The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Saturday, August 27, 1887. SOME MORE COMBATANTS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 33, 27 August 1887, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Saturday, August 27, 1887. SOME MORE COMBATANTS.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’at at be thy ■country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’s.

We continue our remarks on the candi. dates.

At Wellington the chances are strongly in favour of the Ministry not getting a single adherent returned. George Fisher, an excellent speaker and a master of figures, is safe to get in for Wellington East. Little Dr. Newman for the Thorndon seat is being opposed by McLean, an auctioneer and old Westcoaster of no particular ability or social standing. Newman is safe to win, For Te Aro, Fraser, who was in the last House, has a very strong opponent in A. Menteatb, the late member for Inangahua. Menteath made a great hit in the House last session, and is a stamp of man whose election would be of benefit to the colony. Fraser is a Vogelite and bases his chances of success upon his connection with various friendly societies. He is a stationer in a small way, a great man at bun scrambles, and a rabid blueribbonite. In the short time he sat in the House he displayed no particular ability, and as a politician he is far inferior to his opponent. A, W. Brown, one of Wellington’s ex-Mayors, is an independent candidate, but the issue lies between Fraser and Menteath. Izard, the wellknown lawyer, who has been unsuccessful on several previous occasions, is now almost sure of success for Wellington South, his opponent, Edwards, another lawyer by the way, having retired. Most of the excitement in the Wairarapa centres at Masterton, where newspapers and candidates have been at it “ hammer and tongs.” Here a Ministerialist is almost sure of success in the person of Mr Hogg, the editor of the Wairarapa Star. Hog? is a strong Protectionist, and a ready speaker, and will get the support of the working men. His two opponents are Beetham and Hawkins, boih well-known run-holders. Beetham was the Opposition whip for the last session or two. Hawkins possesses very independent opinions re the land and education questions and is bent upon a hard fight. He is a relation of the wellknown Tancred family and before coming to the colony was for some years Town Clerk of Leicester.

Leaving the Wairarapa we get up through the Forty Mile bush to Woodville. Here we find two Ministerialists, Mr Smith, of Waipawa fame, and Mr McCardle, a Pahiatua settler, fighting Mr Horace Baker, the recently discharged chief surveyor for Hawke’s Bay, Considerable difference of opinion prevails as to who will be successful, but Mr McCardle is, for ability, unquestionably the best man, At Waipawa the victory will probably rest with Sutton or Tanner, whilst for Hawke’s Bay, Desmond, a Ministerialist, stands no earthly chance of beating so all-round a popular man as Captain Russell.

Of the Napier contest we have already spoken.

When Ivess first came up, the Ormondites loudly derided the plucky Joe’s chances, but from the efforts they are now making it is evident that they have found him to be a foeman worthy of their steel. There is considerable bitterness of feeling being displayed by both sides at Napier and great interest is evinced in the struggle.

Across Cook’s Straits, in Marlborough and Nelson things political are also very 'ively. For the Wairau seat Mr Dodson, an Oppositionist, will doubtless profit by the fact of two Ministerialists Standing. For Nelson, Levestam, a useful, but certainly by no means brilliant individual has a certainty, but at Motueka, Hursthouse, a clever but erratic politician will very likely defeat that mingled mass of corpulence and vulgarity yclept "Jack” Kerr. For the Waimea seat the veteran Seymour has the best chance, whilst the Buller will return Eugene O’Connor, who is always a safe vote for Vogel and Stout. Down on “ the coast ” Bevan, of Hokitika, is being opposed, but will probably win his election, whilst at Greymouth the late member, Guinness, a local lawyer and a popular man with the miners, has a vigorous opponent in Petrie, a wellknow journalist. Kumara may be relied upon to return the objectionable but use-

ful Seddon, who will no doubt in the coming session as in the past dilate upon the wonderful advantages of that great work the “ Koomarrer ” sludge channel, a work which in Dick’s opinion surpasses in importance the Brooklyn bridge or the Thames tunnel and is worthy of being classed as the eighth wonder of the world. Crossing the Alps into the land of the merino and the tussock, we find Canterbury perfectly boiling over with matters political. Here we meet with Protection v. Freetrade lectures, with packed meetings and rowdy audiences. Here candidates have to dodge the ancient and evil smelling egg and are made acquainted with the odours exhaled by defunct tabbies and decayed rodents. The Lyttleton Times, on the one hand and the Press on the other, hurl arguments and obloquy at each other’s party and personalities of the most objectionable character are being daily introduced into the conflict.

In Christchurch North “ Sir Jooleyus ’> has a safe seat, but at Kaiapoi the Minister for Public Works is likely to be

rubbed out by Mr Moore, an independent The blatherskite Taylor, full of conceit and bad grammar, is, alas, likely to be returned by Sydenham to bore the House once more, but the blatant Holmes, the most odious man of the late House, has luckily retired for a season. Ministerialists will, however, carry the victory at Lyttelton and Lincoln in the persons of Messrs Joyce and O’Callaghan, but at St. Albans Garrick will assuredly take the conceit out of young Reeves of the Lyttelton Times. Selwyn cannot fail to return Sir John Hall, whilst Major Steward, in spite of the District Railways scandal, will be returned unopposed for Waimate, and another Ministeralist, Turnbull, will again represent Timaru. Rolleston too has a fairly safe seat for Rangitata. He is a useful politician, and it would be a pity for the House to lose the services of so experienced a man.

In Otago the Opposition will probably score heavily. At Dunedin South it is hoped that Gore, Ministerialist, will prevent the notorious Fish from Inflicting his presence upon the House, and at Dunedin West the veteran Dick, once Colonial Secretary with Atkinson, Will probably relegate Downie Stewart to a period of political seclusion. Fulton, at the Taierl, Hislop at Oamaru, Scobie McKenzie at Mount Ida, Barron at Caversham, and Thomson, at Clutha, may all be reckoned as having easy victories on the Opposition side. For the Peninsula, Larnach is being opposed by a nephew of poor old Macandrew, but it is hardly likely he will suffer defeat. At Port Chalmers the popular manager of the Union Company, “Jimmy" Mills, an Independent, will probably defeat Green, an Oppositionist, whilst the Dunstan will surely not rob the Wellingtonians of the pleasure of seeing that ancient buck, Vincent Pyke, promenading down Lambton Quay with all the jauntiness of a newly arrived masher. With all the kudos appertaining to the successful floating of the Blue Spur Mining Company, Tuapeka could not be so ungrateful as to reject J. C. Brown. Little “Atch of Hinvercargill,” has retired, thank Heaven, so the next House won’t be plagued with his interminable verbosity, but there will be a stiff fight in the “ City of Wide Streets” between the two Oppositionists, Feldwickand Tanner. For Mataura and Wakatipu, G. F. Richardson, and Fergus, are, to use a sporting phraseology, “ morals,” both being opposed to the Ministry. Taken as a whole Otago and Southland are dead against the Ministry, whilst Canterbury and the West Coast will probably poll heavily in their favour. The main issues of the elections will be fought out in the North Island, but as far as the chances are apparent at present an all round survey of the Colony leads to the conclusion that the Ministerial candidates will be in a minority.