THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1698, 13 January 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1874.

The meeting last night at Gilmer's Hall was of considerable importance, although there was a tendency to make ridicule of the whole proceedings. Mr Lahman, who had allowed himself to be associated with Mr E. B. Fox on the same platform, made probably the most practical speech that has been delivered by the various candidates who, are wooing the soft voices of the electors. He spoke sensibly, and showed that whilst he fully recognised the claims of the district he was equally anxious . to further the interests of the whole Province. Although he fell into the, same error as that which his competitors had committed— that is to say, by talking about things which the Provincial Council could not possibly deal with, he displayed a certain amount of practical knowledge which no one could discover in any of the other candidates. Mr Lahman, ought to be returned. We hare no desire to discuss his proceedings whilst he wasCountyChairman. Hemayhaveallowed the blandishments of Hokitika to deaden his tendernesß towards his first love, but after all he is a representative man, and Greymouth would be foolish and stupid to reject him as one of the three members who are to be returned. It is some compliment to the place to know that cne of its members has occupied the chair of the County, and that he is a member of the Colonial House of Lords. To refuse or .neglect. to elect him, would be equivalent to slapping one's own face. On many grounds we should be glad to see Mr Lahman returned, a 8 we believe; he will be. Mr E. B. Fox would have been wise had he retired. He has no possible chance of being elected, and it would have been: far more proper and graceful if he had withdrawn himself from the contest; He has already enjoyed positions which his highest ambition could hardly have anticipated. He has the honor of haying, been the first Chairman of the first local, governing body— the Grey Road Board — that had any jurisdiction in this part of the Colony, He was afterwards President of a .Road Board Conference, and by a mysterious dispensation of Providence ultimately became a full-blown County Councillor. He has been distinguished quite sufficiently, and he ought to have recognised the true position and have resigned. He will not do this, and he will certainly be defeated. Mr Masters has been placed in an unfortunate position. Absence does not make the political heart grow fonder, but the peculiar circumstances should not have any important effect upon his candidature. Mr Masters has on every possible occasion exhibited a desire to further the interests of the town and district, and he is fully entitled to the support of the electors. Unfortunately, the electors are under an embarrassment of riches. They can only return three representatives, and there are five candidates. Of these three it would be only proper and fit tbat Mr Lahman should be one. As to the others, it is difficult to express an opinion. Mr Master? ha* undoubtedly lost much by being absent, but his well-known and proved loyalty to the dis- { trict may makeup for the deficiency, if any, which his absence from it may have occasioned. Mr Fox need not have come forward ; his non-election from the first was a foregone conclusion, and it would have been a sensible thing if, instead of fighting. a hopeless battle, he had given his influence to some other candidate. However, it does not matter very much. . We are all certain that. whoever out of the several candidates are returned they will do the best they can. The chances are that the winning candidates will be Messrs Wickes, Masters and Lahman.