PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1840, 7 December 1869, Page 5

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

NORTHERN DIVISION. ! Tire nomination of candidates for the representation of the Northern Division Electoral District in the Provincial Council took place I yester.iay in the Devonport Hall, North Shore, in the presence of a numerous assem- i Wage of electors. Colonel Balneatis, Officer, read the writ authorising the election of five members ; also the published electoral notification. Mr. Aiiatt O'jSeill proposed Hugh Me Ilhone, Esq., as a fit and proper person to represent the constituency of the Northern Division in the Provincial Council. Mr. Chables Pdjujox seconded the proposal. Mr. Jons Lamb proposed the nomination of fiobert Ooates Dyer, Esq., which was seconded by Mr. AiXAN O'Neill. Mr. Allan O'Neill nominited John Sheehan, Esq., and the nomination was seconded by Air. Hekrt Dacee. Mr. Chaeles Naibj,- Maeshaxl proposed, and Mr. Hbnky Dacbe seconded, Henry Lloyd, Esq. Mr. William Gheeswood proposed John Mitchell Murray, Eeq , and Mr. AxthoNY P. Jacob seconded the proposal. Mr. John- Lamb proposed, and Mr. Geokoe Henderson seconded, the nomination of Allan Kerr Taylor, Esq. Mr. JOHN Coplee nominated Oliver Mays, Esq., and the proposition was seconded by Mr*. Hesby Mahok Jekvis. llr. -ftjS'THONS , P. Jacob proposed Henry Butlei: Stoney, Esq., as a candidate, and Mr. David Bt/kn* eeconded tho proposal. Mr. John liAilß proposed the nomination of John Bibertson Nicholson, Esq., and the proposal was seconded by Mr. WIULIAM Yates. Mr. John Lamb proposed, and Mr. Patrick MelAvin seconded, the nominatien of Henry James Hawiine. Esq. Mr. Allan O'Neilli proposed A.J. Hatfield, Esq.. as a candidate, and the proposition was seconded by Mr. BkbHAKd Beyhoeds.

Thore were no other condidates proposed. Mr. Httgk MclLnoXß addressed the electors. He said this was the third time he had appeared before the ejectors of tho Northern Division to solicit their suffrages. Ho was well aware tbat on the present occasion ho laboured under moro than ordinary difficulty, inasmuch as he hid not the same claim upon their suffrages as he had hitherto. Vlo wai not a resident amongst them, and that of itself would, perhap?, be a great obstacle tc his being returned. He had been in the Council before as their representative, and if they were satisfied that ho had usod his talents to their advantage and had dono tho beat ho could for their interest, then they would show their satisfaction by returning him again. If, on the othor hand, they thought that ho had not properly represented them, and thoy found another person better qualified for the position than himself they couU return that candidate. Ho left himself entirely in their hands. He had been beaten bofore, but he intended to try if ho should be beaton again. If he had been correctly informed, the " ticket" system had been put into oonration, but he did not know whether it would have any effect on tho present occasion. If ths gentlemen whom he hid heard were named upon that " ticket" wore better fit to represent their district, thon thoy would show their approval by returning them. For his own part ho had uothing whatever to do with such a " ticket." Fto stood before them on his own responsibility, and solicited their upport upon his own merits alone. (L'hoera.) IWr. R. C. Dveb said he appeared as a candidate before them in corapliiuico with tho wishes of a large number of electors. His name had been eo long before tho public in connection with the coming olection, and he had 90 often addressed meetings, at ■which he had expounded his views, that he would not detain them now with Buy lengthened remarks. Although he was pleased to see tho of so many cf the leading merchants of Auckland attached to the requisition, ho was also gratified to see that it was largely signed by the old settlers, among whom ho had lived for many years, and who, he supposed, were best acquainted with him. Ho would briefly refer to one or two subjects of puMic interest. With respect to the working of che Highway Act, he believed tho Highway Boards had contributed more to the benefit of the country than anything else; and in many places they had been well acd judiciously worKod. He was aware that thero were some objectionable clauses in the Act. With respect to tho clauso relating to proxy voting, it had been stated that he was in favour of the total abolition of proxies. That was not correct , . But he thought there ought to be some restraint put upon them—that oue man should be limited as to the number of proxies he might hold, so that he might not become an autocrat and overthrow the wishes of the whole meeting. With regard to the election of trus f ees, that was not a question of monoy, and he did not see why they should record more than ouo voto at such election ; but when it came to the levying of a rate, which was a question of money, thon he thought large proprietors should have a certain preponderance. He did not say that the man •who paid £10 should have ten times the number of votes as the man who paid £1 ; but the man who paid a number of pounds should have a wider voice than the man who only paid a few pence. With regard to tho fines and penalties which might be enforced, to ensure the proper working of tho Act, that was rendered altogether nugatory, eimply because, with the Board rested the onu3 of collecting the fine 3 which would be tnVen by the Government. If. tho Board collected the fines, they should have them to u.= e in their own district. "With Tegsird to absentee?, he did not mean residents in Auckland, for many of them were the best payers they had in the North, as they paid their rates most regularly ; but he alluded to thosa who wero absent from tho colony altogether, and who they were unable to find ; he would nay that those men had their land,constantly improved out of the pocket of the residents. They contributed nothing towards the rates, and when they returned to the province they should find their property enhanced in value, at the expense of the settlers. Some Act should be brought forward iu the Assembly to give the eettlers the power of being recompensed—of getting money from the absentees, or from their lan . He thought it was unjust to make the Highway Boards pay for publishing the as3essmont roil in the " Gazette." It >■ as simply a means of raising money to help the Government, and not one person out of every fifty ever saw the " Gazette." The money might be much better spent in the making of roads. The opening up of the country and the makiDg of roads was what they might call the primary object which tho Council should have in -view. The Thames had been a gre\t help to the province, but there might be a re-action and a panic. It was their duty to help the back settlers in the country di3trieLs in every way they could, for they were the true upholders of this province, and the men who would most advance its interests. With regard to the Fencing Act, it was wrong to compel the country settler to keep hi 3 cattle inside the fence when there were large tracts of waate lands upon which they could roam. The only hope the settler had of ranking a livelihood was by hi 3 cattle running on thoso lands. It might be said, why did they not grow crops? What was the use of growing crops, when there was no road by which to convey them ? The only hope the settlers ' had of living was by their stock— a fact well known to every country settler. On the subject of education, he would 'ay that it was impossible in scattered and thinlypopulated districts for the parents to send their children to school and to subscribe a sufficient sum to support a schoolmaster. The large sum of money tho Government would have at its disposal to aid the settlers in supporting schools, and tho fees of tho scholars, would enable schools to be supported without requiring any eitra tax to be put upon the land. The schoolmasters should, as far as possible, be selected from among the settlers of a district. If they thought him a fit and proper person to represent them, he would do all that lay in his power to advance the intorest of their district and the province generally, if not, he must accept their verdict. (Cheers.) Mr. J. Sheeh.vn next addressed the ele :tors at considerable length. He observed that i there were only a few questions in which the ' country settlors and tho electors of the Northern Division had any real interest. The most importunt one, not only to the electors of the Northern Division, but to every inhabitant of the province was the question of education. Although he might perhapa differ in opinion from those who addressed them, and who would address them, ho held decided views on this subject. Tho legislation of the province must be framed to meet education in the town and education in iho country. With regard to tl\o town, the State should not be looked to an the sole contribulor of the expense of educating the children. In thickly populated parts of tho province tho wealthy inhabitants should contribute towards the support of educati*n in the shape of school fees. Iα thinly populated country dietricts where the people wero living eight or ten miles apart, the State must assiet the people to educate their children; indeed, the State must bo the sole bearer of the expense. The next moet important subject to the electors of the Northern Division was that of roads and bridges. Although he might be classed as a resident in the town, 'perhaps b.e possessed euch a practical knowledge of the roads and bridges of the Northern Division as would enable him to compete favourably with any other gentleman who was a candidate for their suffrages. He had gone over the entire country at all hours, and he felt confident he should be prepared to compete favorably with tho country settler in providing the best remedy for the present neglected state of the oountry [districts in \ reference to roads and biides. There had hitherto prevailed in the

Council a. syetem oflog-rolling, wheroby a few ! partios united together and obtained the disi tribution of publio money in favour of a I particular district, which acted prejudicially to tho bulk of tho settlements. The Xorthcra Division, raoro than any other part of tho province, hud suffered from this log-rolling ; the revenue had not baan fairly upportinmul, and tho Northern Division had never lmd a proper amount of revenue expendo ! upon it. He would pledge hiraseolf that to that subject ho would givo his moet earnest attention, and by ovory moans in his power secure to tho Northern Division its proper shore of the public rovonue. Tt was quito probablo the Council would bo asked to g-.iarantea a further loan, if certain works were to bo undertaken. They might not, be »blo to resist that implication. lie was opposed to further loans on principle ; but if they wero to have a loan, lio should do his beet to tike cure tha'. tho Northern Division had its share of it. Another important oubject was tho localization of the representation. Tho Northern Diri. sionie tho most struggling pnrtof the province. It returned fivo members, and there were eo muny different interests. The North Shoi-o had "no interest with Kaipara, and the tor.u had no interest in common with the out-dis-tricts. Nearly every section of tho division is diametrically opposed to~ oach other ia interest. Tho remorly for that would bo to divido tho Division. Thero should bo a member for Kaipara, another for the Whau, another for | llahurangi, anather for Matakana, another j member for the Wu(3e ; and another for tho < North Shore. Tho real grievance of tho \ Northern Division would then bo more cor- ' rectly put beforo tho Council, unci would i sooner leeeivo att ntion at tho hands of tho Council. Ho hud e.ideavoured to qualify himself for tha position ho was now seeking tn occupy. He had applied himsolt' to a learned profession, and ho ivas prepared to give tho additional cxporienco he had dorivod from his practice :is a solicitor, to ronder himsolf, if ] possible, moro useful to the electors of tilt> i Northern D.vision. He had always benn uu attentive observer of tho events of the colony, and more particularly of tho events of tho Province of Auckland. He wns born in tho capital of New Zealand, and when but a boy he had 6oen events transpire which mude his blood boil. When ho saw, with indignation, tiat the province was robbed of its birthright as tho seat of Governcv.i; —■ \vh:"i thut took place, ho said the time would come when ho would ondeavour, if he possibly could, iu the proper place, to have restitution made of that robbery. Ho stood by again a mere ohsorver when he heard Auckland characterised a3 a wan draining the life-blood of the colony, and also when thev wero charged with the expenso of tho war in tho Waikato, which was undertaken in defenco of tha colony. He had alao hoard gentlerr.en from the South, who nowprofessed to bj euch friends to this province, characterise Auckland as a dead limb that oiight to be cut oil' from the rest of the colony. Hβ had eaid that ho would coma forward ns tho champion of his native province, and he was that day before thorn in pursuance of tlvit pledge. Whether ho should bo successful in his candidature or uot, he was not prepared to s:iv. He believed a political "ticket" had b'jen put into execution to prevent his return. Uo had no connection with it, and it would be ii proper estimate of the "ticket" system if the) would leave a number of thoso candidates whose narpe3 wero upon it out in tho cold. It had been slid that he was going in as the champion for rowdyism ut the Thames. Had ho over by word or deed given any countenance to such conduct ? Was there anything in his actions or remarks in any ul'ieo, or under any circumstances, thai would lead any person to believe that he woulii come rorward as the champion of any rowdyism ' lie was not ; he was prepared to advoc.tte for everyone (he free and impartial ex.rcise of hia political privileges. If ha wanted to go upon a cry, he would go upon a cry that would benefit himself most ; he would get up the cry of the young Auckland party. He was the firet European born in the province who had becomo a candidate for their suffrages in the Provincial Council or General Assembly. Ue believed they would, in their choice of him, sigualize tho fact that thero was growing up a vast army of the sons of the settlers' of Auckland prepared to take up their proper position. Kvery man who came to the province to settle in it is as much a settler as himself; yet, it was an important fact, that they hud gone on so lo«g, and been settled so long peacefully together, that tho time had at last come when the eon of a settlor of tho province is h oandidate for provincial honors. Ho would now refer to the position he would tiike up in tho Provincial Council. It had been industriously circulated against him that he was going into the Council eimply to join with two or ihree o'.her members to prevent the present Superintendent from doing any good to the country—to support a factious opposition to the present Superintendent. Ho emphatically disclaimed any such intention, no would go in simply to watch over the interests of the Northern Division. So far us a regard for its interests ir.it;ht bring him into opposition with tho Supori:;tendent, ho was preparod to go into opposition. So long as the Northern Division Was fairly dealt with by tho Superintendent be wcnln givo to him a fair and honorable) support. So long as his opposition w:is fair and honorable that should bo no ground for rejecting him. If it be time that the province did desire a change, and that we wero likely to nave a good Government, mo of the best guarantees for making a G-overnraent a ijood licvernment is to send into the Council a fair and honorablo oppoaitim.. He aimed at something higher than the t'rovinci'il Council. It should be his earnest endeavour that his first effort in political life would not bo marked with anything that would not enable him to ask th<:'\ suffrages, perhaps fir something bettor. s'Hi great object would be to secure to the people j of the Northern Division their proper share of the public revenue. (Cheers.) Mr. David Burn aaked tho candidate if he would advocate the qucetion of improvcI ment in the management of tha harbour. Mr. Eaid ho should ho unworthy of their suffrages if ho wore prepared to no into tho Council and ignore the vast udvuntagos which this province possessed in its harbours. He was prepared to go to all fair ' and reasonable limits to maintain tho ai;cient prcslir/e of this province ao tho leading maritime, province of the culony. Ho would support any measure with tho view of increasing the advantages of water communication. Mr. J. Lisrn : Are you prepared to recommend tho Council to providu for tho e.>tabli.-:li-mor.t of a Harbour Trust or Board of Commissioners ? Mr. Shekhan was prepared to support either a Board of Commissioners or ;;ny othor reasonable scheme for the proper management. and control of the harbour of Auckland, and to do away with the heavy charges nonimposed on the commerce of Auckland. Mr. Lamh : Aro you in favour of retaining the management of the goldfields eolelv in tho hands of the Superintendent, or would jou give others tho power of acting in conjunction with him ?

Mr. ShEEKA-N believed the proper romouy to apply to the Thame3 wnuld be to gire that district largely increased representation in the Council. At present it had only tv/o representatives. Ho would go in for largely increasing its representation and constituting;, if possible, the representatives of the Thumos a goliifield committee of the Provincial Council to adviee the Superintendent on ever? measure affecting the Thames goldfield. He had received a circular from tho Drury \uxi'iary Alliance, in which he was asked whether he would, if elected, oupport a measure to confer upon a majority of two-thirds of tho ratepayers of any parish or district tho power of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquor* within their district ? Hβ was not prepare i to go to the extent the quoation indicated, lie should like to see the trade in intoxieiUiuz 1 quota for ever disappear, but it is a matter of impossibility, and the men who are at-

tempting to bring it about ure only well meaning enthusiasts. Tho trade in intoxicating iiquora would continue uutit the millenium. It wus a question as to how far the Government of tho nountry would or could counteniiH 0 a moasare. The colony is Urgoly in dobt, and they could not in fairness to t!io jinblio impost) restrictions upon that trade. [To belioved any attempt to legislate for putting down tho consumption of drink would recoil upon tho hoads of the fniiner.'. All they could do w.ia to provide for the l;>rr a i an d orderly conduct of tha trade in intoxuiting drinks. Mr. Wys.v : In the event of any Education Act Amendment Act being introduced, would you be in favour of importiuc; into it any roligious clement, or would you leave it as it ii'iwis, n. provision for purelv secular education? ! Mr. SHEEn.VNaaid thut speaking from hie own conviction" of the two systems—the secular and denominational—ho was inclined to prefer the secular ayetem of education. It wna_ quite possible that a systum miotic be ; (Wised. If he found tho puidie opinion of thu province to bo in favor of a denominational system, ho ehould not endeavour to thwart it, but endeavour to bring about such a sjeteru as would h:irmon:zo conflicting interest:!. Mr. Wynn : Would you votn for puro sacular education us far as the Stato is concerned ? Mr. SiiEEHAX Bcid: If put to him in that way, ho wonld s\y that, individually, he would vote for ic. Ho would go into tho Council to represent tlio constituency of tho Northern Division. If the constituency were in favour of the denominational sysUm, he ehould ieol it io be lih liu'y to eupport thut svstem, as being that of the people whom lio represented. Air. lisuxAitD Heynoli)3 : A,-o you an advocate for cnlurging ihe number of the Council in proportion to the progress of settlomont in thn country districts now waste and unoccupird. Mr. Sheeiiaw : I am an advocate for in-crea--in:r the representation. Mr. Ueyn-olds : Aro you favourable to tho pnymunt of country members residing boyond a coriain radius rom Auckland ? Air. SJitEKiiAN-: I um in favour of tho payment of country members. Air. Reynolds : To what would be tht distance ? Mr. Shkeiian : I ehould Lβ inclined to mxhc \U.\ distaneo twelve or fiftoon miles. Mr. Rkyholds asked if the candidate thought Mich payment would have tho effect of placing tho bent men in tho Council to rop.esi-nt the district, or would it induce tnon of sordid disposition or inc.ipuoii.} - to seok n Bent for tho pocu'jiary protits thoy might derive 1 Sir. Siiekh.w vras in favour of paying country members as an experiment. It had been said, and he thought justly *o, that many country ret tiers would have como forword to represent tlioir dietricts, but had boon prevented through want of means. Mr. Bey.s-oi.D3 : How mack would j»ou thi::k sulitei-nt to pay tbe expenses of euch mombura ?—how murli a .lay would bo reasonable durin:; thoir attnndanco at th; Council, without shouting at " IV-l'atuy's ?" Mr. SIiESHA>* : That is a matter of detail. Mr. Ri;YNor.D3: Would you secure this payment to country members for tli£> wholo term of four yeiiM, by introducing a Bill for that purposo, or mafco such payment depend on th'j "ill of the .Superintendent or Executive, or tho y>ree:irio;iß vote of the Council? Mr. SiiEKiiAS would not bo in favour of luiviiig the 'Miymont of member? in the hands of ilie Superintendent; he would make it a matt' r in which tha Council should legislate. Ho would also make the purmout dependent on tho attendance of mombers. Mr. Reynolds asked if tho candidato would bo in favour of imposing u Ux on tho laud of absentee*, proportionate to tho benefits they derived from t 0 local improvements made by Koiul Boards in localities whe-ro such Uncle are f-ituate, aa well us from tho 1 increased valiii,' of such lands by being surrounded by tiii! furms of resident settlers _• Mr. SjiEr.HAN said tha land* of absentees ure now Uxed, bu". the law did not provido a rendv ::i«*ru of having the taxes collected. lie would be in favor of memorialising the GuVßinor and General Assembly to bring down t'« the Assembly such a measure as w.'uld isnikbli thu Highway Boards to recover tile r.itts fr.im übsenteo landowners. .Mr. KtYNOLDs : Would you give me the Jei.-iiU of 11 system of otlueation such as you thi;,k would suit ;ho circumstances of tin's province—the populous and scattered districts f . This question was put amid cries of " sit down. ' it was ovident the,;roeetiug would n-)t li?f.<n to tiny further queries from Mr. Boynolde, and he resumed hi* seat. .i>" JClkctok : Do you approve of the Superintendent taking paid Provincial officials round the province electioneering ? .Mr. Sheehan : Certainly uot. A.v Klectou : Thoro has been money expended m that way already ; would you vote against it buing allowed ? i ; r. .Sheehan siiid it had not been shown to him th>it Ihe Superintendent and Provincial nilicia's had gono r und tho country for electio)ic -iring purp»3:S. It mu?t be shown to )>im that tho money had boen tipent for such a iiurpoii". Mr. Michael SusAaskod Mr. Dyer if his n ime was on tho " ticket." Mr. Dyeii Boid thut ii; was not, that ho was an-ui-j of 5 if it is, he ehould ask it to bo torn oft'. Mr. J. AI. Murray next addressed tho electors. lie spoko in condemnation of o'.i-etors being in any way intimidated. His onlv reus'ni tor coming forward wns that he belisvud tiio *;loctors should return bond,field oauntry settlers, in order that there might be a clvinun for tho hotter. Ono of the great waul? of the district* was the roadf, which they ni'ver should have until they wore able to trot at tin. rates of the absentees, and until tiny wire compeliod to pay thosa rates. A« to tht! importunt question of education, the great of education must bo aid from the Government, at presont. The coui.try is too thinly pouulutod, und (ho people tuo much sciittoro.l to liuvo any general devised Bcheuie , ol education. Ho would advocate tho establiehI muni of.-.ujiirket-pluce, to which the settlers could tike thoir produce Ho did not think thu Portnfseive Dili could be worked, although a vary good nvjjwnre. He did not think tha liquor iTaflio would be stopped by legislation ; it was only moral suasion that would ever do uny f-,ood in that direction. He should also "like "to see the representation loc .Hr-ou. (Cheere.) Mr. U. Il >y» tOiould bo eorry to seo any jvivtv fo-liuir imported into the election. He h-i.i "nothing to do with uny "tickot." He would nui-.ly go into the Council to represent :hcm a:' »■ country settlor, irrespective of any party. The firgt thing he would advocate would be >! good Hystom of education. They C"uld make the same Act that would be apyiliiMbli! to the town work in scattered disiii."ls. Vα would ndvceite tho thorough opu.-.ins up of the country ; if that wan to be d-Mio, tTio only possiblo way of doing it would bo bv subsidiainar steamers on the coast, and with't he ui 1 of tho Koad Boards, tomato ro.ds in tbe inteiior to tbe coast. (Ohoers) Mr. Laud : Would you be in favor of tho Auckland Wbour being vested in a Truet 0.- :i Board of Commissioners ? Ifi-. i.LOTD wouid be for managing the j hiirbnur the same as in tho Old Country. j ili-. 31. Sn.u: Will you make it a point ■ to g-"3 your attendance whether paid or not ? llr. Li-otd : I gaurantee to attend aa well :n :my member in the Council; when I cannot .iitend I will give you notice, and you can appoint another membor in my place. AN ElkCTOk: Would you be in farour of an alteration in the Highways Act to enable Hie land of those who did not pay rates to bo sold for the purpose of carrying on road

vorfca? Mr. Lloyd slid there ehouldbs some Act to enable the rates to be collected, or the land sold to raise the ratea due.

Mγ. WrNif asked whether he was of opinion that State aid should be given to procure roligious instruction in echools ? Mr. Llotd thought that State aid ehould be given for secular instruction alone. .Religion should nevor be introduced in schools in a mixed coajmunity like our own. The proper people to educate the children in religion are the parents of those children. Mr. Wynn-asked Mr. Xiloyd if ho would be in favour of increasing the number of members of Council ? Mr. Lloyd thought that at present there were too many councillors. A dozen good men, with tho Superintendant a3 chairman, would do the work in half the time. A great deal of nonsense was talked in the Council, and tho work should be done in a few weeks instead of a {evr months. Mr. A.. K. Tayloh said that at the request of many electors of the Division he appeared beforo them as a candidate foe the honor of representing thorn in tho Provincial Council. Ho did so from no mere personal ambition, but he considered it to bo the duty of these who were capable of rendering any servica to their follow electors to sacrifice some little time on their behalf. At the request of .1 largo portion of tho electors of tha district, who considered themselves entitled to return at least one of tho members, ho came forw.ir.l, although he would have much proferred if eomo one of themselves had dono so. Ho hold ik lar,re intorest in the Divieion, in his own occupation. Although not a constant resident in the district, ha had always been a conntry settlor, and was well acquainted with the requirements of tho place. If honesty of purpose, thorough independence, and a sincere dosira to advance the intorests of this favoured province were of any service, he co.:ld offer those qualifications to them. His endeavour would bo to see that the country districts got their fair sVmre of tho revenue, and that there should be a judicious expenditure of tbe monoy in opening up roads and effecting other improvements in the Northern Division. Hβ did not think tho present system of education waa applicable to thinly populated districts. The Highway Act roquired alteration, and from his connection with Highway Boards ho thought he could ronder assistance in altering it to presont requirements. He had nothing to do with any " ticket "; system ; ho stood before them on his own footing. Mr. Laxiu repeated tho question respecting tho management of the Auckland harbour. Mr. Taylor said he would bo in favour of a Board of Commissioners, or any othor form of manngement considered desirable. Mr. Lamb asked the candidate if ho would bo in favour of a tramway being erected between the Kaiparu harbour and tho Waitemata waters ? ■Mr .Taylor said that, considering its importunce, he should be in favour of it. M. O. Mays eaid : Ho came beforo tho olectors on hie own merits. If they thought he could be of service, and would represent the whole Division—more especially the purt with which he was best acquainted—hr: should bn ghid to nerve them. Ho did nat consider it uny presumption or egotism to Bay that he w:is thoroughly acquainted with what', was wanted in tho Provincial Council. He | believed ho knew exactly the kind of educa-

tional scheme that would work harmoniously in tho Northern Division ; and he knew the faults of the Highways Act. To those two questions ho would "address himeolf with ull the energy ac his oommnn'i. If returned he would do his utmost to advance their interests, devoid of (action or partyfesling in uny shape. He would carefully consider any good measure, no matter from whiit quarter it emanated —whether fn>m the Government or anyone else. He would givo it his heirt> consideration, so long as he believed it would load to the prosperity of the .Northern Divieion. A number of people hud felt it desirablo that the representation of the Northern Divieion should be localised. Ho did not profess to have an intimate acquaintunce with everr pint of tho Divieion, but he hud considerable interest in keoping up good communication to tho Northern settlements, and thut interest would cause him to look well after theirs. The principle of the school bill of last session was good, but in their ,-inxiety to do a good doal they hampered the bill with too many restrictions for the easy working of the bill in tho various eettleinrnta. There was too much machinery to keep it in working order, so that many wera terrified to lav hold of tho bill and ignored it altogether. He believed it was necessary to have as simple machinoiy as possible in the Education Act (or the country dietricts. It "hould bo made a first charge on the revenue of Auckland to endeavour, as far as possible, to bring education to every miin'e door in the province, lio would be in favour of wo!l-paid itinerant toachere in tho country settlements ; it would work well here, as it did in the Australian colonies. If they wanted education to be brought to a decent standard, it would not do to subsidise every man who might appear to be qualified as a teacher ; if thoy wanted to have education thoroughly developed, thoy must havo properly qualified men who must be well puid. Let the country seltlere do their best, and tho State do tho rest. There should be a standard of excellencß for every teacher to come up to, who should bo paid according to hia abilities and tho work he had to do. He would not defend denominational education ; the State had nothing to do with it; it had no right to support one denomination more than another, because it was more numerous. Let tho State givo the rudiments of a sound English education to every child. The Stato had no right to impose <k ridiculous penalty on a minister of religion for assisting in the moral training of the children. After tho hours for imparting secular education, the minister had ) a perfect right to go into the school and do what he could for the moral development of the children. He should vote for tho payment of country members, but whether paid or not, should give his time at every important meetin" of thu Uouncil until the end of the session, As to the question of the harbour, this wise policy would be to encourage and stimulate the growth of local efforts rather than discourage them ; as ha thought had been tho case. So large and important a harbour Oβ Auckland —tho first maritime province in tho colony—should receive every impetus and encouragement, and if that could be effected by i\ Harbour Trust or Board of Commissioners, by all means let it be done. No place had suffered so much from the want of q thorough understanding of its requirements and the development of the harbour works as the North Shore. Hβ would ask them not t) forget the North Shore as ono of the principal places entitled to representation. (Cheora.) Major StonkT said he was -well acquainted with tho wants of the district, and wa3 preparod to assist in carr ring out those measures which ho know would bo for its benefit. He was sorry to hear that any distinction had teen drawn between the town and the country. Hβ thought the town depended entirely upon the country, and it was the duty of tho town to come forward and support country members. He had been brought forward by tho Wade district, but he trusted he -would meet with eupport not only in the town but in tho other districts. He did not believe in the " tickot" system; he etood solely on hie own merits, knowing that he was fully capable cf carrying out their wiehes for the benefit of the Northern Division. With regard to education, ho was deoidealy of the same opinion as Mr. Mays on that subject. He was also of the same opinion as Mr. David Burn as to the management of tbe harbour, and its great importance. He need not trespass on their time, but hoped they -would give him their full support. (Cheers.) Dr. Nicholson said that when ma name was proposed as a candidate, he judged from the remarks he had overheard coming from one or two poreoiia present, that it was considered he had come before the electors aa a beaten man. He entirely disclaimed being beaten in bis former candidature at Onehunga. Had the eleotors teen allowed to poll tb.e?e,

nd to ese-oise their franchise freely and honsatly, he should hive been returned at the heiid of the polt by ii citisiJerible majority. There were affidavits in the of th.j "tteturninu Officer to show that Totera w rt e deltfrreil from recording their votes for him on tha<- occ^s ; on entirely by the violence of a certain faction of thoß.i who wnre not voters of Onehun»-.i, and V7ho hid uo right what-vcr to be D r3»iMif. on that ocevuon. tho number of votes polled for him on that ocensiop, no inau could B»y that he wl3 b.»»lau ; ih, «i m pl F , rote «>f tho Returning Officer m\d lue declaration had said th it he w, a beaten. The actual and obstruction to the electors Wd) the only cause of his bei 10 in a position to allow the Kotumi-in Uffienr to give such a verdict. Most of tlio suhjocts touched upon by tllD other caadr.liitei !ie hid udvoeated in tho Council consistently and μ-jr-sntentlv ?.Ie U»J led the Opposition to the Fencing Act, and it vsv.s by his constant, watching that the very astute an;l eWer solicitor win prov--i;taJ from parsing that Act H« bsd put a resolution in tiie last session with refrti-enc? to (hi printing of the n'-so?*-ment roll in thd Gazette, which was carried by the Coune 1, but the reusm why tno spirit of that resolution h;ii not boen cirrtuil into effect he couH not say. He was entirely in favour of tho localisation of the representation. During the last session he s-U on u commute-.-to inquire into that sulijiier, ami tho st ltistics collected would b.i at tha sprvicii of t'ie next Council. Cn the matter of education, he entirely agreed in the sp'rit of rhe Common Schools Ant, butheabomdinated its Via opposed those details in tha Council, he was certain they would cuuscthe failure of a very good Act. In reference to th*. special wants of the district during l:ist session ho aasi-terl the members of the Northern Division in obtaining £2000 for road 3 and bridges'lll the North/ (Cheers.) Mr. Lamh aslod tho question about the management of the harbour of Auckland, which Dr. Nicholson* answered in the nffi.-mative. Mr. Lamb asked th>! candidate if he would be in favour of a triunw<u- between the Waitemata waters and the Kiipara waters ? Dr. suid he would, but he would not givo Kaipnra an unfair advantage over any other dintrict. If then: wore certain funds at the disposal of tho Council, he would endeavour lo secure for lOiipara, or any other part of the Division, iw fair share of tne money. Mr. ET. J. TTAWIIIN3 r-aid he w:is in independent candidate. Ho had not asked a vote fr.im any one. Uo would give rio-pledaes. If they wished to elect him on thoso principles, he would ;!o the best he could for them. • n any other cxndition ho did not care to be returned. (Cheers.) Mr. A. J. Hatficld said he had been upwards of twenty j'eara a resident in the Northern Division ; and, if returned, he would use hia best endeavours for their advancement. (Chl.clM.) Mr. Lamb asked Mr. Sheehan if ho would be in favour of up a communication between th • Wnitcunula waters and the Ka : - para harbour? Mr. Phsehax S'ii-i he would be in favour of euch a project. It would bo » work of great magnitiido, and if they >isknd rhe otli6r settlements of thrt Northern Division to allow the amount to be taken out of the current revenue, the whole amount available for die North Tn Division would bo absorbed on thj one work. He ehould he in favour of doing the work by lo«n, the payment of interest and sinking fund on which to be so-cured — a portion by the Government, and a portion by the district to be benefited by the work. He knew the district vury w.'ll ; it, is an important district, and h now languishing fnr want of proper communication with the centre of the province. Mr. YiTKS asked Dr. Nicholson if his name was on the " ticket." Dr. N ICviOLSON answered to the that he had nothing to do with any '" ticket." A show of hands was then taken, with the following approximate result : — Mr Mcllhone 16 . V.r. Dver".. : ... 30 Mr. Shech-iu 30 Mr. Lloyd 16 Mr. 12 Mr Taylor 22 Mr. Mays 32 ■Major Stoney 16 Dr. Nichobon 18 .Mr. Hawkins 13 Mr. Hatfield 5 The J.Jetubning-OpfiCbu announced the show of hands to be in favor of Messrs. Mays, Dvor, dlioehan, Taylor, und Dr. .Nicholson. A poll was dormnded on behalf of the other candidates, -whiob. will take place on Tuesday, the lsr. instant. The RETtrnNi.NG-OFi'icEtt requested ths candidates not to enter the polling-booth. On the motion of Mr. Mays, seconded by Mr. Sheehan, a vote of thanks was awarded to the Keturnin^-officer. Colonel Balneavis acknowledged the compliaieut. This terminated the proceedings.