THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4375, 20 November 1875, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Franklin. —The candidates spoken of for Franklin are Messrs. May, Goodfellow, Hamlin, Lusk, J. Crawford, and Troup, the two last-named being the only ones who have formally announced their candidature. It is said that Messrs. Goodfellow and Crawford will run together. City West.—There is no word of any opposition in this district to the sitting members, and in all probability, if Sir George Grey sees fit to stick to his position, there will be no contest. City East. —No candidates are spoken of but Mr. Rees and Mr. J. M. Clark, and we suppose there is no doubt but that they will have a fair fight, without the interference of any third party. The Tiiames.—lt has been currently reported that Captain Fraser intended to resign the position of Warden, and to become a candidate along with Sir George Grey; and in such a case all opposition would have been futile. We believe that Captain Fraser has no. such intention, and indeed to do so would be to make a sacrifice which could not be expected of him. Mr. Bowe and Mr. Mackay are, it seems, to run together, and it is said that this resolve had been taken under the advice of Dr. Pollen. . ' . Wanganui. — The Wellington Evening Post is puzzled to account for the connection between Wanganui and Sir Julius. Vogel. It says: The Wanganui people seem to be really in earnest in determining to invite Sir Julius Vogel to assist Mr. Bryce in representing them/ Why they should be so is one of thasfe things which it : would puzzle the discrimination of even a Dundreary to solve. Wanganui is not, so far as we know, under any particular obligation to either Sir Julius Vogel or to the Government of which he. is a member.. It does not even owe to that Government; . the fact of having- a second seat, to fill, for, if we right,. Ministers vigorously ''opposed'''afod- voted ' against Mr. Bryce's proposal to give Wanganui two members. This perhaps may have been all a blind. The opposition may have been only to save appearances, and the votes may have been given on a distinct understanding that they

iwouldnot"-torn.-'ttey&»l£—lt-.was-perhaps: after all a cnnning.plot to get a Beat for. Sir Julius, although, it puzzles us to s know. why., he should waat to represent ,as ; • much as why -Wangaiiui should; -want him to , represent it He has nothing to. do .with the district,, we doubt whether he .was ever, in it, and certainly it is no advantage; but rather the reverse for any district to.be represented by a politician in Sir" Julius ■ Vogel's position. It is a .remarkable fact that Sir Julius Vogel has never.sat twice for the , samo constituency. One trial always seems sufficient to disenchant his supporters. , Timaktj.—ln reference to Mr. Stafford's . candidature, the Timaru Berald says :— "We are able to state authoritatively that Mr. Stafford proposes again to offer himself for election for Timaru, should he not be discouraged from doing so by any marked expression of public feeling in favour of another. In such a case, we learn, that he will find no difficulty in obtaining a seat elsewhere, several other constituencies having offered him their suffrages. The hon. gentleman _ will be in Timaru in a few weeks, when he will no doubt come to a clear understanding with the electors, both as to the past and the future."

Colingwood.—lt is said that Mr. Travers will oppose Mr. Gibbs, the present member. Ween the Elections will take Place. —The report on this point is, that the elections will take place in the' first or second week of January. The Representation Act provides that—"writs shall be ' issued for the election of members of the House of Representatives in the ensuing Parliament so soon as the new rolls shall have been formed and published, as hereinbefore provided." The officers have been appointed to make up those rolls which were necessary for the new districts, and tlie readjustment of boundaries, and are now at work. From a telegram it will be seen that it is expected that the writs will be issued about the 10th of December. The date of the return of the writ is named in the warrant, and it must be within sixty days. The Returning Officers can hardly, in the circumstances, have the nominations before the holidays, so that the elections are likely to take place, as has been stated, about the second week of January.