MR. WAKEFIELD'S ATTEMPT TO GET RETURNED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLE FOR A CANTERBURY CONSTITUENCY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1500, 26 February 1861, Page 4

MR. WAKEFIELD'S ATTEMPT TO GET RETURNED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLE FOR A CANTERBURY CONSTITUENCY.

The following are the whole of the particulars (extracted from the Lyttelton Tims of the 9th and 13th February), relative to the attempt made by Mr. E. J. Wakefield to obtain a seat in the .House of Representatives for the Heathcote district, Canterbury. We have been obliged, to defer our remarks in consequence of the -press of English news. ( From the ' Times,' 9!h February. J We have been astonished during the past two days by an announcement for which our experience of past jears ought to have prepared us, but which, nevertheless, we wero far from Mr. E. Wakefield, the other day a 'beaten candidate for the representation of a Wellington constituency in the House of Representatives, arrived here by tbe Airedale, ostensibly as a visitor to the races; a week after his Arrival he offers himself as a candidate for the Heathcote district, whose election tikes place in three or four days, and he assumes

mmediately the character of a Canterbury settler.

Mr. Wakefield is a well known man. He was at one time known pretty well in Canterbury. He has since been better known iv Wellington. As a sportsman, as a politician, as v general ari venturer, and as everything but a settler, he has made himself, during twenty years, a very well-known man throughout New Zealand. We will not allude to his reputation in other departments, but as a politician those who know him best trust him least.

The Heathcote Electors— those of them, at least, who have been in tbe oountry for the past four or five years — know as much about Mr. Wakefield as we can tell them, aud will be as loath that he should sit in the Assembly to represent them as they would be to return a man pledged to suppoit views quite contrary to tbeir own. But some of the electors, whose arrival in the country has been of later date, may need to be informed tbat, Mr. Wakefield, when he was a member for the Christchurch Country district in 1854, acted and voted so as to briag down upon himself the all but unanimous disapproval of his constituents. His talents as a canvasser and electioneering agent are indisputable, but it has been the case from 1854 downwards that when his efforts bave been successful and the candidate has merged into the representative, his hustings professions have been heard of no more, and the constituency which retinned hira has deeply repented its choice. Enthusiastic elections — and there have been many — where Mr. Wakefield bas appeared as the ' working man's friend' and in numerous other popular characters, have been iuvariably followed by carelessness on the one side and : dissatisfaction ou the other, till the ability of the man has been utterly forgotten in the disgrace and contempt which have attached to his name as a politician. The well-known story has been enacted several times, and will be so again without a doubt, should he chance to gain this election. He will leave the province, be heard of only as doing what his constituents object to, accumulate odium which he dare not lace, then disappear altogether for a period into some other phase of existence, and after a time turn up in some new spot, canvassing as briskly as ever.

We hoped that Canterbury had got rid of this political mountebank. There are men enough amoug her own residents to represent her, without bringing in a man of alien sympathies, and one defeated in that place where he had a congenial party backing him. The Heathcote district has not yet come to be a refuge for the destitute, nor bave its electors ceased to care altogether who represents them. They will not be beguiled by Mr. Wakefield's address, which he has constructed as nearly as possible to the pattern which he knows will suit those whom he addresses. His sentiments are very good, if not quite accurate as to facts. But tbere is.no dependence to bs placed upou them. THE NOMINATION. On Monday last (llth February) the nomination of candidates for a seat in the General Assembly for the Heathcote district took place at the Cbrris .church Quay, ac 12 o'clock. There were a considerable number of persons preseut, and more than usual interest was evinced in the proceedings, which were opened by H. G. Gouland, Esq., the Returning Officer, reading the writ. Mr. Olltvier came forward'and proposed Mr. George W. Hall as a fit and proper person to represent the interests of the district in the forthcoming Session of the General Assembly. Though Mr. Hall had taken no active part in politics up to the present time, he was well knowu to every one present, and he (Mr. 0.) could lay claim to an intimate personal acquaintance with him which resulted in the opinion I that be was a man every way qualified to become their representative,, Their was little or no difference in the opinions expressed by the two gentlemen who came before them as candidates that day. Each would say the same with regard to the war question, that it should be carried on with energy till it was satisfactorily settled. Both agreed in supporting the financial arrangements of 1856, antl both stated that the New Provinces Act should be considerably modified. The question therefore was resolved into a personal one — wbich man was best qualified to represent the district. Mr. Hall was at least a thoroughly consistent man. He could not say the same of Mr. Wakefield. That gentleman had already been tried in this province, and found wanting. Was there anything that bad since occurred in his political career to justify the electors in thinking that he would prove a more satisfactory representative for this district tban he had before proved himself for another? Mr. Hall had consented to come forward wben no one was in the field ; he had been suffering severely from ill health, which had interfered with his efforts to secure his election. Now that his health was restored, there was no doubt that he would prove himself thoroughly efficient. It would be a most ungracious act t<. desert him now that another candidate had appeared in the field.

Mr. R. Brunsden briefly seconded Mr. Hall

J. C. Wilson, Esq., C.8.; rose to propose Mr. Edvard Jerminqham Wakefield as a proper person to represent the electors of Heathcote. He would not detain the meeting very long, but he must allude to an observation which had fallen from Mr. Hall's proposer about what bad taken place in 1854 with regard to Mr. Wakefield's political career, Instead of Mr. Wakefield's conduct being censured, in almost every place it was approved of/ He was aware that in a recent publication of one of the papers Mr. Wakefield had been spoken of as an adven» turer, and the electors of the district had been warned against beiug beguiled into voting for him. He did not think that the electors were children to need such lessous. If they wanted advice they knew where to go for it and were able to pay for it too. Had not it been for the immoderate language used by the " Lyttelton Times," he should not have been standing where he was that day. As for the doings of 1854, they were not such as were represented by Mr. Ollivier. Mr. W- Wilson stood forward to second Mr. Wakefield. Having been one of his o.riginol proposers for the session of 1854, he could speak to the point which Mr. Ollivier bad mis-repre-sented. He remembered well a very large meeting beld at the Golden Fleece at that time, when both Mr. Wakefield and Mr. Sewell were complimented almost unanimously and received the warmest tbanks of tbeir constituents.

No otlier caudidate having come forward, Mr. Hall proceeded to address the meeting, entering at some length into his opinions on the most material questions likely to come under discussion duriug the approaching session of the General Assembly. After alluding to the identity of opinions held on these subjects by Mr. Wakefield aud himsfelf, he stated the confidence be felt that as it was a purely personal question of choice between them the result would prove favourable to himself. After paying a well-turned compliment to the ability of his opponent, he pointed out that more was required than that quality, for without political

honesty mere ability was worse than useless. Mr. Hall then proceeded to state that his whole time and his honest endeavours to do what was right would be at the service of the electors, and that he had thoroughly made up bis mind that he would never make either a trade or a living out of politics. Mr. E. J. Wakefield then commenced his J address by stating tbat he was an elector under the Constitution Act, in which there was reason to rejoice that there were no such narrow dis- 1 tinctions as had been set up in his case. Objections had been made to bim as not being a resident in the province, and opposition had been grounded on this most fallacious reason. What was the case in England? Did Leeds or Manchester, Sheffield or Birmingham, confine themselves to representatives from among their own resident inhabitants ? Did they not rather choose the fittest men to represent them wherever they were to be found ? Even in New Zealaud this was the case. Had not Mr. Domett, though residing at Hawke's Bay, been returned for Nelson ? And was not Mr. Stafford, though residing mainly at Auckland, returned in his absence by the intelligent electors of Nelson? What was the difference as regarded the absentee question between them ? One gentleman resided on his run, being distant 2_ days journey from his constituents, while th other was within 24 hours by steam. So much for residence and non-residence. Mr. Hall made a great poiut of the fact that all his interest was in Canterbury, and that he was an early settler here. He (Mr. W.) could say that if not all, very nearly all, of his interest was here also, and that he had been one of the very earliest settlers, having assisted without compensation the Association in its first labours, as emigration officer. He had attended to land the passengers ofthe first four ships, and assist them in finding their way on to the plains, while Mr. Fitz- Gerald was engaged in packing his things in his carpet bag. This he had done withont fee or reward. He had never made a trade or living of politics, though he had been accused of doing so, and had bsen styled an • adventurer,' and a ' political mountebank,' without having the opportunity of replying to it, in the pages of a paper which had once taken upon itself to lecture the ' Wellingtou Independent,' for its coarseness and vituperation. He could safely assert that though be had suffered much abuse from that paper at different times, he had never experienced anything anything equal to that which appeared in the last issue ofthe ' Lyttelton Times.' He had written to Mr. Ward, who, he believed, was the chief proprietor of that paper, remonstrating with him for taking such au unworthy advantage of his position, and had received an answer within the last hour. He would read the correspondence which had taken place : —

Christchurch, February 10, 1861. Sir,- You are generally understood to be the proprietor and editor of the Lyttelton Times newspaper. In its publication of yesterday you took advantage of thatposition to publish a gross and unfounded slander upon my public character. There was added an insinuation of something else which your virtuous print could not mention. You are not only a member of the House of Representatives, but in many men's estimation a Christian and a gentleman. I ask you as a Christian, on Sunday morning, to do to another as you would wish to be done to under the circumstances ; and I demand of you as a gentleman to afford me the only satisfaction you can, by attending at the nomination far the Heathcote district, to-morrow (Monday) at noon, in order that I may before your face and that of the public refute your coarse and unjustifiable slander. You are well aware that I have no oppoitunity of replying to it in any newspaper before the day of election.-— I am, &c. , To Crosbie Ward, Esq. E. J. Wakefield. Lyttelton, February 11, 1861. Sir, — Yonr note of. yesterday would ha\e received an immediate reply by your own messenger had I been at home When he arrived. Its contents have greatly surprised me, as I "am unable to Understand why you should attempt to drag me into your contest for the Heathcote district. I accept no personal responsibility for the opinions of the ' Lyttelton Times,' and therefore I cannot undertake either to maiutain or to apologize for whatever has beeu published about you as a public man in its columns. I furtber decline altogether to be preseut at the nomination tbis day. Judging from your letter I presume my duty there would be to listen to an angy reply from you to the 'Lyt telton Times ' mistakenly addressed to myself personally ; I should be obliged to listen to this without the power of reply, until all the regular proceedings of the day (including a provincial electiou) should be over; and, then only by courtesy of tbe meeting, as I am not an elector of tbe district. Under the most favourable circumstances I should have only to say what T have already said in this note. If you wish to reply to the 'Lyttelton Times' to-day for the purpose of influencing the election prior to the day of the poll, thay 1 suggest that my absence will not deprive you of the opportunity ; *nd if you desire publicity, the reporters will, I presume, be on the spot, aud both papers will no doubt give space to a fair and faithful report of what you may have. to say. That I am a member of the House of Representatives is a good reason why I should not interfere in the election of any one wbo may become my colleague ; but I should not have been influenced by this consideration to refrain from meeting you to-day had any conduct of ' mine rendered an explanation necessary or desirable. If you allude to your note to me in your address to-day you will oblige me if you inform the electors also of the terms of my reply.— I amy &c, Crosbie Ward. E.J. Wakefield, Esq. — He would observe that had Mr. Ward been present and acknowledged the wrong he had done, so far from an angy reply he would have found that his feelings were those of pity tbat he should have misused the powers entrusted to him. The public press under proper direction was a powerful engine for good, but when degraded iuto a weapon of abuse and used for the purpose of calling names it became a great evil and was apt to recoil on the heads of those using it. And the present had been a signal instance. The unmerited a.buse which had been showered on him had recoiled on the heads of its framers. Men bad come foward to support him who would not otherwise have done so ; and old friends rallied round him and promised him their votes, in consequence of this article. For himself he felt more pity than anger with the writer in the ' Lyttelton Times" when he saw how he had miscalculated the results of his violence. Ever since he bad entered into tbe arena of politics he had en* deavouied to cultivate a frame of mind which rendered him callous to all remarks. He bad cultivated this with such success that he could safely say that his hide resembled that of a hip popotamus. It was utterly untrue that be came here under the pretence of attending the races,

and then thrust himself in for a seat iv the district. He had been solicited to come forward by several electors Who considered him no political adventurer, aud did not look upon him as a mountebank. He had been taunted with being no settler. Was it necessary to be a sheep farmer to be entitled to be termed a settler ? He had a large horse breeding establishment in the province, on which he expended some £500 a year ? Did not that entitle him to be tinned a settler, or was is necessary that he | should work iv the stables to earn that title? He believed the maiu objection to him was that he was an absentee. —

Mr. J. H. Moore here rose to observe that this was not the case, stating that Mr. Wakefield had absented himself voluntarily from Canterbury for years, aad only paid the province a flying visit, and that he would not have been down here now as a candidate had he not been rejected at Wellington. Here Mr. Moore was overruled by the chairman and Mr. Wakefield proceeded at some length and with considerable ability to explain his views on general questions of policy, referring especially to the necessity of making tbe Executive responsible for the expenditure of public funds, and insisting that it should be checked by the control of the legislature. He wound up his speech by referring to the ruinous effects of the want of control over the Executive as displayed in the provinces of Wellington, Canterbury and Otago. The show of bands was called for and was declared in favour of Mr. Hall by a majority of 1-, there being 10 for that geulleman and 9 for Mr. Wakefield. The friends of Mr. Wakefield having demanded a poll, this part of the proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, Mr. Gouland THE POLLING. The poll for the Heathcote District was taken yesterday (12th Feb.) at Christchurch Quay, •and at Mr. Archer's, Lower Lincoln road.(j The result was of course not made known officially ; but it was appaient from the first that Mr. Hall would be successful, and the following approximation to the figures at 4 o'clock was confidently given : —

(From the Lyttelton Times, Frbruary 13.) Those of our readers who take sufficient intere&t in electioneering matters to peruse the report of the speeches made at the nomination of the candidates for the General Assembly for the Heathcote Cistrict, will perceive that some remarks which we made on the unfitness of Mr. E. J. Wakefield to represent that district, have bad the misfortune to call down ou our devoted heads the wrath, indignation, and pity of that gentleman and a few of his supporters on that occasion. It must be confessed that we are scarcely surprised at this ebulition of feeling. If it is a disagreeable duty to be obliged to tell unpleasant truths and to call things by their real names, the positiou of those to whom those truths are addressed must certainly be ten times more disagreeable. It is, therefore, without astonishment that we find that tbe unpleasant task of commenting on the political career of Mr. Wakefield has slightly disturbed the amour propre of that gentleman. On reviewing the proceedings 'of Monday last, we are inclined to the opinion that Mr. j Wakefield has considerably exaggerated his' case against us. Indeed there is every reason to think that be owes us a deep debt of gratitude for our timely notice of bis intention to take the field as a candidate. We have given him an opportunity of distinction of whicb, with his ready tact, he has at once availed himself. He bas adopted the rdle, and those who only looked upon him a day or two since as the rejected candidate of Wellington, seeking a chance loop-bole through which to creep into the Assembly, can now behold him crowned with the wreath of a martyr, the victim of a course and vituperative Press, ever ready to trample on retiring virtue, and to expose to the brutal jeers of tbe crowd tbe modesty of neglected merit. At once sympathising hearts rallied round tbe victim, votes were profusely promised, and those who had been puzzled to find a reason why they should support the man, flung reason to the winds and rushed forward to uphold the martyr. That tbis has been a material service to Mr. Wakefield few will be piepared to deny; and we are therefore glad to find that it has been duly recognised and acknowledged by himself and his principal supporters. Having placed him under this serious obligation we feel uo delicacy in adding tbe few words of admonition which we find it necessary to administer. In the first outbuist of anger at the unpalatable truths which appeared in our last issue, Mr. Wakefield endeavoured to rend the veil wbich custom throughout the civilised world has permitted to shroad the editorial seat, aod presumed to demand a public explanation from a gentleman whom he suspected of baying written the article which excited his displeasure. None better than Mr. Wakefield can understand the impropriety of tbis proceeding, and none will see more clearly thin himself, on calm reflection, that it bears the stamp of the aotion of a desperate man. Mr. Wakefield feels aggrieved that our observations appeared at a time so near the election that no opportunity was given to him to reply, but he should recollect that i f circumstances compelled him to delay his appearance to so late an hour before taking the field, or if it suited him to attempt to carry the Heathcote District at the last moment by a coup de main, that was no reason why we should be bouud to silence or refrain from giving the alarm. Considering Mr. Wakefield, as we undoubtedly do, as a most unfit man to represent a district in this province,, w.e can see no possible reason to withhold, that opinion because time did not allow. him to reply to it befpre the election. The danger was imminent and the necessity for makiug it known all the more urgent. There is no offender whose recovery' is so totally hopeless as the oue whose conscience has become deadened by long intimacy with crime. Mr. Wakefield, we are glad to see, is not one of tbis class. His political misdemeanours do not sit easily upon him. The title of "adventurer" is unpleasant to him, and " political mountebank" stinks in his nostrils. We cannot despair of such a man. With his talent he possesses, coujd he only be induced to cultive the hitherto neglected attributes of honesty, and principle, he would stand forth a man of whom auy constituency might be proud. Till that happy "time arrives, thosewho try him will find that they are tasting but the apples of Sodom. But we will, not despair. He has likeued himself to the huge rhinoceros,' and vaunts that he is clothed' in armour of proof. We can improve oii the simile and show him that, like that monster, th'dre is still a crevice in the coat of mail which the lightning fire of truth can find out; and iybi|e that, exists there is hope. . ", .. •■ , :

Hall. Wakefield. Quay ... 59 19 Lower 35 16 Total 94 35