THE DUNSTAN ELECTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 460, 10 February 1871, Page 2

THE DUNSTAN ELECTION.

The poll for the election of a member : to represent the Dimatan district in the House of Representatives, was taken on Tuesday, and resulted in the return of Mr. Shepherd, by a large majority. All four candidates Messrs. Fraser, Shepherd* Mervyn, and Hughes—visited the principal centres of population in the district, and gava expression to their views on the various topics of the day, and all were favorably received. As soon as Mr. Shepherd entered the field however, it was felt that the contest lay between him and Mr. Fraser. The high esteem in which Mr. Fraser is held caused some to think that he would secure a majority, whilst the popularity among the miners of the views enunciated by Mr. Shepherd, led many to believe that he would head the polk It was felt by all hands that the contest would hud their anticipations were realised,- for levying out the Teviot votes—of which mord anon—Mr. Shepherd’s majority was a very narrow one. At Drybread, the only place in the district proper where Mr. Shepherd obtained a majority, he. and his friends must have worked hard, for we are sure every vote in the district was polled. At Roxburgh, a number of miners residing in the Waikaia district, taking advantage of the 6th olau ;r of the Qualifications of Electors’ Act which permits miners to vote in any Goldfiel s Electoral district they think fit, voted in the Dunstan district. This trick, ■ though, as it happened, did not affect the election, was not at all creditable to those who instigated its performance. We absolve Mr. Shepherd from any participation in it, as wo have reliable authority for stating .that it was done at th 9 instance of a well-known supporter <|f 'Mr.'-Jteid’s, who recently entered and is W*v affiriiliant ornament of the ranks of journalist. Such electioneering tactics are on a par with the political conduct of the gent'emenreferred to, and thereforeno surprise that he should instigate them is excite i. ,Mr. Mervyn retired in favor of Mr. Shepherd, at 12 o’clock ; hut owing to the distances between the polling booths this was not known till too late to affect the election The following are the numbers polled at the various polling booths : Fraser Hughes Mervyn Shepherd

At Cromwell there were three, and at Alexandra five votes ren 'ered valueless, on account of being so smeared with ink, that it was impossible to tell in whose favor they were recorded. The total number of votes polled was 437.

The official declaration of the poll took place at the Court House, Clyde at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Returning Officer read out the num - bers polled for eafch condidate, nnd do" dared Thomas Luther Shepherd duly elected member [or, the Dunstau district in the Bouse of Representatives. Mr. Shepherd then came forward and thanked the electors for the honor confer, sed on him, which ho considered an ac-

kiiowle 'gment of. past services. He desire! to express his senso of the gentleman ly way in which- his opponent had con- ■ ducted his electioneering.- ere, ho had won a groat Wherever Mr. Fraser -wa| known he whs highly. and deserve dy esteemed, and his (Mr. Shop- . herd’s) success fhowt'J he stood well with

the mining community. Mr. Shepherd after mentioning a few projects for the V benefit of the district he would en loavor to see carried out, concluded bv stating that he would devote his host abilities to advance the interests of the district at large—the interests of those who opposed him, equally with those who gave him their support.

Mr. Fraser said that he bad sustained au honorable defeat. In all polling places where he was best known he had polled a majority- a proof that his four years’ services in the Provincial Council had not been unappreciated. He ha I always deplored the class feeling which existed in the Province, and the main object which induce Miim to come forward was to al'ay that feeling. He thanked those who had given him their support, and assured them that fn-lhe future his services would be available for their benefit privately as much a- they had been publicly the last four years. Mr. Mervyn stated that member-* of the Provincial Council had an advantage over those of the General Assembly, inasmuch as the actions of the former were more patent to their constituents-. found at Drybread, that his hopes wore nil he doerned\t due to the principles he advocated to mire in favor of. Mr. Shepherd. Mr. Hughes did not put in an appearance. A vnteof thanks to the Returning Officer, proposed by Mr. Shepherd, and seconded by Mr. Fraser, brought the proceedings to a close. Tbe noli for+he election of a member of tbe House of Representatives, for the Waikaia district was taken yesterday. At Roxburgh. Mr Bradshaw received 115 votes ; Mr. lle-m. 15. Mr. C. E. Hamditnn, arrived at. Clyde on Saturday evening last, and remained till Thursday. We presume the o’ject of his visit, was to obtain information relative to the water supply scheme.

uiyro 34 5 5 11 Cromwell 27 11 2' 27 Kawarau 1', 1 17 2 Bendigo » 5\ 0 i 1 1 Alexandria 24 \ - 28 V o 23 Black’s .j.29 ® 0 ( i 14 20 Dry bread 15 ■ 9 ' \ 3 61 Roxburgh 0 0 9 51 Totals .. 135 45 53 196