PARNELL ELECTION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2419, 21 April 1865, Page 5

PARNELL ELECTION.

The nomination and election of Mr. Robert James Creighton ns member of the House of Represents tives for Parnell/in'the'room of Mr. Reader Gilson Wood, resigned, took place yesterday, at noon, at the old Supreme Coutt-house. There -was only a small attendance of electors, occasioned doubtless by the fact being known that there would be no contest. ' Punctually at twelve o'clock Mr. L. OBrien, Returning Officer, appeared and road the writ authorising the election. Mr. T. Mackarlane said the electois of Parnoll would bo awmo that, at the preliminary meeting of the electors heM the other night, it was resolved to wait upon Mr. Whitakor, aod to request his acceptance of tho scat, as the member for Fainell in the House ot Representatives. The .deputation appoisted by that meqtitig wailed upon Mr. Whitaker and expressed tlioir views. Mr. Whitaker courteously but fiimly decliued the honour proposed to be conforied upon him; and in accordance with a subsequent resolution of the Parnell mooting, it was resolved that, in the event »f Mr. Whitaker declining, the oflur of the seat should be nia'le to Mr. Robert James Creighton. A deputation afterwards waited upo 1 Mr. Creighton ; and he at onco freely and hcai tily accepted the oiler — provided that such should be the wish of the electors of Fainell. Ho thought, considering tho ciicumstances in which thoy had waited upon Mr. Creightou— the ciicumstances in which tho piovinco was placed at the piosetit moment, and the fact also being rcmembei cd that the present Parliament would not exist for abovo a month or two at tho most — Mr. Cieighton, iv agreeing to act in tho way ho had done, had placed the electors of Parnell under very deep obligations to him. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Macfailaue) had at one time thought that there wiis likely to lie oppo-sitioii, but ho rejoiced exceedingly that there was not. Mr. Coolahan, by tho advice of his friends, had withdrawn his name as a candidate, having seen it to be to the intotcst of the province that there should be no opposition, and th.it they should appear before tho front of tho common enemy as a united constituency — united as one ninn in tho interests of the province, and should not imperil their position for want of union. Unity of action was necessity to their existence, and all their membeis must agree to one com se — to stick by each other throughout tho session libmit to bo held. Whether it should be determined to go clown to Wellington, or to remain in Auckland— whatever couise was thought to be the best— the lepiesenratives of Auckland must agree as one man to act together, and they must put themselves under a leader whoso guidance they would accept. If they went down to Wellington every step they took in Parliament should bo done unitedly, so that tho full wt-iglifc of the fifteen votes should tell on every occasion. (Hear.) He considered that Mr. Creighton had come forward in a voiy gentlemanly manner. Ho was possessed of great talents, as they all knew. Ho h.id laige experience of tho general position and t>>c geueial wants of tho colony, ile had been an able and consistent advocate of the settlement of the Waiknto district, and to secure to the European population their fair 1 etui n for the trouble and expense, and the inconveniences they had been put to in prosecuting the war— a war not sought by themselves, but foiced upon thorn, and for which they wero entitled to somo compensation. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Creighton had manfully maintained the lights of the Euiopean population, and, should he go to Parliament, he was possessed of sufficient ability to sustain tho dignity and honour of tho mctiopohtan piovince of the colony of New Zealand. (Hear, hear ) Ho therefore proposed that they should unanimously elect Mr. Robot t James Cieightou a-f their representative for Pai nell. (Hear, heir.) Ho had just one word to ray in regard to the position of the Northern Association. He saw that at thpOnehunga nomination on Wodnosday, and ho noticed m some of tho local press in Auckland, that a difference of opinion existed in regard to the action which the membeis for Auckland should take. So fur as the Northern Association was concerned, it had c\.eicised no voice in the matter. It had not interfered in any election, and, so far, did not intend to inteifeie in any election. All the position they ha I takeu was that every man should be legistorod, so that a full representation of the inhabitants should be secured in Pailiamcnt — that was to «ay, if Auckland was entitled to three or four or live other membeis, that they should have such an additional number of members ; and the Northern Association had exerted all its strength —bad taken no little trouble, and had succeeded so woll in their object as to be able to place near upon 4,0u0 additional electois upon the roll — a number of electors infinitely greater than was possessed altogether by many pioviuces in the South. (Hear, hear.) That was what tho Noithern Association had done, and it was never thought right to interfere in the deliberate opinion of the electors in regaid to the men that they should choose. Tho question would i emain to be considered whether it was best for the membois to go down South, or better for them to remain in Auckland. Whatever they should do it imi-fc be by unity, because the foioe of their action, whatever it raiuht be, would be lost if not unanimous. He vcntuiedto think that the most important duty which they woidd press xipon their mem ers was unity of action : and if they were true to themselves, acting unitedly, they would bocure their lights, and that at no distant date. (Applause.) Mr. William Vaugii.vn seconded the nomination of Mr. Creigliton. 'Ihe Returning Officer inquired if any other candidate was to bo nominated, and thero being no response, he declined Mi. Robeit Junes Creighton duly elected a3 member of the Houso of Repiei>entatives for Parnell. The announcement was received with cheers. Mr. CitKTOHTos then camn forward, and said he felt deeply sensible of tho honour the electois of Parnell had coufeirtd upon him that day ; but he still more deeply regretted the ueceiMty for holding the ilection. He thought it was pcculiaily unfottunate that agouti) mm of Mr. Wood's standing in political hfo should have resigned bis seat at least beforo tho expiration of the present Parliament, and he could not hut think that it was a great mistake on tliepaitof those gentlemen who were the lecognised political leaders in Auckland not t<> have sclented the best man amongst them, and made tender of his services to represent Parntlt in the ensuing session of the General Assembly. Ho (Mr. C ) had no claims on the constituency of Parnell, nor did ho entertain the least wish to set up any particular claim to their consideration by the part he had taken in the election ; but he did think it was n debt he owed to that constituency, after what had occuircd at the meeting on Monday, and subsequently owing to the refusal of Mr. Whitaker to aceopt the vacant seat, to place his services conditionally at the disposal of the electors of Parnell. He had told the deputation who waited upon him that he would bo very happy, even on the hustings, to resign in favour of any other candidato they might bring forward, who postered tho confidence of tlio constituency. Ho supposed, as they had not brought forward any other candidate, they had not thought it requisite to look for another at tho present time. Hia views upon public matters wero sufficiently well known to euder it unnece'Miry for him to refer to them on that occasion. Ho had identified himself with tho cause of Separation, and he had done something, as a member of the Council of the Northern Association, to promote the Separation movement. Should it be deemed advisable for m-mbers to take their seats in the next session at Wellington, he trusted he should be found iv his place, and would use his best endeavours to promote tho interests of the province. (Bear, hear.) He thanked the electors for the honour they had conforied upon him ; it was an honour quite unexpected upon his part ; but he wished to apprise them of tho fact that he did not intend at the expiration of tho present Parliament to bec»me a candidato for Parnell. That seat would then be iv their hands, and he would recommend the electors to lookout for the best man amongst themselves to fill the vacant place. He would again thank them for the honour they had d»ne him, and he could assure them that he would do his utmost to represent thoir best iuterests in Parliamen t, ( A pplause. ) A vote of thanks was then accorded to the Returning Officer, on the motion of Mr. Ckeiohton, and the proceedings, which had lasted only ten minutes, tormiuatod.