THE SEADOWN ELECTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 817, 18 November 1872, Page 3

THE SEADOWN ELECTION.

On Friday last, at noon, the nomination of candidates for the purpose of electing a member to serve m the Provincial Council for the district of Seadown took place at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Tiniaru. The Returning Officer, Mr "Woollcombe, having read the writ, called upon some elector to propose a candidate. Captain Cain said he had much pleasure m proposing a gentleman as their member, who was not only an old resident amongst them, but one who was thoroughly well known, and he (Captain Cain) felt sure he would look after theirbest interests m the Council. It was well known just now that Canterbury was m a most flourishing state, the chest being full of money, and it behoved them at the present juncture to see that there be a fair division of this money at the coming session of the Council. It must be recollected that something like two-thirds of the funds now m hand were derived from the sales of land m the Timaru district, and it would be, of course, the first duty of their member to see that the district obtained its just share. Mr Turnbuli himself was present, and no doubt that gentleman would seize the present opportunity of stating his views fully to the electors. He (the speaker) felt sure that Mr Turnbuli would do his utmost to serve the district, and he would conclude by proposing Mr R. Turnbuli as a fit and proper person to represent Seadown m the Provincial Council.' Mr "W. Munro had great pleasure m seconding the nomination of Mr Turnbull. He was sorry to see that day such a small attendance of electors. If a large number had been present, Mr Turnbuli would doubtless have felt more satisfacfaction m addressing them. Mr Turnbuli was well known to them all. He was one of the best men they could have got as their representative, and he (the speaker) felt sure he would reflex the opinions of | the people. He was, moreover, a man of * large experience, which would stand him 1 m good need m the Provincial Council,

an experience which would assist much m | deciding the many questions of land, and l land sales appropriations, which m the coming session of the Council would be brought prominently forward. The Returning Officer asked if any other elector desired to propose a candidate. Mr F. LeCrbn said he would propose Mr John Ollivier as a fit and proper person to represent the Seadown district m the Provincial Council. Mr W. C. Beswick said he would second the nomination. The Returning Ofeicer said Mr Beswick's name was not on the Seadown roll, and therefore he was ineligible to propose or second a candidate. Mr W. Kent said he would second Mr LeCren's nomination of Mr Ollivier, for the sake of getting a speech from that gentleman. The Returning Officer then called on the candidates to address the electors. Mr Turnbull, after some skirmishing with Mr Ollivier as to who should speak first, congratulated the Returning Officer on such a happy family party having met to get through the business. One of his reasons for coming forward was that he did not like to see the district m the hands of one or two people, to nominate who they liked and send who they liked. He objected to one or two individuals having the patronage of the district. He did not wish to appear before them m a false position, for there was not a poorer man m Timaru ; but he would rather canvas the district for subscriptions to pay his expenses than see the district be represented m the manner he had. Still, there were men m the district who, though not of any remarkable intellect, had a sort of prescriptive right to represent, it and he waited to see if any of them came forward. As they did not do so, rather than let an outsider represent the district, he name forward himself. He saw by that morning's paper that Mr Bluett, who intended coming forward, had withdrawn because he had not time to canvass the district. If it was too much trouble for for him to canvas a district of some 200 electors what woiildhedo m the Council? He did not know the gentleman, but he had seen and admired him — as the finest specimen of clerical obesity m the province. The reason why he (Mr Turnbull) wished to represent them at the ensuing session of the Council, was that events of the greatest importance as "regarded their district would be under discussion. As was well known there was a large sum m the provincial chest for distribution, therefore it required some one to' represent the district that understood its wants. These funds ought to be spent to the best advantage for they could not shut their eyes to the fact that their land would be common property m another two years. As soon as the loans were expended there would be no other resource for the General Government bnt to appropriate the lands of the colony. He was not going to say that that would be wrong, for if money was borrowed on the security of the lands of the colony, that land must go to pay for it. For that reason all important works m the district should be pushed on at once, for if the money was not obtained this session the chances were, that it would not be obtained at all. Among the questions to come before the Council, was that of reserves. He thought there was a great injustice m reserving these lands. It meant reserving £2 an acre and shutting out the capital what would be employed to work it if it were sold. As to the reserves when made, it was men of no capital that would take them vp — and m making them they shut out £4 of capital to every acre. He considered that it would be far wiser to get the money for the land, than to 'reserve it, on the supposition that it would be useful at a future time. In support of his statement that it would not be long before the lands of the colony became common property. Mr Turnbull said, that they could not go on introducing people, thereby reducing wages while they increased their burdens, as thereby every man they introduced they were importing an element of dissatisfaction. When they could no longer raise money by taxing the people, they would have to fall back on the land. They might be sure that when m the House of Representatives it came to a question of a property tax, they would, rather than see the burden on their own private property, say — take the public property. In regard to the present system of purchase of lands; he considered that something ought to be done, for at the present time a very abominable system prevailed, by which any person putting himself first on the list at the land office could levy black mail on any other applicant for land. (Hear, hear.) In this way if oneperson knew that another had selected and made application for a piece of land, all he had to do was to put his name first on the list, and the other poor fellow thus got "slated." — This was a state of things that ought to be put a stop to. He considered that a Government Agent should be appointed m the district, whose duty it should be to point out unsold land to any party desirous of purchasing. The late extensive sales of land were entirely due to the energy of a private individual, a selector of land, and shewed what one man could do. In regard to the question of Road Boards he admitted the justice of. giving a man a vote by proxy, but considered the effect of the system objectionable. He thought that the difficulty might to some extent be got over, by allowing the ratepayers to nominate — as on School Boards — the number of members they wished to be on the Board. The effect would probably be that a larger number of members would be put upon the Boards, and out of a larger number it would not be so easy for two or three men to predominate, to gain their own individual ends, as at present. He alluded to this, as he knew that there was a dispositions m some districts to carry out public works which would have the effect of opening up a large extent of country for settlement, but the carrying out of these was prevented m the way he had pointed out. He was therefore m favor of m some way modifying the Road Board Ordinance, so as to give more power to the people. As regarded himself he pledged himself to attend the Council, at least for one session. He should not hold the seat as a matter of course, but when the people could get a better man than him — a local man — he should be prepared to retire ; after the ensuing session. ' He was very sorry there. was no contest, for these contests wakened people up to their duties as electors, and for that reason he was much pleased when he

heard that Rev Mr Bluett was going to stand, and he "was very sorry that that gentleman had seen lit to retire after coming forward. He told them candidly that he did not feel proud of being their representative m the Council, the}' all knew his position, and that he would not have come forward had any other local men done so ; for this reason he had held back to the last, moment. All he could say was, that if he went into the Council, he would do his best for the district m every shape and form. [Applause]. Mr Healey asked, if m the event, as was very probable, of a resolution having for its object the endowment of a college by means of a land or money grant, would Mr Turnbull support it 1 Mr Turnbull replied m the negative. Mr Healey asked, if a resolution was introduced for the establishment of a public library m Christchurch, at a cost, say, of ten or twelve thousand pounds, would he support that 1 .Mr Turnbull said he should consider an expenditure m that direction an absurd waste of 'money, and should certainly oppose it. Mr Healey said that Mr Turnbull was probably aware that there were a few sucking philosophers m Christchurch, men who liked to be dabbling about the edges of science. These gentlemen intended to try and obtain a grant for an Observatory m Christchurch. Would Mr Turnbull be inclined to support such a grant ? Mr Turttbuli. said, certainly not. If the establishment of an Observatory was 'likely to be of general utility, let the General Government establish it, and make it a general burden. With these things the first cost was not the only cost, for the cost of keeping up would be something considerable from year to year. Mr J. Ollivier said, of course, it was absolutely necessary, from the position m which he found himself placed, that he should deliver an address. He found himself, quite unexpectedly, a candidate for that exalted institution the Provincial Council of Canterbury. [Laughter.] He was greatly indebted to the gentleman who had nominated him, but probably that gentleman did not know that he had the honor of holding the distinguished position of Provincial Auditor of Canterbury. He quite understood that Mr LeCren was unaware of the fact for he didn't believe Mr LeCren knew of the existence of such an office. Probably, therefore, as he did not know of its existence, he would not know that, holding it, he was unable to accept the distinguished position of their representative m the Provincial Council. This was fortunate for his friend, Mr Turnbull, for if he (Mr Ollivier) had been able to stand, that gentleman would literally and absolutely have been knocked into a cocked hat, (laughter). He was, however, quite certain of one fact that owing to his having accidentally dropped m at the time of the nomination, and being proposed, so as to cause him to make a speech to occupy the time of the people of Timaru — which they all knew was not very much occupied, [laughter] — they were indebted for the very lucid speech they had had from Mr Turnbull. If it had not been for him, Mr Turnbull would have simply proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, pvit on his hat, and walked out, instead of as he had done, pledging himself to various matters that day. He (Mr Olliver) should make it his business to see that he kept his promises, he should be m Christchurch, and should watch him like a cat watches a mouse, and if he did anything wrong, he should at some future time report it to the electors. He, himself was debarred from taking part m politics, but if he had not been, he thought he should have endorsed much that his friend had said, and he was glad to see that the seat for Seadown was going to be committed to such good hands. He was sorry to see that his friend, the Rev Mr Bluett, had ran away from the contest, for Mr Bluett was as good a man as they could have found. In conclusion, he had to state that he was proud of the honor they had done him ' m proposing him as their representative ; he was sorry he was not m a position to accept the seat, but some day he would resign that unimportant office which he held, and then should be able to accept it. On the present occasion he begged to retire from the contest. [Applause]. Mr Turnbull asked Mr Ollivier if he would nob stop and do a week's canvassing. Air Ollivier said he never canvassed; if he had been eligible, canvassing would have been perfectly unnecessary. [Laughter. The Returning Officer said as Mr Ollivier was not eligible, he declared Mr Turnbull duly elected. Mr Tornbull then proposed, and Mr Ollivier seconded a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, and the proceedings terminated.