The Westport Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1869.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 560, 28 September 1869, Page 2

The Westport Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1869.

The proximity of the date for the election of a Superintendent, and the incidents which, in connection with the election, have occurred since the publication of our last number, may be an excuse for us again referring to a subject upon which our readers must consider sufficient has already been said. We refer to it simply to state the few facta within our knowledge, leaving the electors to speculate as to the probabilities of the future, if there is enthusiasm enough left in them to encourage them to do so.

The first fact of which we are informed is that the day of nomination has been fixed for the 7th proximo, the place of nomination being, of course, Nelson City. Of this fact we are only informed by telegram from our Nelson correspondent, and he does not state, nor is it probable that he is able to state, the length of time likely to transpire between the nomination and the day of polling. It is reasonable to suppose that a period not less than a week will, at least, elapse between the two occasions.

The second fact is that, since Saturday, information was received from an almost authoritative source that there was no doubt that Mr Nathaniel Edwards would allow himself to be nominated as a candidate ; and the heart of Westport rejoiced thereat. Mr Edwards's final and definite answer, it was intimated, would be forwarded on Monday, the delay in doing so being attributed by our informant to a dosire on the part of Mr Edwards to communicate his intention to the present holder of the office. It was added that requisitions to Mr Edwards would be got up in town and country, and that he depended upon receiving —what we hope we may say he would undoubtedly receive the universal support of the electors of the West Coast. Such was the promising position of affairs up till noon yesterday ; and up till that hour the Westport requisitionists were " buoyed with hope ;" his more eager supporters were contemplating visits to Charleston and Brighton as advocates of fraternity and—liberty ; and the editorial pen of the Westport Times was being prepared for the modest and respectful administration of friendly advice to Messrs Dwan and Donne. At that hour, however, came Mr Edwards's ultimatum, and thereupon the editorial pen became what it at other times makes futile efforts to be—dry ; the society of the " more eager supporters " became insupportable to the possessor of any well-regulated mind; and the buoy Hope sank. Mr Edwards's ultimatum was to this effect: —" I regret the circumstances, but I cannot stand for the Superintendency. Requisition received. Will write."

From a correspondent in Nelson, nearly at the same time, we received the same information and such consolation to the constituency as is contained in the following additional item of intelligence :—" Mr Gibba has announced his candidature." As it might not satisfy the Nelson Examiner to find the Westport journal

referring to the subject of the Superintendency without "railing" at Mr Curtis, we shall maintain our consistency and at the same time keep our promise to leave speculation to the electors, by adding one more fact. It is the fact that another respectable journal is in the habit of " railing " on the same subject. Speaking of the election, and quoting some of our remarks, the Grey River Argus says:— All that the electors on the Nelson goldfields can do is to create a diversion in favor of some other candidate who could command a respectable amount of support in the city aud country districts. Should such a candidate come forward—it scarcely matters who or what he is—the West Coast electors would poll for him almost to a man against Mr Curtis, whose treatment of the goldfields and their population, all through his tenure of office, has been such as to raise the bitterest feelings of hostility against him. His reign has been one of neglect and mismanagement. The only thing in which he has been successful has been the bringing of the usual Government system of red-tapeism to perfection in all the departments, especially on the goldfields