... ... 47 Gibbs 0 Curtis 0 addison's flat : Akersten 10 Curtis 3 Gibbs 0 CALEDONIAN: Gibbs 24 Akersten ... ... 10 Curtis ... ... ... 1 NELBON : Curtis 384 Akersten ... ... 70 Gibbs ... 58 Horn ... ... ... 1 Poor Mr Poppleton Horn, it will be seen, has obtained only one vote — probably his own. The only telegrams which came to our hands during the day were one from Cobden and two from Nelson. That from Cobden was simply to the effect that there were not more than twenty votes there altogether, ten of which would probably be given to Gibbs, and ten to Curtis.