Hawke's Bay Herald.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 4, Issue 194, 8 June 1861, Page 5

Hawke's Bay Herald.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1861. '• We really thought, when Mr. Stark, upon the call of a majority of those who recorded their votes in his favor, expressed in the public prints his intention of resigning his seat in the House of Representatives, that ■we had done with this most unpleasant affair, and that nothing remained but to elect in his stead — so soon as the necessary form • alities could" be gone through — a person who would be prepared to advocate the 1 views and interests of the constituency he represented, rather than those of a Province whose rapacious claims he was expected to resist by every means in his power. No sooner, howerer, had that reply appeared than -the writer of it, by the tenor of his remarks in common conversation, gave rise to doubts in the public mind as to its bona fide character. His resignation, he frequently said, would be contingent upon a better man coming forward— he, apparently, to he judge, as he would not, he said, make room" for either Colenso or Rhodes. Other statements, in qualification -of his reply to the requisitidnists, were reported as having been uttered by him in Ferrers' and elsewhere ; so that, much to the regret of the many who had previously regarded him a straightforward little fellow, his written pledges were so qualified by his oral communications, that, up to the moment of his departure, the electors felt themselves absolutely in the dark as to his real intentions upon arriving in Auckland, and in doubt as to * whether they would be justified, under such circumstances, in looking around for another representative. " Since, however, the departure of the Storm Bird, we have been informed that " Mr. Stark, before leaving, addressed a note to a. gentleman in Napier, to the ef- . feet that he meant to resign shortly after his arrival in the capital. We trust, for his own sake as well as that of the constituency, ■ that he will do so ; hut, knowing the influences that will be brought to bear upon a somewhat facile disposition, we confess that our doubts are not altogether eradicated. The return of the Storm Bird, expected early in the ensuing week, will, however, set the matter at rest one way or the other :— either we shall have the writ for a new election, or we "shall find ourselves, for the remainder of the session, worse than disfranchised. In the event of the writ being received by the steamer, the new election, to give our representative any chance of participating in the business of the session, will have to be pushed forward vigorously ; and but little time will be afforded the electors to make their choice of a member. The matter, therefore, should not be wholly left to the moment of action, but should receive some consideration at the present time. Amongst names which have been mentioned «as those of gentlemen likely to come forward in the event of a vacancy, we'ljave heard that of Mr. Tucker, who is said to have expressed himself as willing to represent the district, should such,be the wish of the electors.