POLITICAL NEWS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 189, 24 June 1873, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS.

THE SUPERINTENDENCE On Thursday morning last, we issued the following as an " extra," containing the returns from such districts as they had been received from up to ten o'clock on the previous evening:— j | '

It will be seen that the majority in favour of Mr Macar.drew was then 1426. The following returns are now to hand, by which that majority is decreased to 1322.

The only districts Graham polled in were : Dunedin, 7 ; Invereargill, 2 ; Port Chalmers, 1; Bluff, 1 ; Tuapeka, 5. PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. NOMINATION AT CROMWELL. The nomination of candidates for the repreBentatkm of Kawarau district in the Provincial Council took place at the Court-house, Cromwell, on Thursday, at noon. Mr Simpson, Returning Officer, having gone through the necessary formalities, called for such nominations as might be intended to be made. Sir D. A. Jolly proposed, and Mr James Taylor seconded, Mr Duncan MacKellar. Mr William Shanly proposed, and Mr Andrew Wood seconded, Mr Charles Colclough. Mr M. Fraer, in accordance with a request from Mr Pyke by telegraph, proposed, and Mr Joseph Harding seconded, Mr Vincent Pyke. Mr Colclough and Mr MacKellar,—the latter having at the moment arrived from Cardrona, addressed a few words to the persons present; when Mr Simpson, with the remark that he supposed it was no use waiting for Mr Pyke, called for a show of hands, which resulted as follows : Colclough ---...-15 MacKeilar 13 Pyke 2 Mr Jolly, on behalf of Mr MacKellar, demanded a poll, which the Returning Officer declared would be taken on the following Saturday, the 21st hist.

With a vote of thanks to Mr Simpson, proposed by Mr Colclough, and seconded by Mr MacKellar, the proceedings concluded. THE POLLING. Mr Vincent Pyke, on his arrival in Cromwell on Friday, announced his intention of retiring from the contest, by means of handbills circulated throughout the district as widely as possible. His reasons were : the utter impossibility of making the electors acquainted with his views during the limited time at disposal, and his belief that it would be useless to a9k votes from those who did not know his views. At the same time, he stated, "an emergency will probably arise ere long when I shall have an opportunity of soliciting your votes under more favourable auspices,"—referring, we believe, to the possible dissolution of the Assembly, when he may stand for the representation of the Dunstan district.

Mr Pyke's retirement thus left the field to Messrs Colclough and MacKellar. And here it may be well to notice the fact of Mr Marsh not having been nominated : and beyond that fact Ave can sav nothing further. Mr Marsh has been a kind of " dark horse" from beginning to end. His chances have never been canvassed or in any way taken interest in by the public ; and his non-nomi-nation seemed to surprise nobody, and least of all himself. When the returns were made known on Saturdav evening, that of Cromwell took the MacKellar party somewhat by surprise, as a larger majority had been expected ; while that of the Bannockburn put a complete " damper" upon the hopes of Mr Colclough and his friends. Still, the return;-: from Cardrona and the Nevis were anxiously awaited,—the former especially being expected to tell heavily in favour of Mr Colclough. The official declaration of the poll was made yesterday afternoon at the Court-house, by the Returning Officer, in the presence of about a score of persons. The numbers of votes recorded at each polling-place, and the totals for each candidate, were as follows :

Majority for MacKellar, 55. Mr Duncan MacKellar was therefore declared duly elected. The Returning Officer having retired, three cheers were given for Mr MacKellar, and three for Mr Colclough. Mr MacKellar briefly addressed tire elec tors present. lie was very much pleased and gratified at occupying the position of the winning candidate, and returned his sincere thanks to those who had supported him. His thanks were also due to the whole body of the Kawaran electors for the generous and kindly manner in which they had treated him as a candidate. Mr Colclough, his opponent, had likewise acted most courteously towards him throughout the contest. He would not detain the electors witli any further remarks, but would assure them he was not the least afraid that he would disgrace his constituents in the Council. (Applause.)

Mr Colclough said that although defeated he was not killed, and he hoped at a future t:ine to have another opportunity of coming forward to ask the snffvagos of the electors. One fact in connection with the late contest he would like to state—namely, that the present political situation had had nothing whatever to do with deciding the Kawarau election : personal friendship had been the chief consideration in the minds of electors on both sides. He had therefore no doubt that when he became better known throughout the district, he would have a better chance of success as a candidate for legislative honours. At Bannockburn an attempt had bean made to damage him by misrepresenting his views on the education question ; and now--when he did not want votes—he took the opportunity of declaring that he would uphold the system of education now in force in the Province, because it was his linn conviction that no other system could be worked so satisfactorily. He could not help alluding to the attempt which had been made to coerce the Bannockburn electors, and to interfere with the independent exercise of their electoral privileges,—a proceeding which he regarded as extremely discreditable to its initiators. In conclusion, however, he hoped that the animosities which had sprung up in certain quarters during the late contest would now be forgotten, and that mutual goodwill might prevail in the future. (Applause.)

The Dunsfcan polling took place on Friday last ; and resulted, as was expected, in the " Gentle Shepherd" being left to mourn the loss of his Provincial sheep. Perhaps " the wish is father to the thought"; but we think the time will not be long before our Parliaments shall know Mr Shepherd no more. The polling returns were as follow, except from Drybread, whence we have no news : Hazlett Shepherd Clyde 128 - - 7 Blacks 44 - - 4 Alexandra - - - . 44 - . 53 Mr Lumsden has again been returned for Invercargill : Lumsden, 154; Tapper, 132. For Moeraki, Mr Hntcheson, the former member, has lost his se.it uy the casting vote of the Returning Officer. Mr Teschemaker, his opponent, polled 5.5, and himself 55 ; and the casting vote placsd Mr Teschemaker at the head of the poll.

Aparima has rejected Mr Basstian in favour of Mr Cumining.

Mr Stout lias beaten Mr Lcary for Caver* sliam by only II Votes. The numbers were : Stunt, 190 ; Lcary, 179. Waihopai, too, has proved "trtlo to its old love." in the person of Mr Wood, who polled 139 to Mr Perkins' 90.

Blueskin, likewise: Mr Green having polled 127 ; Mr Howorth 75.

Wakatip is to have a change in representation, so far as the Arrow division of the district is concerned, Mr Junes having been replaced by Mr Clarke, who is a prominent member of the Arrow Miners’ Association, The polling was as follows ; Hallenstein ------- 258 Clark - - 220 Innes 215 Handers Kjy Mr Cutten, having tried first Dunedin and then Camara in vain, fell back on the Peninsula, for which he opposed Mr Tolmie. Unsuccessful once more, however. Voting: Tolmie, 134 ; Cutten, 90. For the Matan, Mr Henry Clark, the member previously, has beaten "Mr D. Maitland, who thought to displace him. Mount Ida has rejected Messrs Mervyn and Armstrong, who sought re-election, and has returned Messrs Oliver (of Dunedin) and de Lautour.

Mr G. F. C. Browne, of Waitahuna, was opposed by Messrs Henly and Mackay, both local men, as also is Mr Browne. The last* named, however, was not to be beaten, and again represents Waitahuna by a majority of 32 over Mr Henly, and 31 over Mr Mackay. For Oam aru Country, Dr Webster is again the representative. Polling : Webster, °(SB ; Waddle, 41 ; Aitcheson, Hi. The Hon. Matthew Holmes having retired from the contest for Oreti, Mr Rodgers, of Glenquoich station, has been returned unopposed. The Hon. Mr Menzies has been returned for the Mataura district without opposition. He represented the district prior to the dissolution.

Mr Sumpter takes his seat again for the Waitaki district, also unopposed.

Maoandrew Gillies Dunedin 1019 477 North Dunedin 120 69 Hampden 42 24 Alexandra 53 50 Cavershani . 75 25 Waikouaiti 51 33 Waikari 39 23 Cromwell 25 • • • 27 Iliverton 9t3 6 Queenstown 104 42 Arrow 45 27 Clyde 54 19 Kawarau Gorge ... 3 12 Naseby ... 78 18 Clntha 39 84 Palmerston 36 57 Mornington 10 o o North East Valley ... 20 39 Invercargill ... 243 202 Winton 17 37 Bluff 35 3 Port Chalmers 216 17 Moke Creek 42 1 North East Harbour 24 2 Tutu ran 4 45 Mimihau 12 28 Bannockburn..,. ... 13 10 Bendigo 7 0 Lawrence 129 32 Blue Spur 57 13 Waitahuna ... 63 14 Wethersones ... .... 64 1 East Taieri 80 39 West Taieri ... 46 29 Green Island 59 32 Mavis Bush ... 5 25 Blueskin 27 49 Portobello 59 18 Anderson’s Bay 35 24 Kaikorai Rohoolhnnse 18 5 Kaikorai Drillshed ... 26 17 Southbridge ... 3 19 Glenore 3 22 Waihola 15 42 Papakaoi 21 11 Oama.ru 132 104 ’ Milton... 74 141 Total... 3433 2007

Blacks Macandhew Gillies ... 20 ... 7 Dry bread ... 20 6 Ware pa 1 ... 52 South Clutha ... 9 ... 56 Popotunoa 6 ... 27 Waipori ... 49 ... 21 Beaumont ... 16 2 Otakia ... ... 18 ... 33 Otepopo ... 27 ... 30 Hillend... 2 8 Gibbstown 3 ... 23 Nevis ... 0 3 Cardrona 8 ... 2(5 Newcastle 0 0 St. Bathans ... 22 4 Hyde ... 28 9 Hamilton 0 ... 32 Total ... 235 ... 339

MacKeclau. CoLOLOUGII. Fyke. Cromwell - - 48 - - - 35 - - 1 Bannockburn 58 - - - 12 - - 0 Kawarau Gorge 15 - - - 8 - - 0 Nevis - - - 11 - - - 0 - - 0 Bendigo - - 10 - - - 8 - - 0 Newcastle - 0 - - - 4 - - 0 Cardrona - - 10 - - - 42 - - 0 Totals - 170 - - 115 - - 1