PORT CHALMERS ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 786, 22 December 1866, Page 9

PORT CHALMERS ELECTION.

The election of a member of the House of Representatives for the electoral disdistrict of Port Chalmers took place at the school- house there on Saturday.

The Returning Officer (Mr W. Reid) at 12 noon read the writ and the notice to electors.

MtThos. Tatleh proposed "Thomas Dick, Esq., the former representative, as a fit; and proper person to be re-elected as member for the district in the General Assembly." He congratulated Mr Dick upon the spirit he had displayed in resigning his seat as he had done, as an example to other Otago members of the Assembly, and congratulated the electors of the district upon the fact that, in Mr Dick, they had a gentleman whom they could without hesitation or dissension re-elect as member for the Port.

Mr David Miller seconded the nomination.

Mr W. Murray proposed that before completing the election, which was apparently, and, as he thought, very justifiably unopposed, a vote of thanks should be given to Mr Dick for his past services, as member for the district.

The vote of thanks was carried by acclamation.

Mr Dick thanked the electors for their expression of confidence, and replied to a few questions put by electors present. In reply to Mr Ritchie, he said he was of opinion that the work of dredging Otago harbor, so as to admit of vessels of large tonnage visiting Dunedin, would cost more than was anticipated, and more than the Province could at present undertake to expend. He was, however, favorable to the project of dredging the channel so as to admit of vessels ot medium tonnage going alongside the wharf at Dunedin. He was equally as much in favor of the project of constructing a railway. In reply to Mr Mills, he said he could not promise to support a Municipal Ordinance suggested by the Otago Association, not being acquainted with the precise character of the Bill. In reply to Mr W. Murray, he stated that he had communicated with the General Government on the subject of the re-appointment of a, Marine Surveyor in the Province, and he agreed with Mr Murray that a certain amount of inconvenience would arise from the absence of such an officer, at a port where the repairs of steamers were likely to be extensively carried pn. No other candidate being proposed, the Returning Officer declared Mr Dick to be duly elected, and the intimation was received with applause. Mr Pick thanked the electors for their, confidence, and for the honor of re-election ; and a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer closed the proceedings.