THE HUTT NOMINATION.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 57, 4 September 1879, Page 2

THE HUTT NOMINATION.

The nomination of candidates for the representation of the Hutt took place yesterday at ' the Court House. Lower Hutt. At the hour appointed, 12 o'clock, there was a goodly assemblage of electors. Mr. James, the Returning Officer, having read the writ, Mr. N.; Valentine rose to propose Mr. Henry Jackson, ■ who, ho considered, had shown his fitness to b« their representative. It was a great pity the dissolution had taken place, and a greater pity tbat Mr. Mason had come forward to contest the district. (Cheers and counter cheers ) Mr. Henry Collett seconded Mr. Jackson. Mr. R. Prouse proposod Mr. Thomas Mason. Although Mr Jackson had said ne was not pledged to Grey he did not believe him. Election promises were worth about ss. per bushell* (Laughter.) Mr. Milne seconded the nomination of Mr. Mason, and in doing so took the opportunity of defending that gentleman from the charge of being responsible for the defective state of the electoral roll. He was s straightforward man, who had always taken an active part in local administration. Mi*. Jackson's reception was good and his speech brief and to the point. He touched upon the various measures which demanded instant attention in Parliament, and declared his opinions to be the sane as those which he expressed at the former election. He defended the Revising Officer (Mr. Fitzhorbert) from neglecting the roll. It was either Mr. Mason's fault or the clerk's. Mr. Mason explained that he had come forward because Mr. Jackson had supported the Government when placed on trial for their mismanagement of affairs. The main portion of his remark) consisted oi an attempted explanation of the mysterious roll t'ungle. The County Council had nothing to do with the matter. The Highway Boards kept the rate books, and some of the lists which had been sent in had been rejected. It was the clerk's duty to Bend in the list, and if they were not properly made up thore was a penalty of £10 attaching to his neglect. Some question* were asked by Mr. Rush, some of them of rather n curious nature, especially one having referenco to the Treason Felonies Act. The show of hands was then called for, and resulted in 27 being held up for Mr. Jackson and 17 for Mr. Mason. A poll was demanded on behalf of the latter gentleman, and will take place on Tuesday next, the 9th September.