ELECTION NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7929, 21 July 1887, Page 3

ELECTION NOTES.

We understand that Mr Johu Br.rnes, at the request of a number of electors, has decided to become a candidate for Dunedin Central. Mr T. Fergus intends starting his election campaign in the Wakatipu district iv about v fortnight's time. Mr Fergus is likely to be returned unopposed, au honour only likely to be shared in Otago with two other members, Messrs Scobie Mackenzie ami Vincent Pyke.

A meeting of thu electors of North Harbour favourable to the return of Mr Green will be helil on Saturday to form a committee.

Mr A. 11. Ross will address the electors at the Maori Hill Schoolhouse on Friday evening.

The Hon. Mr Larnach announces that he hopes to be able to address tiie Peninsula electors in the course of 10 days or so. Mr Alien will address the electors of Dunedin East in old Knox Church on Monday evening. Mr James Fulton addressed a meeting in the school, North Taieri, on Tuesday evening, which, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, was well attended. Mr John Findlay occupied tho chair, and having spoken of the universal respect in which Mr Fulton was held in the constituency, introduced thu late member. Mr Fulton spoke at considerable length on the tinancial condition of the colony, and exposed tiie fallacy of the boasted economy of the StoutA'ogel Administration. On the motion of Mr Robert Gibson, Mr Fulton was awarded the heartiest thanks for his past services, and a vote of continued confidence was carried unanimously. The Tuapeka Times states that some of tho Dunstan electors want Mr Herbert to contest Dunstan, bnt he is not inclined to accede. Mr Lance addressed the electors at Auiborley on Tuesday night, and received a vote of thanks aud confidence. The Hon. E. Richardson received a vote of thanks at Rangiora. Mr W. L. Cumming is definitely out as a working man's candidate for the Waitaki seat. He is opposed to tho present Government. Mr J. Hudson addressed the Rodney electors at Taukau on Monday, and received a vote of thanks.

A requisition is being signed asking Sir W. Fox to'contest tbo Rodney seat. It is reported that Mr J. H. Wright will stand for Waipa against Major Jackson. Mr R. G. Lee has retired from the contest for Newton.

Mr J. Aitken Connell, the candidate for Eden, was fined £5 at the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday for non-attendance on the previous day as a juror in the compensation case Arkell v. Tho City Council. He caused some amusement by pleading that he was busily eugaged iv the political campaign, and on the day in question had been taking great trouble with the preparation of the address which he delivered on Monday night to the ladies of Auckland. His papers had accumulated to such au extent that he had lost sight of the summons. A public meeting was held at the Auckland City Hall last night to hear an address on political subjects by Sir W. Fox. After sneaking for about half-an-hour he was obliged to discontinue iv consequence of the interruptions from the shopkeepers underneath the hall, who broke up the^meeting by persistent hammering on tho iloor beneath, presumably in revenge for the annoyance caused through the establishment of a skating riuk which has been held in the hall for some timo past. The attendance at tho meeting was only moderate. Mr A. Colbeck addressed the Rodney electors at Matakahe Hall on Saturday, when he advocated retrenchment and Freetrade, and au income tax in place of that on property. He said the village, settlement scheme was likely to collapse. He received a vote of thanks. Mr H. W. Farnall addressed a meeting at Auckland North last night, and received a vote of thanks and confidence. He favoured retrenchment and the village settlement scheme.

Mr W. Mackay has retired from the contest for Auckland North, aud will stand for Coromandel against Mr Cadman.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs :— " Election matters are rapidly warming up, and there is every indication that there will be some tough contests. It is, however, the opinion of those who have gone most carefully into the matter with a special knowledge of the various constituencies, that nearly all, if not all, of the Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki members who had seats in the late Parlia-

ment will come back again. Beginning with the aristocratic and official district of Thorndon, Dr Newman is considered to be absolutely safe. The candidature of William M'Leau is not regarded as at all serious, and he may perhaps be in earnest, but assuredly most of those who are backing him do so with the object of preventing the other candidate having a walk over, as they are impotent to prevent his winning. So anxious were the Goverumeut to secure this seat, that I ara credibly informed there was careful consideration whether either the Minister for Public Works and the Minister for Lauds should not be run against Dr Newman, and that Ihe idea was only abandoned when an assiduous canvass for signatures to a requisition revealed the unpalatable fact that such a course would inevitably meet a humilia-

ing defeat. Even now effoits are made from

time to time to find somebody who would stand a show, but so far the search has been vain, and Dr Newman is one of the surest of the old members to resume his old seat in the House. Mr Fisher is probably just as safe for East Wellington. As I mentioned in a former telegram, his financial speech, which has been widely circulated, has immensely raised him in public estimation so far as his capacity is concerned, and it will take a very strong man indeed to beat him. So far no such candidate has appeared, nor do I anticipate bis appearance. The' working man's candidate,' Thomas Carter, is utterly unlikely to have even a decent show, and his candidature is generally regarded as a farce. A more fmmidable opponent would be Mr William Price, who is said to be standing in the temperance interest, and who did contest Te Aro unsuccessfully some years ago. He would have a certain following among the Good Templars.but I do not believe that he would even give Mr Fisher material trouble. Mr Fisher and Dr Newman are of course staunch Oppositionists. For Te Aro it is thought Mr Fraser will secure re-election, for several reasons. He has disappointed his supporters by his action, and especi-

ally by his support of the obnoxious tariff, but he still has the teetotallers, who will vote for him through thick and thin against all comers, and he has no dangerous opponent. Mr Menteath made a capital speech the other night, and quite carried his audience by storm, but he is unquestionably new to Wellington, and his antagonism to Ministers now seems to many people somewhat inconsistent with his support of them up to the close of the session. Mr Duthie appeared on the scene only to disappear again, and at present appearances point to a duel between Messrs Fraser and Menteath, the former winning. The new South Wellington district has a perfect crowd of candidates, but Mr Izard is commonly regarded as pretty safe. He is an excellent speaker, he has been long hard at work, has mado some good fights in previous elections for a part of the present district, and has large and varied influence. Mr Edwards, ono of his opponents, is another Wellington lawyer, but with far less influence, being comparatively a new comer, whereas Mr Izard is a regular old identity. I don't think Mr Edwards stands any chance at all. Councillor Coombe will probably poll a good many votes in the new part of the electorate, but he lacks the knowledge and experience requisite for a member of Parliament, and electors soon find this out. Mr Alexander (familiarly ' Sandy') Wilson is an ex-city councillor and a worthy soul, but he will not get into Parliament tbis time. Mr J. S. Harris (popularly known as the ' Whifiler') is announced as a cau- I didatc, but this is a mere piece of characteristic buffoonery. In the Hutt Mr Fitzherbert is expected to secure re-electiou owing to the apathy and inaction of Mr Mason and his friends. Mr Wilson is deemed safe for Foxton, and so are Messrs Macarthur and Bruce for Manawatu and Raugitikei,BeethamforMasterr;on,audßucbanan

for Wairarapa, although Mr Butney will probably give the latter a sharp fight for his seat. Mr Hogg

is not looked on as a dangerous opponent to Mr Beetham. Mr M'Ardle is considered likely to gain Woodville seat unless Mr W. C. Smith, who forsakes Waipawa to oppose him, should fare better than is expected. Mr Horace Baker, late land commissioner for Napier, is another candidate, but scarcely a formidable one. Mr Sutton (a former Hawke's Bay member) has good

prospects for Waipawa, and Mr Ormond and Captain Russell are safe for Napier and Hawke's Bay, as is Mr Bryce for Waitotara. As I recently stated, Mr Ballauce's chances for Wanganui have lessened of late, and tho result as between him and Mr Carson is a matter for even betting. Major Atkinson, in spite of the rude treatment he has encountered in some

parts of bis district, is believed to be pretty

secure for Egmont, as is Colonel Trimble for Taranaki, and Mr Samuel for New Plymouth."