NEW FACES IN PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 140, 14 December 1881, Page 2

N EW FACES IN PARLIAMENT.

Mr. J. S. Wilson, the new member for Foxton, is a settler of only a few yeara standing, but during his residence in the provincial district has won the esteem and respect of a large section of tho community. Indeed, he appears to be a man against whom in bis private life no one has a word to say. In his own particular district — Sandon — he is spoken of as a conscientious, upright, honourable gentleman, whose word is as good as his bond. It is doubtless on the score of his high private reputation that he has been returned to Parliament. He has never taken any part in public life in Nevr Zealand, and the Housß will probably seldom hear his voice ; but, if all accounts be correct, he will give an intelligent voto upon matters affecting the welfare of the colony. He is a farmer in the Sandon district, and will pay special attention in Parliament to the farming interest, which, he Bays, has been greatly neglected in the pa3t . He is a pronounced supporter of the present Government. Mr. G. G. FitzGebald, who defeated Mr. R. C. Keid for Hokitika by a considerable majority, is a journalist of considerable ability, and many yeara ago owned and edited the Southland limes at the time when Inveroargill was in its full flush of prosperity. Subsequently he was appointed Resident Magistrate at Hokitika, at the same time fulfiling the duties of Gold fields Warden for that district, which included Ross and Kumara within its limits. This position ho resigned after holding it about twelve years, and returned to his old vocation. He was a leading contributor to the New Zealand Times for some months, after wheh he aooepted the editorship of the Wanganui Chronicle, which he gave up to take charge of the Ashbarton Mail, a position, we believe, he occupies at the present. His press experience must render him au fait in all the political questions of the day, while his legal information necessarily acquired by having been so long on the magisterial bench, and his knowledge of goldfields, their management and their necessities, Bhould be of material value in the Honse. Mr. Joseph Petbie, the newly-elected member for Greymouth, is a very young man, of small political experience. He is a practical printer, and the proprietor of the Greymouth Star, and has taken an active part in the management of local institutions in Greymouth. Beyond attending parish meetings and other gatherings of like importance, he has not yet had the experience to enable him to discharge the important duties that he is now called on to undertake. Mr. J. Munbo, the lately elected member for the Buller, where he was victorious over Mr. Eugene O'Connor, who formerly represented the constituency in Parliament, is an auctioneer in We3tport, where he has carried on business since 1866. He has been long identified with the Buller interests, and has especially devoted himself to the development »f the coal measures of that distriot, which are now in a fair way to be fully opened up, and their value appreciated. He has taken an active part in local politics in Westport, and has also filled the civic chair of that municipality more than once He is a moderately flment speaker, possesses sound common sense, and should make a useful if not a brilliant member.