The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, MAY 4, 1885.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4295, 4 May 1885, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, MAY 4, 1885.

The Tauranga election is of no little importance to Vlawko'sßay. The importance imparted to it is duo to tho candidature of Mr John Shechan. If the candidates were alike strangers to the district and to tho settlers of Hawke's Bay, tho interest attaching to the election would be no more than that which may be felt concerning any other constituency the seat for which is vacant. But Mr Shechan may be justly regarded as a Hawke's Bay man. His interest in the welfare of this district is undoubted. The large and influential party that espoused his candidature for Napier affords proof sufficient that if it had not been considered lie would have avcll and worthily represented this Borough in Parliament ho Avould not have rccciA'cd its support. The party in opposition to Mr Ormond cast around for a representative candidate and could find no ono better qualified to contest the election than Mr Sheehan. In putting forward its candidate that party Avas not animated by other than the sincercst desire to further tho Avelfare of Napier. It aviis on political grounds that Mr Ormond was opposed, for his opponents ncA'cr seriously supposed for a moment that he Avould be loss loyal to the constituency than Mr Shechan. Wo said at the time, and avo repeat it again, that it Avas a great pity Mr Shechan was induced to stand for Napier because it kept him out of Parliament. We could not support him for this seat, and told him so. At tho time, we Avere perfectly avcll assured that no newspaper support that might havo been giA*cn him Avould ever haA-o had any material effect against the Avishcs of a majoity of electors. If all the local papers had been in favor of Mr Sheehan it Avould not have converted his minority into a majority. Mr Ormond Avas looked upon as tho natural representative of Napier, and his election Avas a certainty. But because avc opposed Mr Shechan for this scat avo aro none the less pleased at seeing the opportunity offered him of again entering Parliament, and avc take the liveliest interest in his candidature for Tauranga. If he bo succcsful he may not perhaps possess tho influence he once exercised in the House, but ho is not tho man to bo relegated to a back seat. He has made his mark in Ncav Zealand politics, and towers high above the only opponent he may fear—Mr Kelly. So far as this district is concerned the difference botween the two candidates is this, that in the return of Mr Sheehan Hawke's Bay Avould have an extra member in Parliament; in the election of Mr Kelly, Auckland would have increased representation. Auckland is fully represented already ; tho East Coast is not. Now, Avith Messrs Sheehan, Locko, Ormond, Russell, and Smith in tho House tho East Coast would have a representation that it has never had before, and to tho absence of which its neglect has been duo. There has never boon what may be termed an East Coast party in Parliament, and five members, such as avo have named above, would form a party that Avould have to bo taken into acconnt by whatever Ministry might be in power. When we consider that out of the millions of money that have boon borroAved by the colony little or nothing has been spent in the development of the resources of the East Coast from Petane to Capo Colville, avo may avcll support the candidaturo of Mr Sheehan. Mr Kelly, though a Tauranga resident, is no East Coast man in the broad sense in Avhich Mr Sheehan may be regarded. Mr Kelly in the House would merely swell the Auckland vote, as indeed his candidature is now being supported by tho Auckland interest. Mr Shechan has to depend on himself alono, on his force of character, on his past political services, and it would be avotsc than folly if avo of Hawke's Bay did not give him AA'hat moral support lies in our poAver. The accounts from Tauranga are so far reassuring-. In Mr Kelly's stronghold, Tauranga itself, Mr Sheehan quickly converted a hostile camp into friends and supporters. And in this he is an adept. Some years years ago Mr Sheehan accompanied Mr J. Buchanan to Wairoa Avhen tho latter gentleman Avas contesting tho HaAvke's Bay seat before Napier was made into a separate constituency. In support of Mr Buchanan's interest Mr Sheehan thought it advisable to address the meeting that had been called to hear theA'ieAvs of the candidate. Mr Sheehan was received with hisses. When silence was restored he told his audience that, before leaving- Napier, Mr Buchanan had been acßdscd "not to take that red devil Avith him to Wairoa, but I havo come all the same," said Mr Sheehan, " and, perhaps, you will sec that I am not as red as I have been painted." Before Mr Sheehan had concluded one of the happiest speeches we ever heard him deliver, he Avas on the best of terms with everybody, and during his stay thero proved that Mr Buchanan did wisely in taking him to Wairoa. We wish him equal success in Tauranga and if ho is in anything like his old form we have no doubt as to the result of the poll.