WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 445, 21 October 1881, Page 23

WELLINGTON.

(From our Own Correspondent.)

October 14, 1881. Thb electioneering campaign may now be said to be fairly opened in the Empire City, and if the number of candidates be taken as an index of strife, the coming contest promises to be a tough one. In the electoral district of Te Aro there are three lawyers, Messrs. Travers, Bbaw, and Stafford, wooing the " free and independent." The two former are well-known practitioners, and the latter a rising member of the respectable firm of Buckley, Stafford, and Vitzherbert. A fourth candidate is expected in the person of Mr. Charles Johnstone, to whom a numerously signed requisition has been presented asking him to allow himself to be nominated for the electorate. He is also asked to stand for South Wellington. Mr. Johnstone is a Catholic, and a brother to the Hon. Walter Johnstone, Minister for Post and Telegraphs, who is deservedly rising in public estimation since his accession to office. At the last election, and when such an avowal jeopardised his return, Mr. Walter Johnstone declared in unmistakeable terms his views on the Education Question, and the Catholics do not forget it for him. I know nothing personally of Mr. C. Johnston c's views on that subject, but it may be surmised that they are sufficiently orthodox to get him Catholic support. The time has arrived for Catholics to make a determined move for their rights, and they want some able, determined men in Parliament for that purpose. Each candidate should declare himself distinctly on the sub* ject, and no " trimming " allowed. Then we shall know the strength of our forces, for, as you lately remarked in the Tablet, all other political considerations should be merged in that one object, or at least be considered as matters of secondary importance. Of the two constituencies — South Wellington and Te Aro — I think Mr. Johnstone's best chances are in the latter, and I hope he may not be induced, by the solicitation of anybody, to renounce his chance there to try conclusions with Mr. Hutchison at South Wellington, and if possible defeat him. I know that "is a consummation devoutly wished' in certain quarters, and the possible result is so seductive and dazzling to a young, aspiring politician, who, if he were successful, would have scored a brilliant point, and be enabled to make his debdt in Parliament with " his blushing honours thick upon him." But let the political kaleidoscope be turned on " South Wellington," and " defeat " is to be seen written on every combination for Mr. Charles Johnstone. And if he and his advisers do not see it, everybody else does. Some men are so inflated with the ideas of their own wisdom and self-importance that they cannot think people can entertain any opinion contrary te theirs. At any rate it is to be hoped, for the sake of the principles that Mr. C. Johnstone is supposed to represent, that he will not run the risk of suffering a humiliating defeat at South Wellington. There are two candidates for South Wellington, Messrs. Hutchison and Hendrey, Mr. T. Dwan contests Thorndon against Mr. Levin, and no less than four already wooing parliamentary favours from the " free and independent " of Forton, Messrs. A. K. Newman, W. L. Buller, C. B. Izard, and W. France. Messrs. J. GK Wilson, Q. Russell, and Bockstraw are spoken of as about entering, making seven alto* gether. There ought to be a lively time in Foxton for the coming month. The Hon. Walter Johnrtone has declared himself a candidate for Manawatu. The Palmerston Standard gives as a rumour that two, if not more, will oppose him. Referring to your editorial remarks in last week's Tab* let, concerning " The New Zealand Land Settlement, Mutual Say* ings, and Endowment Association," I am happy to state that it is making good progress throughout the entire country ; from all quarters the Secretary, Mr. James Cook, receives letters daily from Catholics, and even liberal-minded Protestants, offering advice, encouragement, and assistance. In order to make it a thorough national undertaking the promoters will have each province or large centre represented on the Provisional Directory, so that parties wishing to become shareholders should send in their applications at once. The greatest praise is due to Mr. J. R. Browne, C.E., the father of the movement, who, in spite of difficulties which would make men of less grit turn aside, has brought the Associa'ion to its present hopeful appearance. The promoters claim no " free shares " or emoluments of any kind for themselves, as it was started with the purest, broadest, philanthropic motives. To ensure its complete success the Associatiou will be built on the soundest commercial principles, and will have the advantage from its start of an experienced financier, Mr. James Cook, who has been bank manager for a great number of years. It is impossible to overrate the advantages and blessings the Catholics of New Zealand will derive from its successful working, and they could not be stated in a single letter. One of the chief objects aimed at is the endowment of Catholic schools and placing Catholic education on a more satisfactory basis than at present. I may also state that Mr. Browne is giving his professional and technical knowlege free to the Society, and will at any moment show numerous blocks of good land which can be obtained at very cheap rates. The news of Mr. Parnell's arrest has created the most intense indignation amongst Irishmen here, and the few who believed in G-ladstone's philanthropy, manliness, or courage have been undeceived. Has Castlereagh's mantle fallen on the "noble-minded liberal statesman 1" or will his end be the same ? With this one act he has swept away every vestige of respect or love for him in Ireland. The obvious object, of course, is to plunge the country into rebellion before England's arms are occupied in Europe or Asia. The next " suspect " will be Archbishop Croke, and then ? I do not know The Ladies' Branch of the Land League sent home £126, and the Men's £50, by the last mail from here. It is evident we are only in the beginning of the Land League movement. Now that Parnell has been arreßted, there should not be a town or village in New Zealand that should not denounce this cruel, tyrannical, unjustifiable act of savage despotism. O'Connell branded the Whigs as "base, brutal, and bloody," and they are as deserving of the epithet to-day as they w«r« in bis tine.