ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1462, 15 November 1881, Page 3

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

We note by our Canterbury exchanges that Mr Allan W. O'Neill, barrister-at-law, Chrisfcchurch, is a candidate for the representation of one of the Christchurch suburban electorates lately constituted, St. Albans. Mr O'Neill is the scion of an old and highly-respected Auckland family, his brother, Mr Lewis O'Neill, being a well-known practising barrister of this distuct. This new aspirant to parliamentary honors engages many personal advantages in his candidature. He has both family ties and educational endowments of a representative cast. Perhaps we had better let Mr O'Neill tell his own tale in that respect, which he does in a really hutnorsome and rather unique way in an address delivered to the electors a few days ago. "A candidate," he said, "was allowed to be egotistical, because many of the electors, not knowing him, would naturally want to know what he was like. He would follow the usual course and exhaust the egotistical portion first, then proceed to the political. His reason for thus presenting himself, at the eleventh hour, to iepreM;nt so "educated, intelligent, and refined' 1 a constituency as -t. Albans was (though it sounaed like a paradox), his roodenty. He had waited for home one else to come forward in the Government interest, but only two candidates had done so, and they had capered about the political arena under somewhat erratic colors. This mi«ht be called romantic, but they munt all admit it wap plucky. As to the romance, it existed in both cotcnjre nnd palace, and helped to brighten everyday life. He hud come forward without a lint of qualifications, aud with nothing in his hand ; his* principal morit being that he was the son of an old colonist, who had for some years represented Auckland in the As-einbly, and who lmd subsequently passed to the quieter shades of the Upper House. He had been born amid«t and had breathed the very air of politics, and had also been educated in them. Some people would say so much the worse, but, having hinisolf peru^d many of the candidates' fipepchc, he pubmitted they should know something of the subjects they might have to discuss. He was a B.A. of that university whk-h had listened to the eloquenco of Buik.-, Gratten and O'Connel, and, although Dublin Univeisity had listened but inattentively to O'NeiJl, he still thought of and spoke of her as mother. He pro essed al o a high opinion of the important mission and influence of woman, and, lastly, must confess himself to be a lawyer. This would probably be considered an objection, but he was of opinion it was almost impossible to deal with the questions likely to arise in Parliament without the aid of lawyers. There were, however, " Lawyers and lawyers." Colonial politics were, no doubt, an important theme, still they were not the "be all and end all" of existence. In further explanation we gather that he is a supporter of the present Governiuont and that his candidature is well received. Our Auckland correspondent telegeaphs last night :— lt is thought probable that Mr Sheehan will stand for Waitemata, leaving the Thames contest between Messrs McCullough and Speight. Mr Reader Wood, has practically withdrawn from the contest for Waiteuiata.