NOMINATION FOR EDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2927, 1 September 1879, Page 3

NOMINATION FOR EDEN.

lucre was a large attendance. The Returniug Ollicor, JK. C. Barstow, Esq., read the electoral notice and the writ, and trusted that the proceedings would be conducted in an orderly manner as usual at Newmarket. Considerable delay ensued, neither side being willing to propose it.s candidate first. The Returning Oilieer said he had always made it a rule that tiie candidates should be proposed in alphabetical order. (A. voice: " Age is honourable.") In England it was the custom for the sitting member to be iirst proposed. (A voice : " There is no iixed custom.") Mr Lennox thought the matter should be left to the Returning Officer: Mr Barstow : It is not left to the wish of the meeting. It is my ruling. Mr Tole : It is not a custom at all. Mr Whitaker said the ruling of a Speaker, a chairmnu of a public meeting, and a .Returning Officer should be absolutely final, and it was for Mr Barstow to say what should be dene. Mr Tole : 1 never heard of such a principle. It is a question for the public to say who they will nominate. The KetumingOfficer is merely a public functionary who has to perform a certain duty. He has no political power to control the electors. (Clieors.) Mr Barstow said if all law was to be set aside, then the statement of the last speaker was correct. The Rev. Mr Wbewell called upon the Returning Officer to dismiss the meeting if his ruling was not supported. Mr Thompson, in an excellent speech, proposed Mr Tole. He said Mr Whitaker's scouts had withdrawn from the contest, and now a Goliah was pitted against a boy. He (Mr Thompson) was as much a friend of the secuiar system as Mr Whitaker. but lie and others were perfectly satisfied with Mr Tole's pledges on that score. Mr Lennox : Mr Wtaitakcr is the best statesman in New Zealand. Mr Thompson : But he will not do for Eden. He believed Mr Tole would make a better representative for Eden. He begged to propose Joseph Augustus Tole as a lit and proper person to represent Eden. Mr Jenkins, in secondiag the nomination of Mr Tole, said they had on one side a young horse who had pulled well, but had onoe kicked over the traces, and on the other an old jibber—(cheers and laughter)—who had run away with the national cart and capsized it in the Piako Swamp, (daughter.) He condemned the illiberal feeling introduced in the present election by Mr Tole's opponents. Mr Barton Ireland proposed Mr Frederick Whitakor. In the course of his speech Mr Ireland referred to the indebtedness of the colony, and urged the meeting not to return a candidate who would endanger the existing system of education. (A. voice : He's a Calathumpian.) They wanted a man who with sound judgment would steer the vessel into port instead of landing her upon the mud. Mr McColl, who seconded the nomination, said he had"; mads' a stady of political economy. r/ m iM.corne to regard education | ■ :~'<

a the basis of all national prosperity. He supported Mr Whitaker because he believes him to be the friend of the existing system Mr Bull 5n a humorous speech proposed Mr McColl, W> "c thought was. the only, man fitted |to supersede the Premier. (Laughter.) " •>" ' Mr Tole addressed the electors. He said the opposition to him on ti?e score of education was a sham. The reai question was land, and the object was to drive lr Grey from power. He accused his o ) rv_ u!^ len'; of insincerity in his advocacy of Lit, ' na' measures. Mr Swansou, who was a triiiT friond of education, had accepted his (Mr Tolo's) pledge on the educatiou question. Education was an old horse being ridden by a bad jockey against the Liberal co.lt. The old horse could not stand it. The jockey had Hogged him too much at the start, and like an old nicer he had stopped while the colt was speeding ahead. Like an ill-tempered jockey he now took the hack Discord in the hope of fouling the winning horse near the post. He (Mr Tole) would, however, win, if his friends saved him from being fouled. He urged the electors to return a united phalanx ol Auckland members. (Loud cheers.) Mr' Whitaker said his opponent had "ratted" on the religious question, but ho was a very recent convert if his sincerity was not open to suspicion, The cause of denominational education was making progress in the House, while there was a strong party iv Diiuedin who advocated Bible reading in the schools. At Kaiapoi the Catholics had threatened to give a block vote against Mr fSowcn. The lioman Catholics were playing a waiting game. The late Sir Donald McLean had commenced the Maori dual vote, but ho (Mr Whilaker) had always been opposed to it, and would vote against it iv future. He would vote with a majority of Auckland members on all local questions. Mr Tole had changed his views. Mr Tole : I have not changed my views. As long as he'might be the representative of Eden he would vote against any measure to disturb the existing secular education. Mr Whitaker would ask them how they could trust a man who could thus waive his views for the present. In conclusion, Mr Whitaker read a circular from the Central Committee, whom he accused of dictating to the electors. lhe shew of hands resulted as follows :— For Mr Tole 75 For Mr Whitaker 23 Majority for Mr Tole 52 A poll was demanded on behalf of Mr Whitaker. -