PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 1678, 3 February 1873, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. At noon to-day Duncan Guy, Esq Deputy Returning Officer, (Major Edwards being unwell) presided at a meetinoat the Court House to hear the nominal tion of candidates for the Provincial Council. The attendance was most excellent, the greatest interest being exhibited in the proceedings. The meeting havinobeen declared formally opened, the Rc^ turning Officer called for nominations. Mr Geo. Beaven said he had much pleasure in proposing William Ho_g Watt as a fit and proper, person to represent the town of Wanganui. He had no need to expatiate upon the merits of Mr Watt as he was well known to all the electors.

Mr Thomas Bamber briefly seconded the nomination.

Mr William Hogg Watt had pleasure in proposing Charles Clifford Iveson as a fit and proper person to represent the town of Wanganui. It was the second time he had the pleasure of proposing Capt. Iveson, and he had the same grounds for doing it this time as he had the first. During the short time Capt. Iveson had been in the Council he had worked for the interests of his constituents.

Mr John Ballance seconded the nomination.

Mr H. C. Field nominated Mr William Hutchison. He was an old member, and had discharged his duties honestly and fearlessly.

Mr John Duthie, in seconding the nomination, said Mr Hutchison had served the electors for years, and during that time acted in an honest and independent maimer. He had allowed no personal feeling to influence his conduct. He had been accused of want of unanimity, but on referring .to the blue books, he (Mr Duthie) found that this Avant of unanimity existed between Mr Hutchison and Mr Finnimore (Mr Finnimore—My name not being before the electors, I object to the speaker making use of it). He meant Mr Watt and Mr Hutchison (Mr Watt objected to his name being mentioned). One of the two local questions that Avere discussed in the Council last session, the Wharf Bill, Mr Watt supported it, and used it as a Aveapon to lash" the Borough Council into buying the Bridge. Mr Hutchison opposed the Bill, and by so cloinoopposed the levying of £450 a year on the rates, to support the Hospital. On this and other grounds he (Mr Duthie) claimed that Mr Hutchison was entitled to the support of the electors and should be returned, and Mr Watt rejected. (Hear, hear.) If the electors sent doAvn members Avho Avould do nothing but support Mr Watt, it would only be addinomore strength to the Superintendent, who made Mr Watt do anything he Avas told to do. With respect to Captain Iveson he Avas a very respectable man, but he was a country man and should seek a seat m the Kai Iwi district. It was nonsense to talk of his past services as he had been only one day in the Council, and therefore comparatively untried. In conclusion he (Mr Duthie) could confidently recommend to the electors the candidate Avhose nomination he had seconded. ' (Cheers.) Mr Henry Nathan nominated William Fmnimore as a fit and proper person to represent the town of Wanganui. Mr C. P. O'H-iNLO-r seconded the nomination.

No other candidates being nominated, and those already proposed not appearing inclined to speak, the Returning Officer called for a show of hands, Avhich resulted as foUWs :—

Cliirbrd Iveson 28, W. H. Watt 20, W. Hutchison 18, and W. Finnimore 15.'

Mr Finnimore demanded a poll Avhich the Returning Officer fixed for Thursday the Gth inst, J

On the electors leaving the building a cry Avas raised for the candidates avlio appeared in front of the Court House. Capt. Iveson, by virtue of obtaining the shew of hands first addressed the assembled electors. He said he had to return thanks to the electors for the proud position they had placed him in that day. As far as regards his Adews on public questions he might sum them up in the Avord" progress." HeAvould like to see roads and bridges made, the river channel deepened, and theriverbank protected againsttheencroachments of the heaA^y freshets. To go into each of the questions he had named In detail Avould require a lengthy speech, and he knew the electors could not spare the time just then to listen. If the electors gave him their confidence and returned him, he Avould pledge himself to do all he could to advance the interests of the toAvn. He might not be able to do much good, but he Avould endeavour to keep the other candidates from doing Avrong. The river question he took a great interest in, and on that he Avould devote his energies. (Mr Alexander asked the speaker if he Avould support M.i Bunny's proposal to boriw £100,000 for public Avorks). He had no hesitation in saying that he Avould. (Hear, hear).

MrW. H. Watt said he had represented Wanganui in the Piwincial Council ever since there had been a Council. (Mr Aiken—Misrepresented, you mean). He appeared before them to-day as a member of the Executive, and in taking that office he considered he Avas acting for the best interests of Iris constituents 0 It was for the electors to say by their votes Avhether they Avere also of that opinion. The leading question before the Province Avas its Public Works, and although he had not got the details of the question at his fingers' ends, still he could assure the electors that he Avas prepared to jealously Avatch their interests, and obtain for the district its fair in-ojjortion of tlie exiienditure of jmblic money. Mr Duthie had referred to his name in connection with the Wanganui Bridge and Wharf, and said that he (Mr Watt) had supported the purchase of the Bridge, Avhich Avas inimical to the interests of the toAvn. He had giA ren credit to Mr Duthie for possessing greater sense than he appears to have shewn, for he Avould remind the electors that Mr Duthie, as a member of the late Town Board, actually proposed the irai-chase of the Bridge for £15,000, and said that if Aye could not get it for that to give £20,000. (Mr Duthie interrupted, and said he admitted having jn-oposed the purchase of the Bridge for £15,000, but never proposed to"* buy the Hospital). With

respect to the tolls that so much had been said about, he could confidently state that, the Provincial Government never intended to impose the schedule contained in the Bill that passed the second reading, and for Avhich he voted. On the Bill going into committee he (Mr Watt) remodelled the schedule of tolls substitpting the one in force. Mr Duthie's remarks in reference to Mr Pharazyn again proved that he was not possessed of correct information. Mr Pharazyn had a large stake in the district he represented, and Avas as fairly entitled to represent it if the electors thought fit to elect him as any other man. He (Mr Watt) was surprised that Mr Duthie had made the remarks he did, as they Avere decidedly in bad taste, and he should have knoAvn better. (Oh, Oh.) With respect to the £100,000 loan referred to by Mr Bunny, £5,000 of the amount was to be devoted to school buildings, and the rest .to public works. The electors must recollect that from his jiosition as a memof the Executive he could not go on to the floor of the House, and make any sort of proposals to the GoA^ernment of Avhich he was a member, but he could as one of them take care that Avhen the estimates Avere being framed, this district shoiddbefairlytreated' and have justice fairly meted out to it. He could see that the district got a. grant for the Hospital, a grant for the River Bank, and another morsel from the £20,000 paid for the Bridge in aid of the Wharf. If any of the members returned brough forward a measure calculated to do good, he Avould give it his eamet support. He trusted if returned that the other members would Avork in unanimity Avith him, for if the Government found a band of six or seven voting together, more attention Avould necessarily be paid to their Avishes, and they Avould be able to obtain greater benefits for their respective constituencies.

Concluded to-morrow