DOMINATIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6440, 3 December 1881, Page 3

DOMINATIONS.

TE ARC.

The vicinity of Nicholson’s furniture warehouse, In Cuba-street, was the centre of attraction at noon yesterday, the occasion being the nomination of candidates for the representation of the Te Aro district in Parliament.

The Returning Officer, Mr W. P. James, selected the balcony of Nicholson’s premises for the hustings, and there, at the hour named, a number of persons, more or less interested in the proceedings, took up their position. The attendance of the public in the street below was estimated at about 600 to 700.

Mr James having invited the nomination of candidates, Mr E. Pearce proposed Mr Charles Johnston as a fit and proper person to represent the district in the General Assembly. The speaker, amidst noisy interruption, referred in complimentary terms to Mr Johnston’s personal fitness for the position, for, as a thorough supporter of the Hall Ministry, which had undoubtedly done much good in restoring the financial credit of the colony, the candidate was entitled to the hearty support of the electors generally. He (Mr Pearce) would pledge his word that if they placed Mr Johnston at the top of the poll, they would never have cause to regret having taken such a step. (Cheers and groans) Mr F. Buck seconded the nomination with a brief reference to the candidate’s satisfactory views on the. education question, and hoped the electors would show their appreciation on the polling day by returning Mr Johnston at the head of the poll. Mr Price, amidst a perfect turmoil of cheers, groans, boos, and other sounds of a like nature, next addressed the people. His remarks wefe to the effect that he appeared before'them in a different position to what he expected to have done. Himself and Mr Shaw, be said, bad that morning come to a perfect understanding, the result being that he had decided to retire in Mr Shaw’s favor. (A Voice : How much did yon get 1) Mr Price : Well, something less than £10,600. (A Voice : Have a drink ?) He (Mr Price) bad retired fodder not to jeopardise the in-

terests of true Liberalism (oh, oh ! and laughter), and now had much pleasure in proposing Mr J. H. Shaw as a candidate for their suffrages, (Loud cheers.) Mr Shaw was an opponent of the present Government or Ministry, who robbed the people of their rights and privileges, and were guilty of the wholesale gridironing of lands in the Southern portion of the colony. He considered it would be a disgrace to this city to allow a rank Tory and Conservative party to remain in power. He hoped the electors would return Mr Shaw, who was a true Liberal, and by so doing they would assert their rights. (Cheers and hisses). Mr F. Jennings seconded the nomination, and remarked that Mr Shaw was the only person standing in opposition to the present Ministry—a Government, he said, which had instituted the 10 per cent, reduction, and been instrumental in sending a letter to the other colonies to prevent the dismissed telegraphists from obtaining employment. Mr R. Greenfield, amidst great cheering, nominated the candidature of Mr E. Stafford, who was so well known to them all as to render it unnecessary for him to make a leogthy speech. Mr Stafford was one of themselves, and had grown up in their midst. He hoped and believed that the electors wonld place Mr Stafford at the head of the poll (Cheers.) Mr John Smith, jun., as a schoolfellow of the candidate and an old associate of bis, felt, constrained to say that he had great pleasure ill seconding the nomination, as he felt convinced that the principles entertained by Mr Stafford were exactly those which would suit the electors of Te Aro, and which would have the effect of placing Mr Stafford at the head of the list.

The Returning Officer then asked the cadidates if they desired to address the assemblage.

1 Mr Johnston briefly addressed , the meeting, and observed that as the other candidates would follow him in their remarks, so he trusted they would do ou the polling day. He advocated the resumption of public works expenditure, which the public credit, now happily restored, would enable them to do upon good terms. He also favored liberal land Taws in order that the country might continue to progress, and the encouragement, through the tariff, of local industries, and thereby the colony would enjoy the fruits of profitable labor hitherto enjoyed by other countries. He had no axs to grind, and his only wish was to enter Parliament with a view of securing lasting good to his native land. Iu conclusion, he left the issue of the present contest in the hands of the electors with perfect confidence. (Loud cheers.) Mr Shaw remarked that be asked and claimed their suffrages upon broad grounds. His views were unmistakably plain, and had been specifically announced. He verily believed that the colony was still suffering from the effects of provincialism. The interests of the masses had been handed over to a small bat powerful and wealthy clique, who, for the furtherance of their own ends, stuck to power and office. This oligarchy kept their tools in possession of the lands of the colony. A large proportion of the owners of the land were bogus owners, and were at the mercy of the Banks. This description of settlement was injurious to the colony, and must be changed If the colony desired to prosper. For the past 25 years the capitalists had ruled in Parliament, and he therefore asked the electors, if they desired a different state of affairs, and it they thought that Wellington should not be permitted to continue “ to slide,” as it had been allowed in the past, they should vote for him, and place him at the head of the poll.

Mr Stafford, who, up'-n presenting himself, was greeted with mingled cheers and signs of disapproval, remarked that the speech of the last speaker was nothing more nor less than a doctrine of what had been done and left undone in the past. He (Mr Stafford) would not refer to the past, save that he might say that they had difficulties, and it was for them, as men, to endeavor in the future to surmount them. Speaking for himself, be merely desired to say that he was born in the city, aud in the metropolis of the colony his interests were bound up. He had no class interests to serve. He would do his best for the city and the colony. His views were already before the electors, and he would therefore detain them no longer. The show of hands resulted as follows, as delivered by the Returning Officer :

Shaw ... ... ... ... 70 Stafford ... ... ... ... 60 Johnston ... ... ... 30 A poll was demanded by Mr Johnston, which will be taken on Friday next, the 9th inst. The proceedings then terminated. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Fbatherston, December 2. The nomination of candidates for Wairarapa South took place to-day. Messrs H. Bunny, W. C. Buchanan and Burton Boys were proposed. The show of hands was iu favor of Mr Bunny. A poll was demanded. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) New Plymouth, December 1. At the nomination for the town of New Plymouth, Mr Thos. Kelly and Major Brown were proposed. The show of hands was— Brown, 22 ; Kelly, 17. A poll was demanded. Foxton, December 1. At the nomination to-day, Dr, Buffer, and Messrs France, Izard, Newman, Bussell, and Wilson were proposed. The show of hands was in favor of Bussell. Oamabu, December 2. At the nominations for Oamaru, Messrs Samuel Edward Shrimski and James Hassel were proposed. The show of hands was in" favor of Mr Shrimski. At Waitaki, Messrs John Eeid and Thomas Duncan were proposed, the show of hands being iu favor of the former. Kumara, December 2. Messrs Edwin Blake and Richard John Seddon were nominated for the House of Representatives. The show of hands was in favor of Mr Seddon. Grbtmouth, December 2. At the nomination of candidates Messrs Joseph Petrie, Frank Guinness, and David Madden were proposed. Show of hands— Petrie, 71 ; Guinness, 39 ; Madden, 28. Mr Guinness demanded a poll. Haweba, December 2. Major Atkinson and Mr G. Hutchison were nominated for Egmont to-day. The show of hands was—Atkinson, 100 j Hutchison, 20. Christchurch, December 2. The Hon. W. Rolleston was re-elected today without opposition for Avon. For Christchurch North, Mr S. P. Andrews, one of the late members for Christchurch, and Mr H. Thomson, jeweller, were proposed. The show of hands was—Thomson, 26 ; Andrews, 20. For Christchurch South, Mr John Anderson, engineer, and Mr John Holmes, solicitor, were proposed. The show of hands was largely in favor of Mr Holmes. At Heathcote, Mr J. T. Fisher, the old member, Major Hornbrook, and Mr Wynn Williams, solicitor, were proposed. The show of hands was— J. T. Fisher, 14 ; Hornbrook, 21 ; and Williams, 4. At Sydenham, Mr W. White, coal and timber merchant, Mr J. W. Treadwell, accountant, Mr J. R. Andrew, stonemason, and C. Clark, auctioneer, were proposed. The show of hands was—White, 30 ; Treadwell, 6 ; Andrew, 7 ; Clarke, 8. A poll was demanded in each district. At the eleventh hour a candidate has been found to contest the Premier’s seat for Selwyn, in the person of Mr J. Lockhead, a resident in the district and a farmer.' At the nomination to-day, the show of hands was in his favor. Nominations for Ashley—Messrs M. Dixon, W. F. Pearson, W. Paterson, and J. Guild. The show of hands was in favor of Mr Pearson. The Kaiapoi nominations resulted as follows ;—lsaac Wilson, 60 ; J. H. Lee, 8. Stanmore,—W. P. Cowliahaw, 18 ; W. F. Pelliet, 29 ; J. Flesher, 20 ; and B. Clephan, 6. The latter nominated himself in order to be able to speak, and when he wished to retire his seconder refused to consent. At Lyttelton Hon. E. Richardson, H. Allwright, and S. E. Webb were proposed. The show of hands was in favor of Mr Richardson. Palmerston North, December 2. The Hon. W. W. Johnston was nominated to-day at the Court-house, being proposed by Mr James Linton and seconded by Mr Douglas McArthur, and, there being no other candidate, he was declared duly elected. He leaves tonight for Wellington, Tijiaru, December 2. Messrs John Hayhurst, Edward Wakefield, and William Postlethwaite were nominated to-day for the Geraldine seat. David Leach was also proposed, but obtained no seconder. The show of hands was declared to be—Hayhurst, 45 ; Wakefield, 40; Postlethwaite, 14. Dunedin, December 2. For Moeraki, Messrs W. Mnreott, J. McKenzie, and W. H. Williams were nominated. , J. W. Thompson and A, N. Jowitt were nominated for Clutha. J. O. Brown and G. F. C, Browne were nominated for Tnapeka. The show of hands was—J, O. Brown, 61 ; and G. F. C. Browne, 29. Invercargill, December 2. The nominations for Wallace are—Messrs Hirst, T. Daniel, J, C. Ellis, M. Johnstone, G. C. Buttolpb, H. S. Hodgkinson, and H. Mclntosh; and forHokonui—Messrs C. Cowan, H. Driver, aud P. T, Finn, The show of hands was in favor of Mr Driver. Ashburton, December 2. The nominations for Wakanui took place to-day, whoa Mown Charles William Purnell,

James O. Wason, and Joseph Ivess were nominated. The show of hands resulted in favor of Mr Ivess, the voting being—lvess, 37 ; Wason, 13 ; Purnell, 10. A poll was demanded on behalf of Mr Wason.