The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1869. NOMINATION OF MEMBERS FOR THE TOWN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 264, 10 November 1869, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1869. NOMINATION OF MEMBERS FOR THE TOWN.

o The nomination of candidates to represent the town of Nelson in the Provincial Council, took place at the Proviucial Hall yesterday. Thomas Brunner, Esq., Returning Officer, having read the writ, called upon the electors to nominate candidates, when Mr. Sclanders proposed Mr. Henry Adams, who, he said, had held a seat in the Council for 16 years, with credit to himself and advantage to the constituency, the best proof of which was his frequent . elections, and he hoped the electors would consider it to their own good and that of the province generally to repeat it on this occasion. Mr. Crisp seconded the nomination. Mr. A. Pitt had much pleasure in proposing Mr Greenfield. Ifc was unnecessary for him to say mueh in his favor. Four years ago the electors had placed him in a high position on the poll, and he was not aware of his having done, anything since to forfeit the confidence then reposed in him. He had been a long time in the service of the Provincial Government, and had become thoroughly acquainted with all its requirements, and could bring a vast amount of practical knowledge to bear in the Couucil. Mr. A. J. Richmond seconded the nomination. Dr. Iryine had much pleasure in pro- . posing Mr. Arthur Collins, who was well known and highly respected throughout the province. He had a large stake in the country, and unlike many wealthy members of the community he did not despise provincial institutions, but had the good sense to see tbat a great deal of the real work of the country Was done in the Council, aud was therefore willing to give his time and attention to that work. He (Dr.- Irvine) thought it was desirable that the Government should be well supported iu the Council, hut at the same time he considered it necessary that it should comprise independent members, he had therefore, before nominating Mr. Collins, taken the trouble to ascertain his views, and he was convinced that he would act in an honest and independent manner as he had done in the House of Representatives, where, although he was generally a supporter of the Pox Ministry he had not hesitated to oppose them when he considered it necessary. • Mr. Newton seconded Mr. Collins. Me. Henry proposed Mr. Luckie, upon whose qualifications he would not dwell as for years past he had been before the public as editor of the Colonist and his" views therefore were well known. Mr. Luckie, was able and prepared to answer any questions that might be put to him relative to his past actions or future policy. He had been given to understand that there existed a bitter feeling against Mr. Luckie and that there was a wish to defeat him. He was sorry for this if true but wasloth to believe it, at the same time he knew there was a party in town who bad tried to write, talk, and sneer him down. He believed that the reason of this opposition was that Mr. Luckie had frequently exposed and denounced both Mr. Curtis and Mr. Stafford, but he thought it an argument in his favor tbat he was quick to detect an error and always ready and willing to expose it, without regard tothe consequences to himself. Mk. David Bubns seconded the nomination. Mr. Webb proposed Mr. Burn who had served in the Council for two terms and had tried his best to forward the best interests of the town and province. Mr. Burn was seconded by Mr. Avery. „; ;No other candidates being proposed, the Returning' Officer called upon those who had been nominated to address the meeting. Mr. H. Adams said; It is now 16 years since yoii first elected roe, aud I again ask for a renewal of; your, confidence. It is not necessary for me to make any promises, but I ask you to judge me by my past conduct. Not for one moment do I sup- . pose. that I have pleased' everybody, that '

would be simply impossible, in fact, Mr. Akersten has lately said that he was dissatisfied with us, and I know there are mauy others, who know nothing of the difficulties that beset us, but who think that we might have done this, that, or the other thins;, but those who steer the Government ship must do so with care, and look out for shoals and breakers. We bave I know created many enemies ; it was only the other day that there were three pirates (as the Colonist calls them) in the bay, who made a combined attack upon our ship, but how signally they i failed you all know well. Our best endeavours are ofteu defeated by means entirely beyond our control. Take for instance the Bill for the sale of laud on deferred bay men is, which was thrown out by the General Government, on the ground that it would take a regiment of soldiers to carry it out, but when that was rejected we introduced the Leasing Act, which was very similar in its provisions, and which has been successfully worked without the aid of a single constable. If we could have carried out that first Act, it would have been attended with great advantage, particularly to the runholders, who have for want of it been compelled to borrow money at a high rate of interest, and at the same time the Government would have been in receipt of a large revenue which is now lost to it. There is one thing in which we perhaps contrast unfavorably with other Provinces — we have no large debt to meet — and to this state of solvency I consider that I have iu a large measure contributed. You have lately chosen your captaiu to take charge of the vessel for another voyage, and I can only say that, if you choose to elect us, the old pilots are right willing to accompany and assist him in steering his ship. Mr. Greenfield: I cannot, as the last speaker has done, lay claim to having served for 16 years in the Provincial Council, but I can to having worked in the office under four Superintendents, and therefore I may be reasonably supposed to bave some knowledge of the wants and requirements of the province. I hold the office of Provincial Secretary, and although I do not think it absolutely necessary that that officer should have a seat iu the Council, still I believe the fact of his presence there is advantageous to the members. You have already elected me once, aod I have tried to serve you to the best of my ability, . and if you re-elect me I shall continue to do so, and I shall give to every measure of public imI portance my most careful consideration. Mr. Gibbs lately said that I had been the means of burking a Committee for which he moved in 1868, by suggesting that the heads of the departments should be examined with, regard to the work required of their subordinates. I certaiuly did do this, but why ? Mr. Gibbs was chairman of the Committee and instead of calling -for persons and papers he merely brought up a copy of tbe Estimates with his own figures marked upon it and asked us to adopt them. I considered this a most extraordinary proceeding, and I therefore moved that the heads of the departments should be called to say what duties were required of those under them, but not to be examined on the question of their salaries. The reasonableness of tbis was at once allowed by all but Mr. Gibbs. I hope that you will do me the honor to return me again, and I can promise to use my best endeavors in your service. Mr. Collins said : It is with much diffidence that I come forward at the request of a large number of electors to offer myself as a candidate for the representation of so important a constituency as that of the town of Nelson. Ail my interests are bound up in those of the province and I shall, it elected, use such abilities as I possess, to promote the prosperity of Nelson in every possible way. I shall turn my attention to the serious study of the financial position of the province," and shall give every assistance in my power towards maintaining the high character for solvency that it has always.sustained. I wish it to be clearly understod that I should go into the Council as an entirely independent member, and tha twhile I hope to be able to give a cordial support to Mr. Curtis, I cannot promise anything more than that support shall be ' discriminating and independent. I would do all I could to foster native industries, as upon them I thiuk our proaperity- largely depends. I am opposed to the separation of the West Coast, and I believe that the greatest safeguard against such a disaster would be to

have a good road, a railway if possible, connecting the two extremes of the province. I should be glad to see the Wairau reannexed to NelSon, as next to the ability of its representatives, the weight which a province carries' in the House of Representativea depends very largely upon the extent of its -territory, and therefore. l should use every endeavor not only to prevent the curtailment of/ the province but to assist iu its enlargement. Mr Luckie said ; My proposer referred to ; a subject which, as a candidate, I am bound to notice, namely, the attempt to turn me out of the Council in consequence of my conduct in iihe last session, and during the late election. If the opinion of the electors at large is that no member should be returned unless he would bind himself to support the Government, then farewell to all electoral independence. With respept to the late election, I had hoped to reraaia neutral, but there is one great constitutional question upon which I entirely differ from Mr. Curtis, I refer to Dent's salary, and as he said at Richmond that he was prepared to do the same thing again, I was compelled to oppose him. Unfortunately the example set by him has been followed by other bodies, as I notice that the Inspector of Police who was thought by the Council to be receiving a sufficient remuneration, has obtained from the Board of Works five per cent, for collecting the dog tax. After the large majority obtained by Mr. Curtis it would be absurd to offer factious opposition to him, and a reference to the Blue Book of last year will show that I did not then offer the antagonism with which I am charged, moreover, I believe that Mr. Curtis will not give the same grounds for complaint again.. On the subject of the Wangapeka land, sales I have been twitted by officers of the Government who have so far forgotten themselves, as to say they will do all in their power to turn me out. I do not consider this is in keeping with the position they hold, and I think it would be better for them to attend to their offices than to turu electioneering agents, for the purpose ofturning out one who had simply done his duty. I haye also been charged with earwigging a Minister on this subject, hut this I totally deny. I was glad to hear Mr. Adams refer to the solvency of the province, and I think that I may lay claim to having assisted towards that result. To the Dry Dock I was always opposed, and it is now allowed on ali sides that I was right. I have taken part in improving the Education Act, and I shall be glad to sea measures introduced for insisting on a more careful ahd longer attendance at school. If you re-elect me I can promise that my conduct shall be faithful, fair, and independent, and that I will give Mr. Curtis' Government a fair support so far as I can. Mr. Burn, At the close of the lasfc session I did not intend to offer myself as a candidate again because I thought that men better qualified than myself would come forward but I find that two of them, and I refer particularly to Dr. Irvine, have declined to stand. I will make no promises hut will refer you to my past conduct in the Council, where I have always acted independently. I am sorry to find mention made of a set against Mr. Luckie, but the same cry was got up by certain individuals at the time of Mr. Robinson's election, and I was waited upon and asked to sail under their banners. I replied that if I came forward, I should support him as far as I could do so conscientiously, but that I could promise nothing more. Should you now elect me I shall strive to do the "ame with regard to Mr. Curtis. I do not think that it would be required by anyone that their representatives should be blind followers of any Government, but it would be that they should offer no factious opposition. There is one important question which has alalways received my support. I refer to the railway, and however much some people may pooh pooh the idea, I believe that we shall have no real prosperity until we are bound together with the West Coast by an iron band. In the question of education I have always taken a deep interest, and I feel a pride in the progress Nelson has made in this direction, but I believe there are still greater advantages to be derived. I can only say that I shall support every measure for the encouragement of local enterprise, and for the progress and advancement of the city and province at Tarjge.

A show of hands was then taken with the following result : —

Greenfield 52 Collins ... ... ... ... 47 i Adams .„ 46 j Burn 41 Ltickie 27

A poll was demanded by Mr. Luckie. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings.