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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 23, 4 August 1887, Page 2

Ma Loco surprised a good many of his supporters when he announced his retirement the other night. However he was quite right in retiring, as ill-health is too serious a thing to be trifled with. The practical outcome of the event is the advent of another Hotspur into the field—we refer to Mr Andrew Graham, whose preliminary address will be found in our advertising columns this morning, It is understood that some of the Locke party were desirous of supporting Mr Gannon now that their old champion has retired, but as it was found that many of the '* big people ” were against that gentleman, it was decided to invite Mr Graham to take up the running. We can quite believe that he has entered upon the contest with some diffidence, for to begin so late is a heavy handicap. Mr Graham has the reputation of being a straightforward business, man, he is no speaker, at least from a platform point of view, and bis actions on the Harbour Board have frequently been severely criticised. Of oourse he will stand as a representative of the monied interests, the squattooraey, and the Atkinson-Ormond party generally, and as such we cannot support him. As a fellow citizen and a public man, he shall have fair play at our hands and unprejudiced criticism of his political opinions, but we do not alter our opinion in the least that of the three candidates Mr McDonald is the one to whom the mass of the people should give their support. Until Mr Graham has given publicity to his ideas on the burning questions of the day we shall reserve all other comment.