THE GENERAL ELECTION.

West Coast Times, Issue 1662, 27 January 1871, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

NOMINATION FOR TOTARA

DISTRICT.

The nomination of candidates for the election of a member for the Assembly for the Totara Electoral District, took place yesterday at noon in front of the Resident Magistrate's Conrt, at Hokitika.

There was anything but a large attendance of the public, and of those present but a very few were electors of the district. Probably the number was bounded strictly within those named as proposers and seconders of candidates, some of whom had to do service for more than one candidate.

The Returning Officer, G. G. FitzGerald, Ksq, opened the proceedings by reading the writ. He then called upon the electors to nomiuate candidates.

Mr Dale proposed, nnd Mr Lynch seconded, Mr F. de Las Carreras. Mr Meyer proposed, and Mr Holmes seconded, Mr Conrad Hoos.

Mr Burton proposed, and Mr Pitcher seconded Mr Ktogb. Mr Zohrab prop sed, and Mr Lynch seconded, Mr G. 11. Tribe. Mr Dalv proposed, and Mr Zoij;b.\b wspondecl, Mr Kdirnrnd

A show of hands was taken with the following result :- Keoijh, 10; Carreras, 15; Hoos, 15; BarrT, 13 ; Tribe, 7. The Returning Officer declared tbe show of hands to be in favor of Mr Keogh.

A poll was demanded on behalf of Mr I Carreras, by Messrs Dale aud Lynd', which | the Returning Officer announced would take place on the Bth of February next. Mr Kj;ogh canu* forward in compliance with a general call, and said that ho fc]t proud that on the first occasion of his appearing on any stage a< a politician, he j should have secured the favor of a majority. He would not deta>n the electors long" on the present occasion, but would take an early opportunity of giving every information fi<? to his views on political matters. Rut he would say that there was one thing he should certainty attend to if returned, nnd thru avjis to endeavor to get some change made in the postal service as regarded 'he conveyance here of the English mail, which at times was permitted to be in Nelson for ten days or a fortnight, while Blenheim had a postal service. There were matters in connection with Public Works, and the obrainment of loans for the development of the County respecting which he would take an early opportunity of fi'ldrossing the electors.

Mr Ca.rei-.ras did not intend to s;ty even as much ;.s Mr Keoirh. His (Mr Carreras') political opinions were well-known. He had alre.idy held several meetings in the distiict, at which he had explained his views, and both he and Mr Tribe had gone some two bundled miles through the district, and he recommended the other candidates to do the same, and then they would see for themselves what were the waiit< of the district. The chief want, they would find by their own experience, was roads, and for that, money was needed. It would be his endeavor, if returned, to get as much money for the district as could be extrac f ed from the General Assembly.

Mr Hoos said it was not his intention to express his views on the piesent occasion, a-! there were but few Totara electors pr- sent, but he would take an early opportunity of doing so within the district, He did not intend to visit Okarito, because there were difficulties in reaching that place, as everyone was aware. Those difficulties he had endeavored to obviate as fir as was in his power. lie would, if returned to the Assembly, endeavor to obtain for the di^rict a fair share of revenue, but be could not give an assurance that it would be got. [Calls were made for Mr Barff, but he had left the meeting.] Mr Tribe said that though lasf at the nomination, he hoped he should be first on the poll. He addressed those present as the constituents, though he thought there were but few elector of the district amongst them. He did not intend to be as brief as tbe other candidates, as there were important matters upon which he desired to express his views. He considered that the measures introduced by the present Government were of the most enlighti ned nature, and were calculated to remove a vast weight of taxation from the people. The system which had hitherto prevailed of dividing the revenue with the Provinces, had rendered it the interest of each Province to increase taxation, aud that, and not tbe Xative War, was the rea son that the Colony was so heavily taxed. That system had now been put an end to. I Tt would not now be necessary if ten shillin.s were required to be raised, to impose si tax of twenty shillings to obtain the ten because of the division of revenue. The inducement for the imposition of heavy taxation being withdrawn the burdens would gradual I v be lightened. It had been said that Westland had been made to suffer vastly in the eh inge which had been brought about. But it would be found tnat the exceptional condition of Westland had been recognised by Mr Vojel, who had admitted that the County would boa loser of £13.000 and had endeavored to lighten the loss, first by a special vote of £3000 and then by taking over the Christchurch road. lie did not himself believe that the County would suffer at all by the policy of the Government, but even if it did it w,as worth bearing for such a glorious principle as the one which had been carried. He was not, however, prepared to admit that the Couuty would surfer. The Customs revenue had been diminishing, and was co'itinung to diminish, and its revenue nndor the old system was uncertain, while now we should know what we have to receive The payment'? to the Provinces wenld be gradu lly diminished, the diminution being at the rate of £25,000 per annum, so that iv five years the amount would be decreased by £'125,000, and taxation could be lissened in proportion: If returned he would endeavor to have the principle carried further, to squeeze out utterly Provinces and County and leave nothing but Road Boards under the control of the General Government. He would endeavor to laing about one general system, one. miners' right throughout the Colony, one system of education, hospitals, gaols, police, &c, all under the control of the General Government, without any provinces, lie had intended to

refer to other Hibjects, but his memory failed him, and he would conclude by proposing a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer.

Tho proceedings then terminated, and the meeting dispersed.