PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1841, 8 December 1869, Page 4

PR OVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

PAir^LVj.—iv IT i?r. Tub nominati'ii of cmidida'cs U> represent tii district in tho I'lovineial Council w,.s hu yeiicrday, i'i tho Public ! i;;l!, I'a: neli. The; was u ntioierou.i attendance of eli-et. », an tho proco-'dinga appealed to command gro; interest. 'I'ijo Rkti;unin-o Ofi-'ickk (Oolonel Ha re ul his I'lxe.'ilenoy'a writ c- itimFip; in<» tin; election, «Iv> thr- usual elect; "> noticv, ant' then culled upon 1)10 oleetors f> re.-.'t to come forward and nominate their cand date?. Mr. J. B. Stiiasoe proposed Dr. titration ffo s'ifd th it Dr. Stratford was known to a the elector.-. To speak in his favour would t superfluous. Col >n>-l Nation seconded tho nomination c Dr. Mr. S. Kkjii'TMOkne proaos.'tl Mr. Ch ale Kcmptlioruc ltoskrut;e an a (it and propc p(?N'>!i to lvpreneiit t>;c; di«t;ict in tin; I'ri vineial Council. ITe believed Sir. Ro-ilrru!.; to bn a thoroughly wound-hearted hone* man, who wouM h■. a laithtul roove.ieutativ of thi> interests of tho electors. -Mr. « BB.vrjhsk WBYMoI'TH r.CtfJllJßtl lit nomination of Air. Koekriitje. Mr. Joiljf Abii.TT proposed ">lr. I! 11 ll;iri f,u;-k u:i a lit and proper person t represent the district in l-h'J : rovinciu Conm il. Mr- 7/iih,'; Wui well huruvr: to til inhabitants of I'lrnoll. It was desirable t< solid into thii C<<un>'il, ai t ijoir rrprosontal ire; men ol in* ral worth, i.nd in Mr. Luak thoj found mi h a candidate as ti m v conli rcposo entire confidence ia. AUhougl a young min in respect of ex pßrionju anil education, Mr Lusi; wa not a juvenile. .M;\ Luslc in t don<, ; pseiit d-'-il to H\iru!id Uir-wiodjf-i «mag th 1 011114 poop.'o of tlin district.. j\ c.-1 Mr- fioa .c Wood, ho (Mr. Abbot) was astonished ti think that yenfloman should lmvu tho ltfin"rit\ to eomo be* ore tho übetorsof P.irnoll, and as!« them (or tueir sulFnigcfi. Mr. Wood was very plausible man, and 110 doubt if monoj wore required, it would on found to secure bii election. Mr. Wood had been connrctei with the mutter for which Ur. Homo had roceived auch a ropriinand in tinning pormiti for music mid dancing in public houses* Mr. BfiUXortN" JC. Xlint*eh seconded the nomination of Air, J The electors knew tho way Air. Wood hni treated the olcctori in times gone by. !io was at n lota to think how Mr. Wood could li'ivo tho faco to como hpfore tho oio< t:>re (1 ask them for ill ir Mr. VTi;od vOll Id ?;o into th'.i Council tor nothing olso tut a billet, ilud Mr. Wood noted us Jig ought to havo dono whon ho formerly represented Parnell, the seat of Government would hn**o brcu in Auclclind to tlio (iivscnt d;i}*. ili-iv* c iiihl/i i„! ,i \vi»rde momber than .Mr. Wood. Mr. W»K)d iuid \cry litllu lo nay to ihe vloctors at tho time, hut now ho would go round sayintr u how do you do ?" " J nm tflftd to b'.'ti you/' juid -.ll' Ui ( t: so tof tiling, i.efc them plump for Mr. Lusk, or distribute their intereHt any two candidates they cho.sc, but th«jy should give Mr. K. G. Wood the " diriy kick out." Mr. TiroatAS VVahneb mid, after tho two " splendid" speeches they had heard they "iusl teel moru that 119 shoubl come forwud to nomiinto jlr. VVOOII. (i,aui;hter v.nd cheers.) Such specimens «f etuuiij orations ho imil never iieaid aa ho had heard that day. Mr. Wood had very piobahiy trodden verv hard 011 Mr. Ahbotr.'s toes. When Mr. Wood s it in the Council mid the Assembly, oven tho newspapers v.-oro obliged to admit that hu was :i man of ability. He hedged to proposi Mr. I.eader Gilson W.iod a- n tit and proper person to rop.-cscnt l'irncll in tin ' Provincial Council. Mr. 1 John Ai.r.UNDTiit h'td nmch idoasuro i;i >.reoii'iiii!r the nomination of Mi. K.ader Liilson Whom, .i r. also struck him that iUr. Wuoi h.ul boun 'riiuplinj; rathsr heavily ou die toes of at least oao ut tho gr.'ntkmtin who

ceme there to oppone him. Ho bcliovca tint fc'i'' ekx'tors ..'ere prepare! to try Mr. !.t;±ader Wood as their reuresentative. Dr. c.vno f?rw,v.\l av.d sriM that j 1") had not expected to lie nominated I r.r. a candidate after hid taken I place. :i r tt-lt it, nis (in'.;', howevur, to !.o pivaviit, end explain to ihe mi'i'ii-is; B>m'! eirenrr.-t-inces which Lad oo('Uri'i'l In tli<! iirat place, it gontloman failed upon anil begged t.'ni" ho wouid allow himself t:i bo put m nomination. He (L)r, Stratford) t Id the gentleman teat he desired to have nothing 'o dj in iho mutter. Several oth-.r purlin* also came to him in the s&oao way, bringing liim a requisition signed by Rome fifty or sixty doctor.-). JX-j replied :o that requisition that, it was eimt.-.iry to his desire tu luko upou hiuiGeit'the duti. s of thei. l representativ >, as both his ago and pryfes-ion militated against it. He ulsm i<aid that :'.t tin; presc.il critical time sulf sh-oild bo placid in abeyance, arid -he public, good alone consulted. ' With til it understanding ho was content to leave tho matter in their bauds, promising to tlevoto any abi'ity lie posriesse 1 if (hey thoughi proper to ilitn. Subsequently Sir. Strai.go cfiir.e to him und said tiiat ho hsi.i (treat difficulty in finding 11. committee to work with him. It was intimated that some cost would lrive to bo inclined. On ('Jr. Slr.attord) wrote in ivnl« that ho was not surprised that no committee I could b;> found, ami ho fe.t sum that the | olectors sroulil be able to fiiui a candidate more worlhy of their support. It. had been staged in tho newspapers iliat lie (Dr. Stratford) had resigned'. but his own lot-1 n< was t'Mit lie had l.io'iri removed—tint ho had bie.i in if. sen.ij iii kei our,, jlo had only to siy, in conclusion, that if fho cU-ctjrs chosc t>> elect him he would do his be=t to Perve thein. Further ho de.-iivd nothing. (Ohi-e-'s.) Mr. 'i'OSKiicou came forward and addressed tho electors as follow® : — G-ontlw.en, £ c-imo »! before you as a candidate for tho honour o ' ropvosimtine you i". the lVovinci.il 'Jouneil. Air. -\bboltsnd Inm liitlo Irnov/n ; but do not co- sider my,-,. it a strungcr. f have beou living in to- sevo;i years, and my interests nro in i'arne'l and with tliy Parnell people. I will do my best to servo y..u if you elect me. lam not in tho habit of makin"long speeches, but you limy depend on it, if elected, 1 shad perform tho duty imposed upon your representative faithfully and honestly (Cheers ) i\lr. i.t'.-rK said that it T ,r,:s ~CiTc,cly necessary for him to remind the electors that he did not stand before them as a candi l.ate at, his o.vn S'dicicution. Like one gentleman who hud addressed the electors, he had not come forward becutt-c ha aspiro.l to tho honor of representing tnem. But a number oi influential electors of tho district h id done him th.> honor to ask him to aliow himself to to put in nomination, an l they ple3t{9d themselves without any soiicitation on his part, o.- proposing auv terms whatever, to secure his return. ifc did not wish to cast any rdhciions on tho gentlemen who signed tho r.-quiailion. II;; wished merely to say this in his own defence, ao that it inn;lit appear, when the poll should bo takeUj that tho confidence with which lie allowed himself to be placed ta nomination, was not, tiltogcihsr misplaced. It was not his intention to enter at r-.ny leii"-:,1 into any .statement of the p>iuciplrs which should guido him supposing that he should be elected, no had met the electors a few evening previously, and explained to them at seme length the opinions he entertained on general quostians iikely to be brought brforJ tho new Provincial Council. he saw before him were present at that meeting so that ho need hoc repeat what ho then said, ; and to thos9 who had nx pr-sent, the j Proas hud conveyed with sufficient accuracy what he then said. Xt was, therefore, unnecessary th.it he should do more than reiterate what lie had sa-'d on thn previous occasion. He would not bo a "thick and thin" supporter of any man. if the Superintendent whom tho people had chosen shouhi act wisely and moderately, it would be the duty and tho privilege of every man to support his measures oo far as they "were moderate and wi-c. Hut a person who would in I. I merely to support a particular nun would j conceivo a falsa idea of his responsibilitv. it was well known that ho (!!r. LusU) took a is I different view in tho !sto Superinte:i doncv ! contest from many, perhaps the maj-.ritv, of i; , tho electors, .i'io w-js net wanting in. conti,j' • don co in tho electors of Painell. lie know that they possessed euilicitnl inteiliuenco and manliness to appreciate the position of any man who couseieiiiiourdy ditfer from them on such a question. Xhov had sullin cicnt fairuei-'s to aliow that every man was |t entitled—was oven bound —on such an occasion to o.verciss his own individual opinion, ile would lint have toferred to that subject, but that he had been informed that, a point was rj beinjj made of tho course he had thought o proper to pursue. lie had bnen informed > that, those who wero opposing his candidature iaid particular stress on the fact that, he did not voto for Mr. Gillies. But if tho electors g thought that thn Alpha and Omega of political faith that should prevail, then they would not find him there. Mo (.Mr. Lus!;) would not yo into tho Oouncil as the thiei; and thizi t supporter of any man. So long as Mr. 0 Q-itli-.-s ivonid proiuolo tn"asurcs for tho good of tho community, so Ion;; would Mr. Giilies j llnd at his hands ao ho.oest, a loval, and a hearty nupport. (Cheers.) As ioou as it j became apparent ;hnt Mr- Gidies w,.s doitig 2 what was not for the cf 1 the people, so soon would ho ('Jr. Lask) a be iound oppesinj; the Super intc-udont. j tfe did not ask the electors to do liitn a favor by leturning him, nor should thej' imagine that ttioy would do hini disfavour by j him. Lot them vote for I boa:.' candidates who , they considered would bo pieparcd with . honesty and zeal to support the interests o! , tho public at larpe. (Olieers.) L Mr. S. \\ r oJX> said t iiat some gent lemen ; had 'expressed surprise that, ho (Mr. Wood) should havo com-j hutero t ie electors iltf acu • > didate. For himself he ivas some-.-, hat surprised that such languago "honhl be used, for it was tho right and tho privilege of every man proporly qualified, to' exercise those prifileges which wero given him i by tho constitution of tho country. Thore was not nuy man who was an elector of the district, but had a perfoct right to come before i Iho electors and as'n them for their suffrages. They wero mistaken if thoy thought the use of such language would brow-beat or bullv him. Eto Mr. Wood) had lived in Parnoll for years. Be had been constantly engaged in the ordinary avocations of life. It was quite impoasiblo for any man of character or purpose to help treading occasion;-.;!'.- on tho very sensitive corns of such gentlemen as Mr. Abbott and .Mr. Tamer. T'f it w»« „„„

i pleasure to such persons to come forward on occasions libo the present and use intemperate language they were perfectly wslnome to do it. If it was any satisfaction to them it wan a gratification t, • t.iioe» si v.-h>m There were some men wlio?c p-.aUo was censure, mid whoic censure was praise. Censure from such a quarter wdi equivalent 10 prtxisa from r>>cm of a different rta-np from Messrs. Abbott and Turner. Mr. Abb'jit mado a statement which was absolutely incorrect, to uso no harshei torm. ifo said that lie (Mr. Wood) had signed permitß to allow music and dancing iu public houses. He did siirri pormits to allow music, i-:r ho could notsee why a publican nuVht nut Le allowed to have n piano in bis houso as well as any other per. on. Ho would, if elected, when any qnesrion of the amendment of the Licensing Act cirti i up, endeavour to reinova that questionable clause from Iho Act. If the electors fhould return him to the Council, he j would bo happy to serve {.hem. He (Mr. j Wood) did rjotgo about soliciting vote*. Air. • Abbott wished to insinuate. that he did, and . that m:;nov would be spent tj procure I them. I Mr. Ami IT : Ko. j Mr. H. Wo ;n : Yes, such was inr.iriuntod, i if not ap; ten, arid such a i/iofi; ol' cor.veying a J luoi-iiiiiir WHO wlnit m .do Mr. Abbott con- ; : I temptible. He (Mr, VVoodJ had not aeiiedfor !

one vote. Ho had represented the district both in Council r.nd the General Assembly, and. he hjid lired amongat the electors for 20 years. 1 : Hoy itid not know hi-) general character and conduct by that time and 'whether he were worthy to represent them, he had nothi-:-- further to say. If they did r.ot choose to ■ ' 5 m ' ' ;c Provincial Council he was Kuisu.-d ; he could return to pursuits pleas inter than tho-c of the political arena, r.jiother nutiiis hail been taken to prejudice bun with electors by p.l;uiner that he (Mr. Wood) would g-> ;■> "thick and thin" supporter of Mr. Gil.'ies. H*e was sorry fo sse peopio rjduced to the extremity of being obliged to employ such perversions. All he had over said was fruit ho would give Mr. Gilh'es a fair and honest support. The extent or that v?as that hi: would not offer to the new Superintendent a faotios-s opposition. i'.io whole matter was in the hands of the fomething his beon said about "billots." very one that know anvthing ■ of politics must know that the difficulty was , lor oerair,3 engaged in politics, and possessing sufficient education to keep out of office. R.it he could teit the electors that a " billet" in tho Provincial Government was a •'billet" th.-.t would not suit him. However difficult it might be to resist the electors I rely '-.:i it, it would bo resisted, tie would give tho electors one plodge, namely that if a'-any time the majority of the pwona w!io recorded thoir vote.* in his favour should v.-ish liim to retire, hi* resignation wou <be immediately placed in their hands. A now i'::i was dawning on the prorincD, new int-r osts were spi inging up, tho prosperity of tho province v,-ou!d depend upon tho manage"f thofO golden hi:ls at. the Thames. If iior.-ons wire permitf.yl t . iiolri undor lease lar:-e quars;itios of ground whi.-li they did not worn, there wns reason to four that so far from th ( > 1 hamti gOitifield boing a source of j prosperity io vould bo a source of trouble and contusion. ■Mr IvE.'.ii'THOrtN'E asked 'sTr. W,v;d what his opinions were in respcct of education. Sir. Wood K ,id ' tho subject was a v. try largo one. Ho believed that it was a part of tho duty of a State to nipp'.y tho means of education to children whose parents cou'd not aflbrd to pay for their education. Hut he was an advocate of a wholly .sccular system ; he I I would not iiiiva tho subject mixed up with any religious squabbles. Mr. K. TtritNtH askod whether Mr. Wood intended lo advocate the Busby claitn to ttie lands of the province ? Mr. Wood s'lid the mutter was rdoniul, and at present the subjoct of legislation in the Assembly. In rcplj to Sir. - hbott, the caudidato gave a long Jiccoimt of signing of i.-ermits for music in public houses. Tho Setuh:.-ia-g Offickr (Jol. Balneavis), culled tor a show of h,nds, whi~h was taken, with tho following result:— .Stratford 315 »n.t,..,„.

Knskruge jg J"*': 25 vVood Tho km uuxixg Officii dacl" ired" the sho< ; - liajds tu be in favor of Messrs. Lusk an l ifoski ugc. A poll was dmmndod on behalf of the otbe oandidalcs, which will be taken to-divat th Parccll Hall. Tho iJETtjaNiNG Officer hoped that candi d'.tes would not enter tho polling-booth, 1111 less they actcd as their own agenta : anc in the latter enso, ihcy should not leave th polling-booth.