THE SUPERINTENDENCY OF NELSON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 571, 23 October 1869, Page 2

THE SUPERINTENDENCY OF NELSON.

Both the anti - Curtis candidates have now been before the West Coast constituency, or, at least, before a section of that constituency; and it is time that the electors were beginning to declare themselves. An early declaration of their sympathies is especially desirable ; for such is the position of matters that, by the declaration of the majority, the votes of even the minority might be secured. And, if Mr Curtis is to be ousted, it is most important that all the available votes should be secured.

It happens that, upon the personal merits of the men who are before them as candidates, there is very little prejudice among the electors either one way or the other. Mr Akersten, known as he is merely by his stay among us, and without giving heed to the fondness of personal friends or to adverse public rumor, is a gentleman to whom, personally, no one might object. He is eminently of a practical turn, and, perhaps, for the initiation, as well as fur the supervision, of practical works, he is admirably suited. He is exactly the type of man who, in a public capacity, finds his proper sphere on the Public Works Committees of Town Boards. Half- " shell-back,'" half-settler, with a smack of the engiueer,*he would be, and has been, a most useful man in organising or supervising street improvements or similar works associated with Municipalities or Harbors. Worse men have, no doubt, filled a Superintendent's chair. So far as is known, aud as hisjftitecedents reveal, Mr Gibbs is not less of a practical turn, while he has the reputation of being considerably more political, and, we should say, in a Superintendent's chair, much more politic. He has probably had advantages which Mr Akersten has not had, and he is of an active, enthusiastic temperament which is refreshing when emanating from the atmosphere of Nelson. In any Province of Hew Zealand, he would be an eligible candidate for the Superintendence

But, leaving their merits on one side —and to do so, we believe, is to do a great injustice to Mr Gibbs—the chief question with the electors is, How will they poll in Nelson? Upon this there has been most diverse information. Anyone who knows anything about elections kuows that there always is. And anyone who knows the same knows well enough how " the thing is done." Telegrams are flashed through—" Jack's election safe —majority millions; Bill's chance infinitesimal—probable result of poll 0." These are things which only " gammon the flats;" accustomed electors take them for what they are worth, which is nothing—especially when they emanate from a candidate or his committee. This—and we do not say it in any condemnatory spirit—has been an especial feature of the tactics of Mr Akersteu. We referred to him, when he arrived, as representing himself to be the man of Nelson's heart, and of representing himself, when in Nelson, as the man especially chosen by the West Coast. Every line which has since appeared in the Nelson papers has corroborated that he started with the " blind " that he was from the first —perhaps from the time of his birth—the West Coast candidate. We believe the course he has taken to be disingenuous, and an insult to the spirit of the West Coast electors, if it is not an insult to their perceptions. Of course " the ball has been kept rolling " —or the wires have been kept working—ever since, and, in consideration of the revenue they bring to the line, the telegrams might

be - loft unnoticed. But the effect which they may have in misleading the indifferently informed is sufficient excuse for us showing how far they are fallacious. This is a specimen, and a mild one, of the sort of thing which Mr Akersten transmits by the wires ; and we may say that if it bore upon the face of it anything like truth, or if it were not very distinctly contradicted, we should not notice it, leaving him to be judged npon his merits. lie telegraphed : Well supported in country districts. Election safe. Probable result —Akersten 700; Curtis 600; Gibbs 250 ; Horn 30. Curtis claims majority of seven (seventy ?) His party is troubled. Any division on the West Coast fatal. Of course we need not point out that, in this estimate, Mr Akersten includes the whole strength of the West Coast. But whatever his estimate, here is one ans.ver out of many with which we might fill our columns. It is from Mr Nathaniel Edwards to Mr Gibbs : Have seen your telegram. Have taken no interest in canvassing for either party, but from what I can learn as to between yourself and Akersten, he is quite wrong in the figures he quotes. Now, we do not desire to deceive others any more than we would wish to be deceived ourselves; and if we do not give the information which follows as " gospel truth," we give it at least in good faith and with considerable knowledge as to its sincerity and its correctness. A private correspondent in Nelson telegraphed to us yesterday afternoon as follows ; and we may say that he does so with no knowledge of the proclivities of the Press—for proclivities the Press had not—- either one way or the other : Akersten's telegrams utterly untrue. Losing former friends, and not making way in country. Neither will he poll many votes in town. His telegraphing trick lias damaged him here. Curtis has lost caste in consequence of the sale of land at Wangapeka. Gibbs's interest is improving daily. The Curtis party are afraid of Gibbs, and their newspapers are pitching into him.

To cut short a long story, we shall add merely what a thoroughly reliable correspondent also says. Ho writes:— " Gibbs goes down by to-night's steamer. His chances in the country are far better than Akersten's. In town, . who was at first a supporter of Akersten, declares for Gibbs. Akersten will get very few votes in town, and still fewer in the country, where Gibbs has received large support—much more than I anticipated he would get. I have been up country several times this week, and have tested the feelingof considerable districts,and, except Motueka,whereCurtis is strong, and, perhaps, in Waimea West, Gibbs will generally have a good show, and in some places, as in Waimea East (Richmond,) will have a large majority. Akersten, if he stand, will take some votes from both Gibbs and Curtis, but if the West Coast go in for Gibbs, I believe their great number will overtop any majorities Curtis may obtain. The recent landselling at Wangapeka, and an article which appeared in one of the papers—the Colonist —has damaged Curtis much, and Gibbs last night made a capital speech at Stoke. " Akersten is losing any strength he had even in Nelson, and his speech at Westport, in which he says he could poll so many votes in .Nelson aud the country, is simply unmitigated bounce, and is utterly the rever.se of the fact. Even his own particular friends at the Port feel that he is not the man, Unless the whole of your interest is transferred to Gibbs, Curtis goes in to a certainty. If Gibbs were to retire, it would put Curtis in, for the most of Curtis's opponents would vote for Curtis as against Akersten. If the "West Coast go in for Gibbs fully, there would not, I think, be much to fear, even if Akersten stood. If you go for Akersten on the West Coast, you will put Curtis in, for many of those who speak slightingly of Gibbs say they would rather vote for him than for Akersten. Although Akersten is in the stirrups at present, he may retire, but that is doubtful. " There is not much harm in Horn, but if he stands he may probably take a few votes from Gibbs, but they will be very few. " If it is known that the West Coast will go for Gibbs, it will take many votes in town from Curtis aud from Akersten too."