TIMARU ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 5345, 9 April 1878, Page 3

TIMARU ELECTION.

The nomination of candidates for the representation of the Timaru District in the House of Representatives in the room of the Hon. E. W. Stafford, resigned, was held at the Court-house yesterday, at noon. There were only 14 persons present. The Returning Officer, Mr B. Woollcombe, read the writ of election, and called upon those present to nominate candidates.

Mr W. C. Beswick said he had much pleasure in rising to propose his old friend, Mr Richard Turnbull, as member for the representation of the district in the General Assembly. Mr Turnbull was well known to Present as a man who could bo thoroughly depended upon to represent their wishes and wok after their interests in the parliament of toe Colony, and he (the speaker) having aoown Mr Turnbull for the last 25 years, could confidently assure them that not a more honourable or large-minded man existed. (Hear, hear). The large and influential address presented to Mr Turnbull, when there a prospect of opposition in the field, was clear evidence of the high appreciation in which he was held by tho people in the town and district.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. Cliff) seconded the nomination, and fully endorsed that had been said by Mr Beswick. He thought that when they had Mr Turnbull elected they would have a good representa,iye - They had plenty of gas at present in me General Assembly, and they wanted a man like Mr Turnbull, who would only speak when he saw real necessity for speaking, and not talk upon every conceivable subject simply o see Ins name in print and hear the sound nis own voice. Mr Turnbull was a man good sound sense, who would not weary

the House and waste the time and money bf the country in mere talk. (Hear, hear.) No other candidate being proposed, the .Returning officer declared. Mr duly elected as the representative of the Timaru district in the General Assembly. (Applause.) Mr Turnbull thanked those present for the confidence they had reposed in him by returning Mm as their member in Parliament without opposition. He felt highly flattered at the requisition he had received, signed by so many influential and honest men, who despite former differences of opinion with himself, had unhesitatingly joined in asking him to come forward as their representative, believing that he would faithfully carry out the trust reposed in him. As there were so few present, it would be useless to make a political speech on the present occasion, so he would only tell them that ho considered it a great honour to represent such a large and important constituency, and would on all occasions study the welfare of the people of Timaru and the Colony generally. He should do his duty in the House independently and fearlessly. In future legislation, property would have to take its fair share of the burden of taxation, but he should not support manhood suffrage as sketched out by Sir G. Grey. If after an opportunity were given to property holders to tax property in proportion to other things, and they refused to do so, he should then sunport a measure for the extension of the franchise. He begged again to thank them for electing him as their representative—(Applause)—and in conclusion moved a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. Mr Beswick seconded the proposition, and the proceedings terminated.