REPRESENTATION OF PARNELL. MEETING OF ELECTORS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2677, 14 February 1866, Page 5

REPRESENTATION OF PARNELL. MEETING OF ELECTORS.

A meeting of the electors of Parnell was held last evening in the Presbyterian school-room, "for the pnrpose of nominating a fit and proper person to represent Parnell in the General Assembly." The room was filled, and amongst those present we observed Colonel Nation, Major JHeaphy, Messrs. T. Macfarlane, Header Wood, Coolaban, W. Aitken, A. Beveridge, S. Kempthorne, J. Wrigley, Hunter, R. Lusk, Alexander, Whitson, &c. On the motion of Mr. Hdnter, seconded by Mr. Wrigley, Mr. .Reader Wood took the chair. The Chaibman, who was received with much cheering, said that they were met for the purpose of nominating a gentleman to represent Parnell in the ensuing session of the General Assembly. He was sure they would agree with him that the best interests of the province depended upon the united action of the members sent to the General Assembly. By that course in last session they had got rid of the Weld Government, and if the same course were continued, he believed it would be possible to gain, every reasonable wish they had. By those fifteen gentlemen working together under a recognised leader, he believed there would be no difficulty in obtaining Separation before any great length of time. Mr. Wood concluded by askiug if any gentleman had a candidate to propose. Major Hbaphy said he rose to propose a gentleman to represent the constituency in whom he believed every gentleman present would repose the fullest confidence. He (Major Heaphy) had to propose the gentleman who now fitted the high office of Superiutendeat of the province. (Great cheering.) He might mention that when a deputation had waited upon the Superintendent on the subject of the Parnell .Road, the matter of the representation of Parnell was Bpoken of, and Mr. Whitaker was asked if he would consent to allow himself to be nominated. The subject had been mentioned, he believed, on the spur of the moment, and from a consciousness that it was necessary to ascertain what Mr. Whitaker's opinions might be. Mr. Whitaker said he thought it might be necessary for him, in the altered state of affairs, again to go into the Assembly; and that if such were the case, the constituency he would prefer to represent was that of Parnell. He also said that he had represented Parnell in the Provincial Council, and that he believed the people of that district would have confidence in him. (Cheers.) It was known that Mr. Creighton intended to retire for the present from the Assembly, and it appeared to those gentlemen who formed the deputation, and others in Parnell, that Mr. Whitaker should be brought forward. He (Major Heaphy) had b>en requested to propose Mr. YVhitaker, and it was a task which he performed with much pleasure. It was quite unnecessary to speak to them of Mr. Whitaker's qualifications, but he might advert to the circumstance of his being a staunch separationist. He believed that they might look upon Mr. Whitaker as being for the province the champion of Separation ; and if he went in unopposed, and with the unanimous support of such a community, that alone would be a very great fact established in the cause of Separation. He might also say that they all felt that Mr. Whitalier would be a supporter of the Stafford Government. That was a great matter, which must not be lost sight of. (Cheers.) The chairman had said that it was necessary for the members from Auckland in the Assembly to be united, under a recognised leader. He would not pretend to say who that was likely to be, but if a man like Mr. Whitaker went to Wellington, he would go in the van of their representatives, and they need not be under any apprehension for the result. Major Heaphy concluded, mnidab great applause, by proposing his Honor Frederick Whitaker as a fit and proper person to represent Parnell. Mr. Wbiglet seconded the nomination. He said he believed that Mr. Wbitnker had his heirt on the settlemeut of the Waikato country. He well known to Parnell, which had always sent a good representative to the General Asiembly, and which could not send a better man than Mr. Whitaker. Mr. K. Lxjpk supported the resolution. There were some matters, he thought, that the electors should try to get some information about. The cry of Separation had been dinned into their ears, but there was a great amount of haziness as to the conditions on which they were to have Separation. The electors had very few opportunities of knowing the mmds of public men, and he thought they might put some questions to Mr. Whitaker at the nomination, that would elicit information which would be interesting to them all. The Southern Cross of that morning had mentioned that Mr. Stafford was strongly opposed to Separation, and would do all he could to divide the camp of the Separationists. It was also said that the members should be prepared to accept what was given while still holding to the effort for Separation. That was, he thought, rather a shallow thing to say for a man of Mr. Stafford's experience, in eivi'ne them anything, would pur it forward so as to commit them. He (Mr. Lusk) thought it very necessary that the people of the province should consider the conditions that it would be worth their while to accept Separation upon. Mr. Coolahan said he entirely dissented from the observations of the last speaker. The constituencies had sent men in whom they had implicit confidence, which was shown by . the fact that they had been sent without opposition. The Superintendent had already gone to Wellington, and he (Mr. Coolaban) considered that he had laved the province from a crisis by obtaining the £100,000 to be devoted to the Waikato scheme. It would be undignified to put any questions j they ought to leave Mr. Whitaker to himself, and he would not deceive them. (Loud ° Mr. Lcsk said he merely wanted them fco obtain matter for reflection. The Chairman then put the motion, whion was carried unanimously. Mr. Httntbr said there was one thing they nad to acknowledge, and that was the satisfactory way in which their last member bad acted, and before the meeting separated they had a just right to pass a vote of thanks to him. He therefore proposed that the meeting should pass a vote of thanks to Mr. Creighton for his conduct during the last session of the Assembly. (Cheera.) Mr. S, Kempthobfe seconded Mr. Hunters motion, which was carried with acclamation. Mr*.W. Ajtken proposed the following gentlemen as a deputation to wait upon Mr. Whitaker, to in form him of the result of the meeting :— The Chair-

runnel tfAtfoirfM-Jtw- Heapfcy, Mesws. Cool3£ WrigSyfiSSXHuutcr, and Ac mover. Mr Spbioht seconded the motion, which w.s m A"™^Xnk S S w M thcmp-d to V,. CMrman, ami the meeting Mpmted.