THE PATEA ELECTION,

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 231, 8 October 1901, Page 2

THE PATEA ELECTION,

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

'Wanganui, last night. Tho hearing of the petition of William Henry Parker against the return of Frederick Henry llaselden, member of the House of Representatives for Patou, commenced at noon in the Supreme Court before the Chief .Justice and Judge Williams.

Dr Findlay appeared for the petitioner, and Mr Esaui for the respondent. The petition set forth that after the poll was taken the returning officer wrongfully opened parcels of ballot papers and extracted the voting papers of Frederick Charles Saphir and Arthur Nesbitt, and disallowed the votes cast in favor of Mr Ileslop. The petitioner therefore prays that the election be declared void. An amended petition was put in as follows : That an elector, Arthur Nesbitt, farmer, described on the roll as a settler, voted for Mr Ileslop, but upon counting the votes after the close of the booth, the returning officer wrongfully disallowed Nesbitt’s vote; that John Everhardt, of Mangaonoho, applied to the deputy returning officer at Mangaonoho for a ballot paper, but was refused, though he (Everhardt) claimed to be a person named on the roll; that Ellen K. Mullens similarly applied at Mangaonoho, and similarly was refused; that l’hoebe Jane Thorby, of Kata, whoso name appeared on the roll as l’hoebe Jane Thorlcy, was refused a ballotpaper, although she rightly claimed she was the person whose name was manifestly misprinted on the roll; that the same applied to James Bourke, of Kata, his name being misprinted Burke ; further, that other persons besides those named in the petition, and who were on the electoral roll, applied for certain ballot papers, but were refused by the officer in charge of the booths; also that certain names were wrongfully struck off the rolls, ail of whom would have voted for Mr Ileslop. The amended claim was only put in nine days ago, and it was opposed by respondent. Argument is proceeding as to whether the amended claim is admissible.

Later.— The hearing of the petition to declare the Patea election void was commenced to-day before the Chief Justice and Judge Williams. Dr Findlay appoared for the petitioner, and Mr Esam for Mr Hasclden, the present occupier of Patea seat. Dr P’indlay opened at considerable length, reviewing the alleged irregularities of the returning officers and deputy returning officers. Dr Findlay applied to amend the petition by altering a name in the paragraph. This was objected t(j by Mr Esam. Judgment was reserved on the point. The hearing of evidence was gone on with, and will be continued tomorrow.