THE ELECTIONS FOR THE THAMES AND COROMANDEL DISTRICTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4399, 18 December 1875, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS FOR THE THAMES AND COROMANDEL DISTRICTS.

[FROM THE " COROiIANDEL MAIL."] On Wednesday afternoon a large number of the electors of Coromandel, among whom were comprised many of our most respectable ' and influential residents, met at the Bridge Hotel, for the purpose of presenting a requisition to Charles Ring, Esq., J. P., asking that gentleman to allow himself to be placed in nomination for a seat in the new Parliament to represent the Thames and Coromandel constituencies. The requi- : sition, which had been got up on very short : notice, contained 170 signatures. Mr. Glover was moved into the chair, when he ■ opened the proceedings, and, at his request, the requisition was read by Mr. Bromley Steele. Mr. Glover said it was with much ; pleasure he presented this requisition for ■ Sir. Ring's acceptance. That gentleman : was a very old resident of Coromandel. He ■ was one of the few who could be said to be ' thoroughly acquainted with the wants of j his own and the Thames districts. The ■ speaker, in the course of his address, was loudly cheered by all in the room. The requisition then being presented to | Mr. Ring, he came forward and said: —He • felt the honor which the electors had sought ' to confer on him by the presentation of the '• requisition he held in his hand. It was very ' flattering to him, and believing it had been ; got up in all sincerity, he felt the compliment paid him all the more deeply. He ' would be very willing to> stand his election ' if he considered there was a probability of ] his candidature being successful. But he < would not care to run for the seat unless he ' could see a fair chance of success. If he ] should consent to stand, and he was returned ■ to Parliament, the constituency of the ! Thames might depend upon him being as 1 true to its iuterests as he would be to those of Coromandel. Even if he went no higher • than looking to himself, he should still, he ■ believed, be found a useful member; for the : interests of himself and that of the mining \ districts were so closely woven that it was impossible to separate one from the other. But, gentlemen, continued Mr. Ring, I must ask you to give me a few days to consider your requisition. I am going to Auckland this afternoon. To-morrow I will leave for the Thames, and there I will ascertain the feeling of the people. If I can run with a candidate who may hold the same political opinions as myself on all vital and essential points.—l say that if I can run -with him, and he will consent to run with me, then, I think, there would be a reasonable chance of both being returned; but until I have been to the Thames and have ascertained this by personal interview and enquiry, you must be content to accept my answer. If I do not now express my views and opinions in matters political it is because I think to do so would be premature. I must first ascertain whether, in allowing myself to be nominated, I shall be walking on ground sufficiently firm to carry me to the poll. If I can see my way, then I shall come before you again and conceal nothing from you. I must again express my great pleasure for the honor I feel you have done me, and the more so because I believe you are sincere in your desire that I should become one of your representatives. The speaker sat down amid much enthusiastic cheering.