THE CLUTHA ELECTION.

Bruce Herald, Volume XII, Issue 1137, 5 September 1879, Page 33 (Supplement)

THE CLUTHA ELECTION.

THE NOMINATION. The nomination for Ihe seat for Clutha took place on Wednesday, when about 80 electors were present. Mr John Shaw proposed Mr James William Thomson, their late member, remarking that he did not consider it necessary to say much in his favor. H« had known Mr Thomson for many year 3, and they had always found him a trustworthy member, who had enjoyed the general confidenca of the district. Mr Robert Hogg, in seoonding the nomination, spoke in very complimentary i terma of Mr Thomson's p.ist career, and said he had it from the Hons. Sir Wm. Eox and James Macandrew, that they could not get a better member than Mr Thomson to represent them. He koped tht electors would return him by a largo majority. Mr Wm. Morton proposed Mr Alfred Jowitt as a fit and proper candidate. He stated that he respected Mr Thomson very much, and knew him to be painstaking, honest;, and straightforward. He considered, however, that opposition was a very good thing, and as Mr Josvitt was present, he would be better able to speak for himself. Mr George Wm. Hutchins seconded the nomination without any comment. No other candidatei being proposed, Mr Thomson addressed the electors at considerable length. He stated that he had represented the Clutha district in the Provincial Council and General Assembly for the last 15 years, and he considered that the electors were in a position to judge for themselves whether or not he had represented them fairly. He was told on that day that Mr Jowitt had stated, that he (Mr Thomson) had done nothing in connection with the Clubha bridge. (Mr Jowitt — I did not" say so.) He considered be had deue a very great deal, and he then gave an account of the steps he had taken in order to get the sum of £50,000 placed on the estimates for assistance after the inundations, and £7500 of which had been set apart for the bridge. Several questions were asked, to wlncli the candidate replied, lie was in favor of Bible-reading with a conscience cla»se, and declined to give a decided opinion about the banking monopoly, as the subject was under the consideration of a Com. mittee. Mr Jowitt then came forward and said that he felt the responsibility he had taken upon his shoulders in allowing himself to be placed in nomination. He would refer the electors present to his past actions, and he challenged anyone of them ta say that he had ever committed any act deserving of censure. All he wanted in this contest was fair play, and he felt confident that, if the electors would only come and hear him speak, he would go straight in, but he knew that there was a hidden influence at work against him, and certain parties in this district were using unfair means, and were trying everything in their power to blight his prospect* of success. Would the speech he delivered on the previous day, be reported in the ' Clutha Leader V No ! not one half of it ; did not the reporter cjrae in after his speech had been half delivered ? Mr Fleming, the editor of the ' Clutha Leader,' and one of Mr Thomson's supporters, called upon him (Mr Jowitt), and stated it was not the desir-s of the settlers of the district that a contest should take place on this occasion ; but he having thrown down the gauntlet, he (Mr Jowitt) at once took it up. In answer to questions, Mr Jowitt said that he would support .Bible reading in schools with a conscience clause ; although he die' not consider' that such a question should be asked at a public meeting like this. If returned, he would wie his ivIhiencc to induce the Government to grant to public bodies all monies expended in repairing th» damages done by the late Hoods. In answer to Mr John Dunne, as to what Mr Jowitt had done about the bridg*, lift replied that he had pushed that question forward on every possible occasion. He told them, as a fact, that the bridge would be commenced before long, and the plans and specifications were now being prewired, lie had received a great di'at of' assistance in this matter from the Minister of Liuds that day. Mr .Fleming — Are you aware, Mr Jowitt, that a reporter was at your meeting half an-hour before you began your address 1 Mr Jowitt — No reporter entered the Hall till I had more than half delivered my speech. Mr Fleming again — There was a reporter there all the time. Mr Jowitt— My speech was not re* ported ; there was a man there who makes up olie accouuts in the office, but who is not a reporter, and who, moreover, took no notes. He considered that Mr Fletniugs questions were put for the purpose of misleading the electors present. — (Applause). A show of hands was then taken by the .Returning Oilicer with the following result : — Jowitt ... 19 Thomson 11 A poll was demanded by Messrs Shaw and Hogg on behalf of Mr Thornton. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings.