ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1636, 14 March 1866, Page 2 (Supplement)

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

CHRISTCHURCH. The nomination of a member for the General Assembly for this city to serve in the next Parliament, took place on Feb. 12, at noon, at the Town Hall; there not many persons present. Dr. Donald, the returning officer, stated the purpose for which they had assembled, and said further that he need scarcely remind those present, that while it was ncessary for the proposer and seconder of a candidate to be electors of the district, it was sufficient if the candidate proposed was on any electoral roll in the colony. Mr. John Anderson said he rose with a great deal of pleasure to propose Mr. FitzGerald as a fit and proper person to represent the city of Christchurch in the next House of Representatives, and lie would name one or two reasons why he, in conjunction with others, had asked Mr. FitzGerald to'come forward. Mr. FitzGerald's -well-known and acknowledged ability warranted them in taking that step; he was proposing a man who, in addition to having taken a very important and leading part in the politics of the province, had also been a representative for one part or another of the province in the General Assembly ever since a constitution was granted to the country. He might state as another reason for asking Mr. FitzGerald to come forward, that in the present unsatisfactory state of the General 1 Government it behoved them to consider well whom they should send up to represent them, and he thought every one would agree with him that they should send up well-known and tried men, who would prevent their being borne down by income and other taxes for the advantage of other parts of the country. Mr. Anderson concluded by proposing Mr. FitzGerald as a fit and proper person to represent the city in the next House of Representatives. (Applause.) Mr. Ollivier said he had great pleasure in seconding the nomination of Mr. FitzGerald. He was quite sure that all would agree that this was a fitting occasion to express regret on account of the circumstances which had occasioned Mr. Weld's retirement from public life ; it was not only a source of regret to themselves but was a loss to the colony at large. He (Mr. Ollivier) was one of those who, when he heard that Mr. Weld was willing to serve them again in the Assembly, had requested him to stand for this city, as Mr. Weld had given proofs that he was the most fitting man to do so, but when he heard of his retirement from public life, he, with other requisitionists, had considered who was the" next most fitting man, and he believed that they had done rightly in | selecting Mr. FitzGerald. He (Mr. Ollivier) was pleased to have this opportunity of bear- ' ing testimony to Mr. FitzGerald's service*, i for he had differed from him in provincial matters, but a difference of opinion on. these ' minor points was no reason why they should ' not have the largeness of soul to recognize his fitness to represent them in the General ' Assembly of the colony. They were all aware [ that very grave matters would be likely to , come under discussion in the next Assembly ; ! they were threatened with a serious increase ' of taxation—with a direct taxation in the \ shape of income tax and stamp duties. Jt was i unnecessary for him to state that he had nc = confidence in the gentleman at present leading i the Government of the colony, and he trusted that Mr. FitzGerald would be called on tc occupy some high position in connection with . the Government of the country, because he 1 felt that if it were possible to avert heavy taxation he (Mr. FitzGerald) would as before \ apply himself so as to avert it. In conclusion, Mr. (Hlivier seconded Mr. FitzGerald's nomi- ' nation. (Applause.)

As no other candidate was proposed, Dr. Donald, the Returning Officer declared Mr. FitzGerald,in the absence of any opposition, to je duly returned. (Loud applause.) Mr. FitzGerald then came forward and ivas received with cheers; he said that he would not endeavour to express how deeply tie felt the honour which they had done him in returning him unanimously to represent them in the Parliament of New Zealand. It would he a very great honour, at any time or under any circumstances, to represent so important a constituency, but that honour was greater when he found himself returned unanimously, and that not at a time of political lassitude or indifference, but at a time when discussion was never more rife throughout the colony, and when larger issues were never presented to it for solution. He could not but refer to the sad circumstances which had placed him in his present position. He coincided with them, not using words of form merely, but speaking with the greatest sincerity (for he felt it more strongly than they could), in having a deep sense of the great loss which they and the colony had experienced through the illness of Mr. Weld. He felt it more strongly than they could, because he had the opportunity which they had not of seeing how important, he might say, how necessary, his services were in leading the great party he did for more than a year in the colony. He did not think his (Mr. Weld's) place could be supplied by any man in the party ; they must go into the battle deprived of the services of that leader. In speaking to the electors on this occasion he could not but refer to the services of the member who had represented them j he meant Mr. C. Wilson. They would all feel with him that, whatever differences might have occurred between Mr. Wilsor and a number of the electors with referenct to one measure, their member had fairly anc manfully represented the opinions of tlu majority of the people of this town during the last four or five years. When it waf thought Mr. Weld's services should receiv< that high stamp of approval of returning hin unanimously to represent this city in th< House of Representatives, Mr. Wilson atonc< laid aside any claims he might have hac arising from old services, and presented him self to another constituency ; and when thi electors did him fMr. FitzGerald) tin honour of requesting him to stand, h declined to do so until he first ascer tained whether Mr. Wilson wished to com forward; but Mr. Wilson said that he hai issued an address to another constituency an< that he felt he could not retire. With regari to his (Mr. FitzGerald's) relations to Mi Wilson, and also with reference to what hai fallen from his friend and seconder, Ms Ollivier, he would say that they knew pei fectly well that he had been in the ver opposite ends of the parties in politics fror Mr. Ollivier and Mr. Wilson; but change c circumstances, and the fortunes of politicr warfare, had brought them on the same sidi and he ventured to assert without any sacr fiee of political consistency on his part, an with equal truth, he would say without an on their part. This he would say ; as the went on in life and looked back on the: past career, when they remembered how tli accidents of political war had almost, if n( i quite, imperilled private friendships, it W£ , not to those periods in which they most su< . cessfully differed that they looked back wit pleasure; but rather to those circumstanc< i which had enabled them to cement allianct

without any sacrifice of political consistency or gelf-respect. (Applause.) He had recently had so many opportunities of addressing them on public questions that he was sure lie would consult their pleasure as well as his own if he confined himself to one or two points ; indeed he would not have said anything if it had not been for the disclosures of the last day or two ; he was bound to say that the news which arrived by the mail the previous day, and had appeared in the papers, had taken him with a degree of surprise which he could not find language to express. He found that the confiscated lands had been, or were now being handed over by Mr. Stafford to the province of Auckland to carry on, if possible, that hopeless experiment of the Waikato colonization. This gave the key at once to Mr. Stafford's announcement at Nelson, that he should find it necessary to impose an income tax on the colony for he (Mr. FitzGerald) confessed that, when they were told in one breath that a large retrenchment was going on, and in another, that a large amount of additional taxation was to be proposed, these two statements were so entirely contradictory that he, for one, was utterly at a loss to understand what was meant ; but the address of Mr. Whitaker, the Superintendent of Auckland, to the Provincial Council, which he (Mr. litzGerald) would beg every one of them to read, informed them that £100,000 worth of the £3,000,000 loan had been handed over to Auckland totally contrary to law, and not only that, but to a distinct and honourable understanding come to with the House of Representatives last session. When Mr. Russell distinctly applied to the Government for assistance to raise a loan, and was distinctly refused by Mr. Stafford, that refusal that opinion coming from the ministerial bench, and spoken by a minister of the Crown in his place—was an honourable

guarantee and understanding with the colony that such would be his action during the recess. So far as he understood Mr. Whi-, taker's address, that understanding was broken; he found that they were to be asked next session to raise with the General Government guarantee, which meant the land of Canterbury, £250,000. They were to be asked to raise £250.000 more, to enable Auckland to deal with this land ; and in addition, the lands confiscated at Opotiki were to be handed over, without charge, to Auckland—lands which were to bear as a first charge the cost of the expedition to that place. The colony was now to bear the expense of that expedition, and the land was to be handed over to Auckland for nothing. He believed there would never be an end put to these outrageous violations of constitutional law, and he expressed this opinion after many years' consideration, until they went from that sham of constitutional government they now possessed, to the reality of that possessed by England—until they passed a measure by which a minister should be liable to fine and imprisonment, if he advised the Crown or its representative to act contrary to the law ; and he (Mr. FitzGerald) would never be a minister, or take office in any government, unlessit promoted a measure to render ministers liable to fine and imprisonment for breaches of the Constitutional law. He did not wish to give any pledge as to the state of the finances of the colony, but, as at present advised, he must say he saw no necessity for that taxation referred to by Mr. Stafford at Nelson. He (Mr. FitzGerald) believed that the colony could be brought out of its present condition without any such desperate {means (for they were such) being resorted to. He believed their present embarrassments were only of a temporary character, and that they would shrink into very small proportions as the colony advanced and its revenue increased, as it was doing at present. He believed that by proper economy, and by a proper use of the means at their disposal, they would get out of their present embarrassments without such an increase of taxation. Mr. FitzGerald concluded by once more thanking the electors, and resumed his ■ seat amid loud applause. Mr. FitzGerald then came forward and proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Donald, the Returning Officer, which was agreed to, and the assembly dispersed. AVON.

A meeting of the electors of the Papanui district took place on Feb. 12, to hear Mr, Ward give a further explanation of his views as a candidate for the General Assembly. Mr. Wakefield was present, in compliance with the invitation of Mr. Ward, the convener of the meeting; but Mr. Bishop, the third candidate in the field, did not make his appearance. Mr. W. Thomson was called to the chair. Mr. C. Ward, who was received with applause, said that the close appr ach of the election had induced him to call the meeting, in order that further information might be given by the candidates to the electors. He regretted, however to observe the absence of Mr. Bishop. He would, first of all, take this opportunity of clearing his own character from certain imputations which had been cast on it. It had been said rather recently that it was of no use electing him for the Assembly, as he was on his way to England ; he would state in reply that he had no present intention of leaving the colony, and that he should never think of putting up as a candidate for election, unless he intended to do his duty as a member of the Assembly. It had also been said that he was a placeseeker ; the contrary was the fact, for he had been requested to take office by Mr. Weld in 1864, and by Mr. Stafford in 1865, but had refused on both occasions. He had nc confidence in Mr. Stafford; he differed from him on several points, and agreed with him only on one, and that was the necessity of reducing the expenditure. He found now however, that Mr. Stafford, whether his proposed reduction of expenditure had been ar assertion merely or not, was proposing increased taxation in the shape of Stamp Duties and an Income-tax He objected to this income-tax on several grounds ; it was of ar inquisitorial nature, tended to sap the publi* morality by causing people to make falsi returns, and was unsuited to a new country as it would tend to keep out both capital anc labour. He would do all he could to prevent thi imposition of fresh burdens, and if it turnec out that separation was not feasible, he woult work with any man for the sake of protect ing the Middle Island interests by othe: means. Mr. Ward then referred to the conduct of the present Government of Mr Stafford in handing over confiscated land t< Auckland, and proposing a guarantee fo £250,000 for the further colonization of tha province ; and concluded by condemning th new land scheme of Mr. Travers. (Ap i plause). Mr. Wakefield then addressed the meet I' ing ; he said he was a supporter of Mi ; Weld's policy, but desired to supplement i i with some additions of his own, an ! carry it out more fully, and he also desired t i turn out Mr. Stafford. He had attended thi ) meeting as requested by Mr. Ward, but nc ! because of that request, for he considered h I had a perfect right ' to attend an • public meeting. Mr. Ward howeve; i appeared to believe in private meetings, fc 3 he had found fault with him forfollowin 3 him about. There was another candidate i the field, Mr. Bishop, but he appeared t 3 believe in canvassing, but not appearing i i public. He (Mr. Bishop), said there were 1 great many votes which would not be give 1 to Mr. Wakefield or Mr. Ward; so he wt ■. going in to pick them up. Mr. 1 then proceeded to comment on various topi< which had been alluded to by Mr. Ward. Mr. Low asked Mr. Wakefield which ta p he preferred, an income tax or the stair a duties. f Mr. Wakefield replied that Mr. Staffoi .1 had made three proposals, viz., a revision i the tariff, by which there would be noincreai i- of revenue, stamp duties, and an income ta? d for his part he prefen ed a stamp to an incon y tax. y Mr. Tisch asked Mr. Wakefield wheth r 'he felt inclined to withdraw in favour of M e Bishop. it Mr. Wakefield said it was an absui s question to ask. The very fact of his comii :- there to address the meeting was a su ''cie h answer to the question ; he was going to tl is poll. is Mr. Lowe said, with regard to Mr. Tiscl

question, that Mr. Tisch had already pledged himself to support Mr. Ward; but as he was an old friend of Mr. Bishop's, who had lately come into the field, he thought if Mr. Wakefield withdrew, Mr. Bishop would stand a much better chance. (Loud laughter.) Mr Tombs proposed, and Mr. Munro seconded a resolution of confidence in Mr. Urosbie Ward. On the question being put to the meeting, two hands only were held up against it, and it was declared carried amid much applause. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, proposed by Mr. Ward, and seconded by Mr. Wakefield, terminated the proceedings.

Mr. Ward met the electors of the district, at the Devonshire Arms Hotel, on Feb. 14. Mr. Br ad well occupied the chair, and briefly introduced Mr. Ward. Mr. Ward, who, on rising to speak, was received with considerable applause, observed that he thought it the chief duty of any one who should be returned as a representative to do all in his power to resist the lavish expenditure on the part of the Government which rendered taxation necessary. Taxation would prove a dead stop to the progress of a new country. He wondered that any Government could be formed which dared to propose such a scheme as that of imposing heavy taxation. The colony was not sufficiently advanced to bear it. In the present crisis it was our interest to compel the Government to withhold its hands, and to put a stop to all those enterprises which would render taxation a necessity. Not only has the Middle Island lost its money by the Maori war, and by the calls made upon it by the North Islaud, but we hare not received that due share of attention which we have a right to expect from a Government which we pay to support. Since he had last addressed the electors, many changes had taken place, some of them to his advantage. He did not view the retirement of Mr. Weld from office with such political regret as some other politicans did. He deeply regretted the cause of that retirement. For Mr. Weld personally he had the highest esteem and regard. For a length of time, he had been intimate with him. One great advantage which Mr. Weld possessed was the power of attracting persons towards him by his personal influeuce, and he had thus been able to form a strong party. He had won the confidence of men of very opposite opinions. But Mr. Weld and his political strength were gone, and it now became a question of finding a really qualified statesman to act as the leader of colonial affairs. He (Mr. Ward) was in favour of Separation, which he had always advocated, and should continue to advocate it, because he was convinced that it was the only plan for putting a stop to the ruinous expenditure in which our connection with the North involved us. As he had stated, he had a regard for Mr. Weld, but not for his supporters, and he believed that the course pursued by the Weld Government with regard to finance was altogether a faulty one. If he (the speaker) was sent up to the Assembly, lie would heartily support any Ministry which was determined to advance the interests of the Middle Island, and to check the useless expenditure now going on. He could see no leading man whom it would be desirable at present to put at the head of affairs. It was no use to put up Mr. FitzGerald. In Mr. Stafford, he (Mr. Ward) had no confidence. What had he done ? Not satisfied with handing over the whole of the lands conquered by our united efforts for the sole benefit of the north, he had given the people there £100,000 to colonise those lands. We should derive a benefit by separation from the North ; and the North might be safely left alone. If they could not provide the funds for colonizing their new acquisitions, the best plan would be for them to abandon them altogether. Mr. Ward concluded by observing that he did not think it probable that he should be called upon to take office, as only thoroughly qualified persons—statesmen, in fact — would now be required. However this might be, he should always, if returned —and he thought that he had the best chance of being so out of the three candidates—he should, without pledging himself to any peculiar line of conduct, do all in his power to resist taxation, and to prevent the colony from being plunged headlong into debt. Mr. Wakefield then addressed the meeting at some length, stating that he was in favour of Mr. Weld's policy, but was disposed to carry it out rather fuller than Mr. Weld intended. He also commented on several observations which had fallen from Mr. Ward, and stated that he objected to an income tax, making special allusion to the circumstances of the United States. Mr. Ward replied to the observations of Mr. Wakefield, and stated that he was opposed to Mr. Travers's land scheme. After a few words from Mr. Wakefield, a vote of thanks was returned to the chairman, and the meeting separated. ( The nomination of a representative for the Avon district in the General Assembly took place on Feb. 19, at noon, in the School-house, on the Papanui road. After Dr. Donald the Returning Officer had stated the purpose for which the meeting was assembled, Mr. Matson rose to propose a candidate to represent the district in the General Assembly. He said that the present crisis in the affairs of New Zealand was such that it was necessarv for any man who went up to represent the"district, to have an opinion of his own, and to think for himself and not to be Jed away by what any one said without being guided by his own sense and judgment. He had taken very little interest in the political affairs of New Zealand, but he felt this very strongly—that their representative should be ' some one well versed in the politics of New Zealand, should be thoroughly well acquainted ; with the subjects, which would be brought before the next Assembly, and should also have an opinion of his own upon them. It seemed to him also that their representative ! should not only be conversant with these ' matters, but also with those which were of provincial concern, and further, that he I should not go up solely for his own aggran- , disement, but only with that natural ambition I which every man might have without being I guilty of any impropriety. He had great pleasure in proposing Mr. (Jrosbie Ward as a , candidate for the district. (Applause.) Mr. Tisch seconded the nomination of Mr. Crosbie Ward. ) Mr. Winter proposed Mr. C. W. Bishop c as a candidate for election. He said it was t agreed on all sides that Mr. Ward was a s gentleman of great ability, who hal rendered - great services to the province and colony. Some years ago Mr. Ward published a - pamphlet in England on the affairs of New Zealand, which was a masterpiece in its t way; he had also negotiated the Panama i contract, which appeared to have given genes ral satisfaction. In these respects there was s no fault to be found with him, but he apt peared as a new man in the district, and e claimed their support for the line of conduct Y he had recently adopted. If Mr. Ward had come before the electors with the same views t as those he held a year or so ago, there would g probably have been no opposition to him, but n he appeared to have deviated greatly from the o views of the Avon constituency, and it was n on that account that Mr. Bishop, though a somewhat late in the day, had come forward n to oppose him. One of Mr. Ward's great is battle cries was Separation; now the d people of the Avon _ were not is separationists. Separation, to his mind, was a mere sham scheme which settled nothing, x The question was debated in the Assembly p last session and Mr. Ward, he presumed, voted against it. Then he (Mr. Ward) came '<1 down here opposing it, yet a short time atter >£ said everything in its favour and got up an ij association to advocate it. Mr. Ward had :; had also helped to turn out Mr. Weld ;he iu had given a general support to that policy, but towards the last asked for money to carrj 2r it out, turned out Mr. Weld and put inMr r. Stafford. Would it benefit the Middle Island to have Mr. Stafford in office? He would •d defend Mr. Ward from the charge of being £ ig place-hunter. The fact was that Mr. War _ s it principles would prevent him now i^ r ® m 39l n ' ie ing either Mr. Stafford or Mr. Weld, but Mr Weld's policy was approved of by the district i's and for these reasons he ventured to propos<

Mr. Charles Wellington Bishop, an adherent of that policy, as a fit person to represent the district in the Assembly. Mr. Waicefifxu said that they were aware that for some time he was a candidate for the representation of the district in the Assemb y (Interruption.) It was usual for him to be interrupted by his opponents supporters, bu he ventured to say he would make something for his candidate of every interruption. He rose to second the nomination of Mr. Bishop, and at the same time he would explain t ie circumstances under which he had retired. He was the first candidate in the field, and had addressed several public meetings, but had not canvassed privately, as he should

have done. It seemed to him that the vote of the electors became the property of the person who first called on them ; (No no) that was, some of them His opinions were pretty well known, but having had no Committee and not having canvassed privately, he hardly knew how ha stood with the Electors. He stated on Monday last that he would go to the poll, and also at the Devonshire Arms, but he read Mr. Bishop's address in the papers and found that their principles were generally in accordance, and becoming aware on Thursday last that Mr Bishop had the support of more than one half of those likely to poll, and considering that the cause was of more importance than the man. he had put aside all personal feelings I and retired in favor of Mr. Bishop. It was hardly necessary to dwell on Mr. qualifica-

tions; he had taken a part in provincial politics, and there was no reason why he should not tfe equally well acquainted with general politics from reading the public press. He (Mr. Wakefield) was in the Assembly in 1854 only, yet he ventured to say that he knew as much about politics, as those who had been there ever since; he certainly might not know so much about little intrigues in forming ministries; about persons refusing office or accepting conditionally. (Interruption ) Mr Ward had accepted office conditionally under Mr. Stafford, and had given various accounts about his doing so. (Cries of " question.") He also objected to Mr. Ward on account of his separation ideas. (Interruption; cry of—" Cut it short." A voice— " Mr. Wakefield was very anxious about the harvest and our not being detained here long, and now he is keeping us here all night.") He would cut it short, if he was not interrupted, but if he was, he would show them that these interruptions did not choke him off in the least. He did not want to detain them long, but these interruptions took him away from the thread of what he was saying. Having been a candidate for some time and received considerable promise of support, lie was entitlei to give his reason for withdrawing. (Interruption.) Dr. Donald rose to request more order. Mr. Wakefield then spoke on the question of separation, and said he could not help noticing that the great body of the people who supported it were new men, who had no large interests in the place, and were not fixed in it. He knew of one instance the other day of a gentlemen who had withdrawn from coming forward to represent Christchurch in the Provincial Council, in consequence of his receiving a letter from his principals at home informing him that he must take no part in politics, as it would interfere with his business. These were the kind of men who supported separation. (Interruption : cry of "question'-' we want p iblic matters, not private ones,") It had everything to do with the question, therefore the Association which supported separation did not deserve to have much weight or influence. In conclusion Mr. Wakefield said that he did not know whether Mr. Bishop agreed with him entirely 1 in every detail,, but he begged to second his ! nomination. ' Mr. Ward then came forward to address 1 the electors present; he said it was very easy to ask a question or insinuate a reproach in a speech, but it was a much more lengthy and difficult matter to answer the question or do away with the reproach; and he begged that the electors would bear in mind that, if Mr. Wakefield had wasted a great deal of their time in doing the former, he should be forced to do the same if he was obliged to do the latter; he would therefore say nothing at present against the stupid, unfounded, and worthiest accusations which had been made against him—(cheers)—and had been repeated at public meetings almost ad nauseam. If he omitted any of these, it was not because he had no answer to them, for he had an answer and a complete one to every one of them. Those who had attended various public meetings at which he had been present might remember what answers he had made to these accusations when they were brought against him. He had the pleasure of now seeing Mr. Bishop for the first time since his candidature; it might be a new thing to him and his supporters to hear his answers to them, but he was not going to indulge them on this occasion by making the present meeting a rechauffe of former ones. He knew that there were a great many electors who could not attend public meetings, but he had done a great deal by ealling on them and letting them know privately what his views were. His canvass had been one of the most simple kind; he had never insisted on any favour being! shown to him or his views when an elector had said that he held opposite views or had promised his vote to another can didate; his canvass had been free from persuasive arts and had merely brought candidate and elector together so far as there had been time to effect it. He thought they had a right to complain of the manner in which the opposition had been carried on; Mr. Wakefield seemed to go to meeting to do the speaking and Mr. Bishop to do the respectability in private. (Cheers, and Laughter.) It looked very much as if Mr. Wakefield did not like to meet the electors, and Mr. Bishop did not know what to say to them. Mr. Wakefield made statements in public ; and Mr. Bishop went round to the electors and s«d " you hear what Mr. Wakefield says, that is my policy." Why was it that if Mr. Wakefield had such a magnificent policy, consented to by the Press and the other organs on that side of the question, he should no longer go on with it ? how was it that one so able to speak on the matter, . who knew so much about it, should now retire ? how was it that Mr. Wakefield who always pointed himself out as the most fit man to go into the Assembly on account of his experience, said to-day, "send up Bishop; he knows as much as any body else ?" He (Mr. Ward) wanted to know whylMr. Wakefield who said with almost a shriek of indignation the other day in reply to Mr. Tisch, that he was going to t!ie poll, now withdrew altogether, on account of a certain transaction which had taken place between himself and Mr. Bishop. He would like to know what that transaction f as, (Applause.) Mr. Wakefield ,he presumed, was not approved of by the head of that party, who was neither Mr. Wakefield nor Mr. Bishop, but some one who pulled the strings behind the scenes ; who said, "we must ihave a bond fide respectable man ; we don't care whether he can speak or not; he will have a vote and will vote with the party ; that is all we care for he presumed therefore that Mr. Bishoj had been put forward by that party ; he had certainly been chosen from above, for if Mr. Bishop had intended himself to come forward he would have done so before. He (Mr. Ward) did not deny Mr. Bishop'sright to come forward ; he had served in the Provincial Council and was of perfectly upright character against which nothing could be said ; bul in the present crisis of affairs a mere blind vote was not wanted, but an intelligent opinion on the past and future of the colony. Die they think that Mr. Bishop answered the con. ditions and would be such a representative anxious in the highest degree to do his duty t( i the colony ? If Mr. Bishop were to be in th< General Assembly, which he did not think In i would be—(cheers)— and Mr. Stafford, wh< I knew the run of all the ropes, were to say t< ; him —" Don't you think it would be well t< deal with the confiscated lands of Wellington \ so as to promote their colonization and set tlement." Mr. Bishop would appeal to Mr i Wakefield's pamphlet, and find as follows I "My object is to turn to advantage tin i valuable and fertile land in the Northeri j island ;" Mr. Bishop would say—" Oh yea - I think it would be the right couse." Now they did not want a representative wh< ' would have to look over the blue books j they wanted some one who had the informa

tion ready-who knew about these .transactions, and was acquainted with the history them, their bearing on the Middle Islanid, i and the consequences of the lan being handed over. It would not be right in the present crisis—(this was a common place word, but a true one)—for them to entrust their future destinies to those persons wlio would be obliged to give a dummy vote, and do aB they might be directed. It had been said that he gave votes without reference to party ; he rather gloried in having voted without considering that such and such a man uf high standing in the country had voted on the other side. They should not believe that he was sneaking about outside

the Assembly, giving Mr. Weld to understand that he concurred in his views and opposing them in the House. The very first day that the policy of the Government was brought forward, he had spoken his sentiments. He had spoken out too plainly ; he had not kept back his sentiments as a diplomatist would have done until he could announce them safely. If he held opinions not altogether popular. had he not spoken them out ? and he would tell them that these were not new opinions of his. While he had been a strong supporter of the best Government that could be got, he had, more than a year ago, when Mr. Weld was in the zenith of his power, told his constituents in Lyttelton, that under certain contingencies they must look for a failure of his policy, and that then they must look out for Separation. Separation was talked of by him most plainly a year ago, and this sentiment was received with applause and agreed to by the Press as well as others. They all agreed that, if the interests of this island should suffer by connection with the North, they must separate; the only difference was in the " if." Because Mr. Weld's Government was not strong enough, nor could find a policy to keep the islands together, no Government could stand for any length of time. He had no idea of supporting Mr. Stafford any more than the man in the moon ; they only agreed in the necessity for retrenchment; but that policy had been apparently blown to the winds, as might be seen from Mr. Stafford's speech at Nelson, and from his handing the confiscated lands to Auckland ; so that the only tie which bound them together had been broken. He was not going to support any Government with which he did not agree. He was not going to support a Southern Ministry in directing the affairs of the North, nor a Northern Ministry which would only milk the South, and he was therefore driven to Separation. He disliked the idea in the abstract as much as any one, but he saw no hope of escape, and he thought that this time next year those who now opposed it would look on it as inevitable and regret that they did not take time by the forelock. Whatever might be done, however, the electors would always find him supporting that course which would result in the greatest safety to the Middle Island, whose claims he would deem prior to those of the colony at large. His motto would be Sauve qui pent, "safety to ourselves," for he saw that the Middle Island was at present in danger. He would go against increased taxation altogether, as being especially injurious to a new country, as it would tend to stop the influx of wealth. With regard to the Lyttelton constituency, it had been a reproach to him that he had left it and come to the Avon. At the meeting he had with the electors of Lyttelton he requested them not to come to any resolution, but to consider who was the best man to represent them, as from peculiar circumstances Lyttelton in particular wanted a local representative, who would look after its special interests. His name was put to a public meeting afterwards and withdrawn, and he was then invited to come forward for the Avon district, and did so. But he might say that since then an influential deputation had come to him from Lyttelton, and asked him if he would put up for that place. He had replied, however, that he had so many supporters in the Avon, that he could not agree to their request. He had been favourably received in this district, and he believed his character and opinions were very well known. If lie had the honour of being elected the next day, he should devote his most earnest atten ion to all matters coming before the Assembly, and he considered it would be the duty now of member# not to consider the interests of the whole colony so much as those of their particular districts. In conclusion, Mr. Ward thanked the electors for their attention, and resumed his seat amid loud applause. Mr. Bishop then addressed the electors ; he said that he stood there at some disadvantage at that moment in consequence of having to follow a man of such ability as Mr. Ward. As a private man he (Mr. Bishop') had never known him to do any action to make him forfeit that esteem which he (Mr Bishop) had for him, but he was decidedly opposed to him in politics, and regretted also that he (Mr. Bishop) could not find that political truth which he should like in Mr. Ward. In answer to the pretty little story invented by Mr. Ward, he would say that he was put forward by no man, but stood there on his own foundation. He was opposed to Mr. Ward's views, and that was the reason why he had come forward; he had certainly not spoken his opinions before in public, but he was not bound to follow Mr. Ward about to public meetings. His principles were based on four cardinal points. The first was his determination to turn Mr. Stafford out of office. (A Voice: On what ground ?) For his unconstitutional, illegal, and unworthy misappropriation of his position, for which he should not only be turned out of office, but put in a stone gaol. His second cardinal point was that he was a strenuous supporter of Mr. Weld's policy. His third cardinal point was that he was opposed to separation as being against the interests of the whole colony, and Canterbury in particular. He was not going to iump down Stafford's throat all but his boots, when he went up to Wellington, but he had common sense, and he would apply his abilities so as to do the most good for the constituency. His next point was to get rid of the Imperial troops. With regard to taxation, it was a simple abomination and he did not believe it to be necessary. He was not altogether an untried public servant ; he was in the Provincial Council for four years, and he would ask them to refer to the blue boeks of the period to see whether he was not able to open his mouth. With regard to the withdrawal of Mr. Wakefield he himself had gone to that gentleman and said that they should not injure their cause by going together to the poll. He (Mr. Bishop) then laid before him the result of his canvass and in five minutes Mr. Wakefield had made up his mind not to oppose him. The electors might consider it rather degrading for Mr. Wakefield with his long experience to yield to a youngster like him, but Mr. Wakefield had given in on account of the cause he was supporting. (Mr. Moorhouse—" I should like to hear what Mr. Weld's policy is.") It was very extraordinary that a man— (Mr. Moorhouse : " I know what it is.") He was not going to be led away by any individual from his point; he would simply say that he supported Mr. Weld's policy. (Mr. Moorhouse said he had no such intention.) He would give such attention to the matters brought before the Assembly, that he would not be ashamed to come back and give his constituents a full account of what he had done. He was not going to Panama or England. (A voice : " That lias nothing to do with Mr. Weld's policy.) And if his conduct did not meet with the approval of his constituents he would place his res gnation in their hands. Mr. , Bishop concluded by calling on the electors i to support him, and sat down amid some ! applause. ! Mr. Moorhouse said he should like to 1 know from Mr. Bishop what the Weld policy 1 was, as he had accused Mr. Ward of helping 1 to turn out the Weld Ministry, and on what i question this took place, and how it was done. Mr. Smith said that as Mr. Bishop had [ never called a public meeting, lie had a right , to ask him a question. He wished to know [ his views about education, and how it was that he opposed taxation, and yet, not 'ong ' since, in the City Council, said that instrucj tions should be given to proceed against the . ratepayers. ■ 1 Mr. Bishop replied that he was in favoui

of giving an education of the best description to all classes; and that, as on the occasion referred to the rates had been agreed to be levied, it was only right that they should be enforced. Mr. Wakefield then said to Mr. Bishop; "Did you ever have the slightest conversation with me with respect to the Avon before Thursday last?" (A Voice: "Ask my brother." Laughter.) Mr. Bishop replied " certainly not." Mr. Wabd said that Mr. Bishop might just as well have explained what Mr. Weld's policy was, for he (Mr. Bishop), stood ia the position of appearing to support opinions, and not knowing what they were. The Weld policy was to send away the troops, and to conduct the Maori affairs themselves. The troops were now going away as fast as possible, so that Mr. Weld's policy was not the question, but how the colony was to conduct its own affairs with its own resources. The Native difficulty was peculiar to the North, and if it could not be dealt with from Downing Street, there was equal reason why it should not be dealt with from the South. They should help the North to a certain extent; but refuse to vote supplies beyond a certain point. That meant a financial separation, but & legislative union. But if financial separation was advisable, so also was legislative, for those who paid the piper should manage the matter. The desire to rule the North arose from personal ambition and, if there was anything in the self-reliant policy, it meant that men like Mr. Hall and Mr. Bishop should themselves march at the head of the column. They should not say they were all so very courageous when they were going to let the others fight. Mr. Hall said that Mr. Ward had stated that the desire to rule the North arose from personal ambition, and had alluded to his name. (Mr. Moorhouse : The leading men of the colony, not you—Laughter). He merely wanted to say that it would be much more noble to remain united than to allow those in peril to do the fighting alone. On the show of hands being called for, a large majority was found to be in favour of Mr. Ward. Mr. Bishop's supporters then demanded a poll. After a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, the meeting separated. The polling took place on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Papanui school-house, and began at 9 o'clock in the morning. The electors came up to record their votes at long intervals during the early part of the day, but towards 4 o'clock, the hour for closing the poll, they came in very thickly. Of the two candidates, who went to the poll (Mr. Ward and Mr. Bishop), there was very little doubt who would have the majority at Papanui. Men went in, a dozen at a time, to record their votes for Mr. Ward, while Mr. Bishop's whippers-in had to resort to the expedient of driving dummy voters up and down the road in order to give a fictitious idea of their ultimate success. At the close of the poll, the numbers at Papanui were— Ward 219 Bishop 133 Thus giving Mr. Ward a majority of 86 in that part of tlie district. On the numbers being announced, Mr. Ward thanked the electors, stating that he had no doubt the numbers at Riccarton would not disturb his position. This statement was received with loud cheers. Mr. Moorhouse then addressed the electors ; he made stfme observations on Mr. Ward's return, and wound up with a few appropriate remarks on his candidature for the Superintendency. Mr. Ward then returned, and stated that he had received the numbers from Eiccarton. They were as follows Ward 46 Bishop 53 The ultimate result of the poll is, we believe, as under:— Ward. Bishop. Papanui 219 133 Riccarton 46 53 265 186 Majority for Mr. Ward 79 After that, Mr. Ward made a few remarks on his success, and said that he hoped they would find him a discreet and worthy representative. Mr. Bishop also spoke a few words, thanking his supporters, and stating that he hoped Mr. Ward would have the interests of the district at heart. Three cheers were given for Mr. Ward and Mr. Moorhouse, and the assembly then dispersed. The official declaration of the poll took place on Monday, Feb. 26, at Papanui, at noon. The Returning Officer, Dr. Donald, the two candidates, and one or two electors, with some strangers, were alone present. Dr. Donald read the result, which was:—For Mr. Ward, 265 ; for Mr. Bishop, 186; majority for Mr. Ward, 79. He stated that two votes had been recorded in one name, one for each candidate; that for Mr. Bishop he believed to be the true one, which would, on a scrutiny, reduce the majority to 78. But he knew that the other voter, who was of the same name, had property also within the district, and might have thought that he had a right to vote. He declared Mr. Crosbie Ward duly elected. Mr. Bishop said he held out a flag of truce to Mr. Ward, being sure that that gentleman would do his best for the district; but he and the other electors would be sure to keep a critical eye upon him. Mr. Ward said he would give Mr. Bishop the opportunity of expressing his criticisms, by asking the electors to meet him after the session, as had been his constant custom. The two candidates shook hands, and the business was over. AKAROA. The nomination of candidates to represent the district of Akaroa in the General Assembly, took place at the Court-house, Akaroa, on the 19th ult. After reading the writ calling for the election of a member, the Returning Officer, J. Watson, Esq.,R.M., called upon those present to propose any candidate as a fit and proper person to represent their interests. Mr. W. Weston proposed Mr. Lancelot Walker for re-election. He drew the attenof those present to Mr. Walker's past career in the General Assembly, and dwelt upon his fitness for this office,which he again sought at their hands. Mr. Walker was a tried, and had proved himself a good public servant; he had never vacillated, but had always acted with his party, and had been throughout his political career thoroughly consistent. He hoped the electors would not be led, iu a capricious spirit, to vote against Mr.Walker, because they might have a dislike to some of his supporters. Mr. Wilson then very strongly animadverted upon the political inconsistency of Mr. Rowe, who had without any solicitation proffered his vote to Mr. Walker, and now was doing his utmost against him. As regarded Mr. Walker's opponent, could they for a moment put him on a par with Mr. Walker ? He did hope they would return Mr. Walker with a triumphant majority. Mr. Geo. Haylock seconded the nomination of Mr. Walker in a few words. Mr. R. Rowe, M. P. 0., said he had great pleasure in proposing Mr. George Armstrong, as a fit and proper person for their suffrages. With reference to what had fallen from Mr. Weston, he must say that he did promise Mr. Walker his support; but it was when he, (Mr. Weston) thought of opposing Mr. Walker. Would any one there for a moment hesitate which of those two men he would support ? He proposed Mr. Armstrong as an independent man, free from all clique influences, and unconnected with the squatting fraternity, who were doing their best to aggrandize themselves at the expense of the whole of the colony. Mr. Walker was one of these squatting gentry; he warned the electors against playing into their hands; as instances of their grasping spirit he would mention the extension of the run leases, and also the Master and Servants Act. _ Mr. liowe also spoke at some length on provincial matters, and concluded by hoping they would place Mr. Armstrong at the head of the poll. Mr. Isaac Hodgson begged to second the nomination of Mr. Armstrong; he considered

him to be a man well adapted for the situation he sought. No other candidate being proposed, Mr. Wvlkeß came forward, and said he had come that day to ask them to replace him in the Ppnernl Assembly. When he addressed them fome time since in the Town Hall, he had dwelt upon what had been done during the Zst sessions in that House ; he would now Lieflv recapitulate what he then stated. He was extremely sorry for the retireof Mr. Weld, but thought his loss Sight be filled up, as there were good and tme men in that House capable of carrying S tie self-reliant policy of Mr Weld, of which he was an advocate and a determined Innnrter If elected (for he must make thaf proviso), he would support a want of i.inen in Mr. Stafford, who, he consider 1, should be got rid of at once. Mr. Walker then went into some statistical acrounts as to the state of the finances of the coTony, "n d aBIO the cost °, f ,"!? I™* 3 L* nd co onS forces. He concluded by asking those present for their support, and referred ' hi , opponent's unfitness, by a remark as to his having once figured as a smuggler and had his vessel and cargo seized. , , Mr Armstrong then came forward and said Mr Walker had told them two very stubbor.i truths. He had been convicted of smiHrsrling, and had also been m gaol. With regard to the first, he held a letter from Mr. John Robert Godley, the then magistrate at Lvttelton, in which he stated that his case was one of the hardest he ever heard of. Mr. Armstrong then went into a long statement as to his disputes with the Resident Magistrate, Captain Greaves, and others ; he felicitated himself on having been able to put Mr. Weston in the ditch, which accounted for that gentleman's antipathy to himself, but he did not do that until after he was first assaulted. He had been called a passionate man, but he would like to be told whom he had wronged or injured. He defied any man to bring forward an instance. [During the delivery of Mr. Armstrong's speech the Returning Officer walked away, remarking that 1 he would return " when that person had ■ finished his harangue."] His P? h^ cal ; opinions coincided with those of Mr. Walker; he had been fifteen years a resident here, and : had brought up a family with respectability. < There was a reform wanted in the adminis- I tration of justice here, and also in the Post- i office; he instanced the numerous persons who 1 had been in that office, and thought some- ] thing very like jobbery had been carried on. i He had now in his possession an envelope i which had the post-mark on, but had never 1 been stamped; he should like to know if the i Postmaster had power to frank letters. He J hoped the electors would return the best < man. They had returned him before for the ] Provincial Council, and he now trusted they . would confer the higher honour on him which i he now sought at their hands. ] The show of hands being in favour of Mr. < Walker, a poll was demanded on Mr. Arm- f strong's behalf. 1 Mr. Walker proposed a vote of thanks to '< the Returning Officer, and the proceedings 1 closed. ' The official declaration of the poll took ( place at the Court-house, Akaroa, on Feb. 22. j Before the declaration was made, Capt.Greaves < read the following protest against the legality ] of Mr. Armstrong's return : —" To John ] Watson, Esq., R.M., Returning Officer for the i district of Akaroa, appointed by warrant < under the hand of His lixcellency the Go- ( vernor of New Zealand.—l Robert Greaves, an elector of the electoral district of Akaroa, in the pr vince of Canterbury, do hereby ; formally iiad publicly protest against any • declaration of the pQll, held and taken on yesterday, the 21st inst., in an election for a i member ti> represent the district of Akaroa, in the for Parliament of New Zealand, known as the House of Representatives, . being made, the said poll having been demanded on Monday, the 19th inst. last past, by one elector only, contrary to the provisions contained in the eighth and eleventh clauses • or sections of the Act to make provision for the ; regulation and conduct of elections of mem- j hers of the House of Representatives, dated ( 19th August, 1858." The Returning Officer . declared Mr. Armstrong duly elected by a 1 majority of four, being the same number as < we stated in a previous issue. Mr, Armstrong was the only candidate present, and in thanking the Returning Officer, stated, we believe, that he had given up the apple of discord, and in future intended to live at peace with his neighbours.