THE MAN FOR HOKITIKA.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 28

THE MAN FOR HOKITIKA.

But Mr. Seddon was never the man to be daunted by danger of this sort, and he had one great advantage in knowing thoroughly the temper and feeling of his electorate. The district included Kumara, as well as Hokitika, and was very large and unwieldy. But the population was composed almost entirely of miners; at least, the miners’ vote was the only vote that counted for mueh; and Mr. Seddon had here at least as good a chance as any of his rivals. The names of the candidates were: E. Barff, R. Cumming, P. Dungan, R. C. Reid, R. j. Seddon. They were all “Greyhounds’* (as the young recruits to th* great pro-Consul’s forces were rather contemptuously called j, except Mr. Barff, who was a sitting member. “He was an experienced miners’ representative, but a pon-

speaker. It is anifl by those who heard him that he ‘was sometimes so prosy MU>be a wearmess to the flesh.' Mr. Cumming was an Irishman, with all the brightness and gaiety generally associated with members of his nationality. Mr. Dungan, another Irishman, was ‘a good fellow and a genial man, and a miner.’ Mr. Keid was a popular and influential journalist." Mr. Reid was the most popular candidate, but Mr. Seddon soon concentrated a large share of public attention upon himself. lor the following account of the contest we must once more acknowledge our obligation to the “Lyttelton Times”:—

feeling in favour of Sir George Grey was so strong in the district that there was little hope of the Conservative candidate being placed. The people were essentially with the ‘Greyhounds.’ All of them ran on the same course; but Mr. Seddon, to distinguish himself from the others, called them Liberal ‘Greyhounds,’ and himself a ‘Radical Greyhound.’ “The contest was more personal than political, but it was none the less animated. The records of the Hokitika election, which no one regarded then as of e any more historical interest than any other election in the colony, show that no candidate worked harder than Mr. Seddon. He had made up his mind that the seat must be his, and he set all his immense energy and irresistible store of power to break down the many difficulties that presented themselves on the threshold of his Parliamentary career. The district was entitled to return two members, and he had little doubt in his own mind that he would be one of them. The consequences to himself, however, were so momentous that he worked in almost a frenzied manner to make success sure. One of those W’ho saw him a short time before the great day came says that ‘day and night he was unwearied and unceasing in his efforts to draw his friends closer and placate his opponents.’ ”