POLITICAL POT POURRI.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 62, 19 November 1881, Page 148

POLITICAL POT POURRI.

— Mr Moss will have a walkover for Parnell. — Mr Swanson has announced himself for Newton.

— People are asking why so many of the nominations have been fixed for Dec. Ist.

— The City East constituency is largely composed of the working classes, who are favourable to Sir G-eorge G-rey. — Mr J. M. Clark will not stand for Eden, and will probably think twice before contesting City Eust.

—-Mr J. S. Duke was the influential gentleman who went round Eden canvassing for signatures to a requisition to Mr J. M. Clark. — Another apparently well-founded on dit is that the Rev. D. Bruce is likely to run for Manukau.

— Header Wood is beginning to lose ground in Waitenmta. He will probably take wing elsewhere. — The probability of the Rev. D. Bruce being brought out for Eden against Mr Tole is increasing. — An experienced electioneering tactician, who has examined City East roll, confidently assures us that Sir George Grey is safe. — Mr Buchanan will practly have a walk-over for the town of Napier. His opponent appears to be using the position for advertising purposes. — Mr F. A. Whitaker is looking more cheerful about Waipn. He says with McMinn pulling at J ackson's head and a Greyite at his feet he — Freddy, ought to slip in between. — George Bcetham told the electors of Wairarapa the other day that Ministers did not intend putting on the 20 per cent, again to their salaries. — Mr Kelly, who came to Auckland to listen to Sir George Grey's eloquence, has gone on the stump in the Thames portion of the East Coast electorate. • — " The Native," Owen Curran McGee, will shortly issue his address to the electors of Manukau, and has already numerous and influential promises of support. — We believe the effect of the approaching elections will be to materially alter the position of existing political parties by the infusion of a great deal of new blood. — Henare Tomoana, who is a candidate for the Maori West Coast district, will have many opponents, and a severe fight, but he Avill probably head the poll. — Our Tauranga correspondent thinks the fight lies between Kelly and Morris, the rest being out of it. If Kelly can get a fair share of the Upper Thames votes he is as good as booked for the seat. —The latest about Mr J. M. Clark's candidature is that his friends are actively engaged in preparing requisitions for three electoral districts, Eden, Waitemata, and City East, with the view of giving him three strings to his bow. — Any man who can propound a well-digested, practical, and efficient scheme of local self-govern-ment adapted to the existing wants of the country, will be the coming political leader. The country waits for him.

— It turns out. rather fortunate for Sir Greorge Grey that the leasehold qualification was legalised by 'Parliament. Eight along the whole of one side of Queen-street to the boundary of City East there are only half a-dozen votes. — Sir Greorge Grey clearly argued in his speech on Monday evening that the war excitement on the West Coast was a Ministerial ruse to draw public attention away from vital questions of policy during the elections. — Napier's little game in the next Parliament will be a vote for the harbour, as she is desirous of emulating Taranaki. But the times have changed, and the House is tired of swindles. — From Grisborne we hear of all sorts of election rumours as to the coming men. We think the member in last Parliament will have better luck than he has had for sometime past in the field.

— Politics have a tendency to absorb a man's mind. A gentleman, who called on Mr Speight found him in the drawing -room reading Hansard, while his wife was in the back yard chopping

wood

— In electoral circles it is stated that Shcehiin could go in for Waitemata " hands down," and that he would do so, only there are wheels within wheels, which in some way or other would prejudice Tole's chances for Eden. —More West Coast lands to be sold, and more joy in New Plymouth. How long are questions of peace or war to be decided by the verdict of districts which get the lion's share of the spoil, while paying less than the jackal's share of the piper ? — The elections do not appear so far to have brought out any new commanding talent. The candidates travel in the old beaten tracks. There is sameness and shallowness about the speeches, no genius, no comprehensiveness, no originality, no heighth, no depth, no breadth. — The neat way in which Sir George Grey exonerated himself from the blame of depriving leaseholders of the franchise, and threw the responsibility on his opponents, excited much admiration amongst political tacticians at the Choral Hall.

— Matters are very nrueli mixed in the Waipawa district, and it is on tlie cards that Mr Ormond may have to take a back seat. Mr

Sydney Johnston stands against him avowedly with the object of putting in a third man, a local storekeeper named Smith, at Waipukurau, who is almost certain to come to the front-

— We are informed that Mr W. H. Martin, of Mount Albert, has been requested by a deputation of electors to allow himself to be nominated for Franklin South, but in consequence of the demands of his large private business, Mr Martin was compelled to decline the proposed honour. — Hawke's Bay County is boing fought by Captain Russell and the well-known Mr Sutton. The contest will be a close one, inasmuch as Mr Sutton is Chairman of the County Council, and curtails the employment or dismissal of workmen and servants employed in public works. — One of the candidates for the East Coast Electorate has been made the subject of a rather good pun, by linking it with the name of another candidate. These two candidates are Captain Porter and Mr Locke. The former has by his well-wishers been paid the doubtful compliment of being called " the successful burglar" Why P Because no lock will keep him from getting into the House.

— The democratic candidate for the North. Wairarapa was holding forth on the Babbit question the other day, " Now" he asked " am I to destroy my Rabbits ?" An enemy who knew him to be close-iisted replied : " Employ working men to kill them!" Alfred W. Renall boiled over at this and shouted, •' Let the working men. go to !" Ever since he has been trying to explain this sentiment to suit the industrial classes who form the bulk of his supporfcers-

— The contest between Major Harris and Mr J. S. Buckland is being conducted with considerable warmth. At a recent ineeting the Major charged his opponent with discharging any of his hands who refused to deal at his own private store. Mr Buckland has since received an emphatic contradiction from Mr Forbes, of Pukekohe, who says that many of Mr B.s hands dealt at his store with the 'consent of the manager, who paid the accounts^ and sometimes he himself ordered goods there.