ASHLEY NOMINATION. '

The nomination of candidates for the representation of Ashloy District in fcho General Assembly took place afc the Besidenfc Magistrate's Court, Loifchfiold, on Thursday, at noon, beforo 0. Whifcofoord, Esq., R.M., Returning Officer. The RETUBNiira Obbiceb read the writ of eleption and fcho advertisement appointing the day of nomination, and called upon the eleotors to propose candidates. Mr J, S. WooDHOtrsß said he had a candidate to Propose in tho person of a gentleman who had rendered good sorvioe to the Distriofc in the past, and who was therefore a very fit and proper person to represent ifc in fcho future As a Representative, tho gontleman ho intended to propose had been especially watchful over the interests of their own particular Dietriob, but it was unnecessary to urge the olaims whioh entitled him to re-eleofcion, as all present knew what they were as well as he (Mr Woodhouse) oould toll them. He would not detain them by making a long speech, but would at once conolude by proposing their old friend, Mr John Evans Brown, as a fit and proper person to represent tho Ashloy Distriofc in tho General Assembly. Mr M. Damiei. briefly seconded the nomination. Mr B. L. HiOgins said as tho eleotors had met together that day to propose candidates, he also had one to propose. Ho had muoh ploasuro in proposing Mr William Miles Maskell as a candidate for the representation of the District in the Gonoral Assembly, They all know as well as ho himself knew that Mr Maskell was a most fit and proper person to represent the Diatriot. Mr Maskell had been a resident in fcho District for many years, and in publio matters had been closely ana intimately conneotod with the inhabitants. From his (Mr Higgins') acquaintance with Mr Maskell, and the part that gentleman had j token in the affairs of tho Province, he boliovod him to bo well qualiflod to undertake fcho responsible duties of a Representative He supported Mr Maskell at last election, and ho intended to give him his most cordial and hearty support during tho present eleotion. (Hear, hear.) Mr Maskell. had had considerable experience in public matters, and ho (Mr Higgins) had always found him possessing the highest integrity and political honour, and ho hoped nothing would ever ooour to make him (Mr Higgins) alter hia opinion with regard to Mr Maskell. (Hoar, hoar.) As ho had said boforo, Mr Maskell was an old publio servant, and was well-known to them all, therefore, ho (Mr Higgins) would not tako up their time by saying any more. Beforo going away ho would like to make a personal remark, and that was, to heartily thank tho oleotors for the offers of support they had given him when ho was a candidate for thoir suffrages during the prosont election. Ciroumßtanoos had occurred whioh nooessitated his withdrawal, but lie thought it was only due to the electors to thank thom for fcho large amount of support they offered him. (Applause) Mr W. M'Adam said he had great pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr W. M. Maskell. No other candidate being proposed, the Returning Offioor oalled upon the candidatesto address tho eleotors if they desired to do so, Mr Bbown said it wae now a vory unusual circumstance for candidates to make long speeches at tho nomination, and ho did not intend to dotain tho oleotors on tho present oooasion, particularly as ho had already addressed them at all parts of the District. They wero all aware fchafc he was again a candidate for eleotion to the General Assembly, and having served the Distriofc as their representative for the past five years, he would allow fcho eleotors to judge of his ability from his past aofcions, and what be would be likely to do if re-elooted, Ho would not now ontor into dotailß upon any parfcioular political question, but simply leave the decision of ohoice in tho hands of the eleotors. He would just say that if his old constituents again honoured him by thoir confidence, he would, as heretofore, do his best to servo the District and the Colony. (Applause.) Mr Maskem. said that, like Mr Brown, ho did not intend to dotain thom by making a long speech, being of opinion that both of thom had expressed their opinions very fully afc publio meetings in fcho difforonfc parts of tho distriofc. He would only say fchafc whilo Mr Brown had sorved thom in the Assembly for fivo years, ho (Mr Maskell) had served thom in the Provinoial Oounoil for ton years, and he hoped the peoplo who sent him thoro had not beon dissatisfied with tho aofcion he had taken in publio matters during those fcen years. (Hear, hear.) If he had represented thom woll for tho ton years he had referred to, so would ho ropreaont thom for tho noxt fivo years if they returned him to fcho General Assembly. Whilst not wishing to take up their time with an expression of opinion on publio questions, he i considered ifc was bis bounden dufcy to refor to ono question

whioh'Jiad , been, raised by Mr Brown at his meeting at tho Oust. Mr Brown had there taunted him with having changed hie political opinions, bub ho bogged again bo remind tho electors that tbe circumstances of fcho oaso with regard to Abolition wore alterod now. He spoko somo timo ago about Provincialism before fcho mafcfcor was settled, but ifc was now a Colonial matfcor, and ho would' do his best in framing tho provisions of fcho Bill that was to fcakp the plaoe of Provincialism so that ifc would prove advantageous to fcho Country, Ho now dame boforo thom, believing that he oould work well for them in fcho Assembly, and if they elootod him ho would work thoroughly and well for fcho benefit of the Distriofc and the publio generally. (Applause.) The Bktubnino Otvicmii, called for a show of hands, with the following result :— Brown „. ... 19 Maekoll .. 28 Messrs J. S. Woodhousb and 0. Ff. Pbmbebton demanded a poll on behalf of Mr Bbown.

Tho Betubning Oebioeb said tho poll would take placo on Jan. 11, 1876, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., at the Eesident Magistrates' Courts, Leithfield and Oxford j tho Boad Board oflloo, Oust, and the Diatriot Sohools, at Ashley Bank aud West Eyreton. -" It had been represented to him that ifc would have boon moro convenient to tho eloofcors if otjior polling places had boon appointed in the Disfcriofc, and ho recommended that additional polling places should bo fixed, but tho writ had boeu issued beforo his reoomniondation readied tho Government. Had tho eleotors pointed tho matter out in timo, ho (Mr Whifcofoord) would have had other polling plaoos arranged for. On tho motion of Mr Mas intra, sooondod by Mr Bbown, a voto of thanks was passod to tho Bofcurning Officer. The official declaration of fcho poll will be made at tho Court-house, Leithfield, at 10 a.m., on Jan, 12.