ELECTORAL ITEMS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1664, 1 July 1887, Page 2

ELECTORAL ITEMS.

The two sides are martialling their forces in earnest in this district, preparatory to the struggle. Major Atkinson has been about the district to some extent during the past day or two, but has been called away to , Wellington, on urgent business, to-day. Last evening, in response to an advertisement, a number of his supporters met in Hawera, and a committee was formed. It was decided that two speeches should be delivered by the Major, at Hawera, the first dealing more particularly with local matters, and the second with general politics; the first will probably be delivered on Tuesday evening week, and the second on the evening following. Then Major Atkinson will visit all parts of bis constituency. He will not address meetings at New Plymouth, or Wellington, or other places, trom which he has received requisitions, until after the speeches to his constituents. J The party in opposition to the Major are working very hard, and meetings have been held at Hawera, Normanby, and other places, for the purpose of starting committees to fight the battle systematically. The Dunedin Bible-in- Schools Association have issued a manifesto to the electors, in which it is mentioned that the great the great majority of the parents of the colony, as evidenced by the plebiscites taken in Otago, South Canterbury, and Nelson, are in favor of the Bible being read in the State schools ; that the exclusion ot the Book was, from the first, contrary to the desire of the people ; and that innumerable petitions have been presented to Parliament praying for its reinstatement. The Council of the Association call on the electors " to use their utmost influence with candidates to obtain their promise of support to an amendment ol the Act, empowering local committees throughout the colony to secure the daily reading of the Bible in the schools, with the provision of a conscience clause and time-table." The Patea Mail, referring to political affairs, 6aye :—lt: — It is the colonial politician, not the district money grubber, that will be successful at the coming ballot, and such being the case, is it necessary to name the future representative of Egmont. The political life of one candidate has been before the world for considerably over a quarter of a century, and is to-day as it always has been, without spot or blemish, a living evidence that "An honest man is the Noblest work of God." Of the other candidates, Messrs. McGuire aud Finnerty, little can yet be said. The former has not as yet publicly made known his ideas, if he has any, on the questions of the day, while the latter has only done so in the briefest possible manner, and in a manner, too, on which he himself has asked not to be judged. We therefore in deference to his request judge him not, and by virtue of the other's silence we count him out. There is therefore but the one candidate left, but that one is all the district requires, and all the district will have. The alteration in the boundaries is oi the utmost importance to the Borough of Patea, as it virtually severs the ties of its political life. From the Egmont district we have been ever separated. Patea must have been established under an unlucky star, for its first political existence was as the extreme end of Egmont, and now it takes life as the extreme end of Waitotara. For ourselves we much regret the alteration. Egmont hasbeen ourjoy and sorrowthrough youth and manhood, under its shadow we've worked hard, played hard, and at times fought hard, and the name is dear to us, but life is too short and varied to afford time for useless repining. " Now is the appointed time," labor is the lot of man (and a pretty lot of it, too), and in guarding the duty we owe to our new electorate we must find solace for our severed ties. On the merits of the candidates for the Wiiitotara seat we shall not at present dilate, as none have yet publicly addressed their constituents, but it may be fair and just to congratulate ourselves on forming part of a district for which a tried veteran is seeking return. " Honest John Bryce " is one of the candidates. We need not, therefore, fear our future, but only exercise judiciously the power we possess, and leave the rest to those in whose hands we place that power, (PER UNITED FBESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, June 30. The reason for Mr. Alderton's retirement from Marsden is that he discovered a technical in his qualification as an elector, and had no option but to retire. He addressed a large meeting at Kamo on Tuesday night, and received a vote ol confidence, and retired the following day. A large meeting was held at Whangarei on Tuesday, when a resolution was passed affirming the desirability of supporting a local candidate. Mr. Thomson, who is a candidate fot the Marsden seat, addressed a meeting, but no motion of support was passed. An effort is being made to induce Mr. Header Wood to stand for Auckland North.