THE EAST COAST ELECTION.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 11, 13 July 1885, Page 2

THE EAST COAST ELECTION.

That there may be many a slip 'twixt onp and lip has been unpleasantly verified by Mr. William Kelly. Since he formerly sat in Parliament he has been beaten, wo think, in four if not fivo contests, in each of which the Blip occurred when to all appearance the enp was very near his lip; When against so powerful and popular a man as Mr. Shoohan he only a few weeks ago was within something like a dozen votes of scouring election, it seemed almost a certainty that no one else would have a chance against him for the vacanoy caused by Mr. Sheehon's death. An unopposed return indoed seemed probablo, and Mr. Kelly and his friends woro so certain of success that he actually left Tauranga and went to Auckland on his way to Wellington, so as to be ready to tako his se&t at once. Whilo in Anckland, however, an opponent appeared on the Tauranga scene, and Mr. Kelly had to hurry back. The opposition did not at first seem sorions. Mr. Lawrence Grace was- a vonng man quite unknown in politics. He belongs, however, to a family which _ has for a very long time been identified with the Kast Coast and its Affairs, and it may be supposed

that he possess considerable influence 1 with the natives, who exercise a strong power in that electorate. Few people at a distance, however, supposed that he would beat Mr. Kelly, and that by a larger majority than Mr. Sheehan, although Mr. Kelly himEclf polled more votea on this occasion than on the formor one. Mr. Grace adds another, we believe, to. tbe list of native-born members of tho House, and .will probably be found an authority on native matterß, a3 he has beep bronght np amongst the natives from childhood. Whether he possesses any special qualifications for political life wo cannot gay, but he certainly can scarcely be more poorly endowed in thia respect than his opponent ; for Mr. Kelly during his Parliamentary career never showed any aptitude or qualification for the position except a certain exportr.eßH in the art of lobbying. It is understood that this commended him to the support of certain sections of the constituency supposed to be under the influence of certain large financial, institutions. If this enpposition is correct, 'the public outside of Tauranga may have reason to rejoice that Mr. Grace's candidature has proved successful. *