The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 773, 7 February 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1871.

The election for the district of Buller is now over, and has resulted in the return of Mr O'Conor hy a majority of GG votes. With our past experience of Mr O'Conor it is needless to state that we view this result with regret, and this feeling will, we fear, be almost generally participated in before another opportunity will be presented to the constituency to elect a member to serve in the House of Representatives. The struggle has been a hard one, and more especially so in the Southern portion of the district. Both in Charleston and Brighton Mr Donne secured majorities—in Charleston the narrowest one possible, and in Brighton the very respectable m-.jority of 27 votes out of 109 polled by the two candidates. Mr Tardley's candidature has not, we think, affected the polling either ono way or the other, since of 1030 votes polled, Mr Yardley obtained bul 2->, which, as likely as not, would have been divided

between the two candidates. As compared with previous elections, and, making allowance for the diminished population in certain localities, there has been, with the exception of the northern terraces, a greater degree of interest exhibited, and a larger number of votes polled than was anticipated. At Giles, however, where Mr Donne's supporters calculated upon twice the number of votes being recorded, and where a majority was expected, at least sufficient to balance Mr O'Conor's superiority at Addison's, the polling gave a result of 98 votes only, with a majority of 14 for Mr Donne. How this miscalculation in respect to the northern portion of the district can have arisen, it is difficult to say, but as it is impossible that a proportionate number of the electors can have exercised the franchise, it can only be assumed that an apathy to be deplored, with respect to the result of the election, induced the majority not to go to the poll, or that a feeling of confidence as to Mr Donne's return deterred them from leaving their avocations in order to lend their support. Whatever inducement may have operated, the result is the same; and if Mr O'Conor has been returned by a comparatively small majority, the defeat is not the less to be regretted, that it might, perhaps, easily have been averted. It remains for us, however, to strengthen rather than to weaken the hands of the new member. There is an old adage " that it is never too late to mend," and the condition of that man must indeed be of an exceptional character of whom it may be said that reformation is impossible. That Mr O'Conor has hitherto indulged iu personalities of the gravest kind, and recklessly imputed venal and degrading motives to any political opponents, even his numerous supporters will not deny ; and it now remains for Mr O'Conor, in the sphere to which he has been exalted, to endeavor, by a painstaking and modest discharge of the duties appertaining to his office, to induce a respect, which no indulgence could accord to him as a representative in the Provincial Council. May he bear in mind that, excepting only Grreymouth and Hokitika, he represents the largest constituency in the Colony ; that the legislation of the ensuing session of Parliament is certain to include many measures which must affect, prejudicially or otherwise, these goldfields; and that upon his unanimity with the various West Coast members, and success in maintaining friendly relations with his colloagues, must greatly depend any future benefit that this district is likely to derive.