OTAGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1633, 10 March 1866, Page 2

OTAGO.

THE ELECTIONS. THE DUNEDIN NOMINATION. {From the Otago Daily Times, March 7.) The nomination of candidates for the representation of the district of the city of Dunedin in the House of Representatives took place at noon yesterday, on the ground in front of Milton Hall, Stuart street; it being impossible to have the proceedings at the back of the Court-house, as usual, in consequence of the sitting of the Supreme Court. There were, we should think, at no time more than 200 persons present yesterday ; and the number fluctuated a good deal. Mr. John Gillies, the Returning Officer, read the writ for the election of two members, and the notice given by himself; and he called upon those desiring to propose candidates to do to.

Mr. J. H. Harris proposed James Paterson, who had been long known to many of those present, as a public man. The colony was now in a most critical position; and now, more than ever before, it behoved the electors to be careful whom they chose to represent them. Amongst the important questions to be dealt with next session were—the Panama Mail Service, and whether Utago was not entitled to be made a port of call; Separation, financial, and perhaps political, between the two islands, so that future liabilities for Native wars should certainly not be imposed upon the Middle Island; the Land Question ; and the Tariff. Upon all those qutstions he found Mr. Paterson to be true as steel. Mr. Paterson would explain the position he had taken as a member of the General Government; and he (Mr. Harris) did not donbt that that explanation would be satisfactory. He had occasionally differed from Mr. Paterson ; but he had always found that gentleman honest and straightforward in expressing his views, and in trying to give effect to them.

Mr. John Smith seconded the nomination. After a pause of several minutes, during which there was a good deal of joking, Mr. Geo. Smith proposed John Millar. That gentleman's abilities as an engineer— about which there could be no mistake—and in other ways, fitted him better than most other men for watching expenditure on public works. He believed Mr. Millar to be a man of honesty of purpose; and to be so prudent in what he said—(laughter)—that he would be sure to do his best to perform whatever he promised. Mr. T. Redmayne seconded the nomination. He was sure that Mr. Millar would look after sanitary improvements ; would do all he could to obtain loans for works ; and would be most useful in all relating to the passing of Acts for railways and their construction.

Mr. John H. Barr proposed William Hunter Reynolds—(Groans and cries of •• You're a

member of the Star Chamber," "Inquisition," &c.) He was sure that there was no one to whom the city was more indebted than to Mr. Reynolds.— (A Voice: The man that never tells a lie.) He would simply; jsall uppn the electors to show, in the right way, their appreciation of Mr. Reynolds as the right man to be one of the representatiTes of the city. Mr. R. B. Martin seconded the nomination. He had known Mr. Reynolds seven or eight years ; and he was sure that during that time, there had not been a more useful public servant than that gentleman.

Mr. C. E. Reeve proposed James Gordon Stuart Grant; and the nomination was seconded by Mr. Peter Sherwin, sen. Mr. John Graham had to propose a gentleman who had been a resident in the country for sixteen years. Amidst great laughter, Mr. Graham described his candidate as a gentleman who, whatever else he might do, would work unceasingly to get Torrens Act—which had been in effect passed by the Assembly three years ago—put into force, so that men who wanted to sell or transfer land would be freed from the thraldom of lawyers, and so be able to do cheaply what they wanted ; who, when the goldflelds broke out in Gabriel's Gully, went over the mountains, and showed how to cut off 25 miles from the road round by Tokomairiro, who, when the Dunstan was discovered, volunteered to establish a mail service, and so supply the only means of sending letters between town and those diggings-, who, when he found the people on the diggings in want of vegetables, cultivated the ground and showed what Otago would yield in that way.—(A Voice: And what about the cats?) The people were in bondage to the lawyers—a bondage worse than that of the children of Egypt. Prom that bondage, the gentleman he meant to nominate would do his utmost to free them. That gentleman is (concluded the speaker) " John Graham, which I consider is a fit and proper person to represent you in the Assembly." (Loud laughter.) Mr. John Mayne seconded the nomination. Mr. John Barnes proposed Thomas Birch. He had known that gentleman for many years. The state of this country was coming to nothing but a farce. (Laughter.) They might laugh, but it was a serious matter to those who knew how to look at it rightly. Those who held lands and other property should consider well who they sent to the Assembly; and he only hoped that the best men would now be chosen. Mr. Alexander M'Gregor seconded the nomination. The candidates having addressed the electors, a show of hands was taken ; and the Returning OTicer declared the numbers to be, Patterson, 35 ; Millar, 22 ; Reynolds, 44 ; Grant, 79 ; Graham, 37 ; Birch, 44. He believed that hands were held up for Mr. Grant after he had passed certain points ; but could not possibly go back to count them. Mr, Grant had the highest number ; and as Mr. Reynolds was an old member, and there was an equality of numbers between him and Mr. Birch, he, by virtue of his office, should give Mr. Reynolds the preference. Mr. Grant and Mr. Reynolds were elected—(applause)— unless a poll was demanded. Mr. Graham demanded a poll for Mr. Birch. The Returning Officer: The demand must be by two electors, or by a candidate on his own behalf. Mr. Graham : Then I demand a poll for myself. The Returning Officer said that the poll would be taken on Friday, commencing at nine o'clock, and closing at four. The polling places would be—Milton Hall, Stuart street, and the North Dunedin School, Great Kingstreet. On the motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Millar, a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer was heartily agreed to; and the proceedings were closed, they having occupied three hours and a quarter.

~1- '• - ■ ■ . "M" " The O'Connel Monument Committee and Associated Trades of Dublin are quarrelling as to the design for the monument, and the sculptor to receive the work. The committee have appointed Mr. Foley, and the trades insist on native talent heing employed. In one day, Mr. Payne, coroner, held four inquests on the bodies of infant children who had been foully murdered. In neither case was there any evidence tending to throw light upon the authors of the crime. Infanticide appears to be lamentably on the increase in London, and the existing means of detection are wholly inefficient.