INVERCARGILL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 53

INVERCARGILL.

INVERCARGILL, October 16. The Political Labour League has decided not to nominate anyone in the meantime as a candidate for the Invercargill seat. Mr J. Mahony has definitely decided to contest tbo Timaru sea*. Mr T. Parate. M.P. for the- Southern Maori constituency, has commenced his election campaign. He addressed th« Maoria t\t Puketiraki on Thursday n'ght, and received a voto of confidence and a promise of support for the forthcoming election. Mr Parata left for Southland on Saturday morning for the purpose of addressing his constituents at Colac Bay the same evening. Be has also received invitations, accompanied by promises of euyport, from the different Native settlements in Canterbury. In the compilation of the supplc-montary electoral roll for Clutha the withdrawals have so far exceeded the applications for enrolment. To last week-end the application-? for transfers to other districts eamo to 200, while the new names placed on the roll numbered only 175. This unusual stato -of affairs is attributed to the absence- of political interest in Clutha owing to t.he prospect of a walk-over for Mr Malcolm. Another evidence of the prevailing apathy is the fact that so far no tender lias been accepted fcr printing the supplementary rol!s in Clutha.— Free Press. The name of Mr F. J. Rolketon was mentioned freely on Saturday (says the Timaru Herald) as a probable candidate, and hopes were earnestly expressed that he would offer his services. Some of Mr Hall-Jones's late supporters were among those who expressed a, desire that Mr Ro!leeton should stand. A number of Mr Rolleston's friends met on Saturday afternooff, and after discussing the position, and having had Assurances of a good deal of.eupport, they decided to 6end & cable to Mr Rolleston (who is now on hie way out from Home) asking him to c-ive his oonssn-t to nomination. If Mr RolleetQn will net stand, his supporters have determined to bring out another candidate. It har> been 6uggest«d that Mr C. N. Orb<>ll, who has been chairman of the Levels Count}- Council eineo its creation, should be asked to berome a cand.'dato in the c-vent of Mr Rollosion declining. A cablegram was despatched on Monday to await Mr Roll^eton at Port Said on Friday, asking him asra'n to contest the Tim&ru eoai. The Timaru Herald state? that a movemo'ii is on fc-ot with the object of inducing tho Hon. J. Anstey to become a candl<L°. -» for the Timaru scsit. Mr J. Durcan. who*-? retirement from th^ contest for the Waiiau ee-t vas announced last week, has. under blronjr pr<-=-pure and extensive rT Cirn:o9 '3 of euppcrt from different portions of the <or.-jthuor.cy, re-eiit^-red tho field as a cand'date in the ()pi<j> ition interest. Tlie car.d:<Jaturo of Mr E. H. Penny, who ie an Independent, is a>o epeken of. Mr R. Slat?r, one of tho can 'l ionics nanwl for the Dune-din South fiaat hr.s de-cidc-d not to offer hinicoif for election. I"ri3 Watlaoe election will rc--r,'v--» it=;-!f into a contest (sa.vs tho VVo6i#rn Star) l>3twen Mr J C. Thomson, tho «itting iiKin-K-r. and Mr Duprald Macpherf<,n. Tiio laiter will oncn the cam,iaifn at _ Nightcaps this week. The Western Star i= <si •c to uiK'erstand that had the f>cord B«Uo', Bill not bccom.c law a third can,lida c would ha.\e b^cn in the fiel-1. Mr A. S. Malcolm announce^ in anc'l-r column tha dates of his rreetincs in various parts of the Clutha Elccloiai?. CVi.imrneing at Redan en the aflcrnc-,n t>r Monday. 26th ir.-st., ho will _.-n^ak at McL ■ rct3 -in the eveninpr. at Waikawa Va'lev at, noon on Tuesday, 27th ii.-t., and at Waikawa in the evening: at Owarrr Hills at noon on Wednesday, 26th. and at Tokonui in the evening ; at Orara. at noon on Thursc'av. 23th, and at Fortro^ in the evening : at Waimahaka at noon on Friday, 30tli, and at Pine Bush in the evening*