Mr. HOCKLY HEADS THE POLL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 614, 17 September 1909, Page 6

Mr. HOCKLY HEADS THE POLL

THE' KAMITIKEI ELECTION. FULL PARTICULARS OF THE POLLING. \ MR. SMITH IN SECOND PLAGE. SECOND BALLOT ON THURSDAY NEXT. ■ % ' •" ' • : • ' . '■ • ' .♦ THE RESULTS. v ' " A HOCKLY ... ... ... 1552 ' SMITH ... ... ... ... ... 1056 MELDRUM ... ... ... ... 313 CEORCETTI ... ... ... ... 3«3 • ■ "V„-. HORNBLOW ... .„ ... ... 333 ' Ono email return yet to come. . 1

■' VEECHES BY CANDIDATES. Addressing a largo crowd at a band concert 1 in tho Argylo Hall, Mr. Hocldy, who: iva,s ' warmly received,: said he was naturally, very ■ P rou ,d of the position in which the electors ha<l placed hiru. Uo welcomed the second ballot, becansc lie was sure that , merit and I consistency would, nxnin land-him nt the head.ot the poir next 'j;iiursday.- He thanked -his-coniiniUee pnd supporters Vor:the interest they, had displayed .on his belialf during, tlic election.. ..It ; gave .liim great pleasure to refer - to the good t'ceiin:» ; wliich;hod characterised the contest. ((I,olid iipplante.) •-. ■ • • ■ Mr. Meldrum, who then stepped forward, also received .a hearty, reception. Although one of the defeated candidates, he was,-he said,, prorid of the-fact that he had received a'substantial i majority in, his own town. ■To him it -was only : a preliminary .gallop,-, and the support he-re-ceived would 01113- encourage hinj to go in for hard, training, in view of:.the next occasion when lie would be :nble again to olfer his 'services. He ussuyed his supporters that when tho opportunity oflered he would go'to the ■ tapes very -fit,- and would win by . several lengths. . (Loud applause.) 'Mr. ''Meldrum expressed ■ a hope that - his, supporters' would favour Mr. Smith with their votes next..Thursday . , . ' - Cheers were then given for 'both* the candi(ltllGS. ' '' ■ *, 1 - Mr. Smith,, who. returned to Tnihapd enrly in • the cveiling,'..seemerl very confident bofore his departure that ho v.-ould, get • iuto the second ballot; -Asked whether; in the orent nf his bging as successfnl as he hoped, he would coiUmne to address meetings' throughout the electorate; Mr. . Smith- declared that he' was willing to come to an armtigement with Mr. Hockly whereby no further meetings would be ncld;. 'Mr. Georgetti,: m-?io went back to Mangaweka, expressed himself/jiLsf. beforo tho poll.closed.as more hopeful than ever. "I feel sure'l will bo • elected,.'; lie-said, "but I won't worry if I'nm

* : ~ . (By Telegraph-Special Eeporter.) • Huntervillo, Soptember 16. - ..Fine .weather was .'experienced through the district' to-day. for the Rangitikei election. .When the booths were opened at 9 a.m., friends of the -various candidates had vehicles of all kinds', in readiness to Convoy electors to the poll. As the day wore on the crowds of local residents, in the different towns became more and /more augmented by people from the suj.rounding districts. In new of :the fact that ■ there was no licensing poll; as on the occasion of a general election, interest was exceedingly keen.' ."• '• . - - ■ . . .During the afternoon Mr.: W. P. Massey, leader of the Reform party, arrived here. This was: his first visit to the district, and he must have,been delighted with the warm welcome .'which he was accorded on every hand.' All tho candidates visited as many centres as ■possible jn tho course of the day. •.'... No' one could fail to be impressed by the friendly manner in which the contest was con-, ducted./As far; as is known here, the'polling was' not attended by any striking incidents. During the: last hour'or tyo the officials were, as .is visually the case, kept particularly- busy. By the time tho'first return ; Was ready, viz., 0.45 p.m.,,a large crowd.had assembledju front of;' the polling, booth here. . . ; ■ The initial return related to Huntervillo ,itsolf, and gave Mr. McUlrum 257 votes, 'as against 181 for Mr. llocklv, and only 8 for Mr. .Smith. These figures :naturilly. delighted the supporters of Mr. Meldrum, who had, despite the number : of candidates, polled, within 15 votes of the total reached sit the general election by the lato Mr/ Eemington, "who had ;on that occasion one opponent;in Mr. Smith. Owing to Mr. Smith having'gone back so-badly. :from 46 'votes' to 8 votes, Mr. Mcldruni's sup--porters thus early began to point to the' fact that they had all along'prophesied that Mr. Smith, would have no chance.' Half later, during which time, about "a score of additional returns had come, to hand, a rough estimate showedthat. Mr. Meldrum was still ■slightly;in the lead.from Mr. Hockly, with Mr. Smith a.good way .'oil in'third place; . '. Then'came.tho surprise of the evening.. The return from Taihape showed that Mr. Smith had Ecored. no fewer than 403 votes out. of. a total ofi 706 i 'As compared with tlio general election, Mrli Smith, had strengthened his position there to.the extent .of'nearly..so. votes. By 8.10 p.m. all the. returns but eleven had como to hand, with the result that Mr. Hockly" was 'now: 'leading^with 1280 votes, as against 930 registered, for Mr. Smith, and 800 for Mr./ Meldrum. .' ! ' . - ' - At Ms'p.m., when only, two returns had remained .to come ' in,-.- viz., those from Hales Track-and Ta'uakirii, the returning officer, Mr. Brooker, amid applause, announced the totals as follorf:—Mr.."Hockly,'ls39 j Mr. Smith, 1055; Mr.: Meldrurii,' : '''B9§;VMr. Hornblow,-.333; and Mr/Georgetti, 310. Only one return,, that from Hales. Track, which only represents about a" dozen vote's, was outstanding, at 11-. o'clock .when- the telegraph office closed. ; Considering tho scattered nature- of - tho electorate, it is' generally conceded that the returns camo to hand, very expeditiously. , As .was. mentioned in yesterday's tbe,' official who has been requisitioned to bring ; the .return from Hales Track lias to rido.2o milcs'along a bush track before he ' reaches a telegraph or telephono office. Great credit in connection with the arrangements,'which were 1 very complete, and : the posting-up of. the returns, which was speedily accomplished, is due to Mr. Brooker, the returning officer, and his.staff. - ; The voting at th4:various polling places was as follows: —

not. Whether.l am returned or not I sliall be up first thing to-morrow, morning to plant my early, potatoes.",' ' The remaining candidate, Mr. Hornblow, was ■ also, at Mangaweka this evening.- ■- : PREVIOUS ELECTIONS. The results of previous elections were as follow:-- ' 1908. ■ ' Remington (Government) " ... ... 2238' Smith (Independent Liberal) ... ' ... 2083- ■: • '■ ■- 1905. • ' Remington, (Government) ... 3416 ' Sotom'erville, (Opposition) 1706 1902. • Remington (Government) ... .1399: ■ \ Birch (Opposition) : ..... ... . ... 1152 Eeardon (labour) ;... ... . ... ... 537 ji :, Hornblow; (Independent) ... '... ... '358 I J.. Smith ... "... 69 : MEETING OF. MR. HOCKLY'S SUPPORTERS ' Subsequent to the announcement, of the 1 poll, a large and representative gathering 0 ! Mr. Hockly's supporters took place at Hunter : ville. • There was , also present at. the • meeting Mr. Massey, Leader of tho Heforrn party ; Great satisfaction, was expressed 'at the large i vote cast in favour of their' candidate 'in ( view i of tho number and popularity of his opponents I A number of arrangements, having for their ) object the bringing of the contest to a. success I ful issue .for the party, .wero settled. ' ) Mr. Hockly will continue the:, campaign j without delay. Ho will speak at Mangaweka p to : morrow .(Friday) night, and at. Turangarere ! on Saturday; night. ~ !l ■

: Totals 343_ 1552 533 .913 ':' 1056 ANALYSIS OF THE VOTING. As against .tho" last general, election, whon iVI votes were .recorded, .tho total yesterday —approximately <U9ft-shows the undoubted keenness of the'contest, especially , when . .the fact that thcro 'was.no licensing-poll', on ' this occasion 'is' fcakfin-into consideration. Of the MOli votes rocorded it will. bo. seen that .1552 were cast for Mr. .Hockly, the Reform party's candidate, compared with 2298 for tho Ministerial candidates, and 313 for tho Independent candidate. •■. . • . •* ' It is generally, recognised that. Mr.: Hockly | would have polled much moro heavily had it not. been that large n'umbors of electors regis- ' tered: their votes in favour "of other candidates on personal grounds. Mr....Hockly is certain ' to score a largo number, of additional votes i next Thursday, particularly 'in Hu'ntcrville, ■ Mangawoka, and the southern portion of .tho electorate. As he predicted,' Mr. ;Smith scored heavily .in the northern portion of the con- |- stituency, . where tho chief industry 'is Sawmiilling.. As an - instance, apart from Taibapo, it may, bo mentioned that at Bennett's Siding lib got 65 votes out of a total of 80. Mr. Melurum failed badly in some; of tho farming districts, notably Okoia, wliero ho secured only eight/votes, ;as against 82 tor' Mr. Hockly. - The-remaining candidate's did best in their s own districts. ■ .At . Mangaweka, Mr. Cicorgetti obtained over one-third of the votes cast for " iiiiu, and Mr. Hornblow secured • nearly a , -quarter of those registered for him.

/•.3..- : . d i ' •• v ti c 2 - 5 • • ?u ' • T .O ' 2 ■ ~ _t5 . booths.; , u . ='. e tj V- • . • .8 - 0 0 ' « ' S AborfeMie 1 .\12 . .0 3 .0 Awarua 1 ... V 2 ■ .0. • 2 4. Bell's Junction 1 14 1 6 ; 19. Bennett's Siding..'....... - 3 . v 1 4 ,65 Kastbrook. 4 : 83 . 49 -65 11 Fordell 2 112' 14 33 10 Huhterville 14 . 181 12 /257 8 HalesvTrack...............'•: , '' : '■ 'Kawekft Boad : 0 .• -4 ; 0 4 0 2 22 1 Kakatihi . , : ,1. - 15 .1 ;' .20 11 Kauangaroa............ ; 18 : ' 0 : .4 ; • 2 Kawhhtau, Upper ..10 -25 .5 .1 ' 14 Kawliatau,' Lower...... 17 . : 9 "5 6'. 5 LongVlVcrt' /Yailey .'..'..V' 0 .13 0' 9 • .1 Jtamii. .3 : _ 7 ; 10 . 5 6 Mangaweka l . Ill . 52 • 72 25 61. Mpawhango. ;3 15 , 0 -23 ' 9' Mavybank 0 ., 56 ' 0 " 10 4, Mangamahu'49 0 12 : 1 Mhngonoho0 25 - 1' 32 - 6 llangahoo. Road.0 ' 30 0 2 1 Mataroa 13 47 -11 ; , 16 ': '23 1 Ngattaka .........1........ 0 ; 6 <';i, • 3 " 27 : Otairi 0 33 0 16 0 Okoia i. 0 ■' 82 3 8 2 Obingaiti ..12 ,' 57. -. 2 15 . 36 Poltroon's" Corner o ; . 42 0 : 3.6 •PakeoVabu M............... 19 . 7 "" 0 •. 2 : 4. 'Poukiore '........'...i.......... .1 1 31 1 ■ 11 : 0 | Pohonui 0' • 7 0 14 0. Rata' 2 41 2 . 22 ■; 42, Rauciwaea ................. 0 . 6 0 2 • 3 Euaiiui;.... . 8 15 ' 0 : 4 • 7 .17' 5'7 10 23 Silverbope'1 -60 1 -9 1 Torero "16 1 .1 ,6 ' 21 24 Taoroa ,..2 . 21 • 3 5 Turangarcro Station. 1, . ' 5 .17 49 Turangarcre School... 0 19 .0 4 19 Toi Toi . : 0 1 ' 0 .Tauakira .....I........ . 3 ■. 13 .0 11 Tiriraiikawa 4- 12 2 6 . 3 To Kapua Block. ■" 0 9 7 14 Taihape 27 113 69 . 93 -403 Utiku 15 20' 29 '14; 67 • Upokongaro 18 . 59 ' 5, 8. 2 Uppsr. Turakind. ,1 .14 .0 : 24 .0 Wairepo '. ». V V ? Walnui v..... 0 0 ' 4 -14 .V. ' . 36 3 ' .11 ' 4 Wakelin's -2 . 5 8, 3 ; . .10. Wiciiata U .12. ' 5 .8 27