PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue XXVI, 29 July 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION.

The nomination of candidates for a member to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr H. Anderson took place yesterday at the hustings in front of the Supreme Court.

At twelve o'clock the returning officer, J. C. Crawford, E?q., appeared, and, having road the writ, called upon electors among those present to nominate candidates.

Mr E. Peauce proposed Mr E. W. Mills as a fit and proper person to represent the city in the Council.

Mr S. Levy seconded the nomination

Mr Toomath endorsed much of what hal fallen fromMrPearcein proposingMr Mills, but as tho candidate ho proposed did not meit with the approval of the whole of tho ratepayer?, ho would propose anotlior candidate — Mr Seager. If they woro to place Mr Seager in the Provincial Council, they would bo doing two things at onee — they would have Mr Mills in the City Council, and Mr Sengcr in tho Provincial Council. The time had come when a change was required, as it was the opinion of a great nmny people that the present incmbers of the Provincial Council had not done their duty. Tho two acts which had occupied tho greatest portion of the time of the Council — tho Highways Act and thoEducation Act — ho thought would operate most injuriously towards the interests of the province. Tho Highways Act virtually divided the province into eight small provinces, and the Education Act put the whole management of education in the hands of the few. With reference to the recent conduct of tho City Council, he considered they had acted most improperly in passing measures which they were not olected to consider without asking the opinion of the ratepayers. Ho did not say that the purchase of the reclaimed land was a good act or a bad one, but under the peculiar circumstances of the case, when the members of the City Council had only been elected as Town Board members, and to fur loss power than they have now, thoy should have appealed to tho ratepayers before thoy had decided upon such a large measure. New blood was wanted. Men who did not belong to the present clique should bo elected. Mr Beck seconded the nomination. There being no other candidate proposed, tho Returning Officer called upon tho candidutes to address the meeting. Mr E. W; Mills theu explained to the meeting that ho had como forward ab tho request of a number of friends who were acquainted with his public acts for many years. If thoy elected him he would conscientiously endeavor to support all measures calculated to advnnco tho wolfare of tho province. In reply to questions, he said he would give tho education and highway schemes his earnest attention. He confessed he had not studied those questions yet, not being a great politician, but ho would examine them, and then do a3 he thought best. Ho was not pre-psn-ed to say that ho would support a bill to muko Wellington tho metropolis of New Zealand. (Cheers ) Mr Cuables Seager said ho had como forward at the request of his fellow citizens, and he would endeavor to do his duty to tho bost of his ability in the Council if elected. (Cheers.) The show of hands was declared to be in fivvor of Mr Mi. ls. A poll was demanded by Mr Seagar, and was announced to take place on Monday next.