PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS CITY EAST WARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1310, 28 January 1868, Page 3

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS CITY EAST WARD.

The nomination of candidates for tho vacant seat in tho Council for the above district took place yesterday nt noon, in tho Mechanics' Institution. Ihero was a very large Hsaymblago of persona collected at that time, but to judge by the fhow oi hands, which will be found below, the attendance of electors wub not numerous.

The Kett/rxino Officku (Colouol Bulncavis) having read tlie writ, and tho formal el-».roral notice, Mr. Allan O'Neill proposed Mr. W. J. Uurst. Ho said that at a time when very great discontent prevailed throughout the Province in consequence of the mode of administering Provincial fundu—it was important to elect to the Council a man of intelligence and active habits. Ho believed that somo reform would be required ; such as would give to local bodies special power, and tho estimates of expenditure should be so regulated that what would otherwise be spent upon officialism, would be given to the country for improvements. He belie* ed that Government taxation oufcht to he reduced to the lowest possible point, to that the people would be able to tax themselves. He thought that eztrome caution should be used before parting with their Provincial institutions. Past history furnished sufficient example of what happoned after people had parted with their Government. From Ireland after the Union, her dock-yards were taken away, her industries wern removed—even the Military hospitala and schools which had been maintained by the Government, were taken away. Mr. Hurst was a gentleman who he thought was able to grasp the difficulty. He was a gentleman of energy. In a district at the North Shore, by his energy alone, he was enabled to get expended £407, and if he could manifest such active and industrious habits on a small scale, there was no reason why be should not bring the same quality into the Council. Ho therefore begged to propose Mr. W. J. Huret as a fit and proper person to represent the City East in the Provincial Council. (Cheers).

Mr. A. Vox deb Hetde seconded the nomination of Mr. Hurst. He know Mr. ilurst to be a shrewd man of business, and one who could cope with all questions that might rise in the Council. He had taken a lively interest in political questions, and if the electors thought proper to elect him, he believed tJey would have no reason to regret it. (C'heere).

Mr. Tnos. Williams proposed Mr. Chas. Davis. It was the first time that he (Mr. Williams) had appeared before the electors in that capacity. Mr. Davis whs a. gentleman whom the electors well knew, he had been among them a great many years. He was a man who had worked his own way, and there whs not a man who could point the 6nger at him. Mr. Davis came forward as a man among themselves. He (Mr Williams) did not wish to depreciate Mr. Hurst, but ho thought that in the preeent state of affairs out of the materials at hand the electors should take the beet. Mr. Davis wus a man of business, energy, and one by his experience well fitted to travel over the difficult political road that lay before the Province. (Cheers.) Mr. P. A. Phillips seconded the nomination of Mr. Charles Davis, who, ho believed, was known to the electors, and a resident among them for a great many years. It was tho only prudent thing the Province could do to place euch a man in such a position that he would be useful to it. Ho was a man that would take a proper view of the present financial position of the country, and fix accurately what was most proper to be doiii). (Ilear.)

Mr. LIUBST oarao forward and said that for tho second time he came before the electors to solicit their suffrages. In a former contest he had been unsuccessful with Mr. Wynn. He had, o:i tho present occasion, asked their suffrages through the medium of the newgpapors, and ho wishod distinctlj to inform the meeting that he was not opposing Mr. David, but Mr. Davia was opposing him. He believed that two gentlemen— Mr. Auckland and Mr. Swanuon—had aeked Mr. Charles Davis come forward.

Mr. FINLAV: Who brought you out ? Mr. HTJBBT : Hβ (Mr. Hurst) was prepared for the interruptions coming from a member of the City Board. Mr. Sw.ineon was, he beliered, induoed to oppose him, knowing hie (Mr. Hurst's) hostility to that notorious body. (Cries of order.) Mr. Swahsox : it U utterly false. (Laughter and cheer*.).

Mr. Hurst continued: He was a friend of Local Government, but he believed bo far as the City Board wae concernod, money was expended upon streets through which ho would like to know the number of persons or carts that passod day after day. He had been a constant attendant at the Provincial Council lately, although Dot a member of that body (laughter) and it was said that Mr. Stafford would reduce the expenditure, if eo. why did he not do it ? Mr. Caklbton : He did. Mr. BuiiST: Ko, he took the Auckland st»amer away, which act was the only evidenco of his disposition to reduco, and by which another injustice was don? to the province of Auckland. He believed thut the main question was as to the change in tho form of Government, whether it waa to bo handed over to the Ganeral Government, or whether provincial institutions could he reformed. He might have got in for a Northern District, but he found Kuch common sense exercised there in the choice of a repro tentative that he retired. A Voicb : We would not have you. Mr. Hun3T: Who was it that was ao active against the province, but the servants of the General Government? He believed that the Province oould recover itself by adhering to economy und he would do all in his power to assist in paseing measures that would giro to local Boards tbe power to make improvements. (Cheers,) Mr. Chas. Davis eaid there wae no doubt that many of thoao whom he taw before him would agree that it wae the first time in his life that ha had appeared before them. Ho had completed a residence here of 25 years, during which time he had nottaken

I part in politics, for he never felt himeelf qualified to appear in that capacity. He had never moved in any politics because there were those who he thought were more fit than he was for that sphere of action. Nor would he have moved in them now but that he saw it was necessary for such interests at staVoas he had to tnnvo in them. Hβ felt it his duty to oomo bofore them and thorn to return him for V,hopurpOßß of ronreeenting their interests as well as his own. Aa tr> tho gentlemen who asked him to come there, he felt proud they did ask him. Although he was at first reluctant, he soon felt he would ho wrong in not placing himself at the [ disposal of those who were concerned for tho interests of !he province, lie I«id claim to no ability beyond the posefiesion of common and that common eenaewas at thoir disposal. Tho province WU3 nt this time in a crisis, it had become insolvent, and if it k-hb not able to pay its dobtß it requiroi ovory assistance in developina; tho finance of the province. Tho expenditure of the Provincial Councli l»ad evolvod the present condition of things, and the financial question was tho foremost ono, and he believed ho was in a position to sive a competent opinion on that subject ; lie must be guide! greatly hy what he should learn when ho ROt to t' e Council, should they return him ; and ho could only say they would have his assistance to the best of his ability, nnd his time to the fullest extent ho could afford it. If a mun aaid ho would give them the whole of his time he was a hypocrite. Ho would go to the Council encumbered with no promises, but he would give a free and independent judgment. Provincial institutions wero failing fost, but ho would vote affain^ , ; giving this province over to the General Government. Hβ thought we were able to judge for ourselves. He thought if we were at preeent taxed hoyond our strength, that it was possible to dishu'rthen ourselves by a Rystomatio revision of tho finance, nnd retrenchment of expenditure. Tho Returning Officer proceeded to take the show of hands. Tho hands beinsj counted, there appeared for Mr. Hnret, 27; for Mr. Davies, 30. A poll whs demanded for Mr. Hurst. Mr. Htjest proposed, and Mr. Char. Davis eeponde.i, a vote r.f thanks to tho Returning Officer, which was carried unanimously, and the proceedings terminated. The poll will take place at the Mechanics' Inetitute to-day, within the hours of 9 o'clock a.m. and 4 p.m.