THE COMING ELECTIONS. TO THE EDITOR

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 75, 16 December 1875, Page 5

THE COMING EL ECTIONS. TO THE EDITOR

SIR,— I notico that, although the writs for tho now elections have not beou issued, candidates are already in tho field, find aro engaged addressing the constituencies throughout the whole colon}', v«ry few where contests are intended being excepted. Thoso who intend to oppose tho present representatives nud their principles, aro thus early, so that the public may Lave full time and leisure to form (lieu- opinions and make up thoir minds ns to tho validity of thoir cltiiins for support. Notable exceptions to this rule, aro the districts of Bruce and Clutha. Reports havo been industriously circulated that there is to bo powerful opposition to tho present members resumiug their seats, bat t hate seen no requisitions and replies publishod in the Leader, neither have I heard of any being prepared and signed anywhere within these districts. In case the electors may happen to overlook the matter, I would suggest tint the intending candidates should not longer wait for this form to be gone through — it of course is only a mere form— but that they should at once declare themselves candidates for our suffrages I have no doubt many besides mysolf trould like to hear what they have got to my in favor of their candidature. X am, &a, Elector. [The above wan unavoidably held over list week. Ed. O. L.j (To tlio Editor of Clutha Le ider.) SIRJ—T noticed a letter in the Leader several issues back recommending you t6 start an agency for your paper in Tokomairiro. I consider, Mr Editor, that if you are inclined to do bo, there i» good opening for you there at present, and a good chance of success. Tho Lkadbb is popular, and is considered by many of my acquaintances to be a very superior and well conducted country, journal. The position the * Bruce Herald ' has raken in its advocacy of £ho Abolition of the Provinces may do more harm to itself, perhaps, and to the cause which it supports than to tho Opposition. Very fow, I suppose, of the ele* tors will he influenced in rog<ird to this matter by the 'Bruce Hein'd,' or bo hd by it regarding what is of *o much importance to their own, and their adopt; >d country b future welfare ;" a subject, regarding which 'many of the" 1 nre]aa «v>mpetent | judges, it may be, as the 'Bmc'e Herald.'. . - 1 am, &c> Conservator. P.S. — ''A. bird in the huud is worth two in f.io Iju-h.* • . -

THB'Wellig on races- come off to-day and tomorrow. .

*Ta* new Presbyterian Church of St. Doha's, Wellington, WM opened on Sunday lost.

TBBfinan<aal policy of New Sooth Wales is tending in the direction of free trade.

It v stated that Scarlet fever ha* made its ap pear%ncd m I&yereargill and at the Teviot.

'. Tbb Government of New South Wales propose to appoint an Agent general in England. New Zealand could give them a Feathersfcone— cr both r-or a Togel for '.the office..

- THS duties on New South Wale's tobacco have been increased.". Manufactured is now 2s 6d, and leaf Is 6d. Other alterations are contemplated.

Ftvk convicts (not Communists,) recently reached Queensland from New Caledonia. They were boatmen in charge of a boat laden with Government stores and escaped. They were iVelve days at sea, and suffered some privations. 'yi hen found they were in a state of great prostration. ,

■■ Thb notorious oonvict 1 , Weechureh, or Taylor (his real name,) has suffered the extreme penalty of the law. He was executed at Melbourne, on Monday, last week, and died quietly, but asserted bi? innocence of the charge of attempt t» murder. ADJEttempt wai made to obtain a- commutation of the sentence, but without effect. The case of -Weeehurch has again opened the question of prison discipline.

f William Obapbr a young mnn recently Arrived in the Colony, who has been missing from Mb home in the Waimea, Nelson, for a few days, was on Saturday found hanging from a tree in the' bush, four miles- from where he Jiyed. He had been in a despondent state of mind for some time. *••

The 'Meunt Ida Chronicle' believes that not above three men in Otago "who are unflinching snpporters of the present! Government will be returned at next election. We trust the prognostications of our 'contemporary will prove erroneous, and that not even one supporter of the present Ministry will be returned from Otago.

A telegram from Gisborne says :—A great Maori kaikangai commenced at Wairenpa Haika on Friday. Native presents exchanged hands to the value of ■ over £St,O(K The gifts include about so tons flower, £100 -worth tobacco, live stock 4n immense quantities, ,1000 preserved pigeons, clothing ornamental calabashes, dried shark, bank notes gold and Maoii curiosities: There was war dance during the day. The feasting will last till all the • grog is consumed. About a 1000 Maories and 500 Europeans are present. One- Gisborne storekeeper sold over £2000 worth of stuff for the feasts. -•

The Cross, in criticising Sir George Grey's upeech, says r — " Whatever may be the shortcomings of the existing Ministry in New Zealand and all Governments are fallible, it has certainly come in for a large share of unsparing criticism, and amongst its censors, none have availed themselves more fully of the license of free speech than has. Sir George Grey. Even his worst enemies cannot charge him with squeamishness or a desire to glaze over what he considered to be faults., In boldness and vigor of speech— in fertility and ingenuity of resources— he has fully justified the hopes of his followers."

Ik the Supreme Court in banco at Wellington on. Tuesday, Chief Justice delivered judgment in the case of Miller, F.SJL v. the Corporation of Wanganni, which was an action for wrongful dismissal. The defendent pleaded that the plaintiff had improperly absented himself from his duties and justified the dismissal on that ground. The plaintiff demurred to this plea as inaUnloipnt. His Honor held that the plea was bad and sustained tb.6 demurrer; but held that the piaiuiafo declaration was also bad, as it stated -that the plaintiff was appointed to his office during good behaviour, -whereas the def endents only had power to appoint during pleasnre, excepting by contract under seal, which was not alleged in the declaration to have existed in this instance. The action was therefore dismissed, but without costs, as the defendents had not demurred to the declaration on the ground on which the present judgment was founded.

Nhws from the continent received by last mafl indicate the likelihood of a rebellion in Germany at no distant date. The cause of this is very suggestive to New Zealand colonists in the present position of political affairs, A home newspaper says : — Prussia'f policy is one of centralisation, end that is precisely what the residents in Bavaria, "Wurtemberg, Saxony, and Baden cannot abide. They all helped to create the GerEmpire, and their motto is the very reasonable one of " share and share alike ; " while the intent of Prussian stiesmen and soldiers is to obsorb what they consider the minor Provinces in one vast Prussian Ststs. The scheme, however, will not work, and unhappy, Tanquished, dispised France may after all witness what to it will be the pleasent spectacle of conquering nation, divided against itself. This absorbtion seems very like what is now attempted in New JZealand. It has already led to a threatened rebellion in Germany and if persisted in, will have no dissatisfaction here. The note of warning is worthy of consideration.

Me Geoegk M'Lkak addressed a meeting of liiß constituents at Waikouaiti on Friday evening. In the course of is speech he is reported to have «aid : that Provincial Councils should have been allowed to sit again, because they would have been in a position to mark out boundaries where there were so many constitution-makers. He -believed, if tbe Government stack to tbeir text they would succeed. He would only agree to Abolition provided the land fund was kept within ■each provincial district. He did not believe in the adminstration in Wellington. He was not a Centralist, and never would be. He would like to have all institutions, if possible, elective. The Waste Lands Board, as at present constituted, was a good institution ; but he would object to any one going on the Board having interest in the wast lands of the Crown. If the Legislative Council were not made elective, when the counties were formed, it might be nominated by the counties. They could not keep Crown tenants • out of the Legislative Council, but they should be careful in puttiner them in. Ifc was unwise to lock up lands with a fixed tenure. The Assembly as now constituted would give as liberal hind laws as could be wished. At the close a vote of thanks was passed to him for his address, and a vote that he was a most fit and suitable c andidate at the coming election.