European Cablegrams.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 351, 19 January 1876, Page 3

European Cablegrams.

Additional News to January 8. London, January 8. Bank rate, 5 per cent. The schemes of reform in Turkey do not involve the tutelage by the Powers. England has not yet replied, but France agrees to the scheme.

DECLAEATION OF THE POLL,

The official declaration of the poll for the East Coast Electorate was made in the Court House, Tauranga, yesterday at noon by Mr P. E. Hamlin, the Returning Officer. There were very few electors present. Mr E. G-. Norris requested the Returing Officer that, previous to the declaration of the poll, he would receive a protest from him on behalf of Captain Morris, against the election of Mr G-. E. Eead. Mr Hamlin considered that the' proper course to pursue would be to lodge the protest with the Government, his duty was simply to declare the poll. He declined to read the document. Mr Norris, therefore, read the protest, which was to the effect, that Captain Morris protested against Mr GK E. Read's- election on account of his having used bribery and corruption. Mr Hamlin then made the following, declaration of the state of the poll :,- Read - - - 215 Morris - - - 206 Kelly - - - 185 Wi Marsh - - - 10 and declared Mr Gh E. Read to be duly elected and returned the representative for the Electorate of the East Ooast.Mr Warbrick, on behalf of MiKelly,, begged to. join, with Captain Morris in his protest, and also proi tested against th.c validity of Mr

Eead's election on the grounds that Mr Eead had entered the polling booth at Gisborne,. and used undue personal influence over the electors.

Mr Hamlin informed Mr Warbrick that he could take no notice of his jirotest.

Mr Norris, in a short speech, returned thanks to the electors who had supported Captain Morris, that gentleman being unavoidably absent. He (Mr Norris) considered that the day had been won by the influence of wealth and Government support, and that the sooner the Electorate was divided into two portions, as it should be, the better it would be for both districts.

Mr T. D. Wrigley thanked MiKelly's sujrporters on behalf of that gentleman, who had been prevented by the bad weather from arriving at Tauranga. He returned thanks for the 72 votes recorded for Mr Kelly, which he believed represented the intelligence of Tauranga, and knowing that the gentleman who polled 144 votes was in the vicinity, he. was rather surprised at his'not appearingjin person to acknowledge the honor, which had been done him. Mrs Wrigley. did not coincide with the remarks made by Mr Norris relative to wealth having carried the day. The block voting in Poverty Bay had won the day for Mr Eead, whereas, splitting the votes had lost it for the Bay of Plenty district. He was surprised at the protest made by Mr Warbrick, which he unhesitatingly denied he had been authorised by Mr Kelly to make. Mr Wrigley concluded his remarks by referring to the satisfaction felt by Mr Kelly at the absence of any of those bitter party feelings which generally prevailed at elections.

Mr Henshaw returned thanks on behalf of Mr Eead for the votes given him in Tauranga. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer terminated the proceedings.