ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3225, 21 June 1873, Page 2

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

CAVERS HAM. Ths battle royal of the election campaign was fought yesterday. In no portion of the Province, whether for Superintendent or for Councillors, has there been such a keen fight as has just terminated in the usually quiet district of Caversham, It was there that the two sides determined to do their beet; more than that, the Government side made no secret of their intention to defeat Mr Stout, if possible; and no stone was left unturned by Mr Leary and bis supporters to effect that object. The excitement was even stronger in Dunedin than in Caversham itself, and in town the supporters of either man were not loth to back him heavily, though Mr Stout was slightly the favorite with the betting men. Luring the half-hour that elapsed between the close.of the poll at Caversham and the announcement of toe result of the voting, there might have been seen excited knots of men in what is termed the principal street of the township, eagerly discussing the chances of success of either candidate ; but go where one might, it was not possible to find anyone who believed that the majority would be ten one way or the other. The prevailing opinion was that it would be very close—“horribly close," said one individual, who must have had some considerable sum on the result—and many went the length of prophesying a tie, and hazarding an opinion as to which wav the Returning Officer would vote, were he called upon to do: so. At a few seconds past the half-hour, Mr Street appeared at the door of the drill-shed, and announced the result of the voting at that booth as follows; Stent - - - 142 Leary ■ - * 127 The announcement was received with loud cheering; the Stoutites applauding— because they asserted with such a majority their man was quite safe; Mr Leary’s friends, on the other hand, declaring with equal confidence the* victory lay on . their side, because peotea that. Mr Stunt’s majority at Gaverwyi would have been about thirty, candidate would wore than pull up toe re^uweq

% TTTFv ■ ■ bomber At Morfilngton and Roslyn, in each of which places they had reckoned to have a majority The hopes of the latter were increased considerably when, ten minutes afterwards, Mr Leary drove into Caversham and announced that he had secured a majority of six at' Roelyn, the polling there having been Leary 29 Stout 23 There was now only the Mornington return to come, and Mr Leary only required ten to •win. It was an anxious half-hour to all parties, before Constable Henderson rode in with the papers from that district; and then it became known that Mr Stout’s majority had increased to eleven, at which his supporters cheered loudly. In a few minutes Mr Street appeared and announced the full returns to be Stout. Leary. Caversham • 142 127 Roslyn 23 29 Mornington • 25 23 190 179 Majority for Stout, 11. Mr Stout, on coming forward to address the crowd, was received with loud and continued cheering. He spoke as follows : Gentlemen, I can truly say that this result surprises me, for I did not think that I would be returned, when I saw the battalions I had to meet in the shape of election committees in Dunedin. I am rather indebted for this result to those gentlemen who worked as my committee—who, notwithstanding the great odds, worked with such a will as to put me in this position. Ido not know what the scrutiny at the various pollingplaces may prove; but Ido think it will materially alter the result. I think I can say that throughout this contest I have avoided the personal element, and that I have stood on principles. (At this point, Mr Stout was indistinctly heard by our reporter, who understood him to say that he knew many persons to vote for him, who otherwise would not have done so, because they saw he was being unfairly'treated by men who wished to drag him from the political arena.) I can say this: if I am returned as member for Caversham, J can assure the electors, whether they voted against me or not, that the wants of the district shall receive my very best attention. I shall even forget that 1 had such a vast minority against me, but shall look upon Caversham as having returned me unanimously. For my opponent let me say this: 1 never saw a political contest conducted so gentlemanly as this was on the Eart of Mr Leary.—(Cheers.) Mr Leary and I ave been friends during the whole of the contest, and I know very well that he has done or said nothing against me. What he has said he said because he believed it to be true; therefore, I consider it a great honor to myself that this contest should have been conducted as it has been. Of course, there are always some followers of a candidate who may do things which the candidate does not approve of. I believe Mr Leary’s friends have done things unfair to me, but they have been done without his sanction and knowledge—(applause)—and I believe against his wishes. I think it due to Mr Leary to say this. I say, now the contest is over, that Mr Leary and I will remain the friends we were before it commenced. I have now to thank you for the proud position you have placed me in—l don’t think the scrutiny will alter it—and to assure you that Caversham will have, at any rate, a representative who will look after its interests, and do what he considers fair towards all parts of the Province. Mr Leary, who was also received with loud cheers, spoke as follows Gentlemen, I expected to occupy a very different position on the poll on this occasion to what I do. I may say that lam fairly beaten, and there is no one who can take a “ licking ” better than myself.—(Laughter. ) I tel! you this: I should never have come forward to contest this election, except that I felt and do feel very great interest in this country, in which I and my family have made our homes; and further I maintain, as I have done throughout this election, that there has been far too much party feeling shown in the Provincial Council; and instead of local wants receiving the larger share of attention, most of the time has been occupied in discussing large Colonial measures, and questions of Colonial

policy. A cry arose throughout the country, “We will get business men and I, as a business man, came forward in response to that cry; but the constituency of Caversham has said, “We don’t want a business man.”—(lnterruption.) Gentlemen, if you do not wish to hear what I have to say, I will stand down.— (OWes, of “Go on.”) I wish to say, in regard to Mr Stout’s remarks about my committee in town, that I owe the proud position I occupy—it is a proud one, taking into consideration the class of man I had to oppose—principally to the working men of the various parts of this district who. worked so hard for me.—(Cheers.) I sent fifty voters out to Caversham myself, and instead of being supported by the Macandrew Committee in the manner Mr Stout says I was, I think they saw I was determined to exercise my own judgment in any matters that might come before the Provincial Council, and Would not he led by the nose, and that probably may have made them as lukewarm as they were. I thank sincerely those who voted for me on this occasion, and I hope on some future time to be member for Caversham.—(Cheers.) At the conclusion of Mr Leary’s address, Mr Stout’s supporters lifted him sheulder high, and carried him to his committee rooms. The official declaration of the poll takes place on Monday at noon. At the last election for the district, when Messrs Stout, Pish, and Leary stood, in the room of the late Mr Cantrell, the voting was—Stout, 148; Fish, 109; Leary, 90.. The number of voters on the roll is about 400. As showing the exertions made in the contest just over, we may mention that several voters were brought down country; in one instance from Tuapeka, and in another from Timaru,

THE CLUTHA ELECTION.

Before the declaration of the poll at Balclutha on Saturday hut, Mr Thomson asked the Returning Officer thefollowing question “Are you aware that any of your Deputy Returning Officers, before placing the ballot-papers in the hands of any of the electors, scored out the name or names of any of the candidates proposed on the dav of nomination, and which names were printed, on the ballot-papers issued by you to your deputies?” . The Returning Officer said he was not aware that any of the deputies had scored out the names of any of the candidates, and that he had no means of knowing. Mr Thomson then said that it was rumored that one of the Deputy Returning Officers had scored out the name of Mr Henderson. He submitted that if this were the case the ballot papers were informal when put into the hands of the electors; that this circumstance invalidated the whole election ; that no representatives had been returned* and that new writs must accordingly be issued. He protested against the legality of the present election. He would take the opportunity of intimating to the Returning Officer and the electors present that he would take further action ip reference to it. The Bruce Heralds Balclutha correspondent writes: —Mr Thomson’s objection, if he can prove it, may invalidate the election, but it will not raise that gentleman in the estimation of this constituency; seeing that subsequent to the papers being printed Mr Henderson distinctly withdrew from the contest. I should recommend Mr Thomson to pause before entering on the course < he has indicated. Many of his supporters will think twice before again recording their votes in his favor, when they see him so ready to plunge the district into turmoil, and the Province to expense through a subterfuge as transparent as a pair of spectacles. The nerves of our local politicians were strung to a high pitch on Saturday evening. It was generally believed that the Major was safe, but whether our local candidate had the same happy prospects was very dubious. The vote here gave him a large majority, but it was known that in the other districts his rival was the popular candidate. About 7.30 p.m. the returns from South Clutha and the Warepa

came. Mr M'Neil’s supporters began to pull long faces; bis majority had fallen to sixteen. The returns from Wkiruna were still to come, and on them depended the fate of the candidates. As the evening wore on the excitement became intense. At length, “bloody with spurring.” the messenger arrived. It was found that at Wairuna, as at all other outlying districts. our candidate had been defeated, but stiU there was a clear majority in his favor. Then the pent-up feelings of the “free and independent 4 * burst out Cheers, long as a sermon, mid deafening as artillery, rung through the welkin. Political differences for the moment vanished. Maeandrew* might be an autocrat or Reid an obstructionist. Who oared? In spite of opposition, Balclutha had returned her foremost citizen to represent the district in the Council. APAEIMA. The polling in this district took place yesterday, bn* up to 7.30 p.m.j‘ the returns from WalnMca duly had been received. There Mr Camming received votes, and Hi* Basstian Jo*

BLUESKIN.

The polling in this district took place yesterday, and resulted in the return of Mr James Green, the late member. The voting was— Green. Howorth Blueskin - - - 81 47 Merton - - • 46 __ 28 Majority for Green - 52.

DUNSTAN.

The election of one member to represent this district took place yesterday, and resulted in the return of Mr Hazlett. The numbers polled W,rC * Hazlett. Shepherd. Clyde • ■ • ig -J Alexandra - - 44 Blacks ... 43 4 Drybread - - - 29 33 ~2U 97 Majority for Hazlett, 147. A correspondent telegraphs:— ‘ Fully fifty votes came from the Kawarau district, a distance of from twenty to thirty miles, and voted unler miners’ rights, at Clyde, for Hazlett. The majority thus obtained will swamp the rest of the district. The poll from Drybread and Blacks cannot in any case give Shepherd a majority. Great exertions were made by Clyde residents for Hazlett.”

MATAURA.

Dr Menzies was to-day returned unopposed for this district. Mr Pyke, who was nominated for Kawarau, reached there yesterday, and finding his chance hopeless, retired from the contest. The North Otago Times understands that Mr Gardiner declines to contest the Waikati election with Mr Sumpter.

KAIKORAI.

The nomination for this district took place to-day at noon. The candidates nominated were Mr William Barr, proposed by Mr Jas. Grey, seconded by Mr William Thomson; Mr John Roberts, proposed by Mr Tim Thomson, seconded by Mr Geo. Thomson; and Mr William Thomson, proposed by Mr Thomas Kerr, and seconded by Mr James Riley. The name of Mr William Thomson was withdrawn, and on a show of hands being taken, twelve were held up for each of the other candidates. Mr Barr then demanded a poll, which was fixed for Tuesday next.