A WELLINGTON VIEW OF THE ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 813, 30 September 1887, Page 24

A WELLINGTON VIEW OF THE ELECTIONS.

WHAT THE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT IT. The people of Wellington are credited ■with being a political people. “You have the Assembly meeting here,” say many visitors ; “ you are a windy city, and you have your orators. You ought to know something about politics.” Whether or not because a person lives in a windy city he should have a good knowledge of politics may be left over for future consideration. At any rate it is of a verity certain that politics have been more largely studied during the present campaign than in any that have taken place for many years. The Question of Protection and Freetrade brought home to many an excitable craftsman bv the addresses of Sir Robert Stout, Mr Balance, and Sir Julius Yogel, not to speak of 1-sser lights ; the land question, that huge -organ upon which every politician plays a different tune ; and, by no means least, consideration of the respective prospects of the local candidates, all of whom have this time b°en far above the average a 3 speakers—all these matters for debate and thought, coming upon a populace mentally gaping for something excitable to think about, have ' awakened the many-mouthed creature with a start and set him thinking. ... Generally the all-absorbing topic of discussion has been the probability of the Government coming back with a majority—“as seems now to be certain, said the Colonial Treasurer cheerfully at the Theatre Royal last week. In Wellington the popular voice has been against the Government —very much against the Govern, ment; and it has been expressed “ with no nncertain sound,” as the reporter has it. In the days that are gone to that bourne ■whence no day comes back, Wellington was supposed to be a very hotbed of Atkinsonism. Lately it was hoped that we had recovered from that little weakness, and that we had become Liberals, Major Atkinson being, as everybody knows, a Conservative with a capital C. Consequently it was a remarkable surprise to find the city returnin" four consistent opponents of the present —or the late—Government; four wellspoken gentlemen with a very decided “derry ” upon oir Robert Stout and Sir Julias Vogel.. It seems to bo generally considered, however, that four able men have been returned ; and the next question is what portfolio Mr Fisher is to get. However, we will not stop to consider the member for Wellington South. Let me drive my Pegasus to more distant fields. The rejection of Mr Bryce by the people of Waitotara is almost universally regretted, if the adjective can be applied to Wellington, and almost the first remark made by the man in the street when y ou open up a discussion on the elections is “What a pity Bryce is out ! ” invariably followed by a re-

ference to the successful candidate more straightforward than complimentary. If the opinions now expressed in Wellington aro any criterion, Mr Bryce would have been immensely popular as a leader. That he is honest, consistent, and upright, is the general belief, and there is not a man in the House whose relegation to Parliamentary obscurity would have been so deeply regretted as is Mr Bryce’s. Less sympathy seems to be felt with Mr Rolleston, who, though a prominent figure iu the political history of the country, was not so wellknown as the former Native Minister, and is not mourned over. Public feeling with respect to Sir Robert Stout’s defeat by Mr Allen is as various as Mr Venus’ bones. “It’s the best lesson he ever got,” says onej; “it was that Naseby job did it,” says (another; “What will Vogel do now?” asks yet another ; and it is only here and there that a person will be found among the many who talk about the elections regretting the short, sharp shock which severed the Premier from his colleagues, and put in between them Mr Allen, who is variously described, and is generally supposed to be a very young gentleman full of English univer* sity knowledge, and horribly, vulgarly rich. Strange as it may seem, and undoubtedly is, people don’t appear to think Sir Robert will keep his word and sternly refuse the magnanimous offer of Mr Joyce in Lyttelton—an offer, by the way, which has already been made by the whole-souled Mr Kerr, of Motueka. Talking of Motueka reminds me of Mr Hursthouse, that queer personification of loud humor aud shrewd sense. The “ free and independent ” voters of Motueka know their own business best, no doubt; but if it had been in Wellington Mr Kerr, to use a racing expression, would never have seen the finish. That it is greatly to be regretted is the opinion of Wellington about the result of the Motueka election. Passingly a tear may be dropped in delicate metaphor for the untimely fate of Mr J. A. Tole, who was steadily making a name for himself, and will be a loss to the House, though he will not, perhaps, be much missed. As to the election of Sir John Hall, it is nard to say what Wellington thinks. There is a good deal of prejudice against Sir John, mainly beoause the ignorant have been tickled by the wary with pat phrases about “gridironiDg” and “squatters,” and that sort of thing. If Sir John Hall had not been returned the political world would have gone round just the same, and as he is returned he will not impede it. That is about the idea—his importance does not seem to be realised. People have not troubled themselves a very great deal, either, about Major Atkinson, whose reelection was all along believed to be pretty certain in spite of the votes of no confidence to which his constituents have treated him. Generally, everybody is well satisfied over it; but there is an impression, and a pretty wide one too, that it would have been a mightv good thing for New Zealand if all the “ big men ” had been left out in the cold. As to the smaller fish, some of the most popular victories are those of Mr Beetham, Mr Bruce, Mr Buchanan, and Mr Ballance in the Wellington district. The defeat of Mr J. Aitken Connell is considered a good thing, because it keeps Mr Mitchelson in, and a bad one because it deprives us of much fun at the expense of Mr Connell. Mr Dargaville’a defeat is vastly popular, and the return of Mr Hobbs, in spite of the Arcadians of the Bay of Islands, is considered eminently satisfactory. The closeness of the contest between Mr Ormond and Mr Ives 3 in Napier caused very great surprise in Wellington, for Mr Ormond was supposed to be perfectly safe to win by two to one. Mr Iveas, however, went very near winning, and seems to have had very determined support; It was fondly hoped that Mr W. C. Smith would be among the rejected, but he seems to be wonderfully strong in Woodville and Waipawa, though he might have been beaten had Mr McCardle or Mr Baker retired. However, both went to the poll, with the result that Mr Smith, who is indeed a small fiab, for his constant complaint is against Mr Ormond, that “he called me a minner,” was returned. Much sympathy is expressed with Mr McCardle, who has now twice stood at the gates and never been able to get through. Mr John Bevan’s defeat is not regretted. Parliament wants men of a better stamp. The return of Mr Reeves for St. Albans over Mr Garrick came as another surprise in Wellington, and of this as of the Waitotara election much that was not admiration was said about the successful candidate. Mr Garrick was an important figure in the last and mi"ht have been more important if he had been more firm in his opinions. He was generally recognised, however, as a very able man, who will be missed. A good deal of interest was taken in the Roslyn election, principally, no doubt, because Mr W. Hutchison was a candidate. However, that gentleman was unsuccessful, and Mr Ross, that venerable-looking gentleman, was returned. Mr Scobie Mackenzie’s return was considered certain, and so there was not much interest in the Mount Ida election. Just a line may be dropped, however, about the Tuapeka (famous Tuapeka, where a great manifesto wasonceisßued) struggle. Mr J.C. Brownbeing away from New Zealand, his election was fought by Mrs Brown, who, so we are told, issued a manifesto, in which she Bternly called upon the electors to do their duty and stand by an absent friend. The patriots of Tuapeka responded right nobly, and Mr J. C. Brown heads the poll. Perhaps if he had worked the election himself he would have been beaten ! Going just a bit further South, another popular victory is that of Mr G. F. Richardson at Mataura ; while Mr Bain’s non-success in Awarua is regretted by a good many. W. S. -