THE AWARUA SEAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2263, 15 July 1897, Page 27

THE AWARUA SEAT.

ADDRESS BY MR WARD TO THE ELECTORS. (From Oob Own Correspondent.) Invercargill, July 10. Anent the vacancy for the Awaraa seat caused by the bankruptcy of the Hon. J. G. Ward, the News this evening publishes the following address to the Awarua electors from Mr Ward: — "I extremely regret to inform you thab circumstances have arisen which have j compelled me to tender my resignation to the I Hon. the Speaker of the House of Representa- ; tives as your member. For some time past, as you already know, I have been surrounded ' with business difficulties, and although I have used every possible effort to extricate myself | from them, influences outside of my control I have prevented me from doing so, and I have i reluctantly been compelled to seek the protection of the court. I need hardly tell you that I have only taken this course after every other avenue of relief has been closed to me. I do not here intend to cuter upon th 3 various matters connected with my private affairs ; I shall have something to say to you thereon in the near future. Although every opportunity has been .weizsd by my opponsnts to tarnish my reputation, I believe I can show you that I have done nothing to warrant you in thinking for one moment that the confidence you have all along reposed in me has beau misplaced. In 1887 you did me the honour to return me as your representative, and upon three occasions since you have repeated the trust then reposed in me. Throughout the whole of that period it has been my endeavour to represent the di»trict faithfully, and to support measures which i I believe to be in the general interests of tho j colony, and I think I can fairly claim to have been instrumental iv materially ansisiing to pass into law many acts which nave proved to b« of material benefit to the gettlera and workers oi the colony ; aad I may be further pardoned for saying, without being accused of egotism, tbat in many ways I have assisted to make the name of Southland sud its products more widely known thaa formerly, and although there have been, and will be from time to time in the future, attacks mads upou me concerning my actions ia connection with ; the advancement of Bluff Harbour, I defy those critics to deny that owing to my personal effort's an enormous diversion of trade has been effected to the ports of Blnif and consequent largely in1 creased shipping business has been brought there. I would remind my detractors that at a i time when some of the shipping companies re- j fused to send their ateamera to Southland's | chief port on the ground that it was unsafe, 1 gave practical disproof of their unfounded belief by chartering and personally loading the Triumph, the largest cargo steamer then in the colony, and whyjh' was the precursor of direct steam communication between the Bluff and the Home market. At present I will not further address you, but in conclusion I can only again express my regret that it baa been necessary to tender my resignation, and desire to convey to you my deep appreciation of the many warm expressions you have tendered me, especially during the last twelve months, and that ths knowledge of your kiudly sympathy and Buppoi'b has greatly assisted me iv bearing up and fighting against ray troubles. In reference t:> the future, I place myself unreservedly in the hands of my constituents, and whatever course they elect to follow I will have pleasure in falling in wi'ib. If it be your wish that I should again contest the seat my services are at your disposal " Mr C. Cowan has announced his intention of standing for the Awarurv seat. It ib reported that a cable has been sent to Mr Robert M'Nab, late member for Mataura, asking if he will allow himself to be nominated for Awarua. I ! believe he left a nomination paper iv the colony, duly signed, in case an emergency : should arise in connection with the Mataura seat during his absence from the colony ; but his friends here do not think it is likely he would entertain for a moment the idea of seek- ; ing the suffrages of the electors of any district other than that of Mataura. This morning's Southland Times says : — "Mr Cowan, or whoever is brought out in the ! district on the present occasion, must, have active sympathy all over the electorate and a clear field. The intrusion of a rival on the same side could only result in the defeat of both." A meeting of the supporters of the Hon. J. G. Ward is to be held in the Oddtellows' Hall, Wintou, this evening. Among the telegrams of sympathy received by Mr Ward is the following from Sir G. M. O'Rorke, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in response to a communication intimating his resignation as member for Awarua :—: — " Very sorry to hear of your resignation. Hop 9 your retirement from parliamentary life will be only temporary, and that the country will soon ( regain the benefit of your services. Kind | regards to members of your family." i ! July 12. A meeting of Mr Ward's supporters at Winton was held on Saturday night, and was attended by between 300 and 400 persona. Mr Ward's address to his late constituents was r«ad and well received. A resolution wag 1 passed unanimously expressing continued con-

fidence in him, and pleasure ia again accepting his services. A strong central committee was Jorined to seoure his return. The meeting wad a very enthusiastic ono. Similar meetings will be held in other localities for the same purpose. It is now tolerably certain that the conleii will be confined to Mr Ward and Mr Cowan. A special telegram from Dunedin which sp» peared in Monday night'a Oamaru Mail reads thus :—": — " Tho following from a representative Southland farmer speaks for itself t ' The Hon. Mr Ward, — Sympathise with you deeply. Throughout the long period you have been in business we know an immense amount of good has been done by you, and the farmers of Southland generally recognise that, and sincerely hope that you will stand again for Awarua, when, without doubt, you will ba returned by a very largo majority. I will undertake to defray the whole of your expenses.— David Anderson, Pleasant Creek, Hokonui.