THE REPRESENTATION OF WESTLAND IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

West Coast Times, Issue 145, 6 March 1866, Page 2

THE REPRESENTATION OF WESTLAND IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE " WEST COAST TIMES." t Sir,— As the time for securing the services of a representative to take charge of the interests of Westland in the General Assembly, is now fast drawing to a close, I think it will not be necessary lor me to offer an apology if I presume to direct your attention, and that of this important constituency to tne claims of a gentleman well known to most, if not all of the electors, and one who is, I believe, in, every way well qualified to advocate the claims and interests of this district in the House of Representatives, I allude to Mr J. G. Hawkes, who would, I have no doubt, consent to stand, if &n influential and numerously signed requisition were presented to him. The past endeavours of Mr Hawkes to promote the interests and welfare of this town aud district, in the Provincial Council of Canterbury, are now matters of indisputable fact, a better testimony to which cannot be given than the attacks already made upon him by public men in Christchurch, charging him with sitting in the Council nominally as member for Christchurch, but in reality as member for Westland. I notice in the Press of February 24th, at a public meeting held in Christchurch, to hear the political views of the several candidates for the represen- ■ tation of that city in the Provincial Council, Mr Wynn Williams is reported to have said, that " He had a word to add about Mr Hawkea' representation of Christchurch, without meaning to detract from that gentleman's merits, he .must say that all last Session he had sat in the Council, rather as member for Westland than Christchurch, and that his interests lay fully as much in Hokitika as here." If any testimony, sir, can be more conclusive than this, as to the honest endeavors of Mr Hawkes to serve the interests of Westland, it is in the fact that he was the only member in the Provincial Council of Canterbury, who proposod or advocated, that the sum of £3,000 should be placed upon the Estimates for the purpose of extending the Wharf along Gibson's Quay, as far or beyond Messrs R. and T. Haworth's store, and there is not a person in Hokitika, who is not fully cognisant of the fact, that had Mr Hawkes's proposals been accepted and confirmed by the Council, that at least £50,000 worth of property, which is now doomed to utter destruction, could have then been safely secured, besides, preserving our harbour from the encroachments of the sea. lam perfectly content, however, sir, to leave the matter in the hands of the electors of Westland to decide whether it would not be a fitting and suitable acknowledgment of Mr Hawkes' endeavors to serve the interests of the district, to select him as their representative to lay before the General Assembly the wants, requirements, andttte demands of this long neglected district. I am, Sir, your most obdt. servant, W. H. LoNGBOTTOM.