WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 767, 24 January 1871, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(from our own correspondent.) January 18. Since my last letter we have had two elections decided—namely, for the Hutt and the Wellington country districts. For the former there were two candidates, the Hon. W. Fitzherbert and a Mr Colsou. They polled respectively ninety and eight votes, so the former was elected. The man Colson got nominated, and polled simply to spite the Government and put them to some expense. A little while ago he was accustomed to let his cows wander at large upon the roads. He was cautioned several times, and at length the poiico charged him in the Magistrate's Court with the offence. He was fined Is and costs, and refused to pay. A bailiff was put in his house, and he threatened to knock " hell " out of him. A second

was put in and he swore he'd treat him likewise, aua still not pay. A third was put in, and at length he succumbed and paid. The expenses had run the amount up to about £2, and when he paid be said he'd make them bleed somehow. So he contested the election, and put the couutrj to fully £3O expense. At home there is an arrangement by which, when a man demands a poll, he lodges a sufficient sum to cover the expenses of taking it. Should he obtain a fair share of votes, so as to sliow that the contest was not merely a vexatious one, his money is returned, but otherwise the G-overninent retain it. On the nomination day at the ITutf; Mr Fitzherbert came out in a new character. The proposer of the opposition was a Mr Rush, who abused Mr Kitzberbert till at length lie said he would not speak to him auy more on the hustings. "When it was over " Fitz " went up to Eush and said "Look here Mr Eush, I don't care one farthing for you, physically, intellectually, or any other way. You may make the most of that." Eush subsided.

The poll for the Wellington country districts was taken yesterday. The candidates were Mr A. de B. Brandon, who has represented the district for ten year-, and Mr E. T. Gillon. The former has been very inattentive to his constituency, and has treated with contempt sundry invitations to go and address them alter parliamentary sessions. Had any gentleman at all known in the district coint torward, Mr Lrandon would have been rejected. As it was, Mr Giilon, who had only a week to canvass, and who was before then totally unknown to the electors, was only beaten by 67 votes. Last night we had the first of our election meetings in the city. Mr J. C. Richmond, who has been brought forward by the recently started Eef'orm Association, addressed a crowded audience at the Oddfellows Hall, and spoke for more than two hours. Singularly enough he only alluded to one of the three cardinal points in the Association creed, and on that one—the Native question —he expressed views diametrically opposed to those held by the Association. His speech was very poor and full of claptrap, which was scarcely looked for from him. It was amusing, however, and interspersed with anecdotes to please the audience, aud it did so. As a political speech it was poor. He made one remark which seems sound, and yet 1 can't help thinking it contained a fallacy. I hav'nt thought about it yet, but I can tell you, and you can do the thinking. He said the idea of protection and immigration to be practised simultaneously was absurd Protection to be bearable should be extended to everything—and to labor as well as food and material. Protection and immigration, therefore, could not go on together. 1 took it to be nothing more than a neat specimen of mob-oratory to suit his audience, the majority of whom were laborers. Mr W. T. L. Travers made an election speech under pretence of moving a vote of confidence in Mr Eichmond, but somehow he never opens his mouth without putting his foot in it. He told us last night that all the large buildings in Wellington were built out of the proceeds of the three million loan. "We, here, have been sneered at and taunted with having grown rich on the war, but I scarcely expected that a gentleman who hopes to represent the city in the next Parliament would throw the same in our teeth.

> Some rumor has come to hand last night that eleven bodies have been f'ouud on the beach somewhere about Manawatu. Some Maoris are known to have left Taranairi in a canoe, and nothing has since been heard of them. It is supposed that the bodies found are those of these Maoris. No particulars have yet come to hand. I endeavored to make arrangements for telegraphing to you yesterday, aud on Monday the state of the poll each day, and although I asked on Saturday that your office might be kept open till six to let me telegraph to you, it was not done. I only aslced what is continually done on any special occasion, but the general manager's reputation for civility is not very great.