ELECTION FOR EAST WAIRARAPA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2221, 20 June 1865, Page 5

ELECTION FOR EAST WAIRARAPA.

On Friday last, a meeting was held of the electors of East Wairarapa, for tho purpose of electing a representative for that district for the Provincial Council. The meeting was held at the School room, Masterton, and there was a good attendance of electors, several of whom had ridden a considerable distance to be present. Mr Vallance, an old and highly respected resident in the district, had been spoken of as a candidate in some quarters, but as there appeared to be a desire on the part of many of the electors that Mr Stokes should be returned as their member, Mr Vallance at once on public grounds retired in favor of that gentleman. Mr Wardell, the returning officer, opened the proceedings by explaining thafc he had received a writ requiring the electors to return a fit and proper person to represent the district in the Provincial Council of Wellington, and he now called upon them to nominate a person to fill tho office of their representative. Mr G. Moore proposed the hon. Robert Stokes as a fit ancl worthy representative for the district in the Provincial Council, and said if he had not felt the fullest assurance that he was in every way worthy the suffrages of tho electors lie would not have ridden sixty miles with tho sole object of doing all in his power to promote his election. He was glad also to see electors from fche other end of the district, whom he had reason to believe had come to-day with the same purpose. He had known Mr Stokes for many years, ancl as an elector having a large interest in the district, was glad to be able with confidence to place ifc uuder his political care. He was fully assured thafc Mr Stokes' sympathies ancl feelings were largely in favor of everything that could fairly promote the welfare of country settlers and the general improvement of their resources. He always had been, and doubtless always would be, anxious to forward in every reasonable and practical manner these important objects. However, Mr Stokes was here aud would speak for himself, ancl he'was sure would answer satisfactorily auy questions which electors might desire to ask on any of these points — he (Mr M.) might perhaps be allowed to mention thafc Mr Stokes was the first to bring, in a formal way before the public, a scheme for a railway through the province, which if carried out, would confer incalculable benefits on the province generally, and this district especially — this scheme had been sneered afc by some and mistrusted by others, and he (Mr M.) confessed that he at first thought ifc premature — hehoped now, however that they might seriously contemplate its not very distant accomplishment — lie believed the project was daily assuming a more tangible and hopeful appearance, and thafc they would isoon hear something more than merely specu- | lafcive propositions in the matter. It had been said that Mr Stokes was nofc a resident iv tho district, and ho (Mr M.) admitted that all other qualifications being equal, he would have preferred a resideut member, nevertheless it was nofc at all an unusual thing for a constituency to look out of their district for a representative, and he thought this was an occasion on which such a course would be found beneficial to the best interests of the district. They would never have a more willing or zealous advocate of their wants and wishes, and now afc this very important and critical period in the political career ofthe province, it was of the very highest importance to have the besfc and ablest men they could find who wero j willing to bestow their time and talent in. | the public service. Ho had every confidence , iv the hou. gentleman he hod the pleasure to ' propose, ancl he honestly believed that if they elected him they would have much reason to be glad of their choice. Mr Eevans had great pleasuro in seconding the nomination of Mr Stokes. It was not necessary for hini to add anything on his part to what had been so well said by Mr Moore in favor of Mr Stokes, ancl of his qualifications to represent them in the Provincial Council. He had promised to support another candidate, but tliat gentleman had no desire to provoke a contest and had declined to come forward, and he thought that he had been guided solely by a consideration to promote the public service in doing so. This had left him. free to act, and he had great pleasure in offering his support to Mr Stokes. After a pause, no other candidate being proposed, the Ileturniug-Ofucer declared the Hon Robert Stokes to be duly elected as member for East Wairarapa. Mr Stokes begged to return his thanks to the electors for the honor they had conferred on him by electing him their representative in the Provincial Council. Since the last election several most important changes had taken place materially affecting this province in its relations to the colony, and in a similar degree affecting the interests of the different districts of the province. The seat of Govermenfc had been removed to j Wellington, through the exertions of their Superintendent the contract for the Panama route had been completed, and Wellington had been made the port of call for the Panama steamers ; and in a few months they might expect to have communication by electric telegraph between Wellington and the whole of the Middle Island. All these changes would materially affect Wellington by increasing its trado and prosperity, and it would be the duty of their representative, while he attended to tho general interests of the province, to try and promote those of his own district so that it might share in tho general prosperity, for as each district increased in importance it contributed to tho general advancement of the province. He had for several years past beon engaged in public life, and they could judge from his past career of his ability to serve them. He could not pretend to be so well acquainted with their wants as a resident would be, but he should be glad at all times to receive tho suggestions of his constituents, and try to givo effect to them to the best of Instability, whenever they promised to advance tho interests of the district. While in the Provincial Council he had not been inattentive to their interests. One of

the first motions ho had made, was to have a sum of money placed on the estimates for improving the coast road. Two years since, he had proposed in the Council a project for a railway from Wellington through tlie Wairarapa to the eastern 'boundary of tho province. This at first received an incredulous assent. It was readily admitted that such a project would be most beneficial if it could be carried out, but an impression prevailed that it would not be realized in our time, thafc in short, it was almost too good to be true. Last year he had renewed the motion with still greater success, and he found the more the project was discussed, , the more the difficulties appeared to I vanish, and the practicable nature of the scheme became more evident. The late important changes to which he had referred, I would materially assist in hastening the ' realisation of the project, so that what at I first was deemed to be probable might now be regarded as a matter of certainty. One of the most important benefits that could be conferred on an inland district, was to lessen the cost and increase the facilities of communication. To do this was to increase the area of cultivation, to increase the population, and to add to their wealth and prosperity ; and if tlie railway were carried out, the plains whiched surround them would be made very greatly to contribute to the commerce of i Wellington, and add to the comfort and [ wealth of the inhabitants of the district. j Mr Vallance asked if Mr Stokes would pledge himself to get the wants of the district attended to. Mr Stokes in reply said he thought he had by anticipation answered Mr Vallanco's question, but he had no hesitation in repeating thafc every reasonable project which his constituents might make to him that would tend to promote tlie interests of the district should always have his strenuous support. Mr Vallance expressed himself perfectly satisfied. A vote ef thanks to the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings.