TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF NELSON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 253, 29 December 1866, Page 3

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF NELSON.

GENTLEMEN— In announcing to you that it is my intention to offer myself as a candidate for the position of Superintendent when that office shall have become vacant by the retirement of Mr Saunders, I should perhaps apologise for doing so in the absence of any formal requisition to that effect, signed by a number of the constituency. But my experience of political affairs leads me to attach but a moderate value to such documents, and I prefer to place myself unreservedly' in your hands, asking only for your unpledged and unfettered support if, after carefully, weighing the qualifications of the various candidates who may present themselves, you are satisfied that you would best serve the interests • of the community by giving it to me. . . The gold-fields of tlie West Coast, to which we are indebted, directly or indirectly, for so considerablea portion of our revenue, will continue to call, for unremitling attention on the part of the Provincial Government. The prompt, energetic, and prudent management of these gold-fields by Mr Saunders has, as you are probably aware, received my constant support as a member of the Provincial Council; and, as regards this part of the duties of the Superintendent, I should endeavor to carry out the policy which has been so ably initiated. I am however firmly convinced that the resources of the western district "of the province can never be fully developed, nor the full benefit of those resources be experienced by the community, until the projected railway from Nelson to Cobden and Westport has been constructed. The power to give land in payment for this most important work has been granted to the Superintendent by an Act of the General Assembly, but it remains to find contractors willing to undertake its execution upon these terms. To effect this object I should, in the event of my election, devote myself heart and mind; believing as . I do, that its accomplishment is the one thing needed to relieve the province from the comparative stagnation which has so long prevailed, and to bring greatly increased prosperity to all classes of its inhabitants. I am well aware of the difficulties which have to be faced, and of the energy, determination, and perseverance which are required to surmount them; but I should set to work animated by the hope and belief that those difficulties can be overcome, and that the contractors, as well as the province, would be largely benefitted by the undertaking. While looking upon the West Coast Railway as the public work which, affecting as it does so greatly .the welfare of the province as a whole, claims the 1. rgest share of the attention of your Superintendent, there are others in which I have long felt deep interest/and which I should do my utmost to carry into execution. Amongst them are the construction of a Dry Dock, or Patent Slip in Nelson Harbor ; the introduction of Pure Water for the supply of the ■ inhabitants of the City of Nelson, and the shipping of the Port, as well as for the prevention of calamitous fires ; and the erection of Bridges over the Waimea and Hurunui rivers. The active part which I have taken for many years past in pressing the value and importance of the Coal-fields in various parts of the province upon the attention of the Provincial Government and Council, makes it, I think, almost superfluous for me to assure you that the subject would meet with no neglect or indifference at my hands. My general political opinions must be 60 well known to most of you, that I think it unnecessary to enter npon any expression of them in this address ; but when the resignation of Mr Saunders has been officially announced, I shall lose no time in visiting the various electoral districts, so as to give the whole constituency of the province the opportunity of learning my views upon all subjects in which they feel an interest respecting them. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, OSWALD CURTIS.