AN UNFORGOTTEN INCIDENT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1259, 16 April 1886, Page 3

AN UNFORGOTTEN INCIDENT.

At the general election of 1861 there were then three candidates for the Napier seat, namely, Mi ELP. Stark, Mr W. Colenso, and Mr G. B. Worgan. Mr Stark was not a permanent resident of Napier , but was at the time carrying on business as a commission agent and merchant in Hastings street, and was also the pros prietor of the Masonic Hotc l , which was then rented by the late Mr J. Gill. Mi- Stark was a popular man, hut it is very doubtful whether ho would have headed the poll if Mr Worgan had uotheen induced to retire from the contest. The story goes that on his way to the station at Waipuna, Mr Worgan spread the report that us Mr Colenso had not a ghost of a chance it would bo fully for the electors to throw, three votes away in his favor. The conseq 'once was that m my of the country sfcttlers abstained from voting, and M r Stark was duly elected Before the poll was declared. Mr Colenso pledged his word that, in the event of his election, he would a'l times resign Ids seat on being called upon to do a > by a requisition signed by three'fourths of tho electors. 1 his pledge was also exacted from Mr Stark. In tho clays that we are speaking of s tho seat of

Government was at Auckland, Anri Cnmmuuicati m wi'h that city was by chance sailing craft Bef re going on board the schooner that was to take him to Auckland, Mr Stark had imdvertantly admitted that with regard to the claim against the Hawke’s Bay province put forth by Wellington—an adjustment of the principal debt on the separation of Hawke’s Bay—he should vote in favor of Wellington. Tliis was a fatal admission ; and in the course of a very few hours a requisition was signed and presented todiiin on board the schooner,cal ling upon him to resign. Mr Stark begged to be permitted to consider himself the member for Napier until be was sworn in and his name entered on the roll of the House. This concession was granted ; and let it hero be recorded to the credit of Mr Stark that almost immediately after entering the House and taking the oath he resigned his seat. To the best of our knowledge Mr Stark never returned to Napier, but took up bis abode at Auckland. In dun course a fresh writ was issued, and Mr Colenso was elec'ed At that time Mr Stafford was Premier, but Mr Colenso, who was a “ Stafford ice," did not reach, the seat of Government until a day or two after the Ministry were defeated by one vote. Ic is needless to say that if Mr Colenso had reached Auckland in time to vote with the Government, the history of New Zealand might have been materially altered.— ‘ Telegraph.’