GENERAL ELECTIONS.

OITY OF OHRISTOHUROH.

The nomination of candidates for fche Cifcy of Chrisfcohurch took placo at fcho Oddfellows' Hall, at noon, yesterday. There was a large attendance. Mr George Leslie Lee (Returning Offioer) read tho writ, and askod if any eleotor had a candidate to propose. Mr L. E. Nathan said ho had pleasure in proposing fche hon E. Riohardson, a gentleman who had distinguished himself in the past, and promised woll for (he future. He thought it a great privilege thafc the eleotors of Ohrisfcehuroh should have the opportunity of returning so excellent a Representative as Mr Riohardson. (Ohoors.) Mr Riohardson had rendered great sorvice to fche Country in fche proseoution of the Publio Works sohomo, to whioh the Oolony was pledged. The suocess of fchafc soheme, so far, had been, in a very groat measure, owing fco fcho able administration of Mr Riohardson. (Ohoors.) Howevor certain they might fool fchafc Mr Riohardson would bo returned, ho would ask all fche electors who wero favourable to Mr Richardson's refcurn, to go fco fcho poll and record fchoir vofcos, so as fco show thafc fcho important; Consfcifcuonoy of Ohrisfcohuroh agreed wifch fchafc gentleman's polioy. (Cheers.) Although ho (Mr Nafcban) Ml certain fchafc Mr Riohardson would bo afc tbo head of fcho poll, he would ask evory ono of hia supporters to | rooord thoir vofcos. (Hear, hear, and oheors,) Mr E. B. Bishop seoonded fche nomination, Mr John Ingms said ifc gavo him groafc pleasure fco proposo Mr E. 0. J. Stovons to reprcaonfc fchom in the Houao of Representatives. It was quito right and proper fchafc a commercial man should roprosenfc a oommorcial oonsfcifcuonoy. Ho (Mr Inglis) believed fcbafc if fchoro woro moro commercial mon in tho Houso of Representatives, fewer mistakes would bo committed in legislation. (Oheers.) Mr Stevens had had a greafc deal of exporienco in political and oommoroial affairs, and ho would make a very excellent representative. (Oheers.) Mr Stevens h(4

I taken the opportunity to express his views vory fully, and with thoso viows he (Mr ' Inglis) agreed alike on fche quostion of fcho ! Orown Tenants, Triennial Parliaments, Education and Free Trade, whioh wus fcho only oourso open to the Oountry if thoy hopod to beoomo a great and prosperous nation, Liko Mr Nathan, he would ask all Mr Stovons' supporters fco reoord fchoir voteß. Mr W. D. Wood sooondod Mr Stovons' nomination. Mr Geobgk GouiiD roso to support Mr Stevens' nomination, and expressed a hope that fcho candidates would state whafc fchoir viows woro wifch regard to tho erection of publio buildings. Mr Wynn Wiimams proposed Mr S. P. Andrews. This was fcho third timo he (Mr Williams) had performed a like duty fcowards Mr Andrews. Ifc had beon assorted that Mr Andrews would have no weight in the House j if he were returnod, but he (Mr, Williams) oould assure them that Mr Androws would comparo moro than favourably with many who had oooupied scats in past Parliaments. (Hear, hear, and ohoors.) Mr Daniel Rebsw oooonded Mr Andrews' nomination. Mr Fredk. Hobbs proposod Mr Wm.Soffcon Moorhouse. (Cheers.) They all know whafc Mr Moorhouse's services fco Canterbury had been in fche pasfc. Ib was owing to tho indomitable pluck and persoverance of Mr Moorhouse that fche Lyttelton and Ohristohuroh Railway was mado afc fcho timo it waß. Mr Moorhouse was the father of progress and of fcho Publio Works sohomo whioh had boon endorsed by tho Colony, Ho was not taking any credit from Sir Julius Vogol whon ho said this, beoauso Sir Julius Vogol had fcwioe admitted the same thing. (Ohoors.) He hoped the elootors would plaoe fche hon. B. Richardson afc fche head of fche poll, because ho thought thafc position was his duo— (no, no) —and that Mr Moorhouse would be plaoed nexfc on (he list, (Cheers,) Mr Wm. Wiison seconded the nomination,' Mr E. J, Wakebiel/D said he was an elector of Ohristohuroh, and therefore had a right fco proposo a candidate. Ho bogged to propose Mr Edward Jorningham Wakefield. (Ohoors and laughter,) He would ask if any elootor in fcho room had tho courage to moefc fche frowns of some whom ho saw in fcho room by seconding his (Mr Wakefield's) nomination. Mr J. W. Tbeadweli. seoonded fche nomina* tion. Mr J. R. Johnson proposed Mr J. W. Treadwell, Mr J. S. Buxton seconded fche nomination. No other candidates being proposed, fche Returning Offloer said ifc was now open for the candidates to addreßS fcho electors. The hon E. Richardson (who was loudly oheered) said ho was quito suro from the number of opporfcunifcios he had had of expressing his views, he would be bosfc oonsulfcmg fchoir wishes if ho refrained from making a spoooh on fchis occasion, (Hoar, hoar.) There woro only ono or two points whioh ho should like to refer to, He had statod fchafc tho polioy of tho Government was fco soouro the unity of fcho Oolony, and ho believed he had said afc any prico, Mr Fitzhorberfc so construed fchese remarks as to try to mako ifc be believed fchafc fche Government would resort to extreme measures and even bloodshed , fco carry their poinfc. Ifc was absurd to think suoh a thing. Ho (Mr Richardson) treated this aB a party ory, with no meaning in ifc whatever. (Oheors.) Ho bogged again emphatically to deny that there was any wanfc of accord amongst; fcho members of fche Government;. Ifc had boon said thafc Sir Julius Vogol would nofc refcurn fco the!Oolony. Ho (Mr Richardson*) had greafc pleasure in stating that Sir Julius Vogol had loffc England in the Somersetshire, on Nov. 15. (Oboors.) Mv Stevens, who was roooivod wifch oheors, said fchafc he oonsidorod fcho PubUo Offices of Ohrisfcohuroh a disgraoo fco tho Oolony, and if he wero returned, fchis was ono of tho very first subjects fco whioh ho should direct his attention. (Ohoors). If fchey returned him, ho oould assure fchom thafc he would übo his very boat endeavours fco servo fchom faithfully | to the ond. (Oheers). Mr Andbbws was loudly ohoerod. He stood thore an untried man as far as fcho Goneral Assombly was oonoornod. Ifc was said i he was nofc sufficiently eduoated fco grapple wifch largo and important questions. This ho would leave entirely to tho eleotors to dooido. i (Oheors), Ho oonsidorod thafc fche honorarium fco Mombors was nooossary, because if ifc wore nofc givon, suoh mon as himsolf would bo kopfc for ovor out of fche Houso of Roprosontatives. (Hear, hoar, and ohoors). Mr Moorhouse was received with loud cheers. He said fchafc if fchey eleotod him, his Krogramme would be exaofcly fchafc stated by Ir Stevens, with whose viows he was in tbo mosfc perf oot aooord. Thoy mighfc havo a different modus operandi, Ho thought he had a olaim on fchoir oonfidonco for his past connection with fcbo peoplo of Canterbury. Ho felfc : vory muoh oomplimenfced by fcheir Mayor I proposing him, and at fcho poeition assignod him on tho poll, Ho did nofc care what his position was, so long as he was returned as ono of tho representatives of tho Oifcy of Chrisfcohurch. Ho was a porfcotly indopondont man, and ho thought that if. fchoy elected him, thoy would not gofc far wrong in tho matter of a servant. Mr Wakbbietjd wa « received with cheers Ho said Provinoialism was gono. He had voted for its abolition, bocauso ho boliovcd that nine-tenths of tho people of New Zealand had quite mado up fchoir minds that; a change was nooossary, so as fco mako fchoir institutions cognate with those of fcho Home Oounfcry and America, wifch this oxoeption — that there should bo no Lieutenants of Counties, but elcofcod Chairmon and Boards. The Abolition Bill of the Government would havo most oomplotoly brokon down, had ifc nofc boon for , fcbo ablo assistance of Mr Stafford. Yot nofc { a singlo Membor of fcbo Govornmont; had admitted the groat sorvice rondorod fco fcho Oountry by Mr Stafford in tbis matter. Ho regretted that in nono of fcho Minister's spooohes was fchoro a single expression of grafcifcudo fco Mr Stafford. While saying this, it musfc nofc be supposed thafc if ho wero returned, ho would be an out-and-out supporter eifchor of fcbo Government, or of Mr Stafford. Ho would tako suoh a course in publio questions as might appear fco hira to be besfc for fcho intorosfcs of tho peoplo of Now Zealand. (Oheers.) If fchoy did nofc guard fchoir publio estate, fchoy would find ifc slipping in largo slioes into fcho hands of a fow industrious lawyers. (Ohoors.) Mr Moorhouso, in his capacity as lawyer, had secured a very good thing for his olioutß-— ( Messrs Moorin, Russell, Studholmo, kc Mr Wakm'lßljD procooded in tho midst of froquonfc interruptions fco reitorate tho statomont previously mado by him with v roforonoe to Mr Moorhouso's oonnootion with tho Muriraofcu transaction. Mr MooßHoyeß xoaa from his seat, and

looking straight; at Mr Wakefield, said : " You ore a filthy liar." Mr Wakbvield attempted to address the meeting several times, but failed fco obtain a hearing through the interruption that ensued. Eventually, ordor was restored, and Mr Wakefield said that Mr Moorhouse believed that; tho " Murimofcu transaction " was a good polioy for fche oountry, He (Mr Wakefield) differed from him, and was he fco be called a filthy liar for saying that ho did P [Mr Moorhouse s So you aro.] Mr Wakebtem) proceeded to reoapitulato the views alroady pufc forward by nim afc provious electioneering meetings. Mr TbbadwbTjlj said he felfc ho was driven into fchis position of boing a oandidate through conscience. [Here a largo number of persons roso up from their ohairs and left the hall] Mr T rbadwem prooeoded to reiterate "his views, as pufc forth by him ab his meeting held in tho Oddfollows' Hall. A show of hands was taken, with, fche following result i— Mr Riohardson 50 Mr Stovons 90 Mr Andrews ; 20 Mr Moorhouso 60 Mr Wakefield „. ... - 6 Mr Troadwell o Tho show of hands was deolared fco be in favour of Mr Moorhouso, tho hon ,E. Richardson and Mr Stovons. Mr Wakbbield demanded a poll. Tbo Returning Officer stated fchafc the Poll would be taken on Tuesday next, Deo. 21, between (ho hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The declaration of (ho Poll would be made as soon after 4 p.m. as possiblo.