THE SUPERINTENDENCY ELECTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1889, 23 March 1874, Page 2

THE SUPERINTENDENCY ELECTION.

■■♦ ■ I . The nomination for tho Superintendency took place this morning at the OddfeUows I . Hall, Christohurch. Between four and five hundred electors wero present. Punctually at 18 noon Dr Donald, Returning Officer, read the- writ, and callod upon the electors to propose candidates. Mr R. S. Harman steppedforward, and in a speech highly eulogistic of the manner, in which Mr Rolleston had discharged the duties of the office of Superintendent during the six years he has occupied that position, proposed that gentleman for re-election. Mr W. D. Wood briefly seconded the nomination. The Returning Offices inquired if any other gentleman had a candidate to propose. No one replying, The Returning Officer, amid loudoheering, declared Mr W. Rolleston to be duly elected Superintendent of Canterbury, and called on Mr Rolleston to address the electors. Mr Rolleston, who was well received, said it was satisfactory to him, on many grounds, that the election had proved to be what was termed a " walk-over. He did not at all regard that fact as evidence that the electors did not take an interest in the election, for he was aware that strong attempts had beon made to induce other candidates to come forward, but fche result of these attempts was to shew those who made them that .the. people of Canterbury were satisfied witli. him, and dcßii-od lain to be re-elected. Ifc bad been said thut a change was desirable, that ifc would be better to have new men and new ideas,! and, therefore, that it would be better that now men should be brought forward. He could hardly be expected to agree with thiß proposition, and was glad that the electors had not done so. He heartily thanked tiie

electors for the honour they had done him If the honour of being elected to. the posi-| tion of Superintendent the firat time was great, to be elected a second time was greater, and a j third greater still. It was scarcely six years since he stood upon a platform as a candidate for the Superintendency, and he was proud to see that many whose names were on the first requisititfn asking him to take a public position were etill among his supporters. At the time he first took office the position of the province was very different from what it is now. Then there was a general feeling of uncertainty ac to the future of the province. The course he advocated was the continuance of immigration, which had not long_previously been stopped, and the furtherance of local interests by carrying on publio works in connection with immigration. On taking office he devoted himself with the Executive he then had — of whioh some members of the present Executive were members — to ascertain the wants of the outlying districts, and to help them as far as the funds then at disposal would permit. Before the termination of his first term of offioe, plans were prepared for the Rakaia bridge, the Northern and Southern railways, and the railway through the Lake Ellesmere district. After referring to what had been done during the time the conduct of immigration and publio works was solely in the hands of the Provincial authorities, Mr Rolleaton said, as was well known, during his second term of office, the General Government policy of public works and immigration was inaugurated. He referred with satisfaction to the manner in which the Government of this province had co- [ operated with the General Government, and i was happy to say that thie 00- operation was still working satisfactorily. He referred with pride to the fact that the system of nomination in connection wifch immigration was instituted at the suggestion of Canterbury, and he believed that it would be the means of securing for this provinoe a population that would be a great credit to it. In respect to what he would do in the future, he would say little beyond pointing out to fche electors that, from a retrospect of the past, they could best form an idea as to the course he Bhould take. It was needless for him to say that the Superintendent could not be expected to work out any policy apart from that favoured by the gentlemen associated with him in the Executive Council. He was proud to say that the present Executive was one that he was proud to work with. (Prolonged applause.) He thought tkit there was not much difference of opinion as to what had been done during his last term of office, and he believed still more would be dono during the next term. One thing he looked forward to, was the opening up of the West Coast road by way of the Northern district. (Hear, hear.) He believed that nothing would tend more to the good of the colony, at large, than the provision of better means of communication between the consumers on the West Coast and the producers on this side. In respect to education, he believed that fche system so well worked out by the Board of Education would be worked out still further, until Canterbury would not only attract settlement by the extent of its natural resources, but by being known as the province in which the highest education could be obtained by all classes. (Applause.) He believed that the country would continue to be opened up by roads and other works until large areas at present only ocoupied by the bittern and swamp-hen were made available for settlement. He did not intend to detain them at muoh greater length. Looking back on his experience of the office of Superintendent, he felt that it was one of great responsibility, and he should endeavour to prove that he was worthy to have that responsibility again placed on his shoulders. (Hear, hear.) Thefoffice was one that had its difficulties and troubles, and no doubt in the exerciae of what he considered his duty he had made some enemies in the past. A man with a strongwillof his own was certain to i make some enemies, but he could assure them I that what he had done he had done in the I interests of the' publio. He could tell any [gentleman with whom he had oome into unpleasant contact that no shadow of ill feel ling remained on hiß part. (Applause.) Mr Rolleston concluded by saying that he reentered upon his duties cheerfully, with the greatest ebnfldence in the provinoe and in the people of the province, and that he should do his utmost to merit a continuance of the support he had hitherto received. (Applause.) A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, proposed by his Honor and carried by acclamation, oonoluded the proceedings.