ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. (BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1448, 13 October 1881, Page 3

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE. (BY TELEGRAPH- PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Mr Sheehan has intimated his intention to contest the Thames borough. It is thought Sir George Grey will oppose him in order to make sure of the seat. The Rev. J. U. Davis has announced hi« intention of contesting the East Dunedin seat. •

Mr Orrnoud is engaged in a triangular duel in his district, now known as Waipawa, his opponents being Mr S. Johnson, a brother of the PostmasterGeneral's, and Mr W. 0. Smith, a member of the County Council. Mr Johnson appears to represent the party in power, and his opinions may be discovered from the acts and policy of the Ministry. It appeals to be quite an open question whether Major Atkinson will stand for the Egmont seat or for Grey and Bell. Should Major Atkinson elect to stand for Grey and Bell, or Taranaki district, it is unlikely he would be opposed. That is a consideration jn these uncertain political tunes. Mr Seymour's opponents, says the Marlborougli Times, have during the last week or bo industriously circulated a report that ho did not intend to come forward for Wairau at the approaching election. We have it on the best authority that these {statements are utterly without foundation, as it is Mr Seymour's intention to contest the seat as heretofore. The districts of Collingwood and Motueka have been amalgamated under the latter name, and there will be as candidates Mr Gibbs and Mr Hursthouse, the former of whom, says a local journal, by his sturdy and manly fight to prevent the disfranchisement of the Province de&erves well of his constituents. Nelson has so much reason to be satisfied with its .Shepherd, Gibbs, Pitt and Levestam, that we expect to see no ordinary enthusiasm displayed over the election though one of the members must be left out. Reports from Wellington state : — Every day fresh candidates are announcing themselves, for the city or country beats, and in a shoit time addresses to tho electors will be almost as numerous as sparrows. One city electorate has no fewer than six candidates out, and it is impossible to say how many moie may yet be afflicted with a mania for_ parliamentary honours. Since the coming into operation of the Representation Act a run has been made on voting papers, and 15,000 have already been distributed in the city. This indicates the keenness with which the elections are likely to be fought out. Local magnates in Otago seem to be, just now, in a simmer of excitement over the prospects of elections, local and general. Jt is a troublesome time, says the Dunedin Stay, for a certain class of politicians who are so devoted to the service of their adopted country that they give up, for various odds and ends of consideration, their whole time to local and colonial politics The General Assembly are not only on the eve of dissolution, but the county councils expire next month, and there are signs of vigorous contests throughout this provincial district. Mr Edward Stafford has published his address to the electors of Te Aro (Wellington city.) Captain Kenny notifies in the Marlborough Expi m that owing- to bad health he will not offer himself for re-election for Picton district. Mr W. H. Eyes, formeily a Superintendent of Marlborough, is a candidate seeking election. Mr Hursthouse, M.H.R., addressed a large meeting of electors at Motuek (Nelson) on Monday night. After referring to the transactions of last session, he stated that if re-elected he would oppose the Hall Ministry. A vote of confidence was passed. A requisition, having over 300 signatures, has been presented to Mr Chailps Johnston, asking 1 him to stand for Te Aro district, (Wellington. ) Mr Johnaon will srive an answer on Monday Mr. A. W. Rennall is a candidate for Wairarapa North. Still another candidate (Charles Hendry) has come forward to represent the South Wellington Electoral District, against William Hutchison, the present astute member for the city. Mr. Hendry, like Hutchison, runs in the working men'B interest, and will have a large following 1 . He is a half-educated man, • with the " gift of the gab" marvellously developed. As chairman of a Highway Board and leader of many deputations he has shown an amount of persistence such as is accredited the widow in the parable of the " unjust judge." The Government have found him irresistible, and in the House (if he ever goes there) he will "cry day and night " for justice to the working man. He affects the shabby in garb generally, wears corduroy gaiters tied up with rope, a seedy serge coat, and a hat like Rip Van Winkle's. He has unbounded Belf-confidence, and does not care a dump for the opinion of any man, so that the House would not find him easy to " choke off" At Mr Hutohinson's meeting at Normanby on Monday night the subject ( matter of the candidate's speech was ' practically the same as at Hawera. After many questions were satisfactorily answered, a vote of confidence was carried by 40 to 2. # The latest additions to the candidates for Canterbury are, Mr Alfred Saunders, for Cheviot ;Mr J. Evans Brown and Mr J Wilson, St. Albans (north of Christchurch) ; Mr Cowlishaw, Stanmore, (east of Christohurch) ; and Mr J. Hayhurst, Geraldihe.

Mr Kennedy Hill will sell at his mart, Hamilton, on Saturday, 22nd inst., 40 acres of land in Marsden county and an allotment at Alexandra, in the estate of Frank Barker, The "Hibernian Social" will include dancinjf and refreshments. -