UPPER WAIRAU ELECTION

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 153, 16 January 1869, Page 5

UPPER WAIRAU ELECTION

The nomination of candidates for the vacant seat in the Provincial Council took place on Monday last, at the school house, Renwick, amidst a fair attendance. The Returning Officer, Mr. Griffiths, having read the writ, Mr. John Gibson proposed Edpquncl Paul, who was a merchant, connected also with shipping, a grazier, and a farmer. They found all these heads combined in one individual, and he proposed him as a fit and proper person to represent them. Mr. Isaac Gifford seconded the motion. Mr. Wm. Moore held that Mr. Paul was an untried man; he would propose one that had been tried—Mr. William Collie, of Blenheim. He did not know that he had any interest in the district, but he had got an interest in the province, and he had no doubt he would attend to the interests of their district, as well as those of the whole province, as far as lay in his power. Mr. Robert M'lvor seconded the motion. Upon the candidates being called on to address the electors it transpired that Mr. Paul was not present. Mr. Collie said he could not help expressing his regret, which he believed they all shared in,, at the untoward event which had necessitated that election—namely, the premature death of Mr. Henry Godfrey, whose place in the Council it was proposed by some of the electors he should fill. By the death of Mr. Godfrey, not only had his own family suffered a great and irreparable loss—not only had society lost a man without pride and ostentation, one of the most enterprising of settlers, a good

neighbour and a hospitable friend—but the province had lost a public servant whose time and talents had been yielded willingly and well, in a straightforward and honest manner. It would not be necessary to say much. He was not there in opposition to anyone, as the Upper Wairau constituency had broken through the usual rule in these matters, and, instead of allowing a candidate or his friends to chose them and select their suffrage, had themselves solicited one they thought well of to allow himself to be nominated. He considered it would not be judicious on his part to say what course he would pursue in the Council, but if any electors wished to ask questions he would be happy to answer them. It was certainly not a promising time for anyone to go into the Council, and if good was to be done there required a thorough reconstruction of Provincial management. He-held that the Provincial Institutions of this province had never really been launched yet; nor had ever sailed triumphantly upon a sea of prosperity. One political party had given the ship a push down the timber ways on one side ; another political party had given a push on the other side, and so on ; but for all these efforts the provincial ship was stuck faster than ever. These politicians had made a failure of it, and so it was., There was need of much improvement, and in any attempt in that direction, should he be elected, he would most likely offend some individuals, and perhaps suffer private loss, but he had counted that cost, and would not be deterred from the discharge of his duty. In his mind’s eye he saw two forms of government, —one, in which the General Government would legislate for the Colony generally, and the Provincial Governments would manage all local works; the other, in which the General Government would exercise provincial as well as general control, and all local works would be carried out by district boards. If it were apparent that most of the other provinces—which Marlborough of course must be guided by—saw their way to the continuance of provincial institutions, he would advocate strongly carrying out the first view stated, but if not he would say the sooner our Provincial Government was knocked on the head the better; it was only eating up money and doing no good. He was sorry that the Provincial Council had ever allowed the Superintendent to go to the Assembly, and thus neglecting the province, and Avhat was no small matter, allowing Marlborough to be made a butt for the abuse and the laugh of members—to be called again and again a poor little beggarly bankrupt province—when it ought to have been made to appear what it was, one of the most prosperous, prudent, and economical of the whole, and one of the best able to hold its own. He would op pose the Superintendent being allowed by the Council to leave the province and his duties. It was a farce giving £4OO or £SOO a year to a Superintendent who was half of the year out of the province. Mr. Joseph Ward asked what policy he would pursue in the Council. Mr. Collie replied that it would be injudicious in him to say what he would do in the Council, and on being further pressed he said he would not show his cards, as that was not a likely way to win, (Laughter.) The electors must take him from what they knew of him as to character and ability, although Mr. Henry Dodson, of Blenheim, had long since published that he had no sufficient ability for the Council! The present members of Council did not know themselves what to do, and yet he was expected to have studied a policy before he had any right to presume that he would be elected. Besides he did not want to be elected ; if the electors did not want him, he did not want them. If he was elected he would do his best, but he was not there like most candidates, for he was not soliciting the suffrages of the electors. He would answer any direct question, but nothing more. Mr. Ward said he did not understand whether he was in favor of Central governments, or the maintenance of the Provincial ones.

Mr. Collie replied that if it should be manitest that the Provinces were destined to merge into the Central Government, he was of opinion the sooner our Provincial Government ceased the better; otherwise, he would do his utmost towards maintaining the rights, position, and usefulness of Marlborough. Mr. Ward would like to know what improvements he would propose ? Mr. Collie would only say that retrenchment had to be carried out—more work and less pay. All local works should be attended to by the Provincial Government, and thereby do. away with the neces-| sity for local boards wasting their time in: looking after works which might be more;

efficiently, and to the general benefit and credit of the Province, executed by a practical and zealous Provincial Government. The Returning Officer then called for a show of hands, when the result was : Mr. Paul ... ... 2 Mr. Collie 15

Mr. Gibson and Mr. Ward demanded a poll for Mr. Paul, which takes place next Tuesday, at the school-house, Renwicktown, and Mr. Maher’s house, Kaituna.

After a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, most of those present went into the school-house, and were addressed by Mr. Ward and Mr. Goulter, Mr. Collie briefly replying. The proceedings wei'e orderly, if animated, throughout.’