Deputation to Mr E. Withy.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1887, Page 5

Deputation to Mr E. Withy.

At 11 o'clock this morning, a deputation consisting of; Messrs F. Jeune, S. J. Ambury, J. A. Jickell, and T. Hobson, waited upon Mr B. Withy at the Auckland Club.) Mr F. Jeune introduced the deputation, and in doing so, said that they were appointed by a meeting called by him last night, in which the advisability of asking Mr .Withy to'become a candidate for the new electoral district of N6wtoh was discussed. He had .been astonished at the large attendance that had resulted upon his calling the meeting; instead of a few people, between (X) and 70 persons were- present, and they had appointed this deputation to ask Mr Withy . whether he would be pleased to attend a conference on Friday evening in the Excelsior Hall. It would not be a public meeting, but merely a conference, as some of them wished to know more about Mr Withy before they pledged themselves to work for him. They seeing that the country, like themselves, was going to the bad, thought it was time to infuse some new blood into the Houseof Representatives. It had been decided to submit four ques-. tiorisfor Mr Withy's consideration. They were - Retrenchment, local industries, taxation, and the Village Settlement Scheme. They would ask him. to take these, four points into his consideration between this and Friday.evening, when they would be pleased to listen to his ideas upon these questions, Mr Withy said that he understood they did not want a definite answer at once, and that to-morrow meeting would not be a formal public one. * ■ j , Mr Jeuiie said .that:; was so, The object of last night's meeting had been to form a committee, but as.'Mr'Withy was comparatively a stranger in Auckland, it had been decided to adopt tho present course. Mr Withy said that lie thought that they had acted wisely in so doing, and he would be qriite willing to attend .the meeting as requested.' Mr Hobson pointed out.that at present they did n»t know definitely where the electorate might really be, so, that some were not sure what district they would be in. Mr 'Withy said' that he would be vary pleased to attend'the.meeting. He felt it considerable honour for his fellow townsmen to'makojsuch a request to him ; at the same time he might tell them that it was a matter upon, which he had not the sligli test ambition whatever. But he felt that as tho'colony was in such a critical condition, it was time for someone to come forward, and he had no right to expect others to take up workothat.he did not care to do'himself. '■" Mr Ambury remarked that it was a good sign that Mr. Withy was not eager for office. Mr Withy said that such were.his feeling upon the matter that lie would rather beat home attending tp'his family, but he could not help seeing that if the colony went on for! the next five years as it was at present, there would be nothing for* his family to remain in the, country 10r,,, and it was for that and other reasons that he was prepared if required to come forward. He warned them that there might be some things in which he would make a poor candidate, for he should not be prepared to vary from any which he held, and therefore other oandidates willing to promise more might prove more successful. • ": ' V- ,,- The deputation- then thanked Mr Withy and withdrew. ■ ! ....' .--,' .«-_, -~-...„'jjj—-_ - Mr J. Aitken Conncll is the most indefatigable. of candidates. He has already issued two long addresses to the electors of Eden, and ho,now announces that copies' of both addresses are to be obtained at various places in the district. ' ■ * . €ity West. A meeting of supporters, of Mr E. W. Morrison in his candidature for Auckland West met; hist evening ih the Burns Club Room, Karangahape Road. There was a good attendance, and the majority of tliose present consented to act on the Committee, and make every exertion to secure the can-, didate's return. Marsdea. . For ,-Marsden seat, -Mr Alderton has retired from the field, and a public meeting lifti unanimously requested Mr R. Thompson to come out in the interest of the Oppesition, which he has done. South 'Frattklin.' M a job Harris announces a series of meetings, commencing at Pukehohe on Saturday next. ,'''■■' '. '

Wellington, this day.