THE NEW MEMBERS.

SOME MORE ABOUT THEM.

Mr Eerdman (Mount Ida) is the son of an Invercargill resident He was educated at Oamarii and Dunedin, and was for some time in the service of the National Bank, then qualifying for the- law and practising at Palmeirston South and Naseby. Nine months ago he removed/to Wellington, where he has, now obtained a. satisfactory business -connection. ; Mr J. G. Aitken (Wellington) was born ait CampbeJltown, in Argyleshire,and was brought up in mercantile pursuits in Glasgow. Twenty years ago he came to Wellington with his partner, Mr Wilson. He has occupied the Wellington Mayoralty since 1899.

Mr Charles Leech. (Egmont) is a native of New Plymouth, where he was born on June 24th, 1866. He was an industrious. Moa Block settler.

Mr Chas'. Edwin Major (Hawera) was born on June 20th, 1859, at St. Helier's, Jersey, Channel Islands, of Irish, Norman, English and Russian extraction. He has been in New Zealand since 1872, and has fallowed a variety of occupations. t He was managing clerk at Gisborne for Mr E. Ff. Ward. Since then he has been a Licensed broker at Hawera, and Mayor of that town for 12 years. He was well known as a runner, footballer, swimmer, and boating man. -j Mr Donald Reid, junr. (Taieri) was born at Caversham in 1855. He is a Dunedin lawyer, and was for some years a member oif his father's firm, Donald Reid and Co., Dunedin, stock and station agents.

Mr William Thomas Wood (Palmerslon North) was born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1854, and came to- this colony in 1872. Three years later he went to the West Coast, and' remained for some yeajg on the diggings. He has carried .oii_;tbe business of farmer at Palmerston North since 1879, and was Mayor for 15 years. Mr J. Vile was born in Somerset in 1845, and came with his-parents to the Wairarapa. in 1856. He was Mayor of Pahiatua in 1892.

Mr Thos. Davey (Christchurch) was born in Cornwall in 1856. He came to the colony in 1874, and was employed for some years buskfelling in the. Manawalu district. Afterwards lie served: a short time on (lie Feilding Star, and then went to the Government Printing Office, at Wellington. Subsequently he removed to Christ church, and has been-connected with the Lytteißon Times for 20 years. He has been, Mayor of St. Albans for some

years. Mr Ewe.n William Allison is a New Zealander, being born in 1855. He was the founder of the Devonport Ferry Company, and lias been Mayor of Devonport for five years. Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) is another colonial, having been born in Southland in 1866. He is a newspaper man, and vras formerly proprietor of the Western Star.

Mr Francis Mander (Marsden) was born at Onehunga. in 1848. His parents were among [he earliest settlers ia New Zealand. From early manhood he has been engaged in the timber trade, and the firm of Mander and Bradley is well known throughout the. province. His political opinions are in strong opposition to those of the present Government. Mr George Witty (Riccarlon) is a native of Hull, Yorkshire. He came to New Zealand in 1875, landing with only 2s in his pockets. He worked as a .farm laborer and gradually improved his position and acquired property. He has taken a great interest in local politics. Mr H. D. Bedford (Dunedin) was born near Leeds, in Yorkshire, England, whence at the age of nine, and possessed of such education as is acquired in the Third Standard of the Board School, he emigrated to Invercargill to join his father, who had preceded them to New Zealand. After continuing his education up to the Sixth Standard he. left school with the objetat of preparing himself for afarraing life. His attention was first drawn to matters political by the perusal and discussion of a book on social and political problems. The. new train of thought'thus awakened proved so fascinating that the idea of farming was abandoned. Mr Bedford decided to- adopt the. legal profession and was able," in spite of some difEK culties, which, happily for the object be lrad in view, proved not to be insurmountable, to enter the Otago University, of which he is one of the shining alumni, having graduated there in 1901. He made a special study of political and economical science, and won distinction as a debater, at the Christchurch Carnival in 1901.

Mr Edward George > BriUon Mo?k, M.HiR. for Ohiuemurif was born at Lonwood-, St. Helena, and came to this colony with his parents in 1859. His father, Mr F. J. Moss, was for some years M.H.R. for Parnell and was later-British Resident at Rarotonga. Mr E. G. B. Moss wast called to the Bar as a solicitor in 1877. He subsequently practised at Greymouth and Tauranga, and opened his business in Paeroa in 1895.

Mr Ailfred Kidd, just elected for-Auck-land, is Mayor of the northern city. He was born in England in 1851, and arrived in the colony in 1865. He worked some time, on a farm, then followed gold mining for same yeans, and ultimately purchased the Commercial Hotel in the city of Auckland. 25 years ago. He has proved himself a keen business man, and has for the last 18 years served ou various public bodias.

Mr Alfred Ernest Harding, who. has been elected to represent Kaipara. is a nlative of this colony, having been born at Whakapiraa in 1861. After being educated at Napier and Wellington, he was employed on his father's station for two years, and then took charge of a large run of 14,000 acres at Mangawhare. For eight years he acted as chairman of the. Hobson County Council.

Mr A. E. Remington, the chosen of Rangitikei, is a well-known chemist afc Huntei'ville. In politics Mr Remington is an out-and-out Government supporter. Ha has faced the hustings on.: previous occasions, but without success. He is a. fluent and capable speaker, possessed of more than a, superficial knowledge of -the political questions of the day. . /

Mr A. W. Rutherford was born in New South Wales, of Scotch parents, in 1842, and arrived in the colony on January 1, 1860. In 1862 he took charge of Mendip Hills on behalf of his father and the Hon. A. Domett. He was a. member of the Nelson Provincial Council and is now a member of the Licensing Committee and chairman of the Cheviot County Council.