The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. Published Daily. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1896. THE ELECTION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 134, 5 December 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. Published D aily. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1896. THE ELECTION.

The result of the elections may be considered very satisfactory to both parties. The Government have secured a majority of tbe seats, while the ranks ef the Opposition have been strengthened by the addition of Mr Rolleston, for Riccarton, Mr Carson, for Wauganui, Mr Scobie McKenzie and Mr Fish for Dunedin, and Mr McLean for Napier. These are all talented men able to give a good account of themselves in debate. The victory of Mr Carson over his opponent, Mr Willis, is a notable one, and proves that when a man is determined to succeed he will sure^ win in tbe end. Mr Carson has fought gallantly on several previous occasions only to suffer defeat, although bis defeats have never been so complete as to be diecouraging Although nominally a supporter of the Government, Mr Pirani, who has been returned for Palmerston, is actually an independent member whom Mr Seddon will have to reckon with when the Cabinet is reconstructed, notwithstanding the fact that all the members of the old Ministry have re tamed their seats. The, Government. in losing Rangitikei by the election of Mr Lethbridge, must accept the in evitable. Their supporters did as much as men could do to secure the return of Mr Bailey, who for his own part exbibited untiring energy whicii will be remembered in his favor on some future occasion, when we doubt not he will again enter the lists for Parlia mentary honors. One polit'c'an who has most reason to feel prourl of the result of the general election iv his own case is Mr Scobie McKenzie, whose total of votes is far in excess of the number polled by any candidate in the colony. In Mr Scobie McKenzie the Opposition party have a superl ati veiy strong champion nnd lender, and the other Opposition men hers are men of great ca'ihre. The Opposition of the forthcoming session will not be such a weak minority as it has hitherto been. Now that the elections are over we bope that any little frictions whicii may have occurred during the excitement of the contest will be relegated to the past and forgotten, Party feel ing is always the most bitter, but fortunately on this occasion, not only in the Rangitikei electorate, but in every electorate in the colony, the personal element has been passively excluded by the good sense of tin electors who have learned to recognise that every man has a right to Li^ opinions, and to freedom of speech and action in all matters wherein ho is interested as a colonial.