WELLINGTON NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 273, 17 November 1896, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

THE CANDIDATES AND THEIR

CHANCES,

(BY TELEGRAPH—OWN COftRESfdNDIENT.)

Wellington, this day.

The fever of the election campaign has been upon us for the la<3t three weeks, and in the city and suburbs most of the candidates are working as though their lives depended upon the iaaue. For Wellington city nine candidates have declared themselves, namely, Sir Robert Stout, Independent; G. Fisher, Government; A. S. Monteath, Opposition; A. R. Atkinson, Opposition and Prohibitionist ; J. J. K. Powell, Opposition and Prohibitionist ; C. Wilson, J. Hutcbeßon, and B. Duncan, Government: and F. 11. Fraßer, Independent and Prohibitionist. It will be Been from this, that four out of the nino candidates are supporters of the Government, two are Independent, and three are Opposition. Sir Robert Stout, with the temperance and the greater part of the Opposition vote, is looked upon aa most likely to bead the poll, particularly in view of fche facb that ho is certain to poll more largely with women than any of tha other candidates/ None of the Opposition candidates proper are looked upon as very strong men, bub Wellington being the stronghold of the party, there is some chance for them. Mr Mentoabh is well known, having already represented a section of the city in Parliament).

Mr Atkinson, a nephew of Sir Harry's, ia a young lawyer, possessed of much learning and sound commo»»enße, and for somo time past has been chief champion of the prohibition cause here. He will, of course, get *vheir vote. Mr Powell, the third Opposition candi<lu,'.». is a coal dealer, comparatively unknown to public life, and also a Prohibitionist, the special protege of the temperance lecturer Mr Crabbe.

Of the Government candidates, Messrs Kutcheson, Fisher, and Wilson have boen selected by ballot of the Liberal and Labour organisations to represent the party, and the two firab-named are considered to have a good chance of election.

Mr Hutcheaon is a comparatively young man, a worker with a varied experience, bub now in business on his own account as a ship-rigger, and appeurs to have "caughton" with bhe Liberal and Labour party. Mr Fisher is well known in political life, while Mr Wilson, editor of the "New Zealand Mail," is not at all well known, and is nob likely to bo dangerous. Of the remaining candidates little need be said. Mr Fraser will rely chiefly on cho temporance vote and Mr Duncan is a rank outsider, relying on no particular ciass for support. Tho tip most fancied at the preaenb time is Stout, Hutcheson and Fisher, but many aro inclined to favour the chances of Messrs Menteath »nd Atkinson in preference to the Government candidates. For Wellington suburb*, the Hon. T. W. Hislop is representing the Opposition cause, bub at the outset has hod to fight an uphill battle. His opponent, Mr T. M. Wilford, is a young man born in thodisfcricb, while Mr Hislop ia a comparative stranger outside the city. The result is doubtful, bub the district having returned an Opposition candidate for some time past there is a good chance for Mr Hislop, who. by the way, has the temperance vote. Dr. Nowman (0.) and Mr H. A. Field (G.) aro the only candidates for Otaki, and the doclior'B chances are irosb fancied, though bis opponent, as a countiy settler and an active membor of the Hutb County Council, will poll heavily. Mr Buchanan (0.), the presenb member for Wairarapa, is being opposed by Mr J. T. M. Hornsby. sub-editor of the New Zealand "Times," Wellington, and also by MrColcman Phillips, bhe well-known runholder. Mr Hornsby haß the weight of the Government influence behind him, but Mr Buchanan's stronghold is claimed to be practically impregnable. Mr Hogg, the present member for Masterton, will probably be again returned, hi 9 only opponent, Mr D. J. Cameron, the Opposition candidate, though likely to make a good member, being a new chum in political warfare, and not a good platform orator.

About a dozen candidates, nearly all supporters of bhe Government, have declared themselves for Pahiatua, and aa there will no doubb be a heavy falling oil in the numbers before bhe writs are issued, it is not now possible to epeak of their chances with any degree of Certainty. It is expected that tho Opposition candidate, Mr G. Hunter, will on this occasion secure the Waipawa Beat against tho Government candidate t the present member.

Messrs C.Hill, F. Pirani (L.) and D. Buick (0.) are fighting hard for the Palmerston eeab, and opinions ore about evenly divided as to their chances. Mr Pirani's are perhaps most favoured. . The present member for Rangifeikoi (Mr ,T. Stevens) is contesting Manawatu in the Government interests, against Mr R. C. Bruce (0). A close contest is expected. In the Rangitikei electorate, Mr F. Y. Lechbridgo (0.) is opposing Mr W. L. Bailey (G.) and Mr J. G. Brown (I.). Mr Heke, who returned from the South on Sunday, and who loft for Auckland this morning, informed ma that in all probability he would contest tho Northern Maori seat.