ELECTION NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 30 October 1890, Page 22

ELECTION NOTES.

Mr J. C. Buckland will contest the Waitaki seat against Mr J. M'Kenzie,

The Hon. E Richardson has decided definitely not to stand for any constituency which involves the necessity of a personal canvass, being unequal to the physical exertion required. The wharf labourers and Seamen's Union have selected Messrs M'Donald, Fisher, and Winter as their Parliamentary candidates for tha city of Wellington.

Sir R. Stout delivered a lengthy address to a large audience at Napier, ob the 21st iust. The first, part was devoted to a broad review of the policy of the Government for the last three yeara, which he claimed was totally opposed to their promises. He strongly advocated that no more sales of Crown lands should take place. He deprecated sudden changes iv the fiscal system, saying that any changes in taxation should be cautiously approached, and gradually carried out, It was ridiculous to suppose as much could be got from a land tax as the present property tax produced without injuripg country settlers, which was a thing to be avoided. He suggested a board of conciliation to deal with disputes between the Railway Commissioners and tho servants, the men to appoint one member and the commissioners to appoint another, and the Minister of Public Works to be chairman ; if successful, the principle to bn extended to disputes between Government contractors and their men. A resolution was passed thauking him, and asking him to re-enter the political arena. In returning thanks, Sir R. Stout said it was very unlikely he could comply with the request, a3 he had duties to his family and clients as wellas to his country.

Ifc is pretty well known that for the last week or so efforts have been made to induce Mr Scobio Mackenzie to stand for the city, and about a dozen gentlemen, largely representing the trading and industrial classed, waited on him with that view. It was represented to him that if he would consent to stand a large requisition would be signed fairly representing all sections of the community. Mr Mackenzie replied that, having declared himself, be was honourably bound to staud by Mount Ida, aud that he had no reason to believe he was in the least degree unsafe there, but he would have to leave the matter in the hands of supporters of his throughout the district, old and new. We understand that a reply was received from the district yesterday approving of Mr Mackenzie's determination to again contest the district, and stating that Lit) return was considered perfectly safe.

We learn that Mr William Dawson (ox-mayor) will be either nominated for Dunedin or the suburbs.

It is uuderfifcood that; Mr Robert Winter, one of the Railway Society's executive, will contest a Wellington seat in the labour interest.

Mr William Hobau announcos himself as a candidate for the Kaiapoi seat in the Liberal interest.

Mr Hugh Shorfcland, solicitor, is a candidate for the Newton seat, Auckland.

At a meeting of a representative character at Invercargill, it was resolved to ask Mr James Walker Bain, a former member, to allow himself to be nominated for thß luvercargill seal".

For tho Northern Maori electorate M<6srs Taiwhauga, Timoti Puhipi, Wi Pirihana, Whakarangoura, and Wiremu Katene were nominated yesterday.

For the Eastern Maori electorate Messrs Carroll, Taiwhanga, Wi Pere, R. Sturm (of Hawke's Bay), and T. W. Rimine (of Whakatane) were nominated yesterday.

The following aominations were received for the Western Maori district : — Honi Tapu, 31 ; Kipa Tewhalenui, 3 ; Totana Tewhataupoke, 6 ; Tekahui Kararehe, 2 ; Pepene Eketone Eccleston Fairburn, 2.

To leave gold and come to politics, says a correspondent of the Southland Times writing from Coal Island, it has to be recorded that Mr Hirst addressed the electors in that out of the way corner of Wallace on Saturday last, when almost the entire population assembled to hear him. The addrecs was delivered under peculiar disadvantages. His " stump " was tho bottom of an overturned boat, and it rained heavily the whole time he spoke — nearly an hour. He was well received, however, got a patient hearing, was not badgered in any way, and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks.

The following candidates were nominated at Ksiapoi for the Southern Maori district : — Tame Parata, proposed by Hoani Uru, seconded by Hoaui Kahu; Raniera Erihana, proposed by Teone Er ihana, seconded by G Mohi Te Wahia ; Hoaui Maka Hape, proposed by Here Kahu, seconded by T. Tikao Wira ; Riki Te Mairaki Taiaroa, proposed by H. Paratene, seconded by Hoepa Huria. On a show of hands being taken the majority was found to be in favour of Hoani Maka Hape. A poll was demanded by G. Horpa Huria on behalf of Riki M. Taiaroa. The election is fixed to take place on November 27.

Our Lawrence correspondent writes : — "General political matters are at present very quiet. Mr Valentine, after visiting the Teviot district, returned borne about 10 days ago, but is expected back nest week, when, no doubt, things will boom a little. Mr Brown has been confined to his house for nearly a fortnight from a bid attack of sciatica, so he has not been able to prosecute his election canvass, but his friends are fully alert; for tho occasion. Mr Brown, howevpr, is recovering and expects to be on the warpath with his accustomed vigour in a few days. Mr J. W. Thomson, Bruce electorate, commences speechifying next week, and addrebses the electors at Waitahnna on Monday week. I think he will poll well in this part, as being a feettler himself, his sympathies are naturally with the farmers, and this class predominates in the Wstitahuna district " Our Ai^klaud correspondent telegraphs that tlii contest between Sir Matinee O'Rorke and Mr iV. F. Bnokland tor /Viaunksu promi'-es to afford a fine display of electioneering tactics.

The other day a number of lads in the Onebunga factories were put on the roll. An attempt has sines been made to place 43 inmates of the new Oostley home, at Epaom, on the roll. Thirty of tho applications on behalf of the men were rejected by the registration officer because the applicants lately removed from Grafton road to Epsom, and had not resided the stipulated fix months in tho Manukau electorate, but 13 transfers from other districts were accepted, and their votes will, no doubt, be duly recorded at the ensuing election, and may turn the scale. The Star says:— "lt is monstrous tbab paupers should be thus placed on the roll, and probably turn the scale in an election against the taxpayers." Some smart electioneering agents are now looking after the gaol deliveries before the supplementary rolls close, as they are satisfied some of these applicants will have been six months in the district.

The following is the Good Templar political manifesto issued by the executive : — " The responsibility of our U3e of the ballot is already before us. Our solemn vows have been made consecrating that use to the overthrow of the liquor trade. To vote for a candidate who will not aid us is to violate that vow. As Good Templars our characters are registered as at stake in our vow. Now is our opportunity : Bhall we prove true, or treacherous ? The general elections will be our test ; shall we stand it, and come out with honour? All tho claims of social, moral, and commercial life demand with their thousand tongues our fidelity. As an order our objects are clearly defined. We exist to destroy the drink traffic ; not simply to rescue the perishiDg, and re-animate the shipwrecked. Our duty is to remove the dangers, pull down the obstructions, and rear safeguards against evil. The trade in drink is the paramount evil of the country. It cannot have an equal. It is a huge deceiver of public men, and the scourging plague of the people. As revenue, its tax is a fraud ; as a luxury, its use is a delusion, a snare, and a poison> Parliament has already declared, by a substantial majority, that the people should bo charged wilh deciding whether the traffic may or may not bo licensed in each locality. Having secured that verdict, let us make ' Public veto ' our watchword. Lot candidate know that is the price of your vote and interest Take nothing less than a pledge to support, in all its stages, a bill giving effect to that principle. It must be ' vote for vote' Intrust uo man with parliamentary power who refuses to confer on you this right. Is not your conscience worth your vote? Who would sell his well fixed convictions for friendship or mere sentiment? There is do public question of present moment so charged with principles of fundamental benefit to all departments of trade and general prosperity, as this ono of how to suppress this giant evil. Nothing will stand between a faithful Good Templar and his honour. No conscientious abstainer can vote for a man who will oppose our cause in Parliament. Popular ve!-o is the principal of all our public affairs, we ask for no innovation — it is open, honest, and fair to all. That which cannot be submitted to such a test must be corrupt, and should be exposed. To shield and aid corruption is to suppress and smother the pure Claims for compensation ?re indefensible. There is neither legal nor moral ri^ht to urge in favour of it We prove the traffic a corrupter of morals and an incubus on trade, and so demonstrate its 'prohibition a public necessity, for which compensation would be a political blunder. We earnestly ur^e every lodge to forward one of the enclosed circulars to each of the candidates in their resoective districts, and to obtain written answers to the printed questions, aud then to act at a committee, or in conjunction with the local committee, of the one giving satisfactory answers. Take steps to make your decision known as widely as possible, and use every effort to secure for our great and intensely important temperance reform a united aid energetic support from the nomination to the poll."

Wellington, October 24.

The Cabinet decided to-day to issue the election writs on the 6th November unless anything should occur in the course of a day it two to render any change of plans necessary. They will be returnable on the 15th December, which is supposed to give time for all polling returnß to be got in from remote polling places after the day of election (sth December)

Sir Henry Atkinson's address will be published somewhere about the date of the issue of the writs. I had a long interview with him this afternoon, aud thought him looking very well aud cheerful.

Mr George Fisher, M.H.E. for Wellington Bast in the last Parliament, addressed a crowded meeting of city electors in the Opera House tonight", and was accord o-'l a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. He thought there should be a great diminution in the cost of Government, and declared against the property tas, which he considered should be replaced by a land and income tax Absentees should 01-o becooipelled to contribute in a much larger extent to the taxation of the country. He did not think the 'Frisco mail service was required. Referring to the strike, he said it had been forced on New Zealand by a loyal feeliug and determination on the part of the workmen of this colony to stand by their Fellow workmen in other lauds. Mr Jellicoe'fl action in rating the Maritime Council was, he said, the reverse of honourable. He applauded tho stand Mr J. A. Millar took at the lwt conference, and said ib was not patriotic of employers to bold aloof from that conference in the way they had done. He also spoke in laudatory terms of the position Chief-justice Higinbotham, of Victoria, had taken up with regard to the labour difficulties in that colony. He would support tho present system of education, and would like to see the Government own at least one ofthe coal mines of New Zealand. Gheymouth, October 26.

A poll was taken last nighfcregardiug a labour candidate for the Grey electorate. William Dunn, coal miner, received 220 votes ; Bernard M'Guire, storekeeper, 165 ; William Boasa, secretary of the Trades and Labour Union, 23 It is probable the contest will finally be between Mr Guinness and Mr Jones, as it is thought that Mr Dunn will not stand. Cheistchuech, October 24.

Mr J. D. Lance addressed the electors at Oxford, receiving a vote of thanks. He advocated freehold tenure, half hour's Bible reading in schools, and declined to pledge himself to either political party as st present constituted.

The Hon. W. Rolleston addressed the electors of Halswell to-night, about 50 being present. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried. He approved of Sir H. Atkinson's financial policy, advocated perpetual leases, and opposed further borrowing.

We have boon Bhown a photograph of Mr Oookerell'B rotary dredge, for wbicb Mr Robart Neill is advance atrent, and from the description given by Mr Neill, the dredge appears to be a decided imnrovement on the ordinary buoket dredge. From the fact that the Dome Greek Gold Mining Company, Waikaia, have resolved to adopt the dredge to work their claim, after prospecting it thoroughly with a fitnftll hand dredge of the isame description, Mr Oockerell may consider thn success of his invention apsurorS. Tuo drrtdge ordered by fche above company will have a capacity of 30 tons

per bour, aDd will be driven by steam. From the mannpr in which the dredge acts it should prove a most successful gold mining appliance. The first motob. of the aeason between the Mataura and Goro Cricket Clubs was played at Mataura on Saturday, and resulted in favour of Gore. Rain interfered with the game, consequently the batsmen in neither team could make any stand. Penny (Mataura), Fisher and Gibson (Gore) divided the bowling honours.

Mi- A. J Burns, br advertisement eleewhere, notifies that he will meet tho Taieri eleotors at various centres during the coming week.

Mr Norman H. Macdonald (late of the survey department) aitifies tint he is prepared to Rive all information concerning the (Xamaknpua-Paluhlkura block.