GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VII, Issue 320, 31 December 1875, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. The nomination of candidates for the representation of the DunStan district in the Assembly took place at the Court-house Clyde, on Thursday, 23rd inst., at noon. Mr W. L, Simpson, chief Returning Officer pi'esided, and, having read the writ, signified his readiness to receive nominations. Mr George Aitken had pleasure in nominating, and Mr .lames Ritchie in seconding, Mr B. R. Baird as a fit and proper person to represent the district. Mr Thomas Sims proposed, Mr William Auckland seconded Mr Vincent Fyke, Mr Baird intimated that as ho purposed addressing them that evening in another place, it would he unnecessary For him to go into any details as to his views, His interest in the district was largo and extensive, ami wnscriuently it would h<: to his advantage to

advance tho welfare of thb district. Although lie was not endowed with the eloquence af„ Mr Pyke, yet lie considered ho had a claim ' on the doctors for their support, niid could assure them ho would strenuously act on their behalf.

Mr Pyke did not desire'to detain tlio electors long, but lie had a word or two to say. He was grateful for his opponent's tribute to his (Mr Pyke's) eloquence, and ho might assure them that ability to speak well was by no moans the least requirement in a member of the Assembly, Much had been urged about Mr Baii'd being.a local-man, but if he (Mr Pyke) was not a local man he would like to know what constituted oile. lie had lived in the district years before Mr Baird came to it and still looked over its welfare with a jealous eye. As to Mr Baird's in* terest in the district, he would tell them what that was—it often reached as high as 50 per cent. If they returned Mr Baird the interests he would be most careful to represent would be those of—B. R. Baird. He (the speaker) claimed to have an infinitely greaterstake in the country than Mr Baird. Ho might not have so much money but he had. greater riches—his children, whose future was bound up in the country. Like Cornelius of old he could say to those present— These are my jewels ; my stake in the country, and he flattered himself they far transcended in value any mere money-bags. (Cheers). Ho had no doubt he would be returned and he could assure thorn that all interests would receive his best attention. It would, however, be necessary for his friends to be firm and unanimous, as they had opposed to his election the squatters, the Provincial Government, and even its officers were canvassing against him (cries of shame ! and no.) It was a fact, and he would ask his supporters to do their best to make his majority a large and triumphant one (applause.)

Further proceedings were then adjourned till Monday, 27th hist, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mr Simpson.

THE ELECTION

Apart from the liveliness imparted by the holiday season there was little in Cromwell town on Monday to indicate that the struggle which had been so long looked for had now conic to the final bout. Silent, but by no means slow, work on both sides was the order of the day, and although, neither leatherlunged bellman nor flaming poster invited the " free and independent" to " roll up" on behalf of their favorite man, yet their was a strong under-current of interest in the result. Mr Baird selected Bannockburn as the field for his personal endeavors, while Mr Pykc was here, there and everywhere in Cromwell during the day—the result of the poll in this division showed that the veteran had not. been idle. As the strongest voting power was at Bannockburn, naturally the principal interest centred in that division. It was generally thought that there Mr Baird would have a good majority, but the ballot showed quite the reverse—Mr Tyke polling nearly two to one over his opponent. * In Cromwell this result caused considerable surprise, as a number of influential men were known to be exerting themselves on Mr Baird's behalf at Bannockburn. The voting in Cromwell itself gave evidence that the community was pretty evenly divided as to the merits of the two candidates, and this division stands out the bolder when contrasted with the block vote of Clyde. The poll ( at the latter township shows that with the electors there it was purely a question of Clyde versus Cromwell. Being a Cromwell man,—ability or no ability,—was sufficient in their eyes to justify the Clyde electors in renouncing Mr Baird. As the various returns came in, it became plain that the local candidate's chance was hopeless, the polling being almost two to one in favor of Mr Fyke. It is dillicult to account for the small number of votes polled within the electorate—--466 out of a roll of nearly 800 voters. No doubt the particular day chosen for the election had a good deal to do with it, while probably the principal reason for so many not, exercising their political rights was a carelessness as to which man represented the district, seeing there was so little to choose between their professed creeds. Notwithstanding the deep and wide-spread anxiety which ttie general elections have caused, it is remarkable that on the present occasion only 87 votes more than was polled at the last election for the Dunstan, in February, 1371, were recorded, the numbers standing-42!) in 1871 ; and 460, in 1875. We give tbo figures of Monday's election in detail as officially declared at Clyde on Wednesday : CROMWELL. V. Pyke. B. R. Bated. 36 44 Gorge. 8 16 Bannockburn 58 30 Benmco. 1 23 Nf.vih, 21 1 CLYDE. 67 Alexandra 27 15 Blacks. 37 5 Dkyhreau 49 1 Sfearorass. 3 V.) Totals ... 307 ... 15«J