The Brace Election.

Otago Witness, Issue 1650, 7 July 1883, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Brace Election.

The official declaration o the poll in connection with the Bruce election was made on Monday at noon by the Returning-officer (Mr Jones), as follows : —

Majority for M'Donald, 21. There were 24 informal votes. When Mr James M'Donald was declared the member of the House of Representatives for Bruce, the cheering of the electors was loud and long. Mr M'Donald, on coming forward as the successful candidate, had certainly to say that he was exceedingly gratified. It was a position to which be scarcely aspired, and considering the short time he had been in the field, and the fact of the little interest he had taken in politics, he felt he ought to be proud, as well as gratified, at the result. He -certainly thanked his supporters, to whose exertions more than his own his return was no doubt due ; and he could say this, that besides the support they had' given him, they had stuck to him like bricks. With this, together with the assistance and encouragement from his opponents, for which he had to thank them, he had reason to be pleased with the way in which he had been received throughout the district. The other candidates were perhaps ahead of him a little in some things, but he thought he would be able to compare favourably with those gentlemen who might sit alongside him in the House. — (Applause.) It had been said that he had been returned through the Catholic vote. The statement he believed to be untrue ; he did not. know that he had their confidence. He had polled wherever he had been in a way that would not give reason for such being said. If they had §iven him their confidence he would not abuse it. In going to Wellington he should depend upon his ability ; he did not go as a speechmaker but as a worker.— (Applause.) He would do his duty, and assist to the best of his ability the carrying out of all those measures which would be for the benefit of the district he represented. He concluded by returning his sincere thanks to all, and hoped when he returned to them again he might have made some mark.

Mr Gillies said that from the first he had told them that he came before them from a sense of duty. He had nothing to gain personally by doing so, but rather, as far as he himself was concerned, he made a sacrifice. He gave his services to them if they pleased to accept them, and he came forward without a committee or anything else. He laid his viewß before the electors as clearly as he could, and then left them to judge for themselves. They had judged, for themselves, and decided, against

him ; but he had nothing to complain of whatever.—(Hear, hear.) They had a perfect right to elect whom they pleased, and he had no right to complain of any man recording his vote against him, more especially, he would remark, because there was not a single man in the district from whom he asked a vote.—(Applause.) Neither did he pledge any man There were many who placed their names on his committee. He told them plainly that he did not pledge them, and some of them were now prominent supporters of his opponents. As far as he was personally concerned he could look upon the result with pride. He had obtained 451 votes, or 21 less than the successful candidate, and considering the things— to which he would not refer — which had been brought to bear against him, he had reason to be proud of the position he occupied. And during the whole election nothing had been said by the successful candidate which he regretted, or to which he could take exception as regarded himself. Both that gentleman's and his own (Mr Gillies') supporters had treated him like gentlemen, and he had to acknowledge and thank them heartily for the kindness they had shown to him in every respect. And in taking his leave of the^Tokomairiro district —(laughter)— for a time (he did not refer to another election), he hoped he would* never sever his connection with the district— and in bidding them farewell, he had to thank his supporters most cordially for their kindness and courtesy, and he had also to thank his opponents. The kindness and hospitality he had received had won his heart, and had done him good. The election had revived old friendships and acquaintances, and he would go away satisfied. Perhaps they would think that he was trying to make the best of a bad bargain. He frankly acknowledged that it could not be otherwise than with a feeling of some pain, when he looked at the plains he had trodden and the hills over which he had roamed, perhaps before any of them, that they should have decided against him. Of course he felt some regret, but at the same time he hoped for the prosperity of Milton. He then had a few words to say regarding the successful candidate. If they were to make their representative felt in the House, to be of use to them and of use to New Zealand, it was not by holding back from him— it was not by saying anything against him, but by strengthening his hands. If they saw anything wrong in him, their duty was to tell him plainly. He was now placed in a position as their head ; a man who would be looked up to and honoured by themselves and their children as the highest man in the district of Bruce. They ought to support him thoroughly, and then, if he did err, it would not be their fault — the man would be what the electors made him. He (Mr Gilließ) would give him every support, and place in his bands several matters which had been given to him during his peregrinations through the district. They were not of such great public importance that he should then explain them, but he hoped that Mr M'Donald would get them carried.

Mr Moslbt said that when he first came before them as a candidate for Bruce he had stated that his object was to have a local man returned for the district. Had Mr M'Donald or any other Bruce gentleman come forward before him (the speaker), then he would not have contested the election. But having an old attachment to Bruce, for Inch-Clutha was at one time part of Bruce, his love still remained, and he wished to see a local man returned. He congratulated the electors on having done so. His original idea was that Bruce should be represented by a local man, and not be made a catspaw of by Dunedin, and that idea had been carried out. Bruce had returned its own man without having to go to Dunedin to seek a representative. He had also to congratulate the people of Bruce on having returned a " large and " great" man— (laughter) — and he was quite sure that the members at Wellington would say that the specimen of humanity the Bruce people had sent was a very favourable one. As had been said by the other defeated candidate, if he could assist Mr M'Donald in any way he would be very glad to be able to do so. A man might feel some disappointment at being defeated ; however, he felt very little, as he was happy to see Bruce had returned a man after its own heart. He was pleased to be able to say that he had met with kindness in every part of the district he had visited, and he again returned his sincere thanks to those who voted for him, as well as to those who voted against him. Mr Gillies had made reference to the fact of his having been in the district in the early days. Perhaps he (Mr Mosley) had been over the district before ever Mr Gillies was in New Zealand: and this brought a matter to his mind which deeply affected him. He alluded to the death of a shipmate, Mr W. H. Cutten. When be looked back and could see Mr Cutten, as it were, when he arrived, he waR a young man like himself ; yet it appeared to him how few in number they were, and soon everyone who came out in the John Wickliffe would be numbered with those who were gone. But there was one thing he rejoiced in : the small family had settled, and had spread over New Zealand— a Colony which he hoped would ere long be the brightest gem under the British Crown. He bade the electors farewell for the present, and wished prosperity to Bruce and success to its member. — (Applause.) He moved a vote of thanks to the returning-officer, which was carried by acclamation.

A four-in-hand drag, with bays attached, was waiting at the gate of the Courthouse for the successful candidate. When he appeared three lusty cheers were raised, and he was persuaded to seat himself on the high seat. In this conveyance he was driven round the district, a placard bearing the inscription "See the conquering hero comes," flying from the back of the drag.

Milton .. Waihola .. Uilburn .„ Kaitangata Blenore . . Lovell's Flat Stirling .. Wangaloa Manuka Creek Hillend .. Fakri Beach Qlenledi .. M'JDonalt .. 187 .. 86 .. 67 .. 79 .. 10 .. 24 _ 63 - 0 0 8 7 1 [d. Gillies. 179 88 Ift 37 27 12 43 21 24 13 25 13 Mosley. 63 1 1 10 2 0 21 0 0 0 1 0