THE LATE ELECTION.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2373, 9 November 1870, Page 2

THE LATE ELECTION.

To the Editor of the Eceniny Star. Sin—Permit mo to have enough space in your valuanlo paper to reply to “ Fair Play's ” defence of Mr Birch, in regard to the regulation of Hundreds Act, IS Gif, Amendment Act, IS’/O. “Fair Play” says: —“This Act was passed in the Assembly of ISO 9 (see lionwhile Mr Birch was in Dunedin standing for the Mayoralty ; it was amended in the Provincial Council, subsequently transmitted as amended to the General Assembly, Session 187*1 was carried there, and became Jaw. Mr Birch voting for the passing of the

Bill. If an error has been committed by this gentleman in supporting this measure, then have 13 members from Otago been in the wrong ? ” This is the language, rrrhalfm ft literal ion, made use of by “Fair Play” in a portion of his letter. The implication is, that 13 out of 13 members for Otago in the General Assembly voted for this Bill, and, therefore, gave their assent to it. Now I have looked into llansa.nl, and if I integrated the writing therein aright there were only 12 members for Otago that voted on tint occasion.

In order that there may be no mistake, I shall give the exact words as they appear in Hansard No. 11, page 170. They are as follows:

“ On tho motion (by the Speaker) that the Bill be read a third time, Mr Bradshaw moved that it be read a third time that day six months.”

“Question put—‘That the word “now” stand part of the question,’ upm which a division was called for, with the following result:—Ayes, 2G ; noes, 10 ; majority for, 16.” The Otago members that recorded their vot s wore ;—Ayes—Messrs Birch, Macandrew, Main, M‘lndoc, O’Neil, Vogel, and Driver Noes—Messrs Brown, Ilaughton, Bradshaw, Mervyn, and Howorth. The Bill was then read a third time, and passed. I will no comment on other parts of “Fair Play’s ” letter, which on the face of it shows inconsistency, but content myself by showing that if “Fair Play” has read Hansard, it was done in a very careless manner ; for the division list shows that nearly an equal number of Otago members were opposed to the passing of the Bill. 1 am, Ac., Elector. November 8, 1870.