The Petition Against Mr Geo. Fisher.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 190, 13 February 1897, Page 2

The Petition Against Mr Geo. Fisher.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, Feb. 12. The Wellington Petition Court resumed at 2.30 today. Tbe Court sanctioned the method of recount arranged between Counsel for both sides. Counsel for the petitioner continued the examination of the persons appearing from the roll to have voted twice and claimed in each case that one of the said votes (specified) should be disallowed on the grounds of personation with the exception of Edward Smith, in which tbe claim was abandoned. The Court adjourned at 5 p.m. till 10 a.m. This Day. In the petition case further evidence of alleged personation was given and then Mr Skerrett led evidence to show the rolls could not be taken as a guide. He called one Deputy Returning Officer who testified there was great confu. sion in bis booth at times through too many people being allowed to enter at once, though the act prescribed a limit of fiex. He considered that there was every probability of an error in making the rolls and gave as an instance his own case, thongh he had voted at his own booth he had received a notice saying he was struck off for not voting. It afterwards appeared his name was printed twice on the roll with a different address. Another witness said tbe gum did not stick on bis wife's ballot paper, consequently he was able to see the number marked on tbe paper 1780, It should have been 17,880. He mentioned the fact to the Deputy Returning Officer who said it was all right, and refused to give another paper. His wife voted accordingly and was afterwards struck a__ the roll as not having voted. Mr Skerett contended the other side wonld call this a case of personation which was no such thing. It is stated that the Wellington petition case may upsat the whole election if the allegations of the want of seereey are proved, although neither Hutchison not Stout are petitioned against.