ELECTION FOR DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 987, 29 October 1870, Page 9

ELECTION FOR DUNEDIN.

The nomination of Candidates for the vacant seat in the Provincial Council for the City of Dunedin, took place on Wednesday at the terrace of the Government Buildings. Mr J. Burnside, the Returning Officer, presided, and read the writ. About 150 persons were in attendance. The following gentlemen were nominated :—: — Mr John Bathga'e, proposed by Mr J. W. Jago, seconded by Mr A. Sligo. Mr Thomas Birch, proposed by Mr James Milner, seconded by Mr Job Wain, junr. Mr H. S. Fish, proposed by Mr E. De Carle, seconded by Mr John Barnes. Mr Bathgate said that he did not intend to make a long speech, as he should make his sentiments known more fully at the meetings he intended holding. He had already given the electors his views at a crowded meeting on the Monday night previous. He then went on at some leng'h to explain the reasons which had induced Mm to come forward as a candidate, his opinions on past legislation, and his ideas as to what ought to be done in future. There was, however, very little in the speech different to that which he made on Monday night at the Masonic Hall, and appearing in our issue of Tuesday. He was opposed to canvassing, and thought that it ought to be made a dis qualification. In reply to questions, he said that he did not import everything he required. Certainly he imported his law-books, because he could not obtain them otherwise. He was a paid servant of the Otago Daily Times, >ut the sentiments of that paper and his were not identical. He was altogether independent of the Times. He was opposed, in many instances, to the politics enunciated by the editor ; but, as a shareholder, he did not interfere. Mr Fish said that as his speech, of the previous evening had been fully reported in the Times, except in one or two points which had been condensed, and one which had been omitted, he should take up very little of their time. With regard to the question of immigration, which had not been mentioned, he had said that he was in favour of it when profitable employment could be given to the immigrant. In the present state of the country, whilst affairs were so much depressed, he thought that immigration should cease for a time. But so soon as the Legislature enabled immigrants to settle on the land, then let them have as much immigration I as possible. He should like to see a man get, say, 320 acres on a sysrem of deferred payments. He referred briefly to the other current topics of the day already reported in his previous speech, and concluded by saying that he always had thought that the Mayor ought to try for a seat in the Provincial Council, because his interests as a member of that body would be identical with those of the City. He should like, next election, to see more members of the City Council in the Provincial Council. He felt sanguine bat not egotistically so, that he should be returned, and if he were he should endeavour to merit their highest expectations. A show of hands was then given, the result being as follows : — Bathgate • ••> 5 Birch 0 Fish 50 Mr Bathgate demanded a poll, and the polling day was declared to be Wedaeß," day, the 2nd November. A vote of thanka to the Returning Qfflew? terminated the proceeding!, i