CHRISTCHURCH NORTH.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5074, 12 December 1881, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH NORTH.

The official declaration of the reeult of the polling for this electorate was made at noon on Saturday, in the presence of about 100 eleotoro. At the hour named Mr G-. L» Lee, the Returning Officer, ascended the hustings and announced that the roeult of the Toting was as follows :— Henry Thomson 577 Samuel P. Andrews 466 Majority fer Thomson, 111. He, therefore, deolareci Henry Thomson duly elected to serve as m amber of the House of Representatives for the electoral district of Chrietchuroh North. [Oheers.J Mr Thomson, who on coming forward was received with loud cheers, addressed the eleotors to the following effect: —The declaration whioh had just been made had placed him in the proud position oi their representative in the next Parliament. He was deeply sensible of the honor they had conferred upon him by this very great mark of their confidence, and he trusted that his actions would prove that that confidence had not been mieplaoed. [Hear, hear.] To those who had taken any interest in publio affairs during the last two or three years, the renult of the general elections thus far must bs exceedingly interesting and instructive. Without going into details, he would like just to point out that two of the members of the late G-overnment had been defeated, while a very active, and he must say able, member of the last House, who endeavoured to turn the present Government out during the recent session had been placed in a hopeless minority. He alluded to Mr Ormond. [A voice—" And a vury good job t00."3 He therefore thought there could be no doubt that the great bulk of the people were gradually returning to a more oorreot appreciation of those who were their true friends. [Oheers and cries of "Question."} The con teat whioh had been going on for the last two months was now over, and he was very proud to say that it had been conducted on the part of his opponent with the greatest friendliness and gentlemanly conduct. [Hear, hear.] And he took that opportunity of publicly acknowledging Mr Andrewu' consideration and courtesy. He hoped that any feelings of irritation or bitterness whioh might have been excited during the oontest would be speedily allayed, and that those who had felt it their duty to vote against him, equally with those who voted for him, would consider him ac their representative. [Cheers.]] He was aware that he owed a very great deal of his success to the kindness olr his friends in rallying round him on the day of the election and previously, and that his own merits had played but a secondary part in bringing about a reeult for which ho had every reason to be grateful. He therefore had to thank all those who so kindly came forward to assist in scouring his return. If his ability were only equal to his desire to serve them, he felt perfectly satisfied thab when he next appeared before them he would be able to give a good acoount of his actions. [Cheers/} He thanked them cordially for the great honor they had conferred upon him by eleoting him as their representative. [Cheers.] Mr Andrews thon came forward and was received with cheers. Although defeated he could not say that he was at all dissatisfied with the result of the expression given through the poll. He would tell them why. He thought no man had a right to sit in Parliament as a representative of the people unless he could fairly represent them. It was very evident by the votes given yesterday that they thought Mr Thomson better fitted to represent them than he was. He had given a very full and free declaration of hie principles, and had fearlessly expressed himself on all occa. sions, whether what he said was pleasant to them or otherwise. There were many instances in which, as they would all admit, it was very difficult to ooms to a conclusion, but he had never shirked any question yet. He had always voted in the way he thought best, regardless of oonueqnences to himself, and being only actuated by a desire to do right. That was the staad he had taken, and upon which he intended to remain. And now he would tell them plainly that, the eleotion over, he intended to pursue his business in Ghrisichurch, and he hoped to lead suoh a life while remaining amongst them as would still command for him the respect and esteem of those who lived around him. [Oheers.] Should they, at the end of three years, see fit to present him with a requisition to stand for a seat in the next Parliament he might consider the question, and if he felt that he could represent them, atd had the confidence of a majority of the ele store, he would again offer his services for their acceptance. That was the position he took op. He had not used one angry word, towards his opponent during the contest. When he first entertained the idea of going into Parliament he never contemplated doing so by treading or orushing down any man, or making a standpoint of any personal matters. Hβ had wished to go in to represent the people, and to advocate measures calculated to promote the best interests of the colony, and in that way he had always voted. He did not for a moment presume to say that he had not made many mistakes. Every young member going into Parliament must make mistakes, but thwe mistakes were errors more of judgment; than of heart. [Oheera.J No one who knew anything of his character would accuse him of making misstatements, or of leaving undone things which ought to have been done fr?m a desire to shirk, blind, or bury matters. He had nothing to disguise. Matters were now entirely fair and square before them. Mr Thomson was their representative, and was also hie representative, and h<s would look upon him as such; and whOe Mr Thomson was in Parliament, if he could in any way offer suggestions to hina 'which, in his opinion would be calculated to dj any good to Ohrietchurch or to the oolony, he would have much pleasure in giving Mr Thomson the benefit of those suggestions, [Hear, hear.] He was quite sure Mr. Thomson would be ready to receive advice and assistance from him if he was prepared to give it He desired to thank those persons who had worked so hard on his behalf both on the eleotion day and during the whole of the canvassing campaign. He could not know the ins and out* of everything, but he did not think many ill words had been spoken by anybody acting on his behalf. They would consider that the day's proceedings were now tit an end, and he would quietly resume his business in the town, and look upon Mr Thomson as representing Christohuroh North. He begged to propose a vote of thanks to the Ileturning Officer. Mr Thomson soconded the vote of thanks, which was carried with cheers. Mr Lee, in returning thanks, desired to say one or two wordi on a matter that affected himself personally. A remark was made the other day, and reported in the newspaper;, which he was very sorry to see, and he was quite sure that the gentleman who made the remark did so without due consideration. The statement wan to the effect that his (Mr Leo's) action had caused at least from 500 to 600 names to be kept off the roll of Christ' church North. Now most of them had known him for some ye&» ; he was b> very old resident ; and he thought no one could accuse him of being likely to commit any such act as that. In the onerous and difficult duties he bad had to perform, his object had been to d

• difficulty of the teak he had to perform.^" • werecpable of being remedied now, thoK he was afraid there had, unfortunately been , some few people disqualified. This w M 0 F ' «mr« e owing, he could not tay to his action but toaccidenti which happened in his office- . accidents, certainly, end nothing more. He WM euro that Mr Andrew., in making the •tatoment he had referred to, did not mew to oait any reflecUon upon him, but wee mi.. Jhi7S- i°V he B S biect - He onl y "ewtw that Mr Andrewe did not epeak to him nbont S% ? i 6r before n,akin S the f> iUd he dono co, he was »uro he would have » been able to hare giyen a eatisfactory cxpkna. Ihree cheers were then given for Mr Lee t and the prooeadinge terminated. '