TOWN EDITION. Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1881. THE CITY ELECTIONS.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 94, 19 October 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1881. THE CITY ELECTIONS.

Dat by day we find ourselves drifting faster and faster into the great election whirlpool. I At least six weeks must necessarily elapse before polling day, yet already the columns of the Press throughout the whole colony are deluged with election addresses, election speeches, election rumours, and election telegrams. If this is the case while we are but on the threshold of the fray, what may be expected when the election campaign is in full Bwing, and everybody has rogularly warmed to the wort ? Imagination fails to realise the magnitude of the electioneering avalanche which is now in the act of descending upon our davot d heads. People generally fail to realise the vast difference which is made by having 91 single electorates tolerably equal in population, instead of 72, some of them doable or triple seats, and with wide disparity in population. Take the case of Wellington as an instanoe. When this city was ono electorate returning two members, it was vety seldom that more than three or at the most four candidates deemed ib worth while to offer themselves. At the general election of 1871, we had Mr. Edward Pearce, the late Mr. George Hunter, Mr. J. C. Bichkond, and Mr. W. T. L. Travebs, the first two being elected. Jn 1875, Mr. Pkarcb and Mr. Hunter were unsuccessfully opposed by Mr. Travers only. In 1879, when Mr. Levin and Mr Huichison were returned, their only opponents were Mr. Hunter and Mr. Greenfield. But now, in 1881, althong-h we have only one additional member to elect, we have already had fourteen or fifteen before us as candidates—certain, probable, or possible Some of these have <- dropped out of the running" even at this early stags, or have deoided to seek the suffrages of other constitueno es. Mr. Travers, who was one of the firstr in the field, has retired altogether from the contest. Mr. Charles Johnston has d9clined a South Wellington requisition in favour of ono from Te Aro. i)r. Newman has elected to canvass the Wellington Country — now called ".Foxton" — District. Mr. Coffbt has refused to conto3t Wellington South, because he finds Tiia Harbour Board duties engross all the time he can spare from his business. A certain Mr. Tat lor who was very prompt, not to say precipitate, in declaring himself a

candidate for Te Aro, seems unaccountably to have faded away from the electors' gaze. Bnt we are still left with a bulky list of aspirants to senatorial honours, from whom to chooae the three representatives, which the Representation Act allots to this city. It ia entitled to four by virtue of its population on the average of the whole Colony, five at the rate the Canterbury constituencies of A&hburton and Lincoln are represented, or six on the liberal scale adopted for Mount Ida (in Otago), Lyttelton, Picton, and New "Plymouth. The Representation Act is supposed to give every placa "'representation according to population" (?), and bo we can only conclude that a Wellingtonian is only half as good as a Pictonian, or twothirds as good as an Ashburtonian. " The majority" in Parliament has decided so, and we are told that " the majority must rule," therefore we must take the three seats whioh that majority is graciously pleased to dole out to us, and be as grateful aa we may. But this is a d greaeion. We have three seats and at l«ast nine candidates for the honour of filling them. We say "at least," for there are net wanting rumours of " dark horses" who are to enter the field at the last moment and " win with a rush." It may be so, but we are disposed to think that hard, steady plodding work will win in the present election The real battle-field will be the Te Aro flat, whioh includes the two districts of Te Aro and South Wellington. The Thorndon District extends to Dixon-street, and therefore not only embraces the Thorndon and Lambton Wards, but also encroaohes on the edge of Te Aro. For the Thorndon electorate, however, no serious contest is at all likely. Mr. Levin's return ia a practical certainty, although we have no doubt a diverting semblance of a desperate struggle will be maintained to the last by his facetious and amusing opponent, Mr. Dwan. The only declared opponent of Mr. Hutchison in South Wellington is Mr. Hendrey, several expected champions having declined the combat. It is rumoured that the result of the Mayoral election will determine whether or not Mr. Hendrey is to be left to do battle alone against Mr Hutchison. But it is in the district of Te Aro proper that the heat of battle n already concentrated. That there will be an exceptionally severe and hot contest for this seat is abundantly manifest. Mr. Travers, the earliest candidate in the field, has, as we havo eaid, retired. Mr. Gokdon Allan still makes no sign. Mr. Taylor, who made a very early sign, has vanished from the lists. Mr. Worth, who was to be brought down from Wairarapa to save the metropolis, has not yet arrived. The " dark horse," about which bo much has been heard in whispers, is darker than ever. Still, however, we have four " Eiohmondain the field," and, judging from their demeanour, they all mean to fight it out to the last. Three out of the four have already addressed the electors. We have had the viewd of Mr. Shaw, of Mr. Price, and now we have those of Mr. Stafford, whilo we are promised those of Mr. Charles Johnston at no distant date. When all have placed their ideas fully before the electors we shall take an opportunity of comparing and commenting on them, but it appears to us only fair, when there are so many competitors and so few differences in political opinions, to reserve our criticisms until all have spoken. The total absence of anything like party lines is a curious feature in the present general election, and this applies to the whole Colony. Every candidate runs on the " independent" ticket, reserving to himself, if returned, full liberty of action as to whether he will support or oppose the Government. This is perhaps unavoidable, seeing that there are no longar any regular parties in politics, but it renders criticism somewhat difficult, and the inevit able result must be that the contests will be of a purely personal character. It will be the individual fitness of candidates in the eyes of electors and not their political views which will constitute their claims to support. The struggle will be none the less keen on thi3 account. It is currently reported to-day that Mr. Bryce, who had a long c. inference with the Cabinet last night, has again been invited to rejoin the Government, aud that he has now consented. No official information on the subject has transpired. The San Francisco mail, delivered this morning, brought from England for Wellinglington 3853 letters, 1920 book parcels, and 68bO newspapers; and from America, 325 letters, 64 book parcels, and 820 newspapers. 1 he Naval Brigade are to have some outside drill to-night with blank ammunition. One watch, with a couple of guns, is to take' up its position at the foot of Mount Victoria, and the other part of the Brigade, with one gnn, is to storm the position. The citizens in that locality are requested by the officers to keep their windows partly open to avoid any chance of breakage from the concussion caused by the field gnns. A meeting of members of the Athenaeum was held last night to consider the advisableness of borrowing money to pay off sundry liabilities. Twenty persons were present, Mr. J. R. George being in the chair. Mr. T. K. Macdonald moved that the committee be empowered to borrow .£SOO on a second mortgage to pay off liabilities. Mr. Charles Richardson said some particulars as to the liabilities ought to hare been placed before the members. Mr. Macdonald pointed out that it would not be well that a statement showiug how the liabilities were' arrived at should be canvassed at a public meeting. The statement was in the hands of the secretary, and could be inspected at any time. The mere fact that tho committee stated that such a sum was necessary should carry conviction to the minds of members that it was absolutely required. Mr. C. Richardson said that when the first Bum was borrowed the subscribers understood that it would cover all liabilities and they would not bo asked to load the buildings any more. The chairman explained that when the accounts came to be closed up there were certain fines and penalties and outside expenses which had not been calculated, upon which increased the liabilities by and it was to wipe off this, - and to have a floating credit at the bank, that they proposed to borrow i>soo. Mr. G. Allen hoped the meeting would not deal with so important a question without the fullest discussion ; but as no one seemed di posed to discuss it the motion was declared unanimously carried, and the meeting, which lasted about five minutes, adjourned. There was a sitting of the Supreme Conrt in Banco to-day, before their Honors the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Richmond, when the interminable action Climie v. Corporation was again brought before the Conrt. Mr. Travers moved for a rule nisi to set ttsiile the verdict of the jury. He adduced several arguments in Bupport of his application. One wag that the verdict waa inconsistent, as the jury found on one issue that the p'a'ntiff had been appointed upon condition that he could be discharged upon a month's notice ; and on another issue that he had been unlawfully discharged, although it was admitted he hpd received a month's notice. Mr. Travers hold that the contract with tho plaintiff could not be legally made without following ont the statutory requirements of the Municipal Corporations Act, which provided f hat no contract of any kind should be entered into over except by public tendf r. The Court took time to consider its verdict. The weekly meeting of the Wellington Literary Association waa held last night. The officers of the Society were elected for the coming term as follows : — President, Key. James Pateraon ; Vice-Preßideuts, Messrs. Kirker, M'Kenzie, and Farmer; Treasurer, Mr. Win. Bishop ; Secretary, Mr. R. Renner; Librarian, Mr. A. Paul; Committee, Messrs. Voill, Miller, Baker, and Gardiner. In consequence of the meetingroom b'ing occupied, there will be no meeting next week. The weekly meeting of the Committee of the Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon. Present — Messrs. J. G. Holdsworth (chairman), B. Smith, J. E. Smith, Councillors Dauk3 and Allen, V*en. Archdeacon Stock, Revs. J. T. Hinton, H. B. Redstone, J. Paterson, W. Kirk, and W. H. West, tieyeral fresh applications for relief were considered and granted. While discussing the case of one applicant who had known better days, Councillor Allen observed that " the civilisation of the age waa bringing all sorts of waifs to this society." Intelligence ha 3 been received by the mail of the purchase of a new vessel for the Australian coal trade, by Captain W. E. Williams. She is an iron barque, named the Onyx, and will carry 670 tons. She left Sunderland in Augnst 'with a cargo of coal for Mauritius, whence she will proceed to some Australian port, and finally to Wellington. She is expected to arrive in this port early in the new year. A samplo of "morality" which is not at all uncommon in Wellington was brought under the notice of the committee of the Benevolent bociety yesterday by the Bey. W. H. West. Tha story, as told by the rev. gentleman, was to this effect : — A man who had resided in this city with his wife and child for some time recently took up with tie wife of another man, and, just as his own wife was recovering from her confinement, left with hi 3 par.ttnour for Fiji, taking with him iis eldest child. Shortly aft-r reaching Fji he died, and his paramour wrote to" the child's mother, saying he (the child) waa in her way, and she wished to get rid of him. The mother was very anxious to get back her litt'e boy, and; Mr. West had arranged with Mr. Wheeler, of the Union Company, to bring him to Wellington for J6 [ — some £3 less than the customary fare. Air. West brought the matter under the no ice of the committee, to see if they would vote the necessary sum for the passage of the child He stated that the mother would be willing to refund it by instalments. The committee considered the case one which properly devolved upon them, and granted tbo.£i.

Messrs. J. King and Co., jewellers, &c, of Willis-street, have just completed the manufacture of a complete suite of Masonic jewels for a Lodge recently started at Blenheim. The Buite comprises fifteen separate pieces, composed of sterling silver. Each has been finished with a degree of artistic skill which reflects the highest credit on the manufacturers, whoEe workmanship, in fact, we have previously had occasion to comment upon in most favourable terms. The Juvenile Temple, Rising Star, held its weekly session on Monday evening, under the superintendence of Mr. D. Hall, City Missionary. Mr. Thompson gave a few words of advice. It waa announced that the usual session would not be held next Monday evening, owing to an entertainment which will be given by the children. We beg to acknowledge the receipt, from the Government Printer, of a bound copy of the Statutes of 1881. Dr. Wallis, in his recent speech at Auckland, perpetrated an unmistakeable bull. He had been explaining that by birth and training he was a democrat, and that all his sympathies were with the working classes, from which he had sprung, and amoner which he had himself lived and toiled. " I was born in a democratic country," he exclaimed : " my father was a labouring man and my mother was the same." The roars of his audience discovered hia mistake to the rev. legislator. At the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, an old offender, named Bella Carrison, was fined 103, with an alternative of 48 hours' imprisonment, for drunkenness. Beyond the assault cases elsewhere referred to, no other business was transacted. 1 The choir of the Wellington Young Men's Christian Association, lassissted by numerona members of the city church choirs, are to give a Service of Song illustrative of the life and poems of Frances Ridley Havergal, in the Athenasum Hall, on the 17th of next month. At tho meeting of the Benevolent Society held yesterday afternoon, the Chairman reported the cost of sending Mrs. Dewar to Plymouth, vid Melbourne, would be .£36 165, and in addition to this she would receive a few pounds to provide her with necessaries and carry her on to Scotland. She will leave here on Sunday next. A meeting of volunteer officers is to take place at the Empire Hotel to-morrow evening, to make arrangements for a review on the 9th November. An open meeting of the Star of Wellington Lodge, 1.0. G.T., is advertised to take place at the Athenaeum to-morrow evening. The system under which Wesleyan ministers exchange their circuits every three years is exciting adverse discussion in England as well as in the colony. On Sunday, 28th August, over 600 ministers preached farewell sermons in England previous to exchanging circuits. Some of the removals seem as capricious as, to the circuit effected, they are expensive, it being a oonnectional rule that each circuit shall bear the travelling expenses of its outgoing minister to his new Bphera of labour. Some districts have agitated for an extension of the preacher's stay in a circuit. One argument in favour of this will be felt during the present week — namely, the saving of expense to the circuit and connection. Allowing per preaoher fou expenses of himselt and family to his new circnit, this year's removing will cost over j£3ooo. The number of members of the Wesloyan body in the Old Country is reported to be 380,956, an incrbase of 4278 during the yeat, with 80,707 on trial. During the past year 141 chapels have been built, at a cost of .£299,912; 13 ministers' houses for £13,205; 26 sohoolrooms for £ 12,324; 89 improvements and enlargements for ; and 14 organs for .£5326 ; making a total of more than JE385.000 worth of permanent property added for use by -the connexion. Several chapels have also" been built and presented by friends to the connexion. More than 800,000 children are in the Sunday schools, and nearly 180,000 in the day Eohools. Compared with all the other elementary schools, Mr. Mundella states that these day schools have earned the largest Government grants of the year. Tho Thankigivintr Fund now amounts to more than .£300,000, and is still progressing. A singular case of postage-stamp-poisoning has occurred in Maaterton. Mr. Joseph Williams, who suffered a slight abrasion of the skin, from the top of one of his boots pressing on his foot, was advised to apply to the injured spot a piece of the gummed end of a Bheet r£ postage Btampß. This he did at three o'clock in the afternoon. His foot began to swell shortly afterwards (says the Wairarapa Star), ai>d at 10 p.m. it was as big as a tea-kettle, and he reached home with difficulty — a helpless cripple. The swelling has since' been slowly reduced by poultices, , and he is now more convalescent. The Star has also 4 heard of .a^yonng clerk, who haa been laid up through the poifion absorbed into his system by the common process of licking postage-stamps. The special correspondent of the Wanganui Herald, referring to the speeohos at the Parihaka meeting, says: — " A determination to continue fencing and cultivate the land sold to Europeans was expressed ; but no fighting was to eventuate. The natives were told that if they had but spades, shovels, and kohos in their hands they were to strike with them ; but the natives perfectly understand that they are to strike the ground merely, and not tho Constabulary. Should the Constabulary attempt to arrest the natives, the natives are to clinef together in a compact mass, and thus by a passive resistance render the arrest of a portion only possible." In the course of an interesting articlo on the Melbourne Old Cemetery, a writer in the Australasian quotes the following epitaph from ono of the tombstones : — " In this spot is interred the body of John Southorp, of Manchester, who departed this life on the sth of May, 1853, aged 37 years, a victim to a taithless and ungrateful wife." Tho stone lies prostrate on the earth, broken in twain, like the life of the man it chronicler, but its bed is a bed of lilies, alas ! not symbolic il of what must have been his dying thoughts. London Truth complains because young ladies have taken to driving gigs in Hyde Park while sitting beside a groom. It wonders what ladies wontd say if yonng gentlemen drove in their gigs with a good-looking lady's maid Beated in close proximity. During the voyage of the immigrant ship Nineveh, which recently arrived at Sydney, a practical joke was perpetrated which led to unhappy consequences. One ef the young female immigrants dressed herself in a sheet, pretending to be a ghost. At dead of night she stalked through the sleeping girls, whom she aroused. In one instance the shock was so severe that a girl lost her reason and became hopelessly insane. She was examined on the arrival of the ship by medical men, on whose certificate she has bean sent to the asylum. Messrs. Croskery, Hasell & Co. will sell tomorrow, fowls' wheat and barley. Messrs. W. M'Lean & Co. will sell tomorrow, merchandise, &c. Messrs. Francis Sidey & Co. will sell tomorrow, furniture, piano, &c.

Lawn Tennis is now such a favorite pastime and mode of recreation that attire suitable for it becomeß a necessity. James Smith, Te Aro House, has just received per mail steamer, a select assortment of Lawn Tonnis Hats, in cream, pale blue, Royal blue, scarlet, cardinal pink, brown, and mottled. For garden parties, games of croquet, and lawn tennis, nothing is so becoming and charming as the Japanese jn9t imported. Those are in universal use in the Old Country, and being exceedingly pretty, novel and inexpensive, should, as the quantity is but limited, meet with a ready sale. For Lawn Tennis Dresses nothing can surpass a beautiful make of diagonal twilled cream serge. For perfection of finish and durability this material is unrivalled, and can be obtained at James Smith's, Te Aro House.— [Ad vt.l