LOCAL OPTION VOTE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1634, 23 December 1905, Page 3

LOCAL OPTION VOTE.

ATTEMPT TO INVALIDATE POLL,

Fifteen mombere uttendod Iho meeting of the Wuiepu No-License League hold at the Prosbyterian Sohco’iorm last evening, Me Andrew Graham presiding. Those present included tbe Revs, Paterson ‘and Hounsell, Mosßre Bait, D. Muriep, White, Long, Stafford, Peckover, Nicholas, West, Ohuroh, Yowles, and two ladies. The meeting was called for the purposo of considering alleged irregularities said to have taken place at the poll. The grounds of these were the alleged supplying of liquor at the booths, the alleged influencing of votes, and alleged voting on account of absentees. • As tho pross were excluded, we are tmablo to give a verbatim report of tho f*-~ prooofidings, but from one of those present we obtained the following information The Chairman and Secretary of the League gave detail* of tho alegod irrrgularit'et said to have ocourrod, and a general discussion followed. Tho Rev. J. G. Paterson was adverse to any effort being made to upset the dpoision of the poll, contending that it would only prejulice the cause at future contests. Hie wishes not being respected ho withdrew from the meeting. Mr J. East iastancoi a number of what be termed irregularities which had taken place, and greatly amused' those present by h ! s remarks in regard to some of those who were supposed to vote continuance, but who tho party know woro staunch t Top liners.” The Bov. G. Hounecll etited that many of the electors got their orders to vote in a certain direction, and did so in spite of tho ■responsibilities fading upon thorn. OomiDg lo tbe financial aspeot of the (jueaiion, the secretary of tho Loague, in a

vigorous speech, dealt ,1 wlth . might be termed the businns part of the mot ting. He . that fcefaro thoy oould lodge a potit on for ooquiry it was nooosssry to f? Bl u to state that thoy were, d.smt shed with tho licensing pall, and this had to within fourteen days of tho oifioor's publio notico of such rojnlt. Every such potition was to bo ncoom- ">° guarantee this sum, and one gont'emm undertook to find Ho, the ut most that tho others oould do was to brmg tho amount up to 413. Tho question of ways and moms was disoussed at considerable length, and the matter was finally loft in tho bands of tho Chairman and Sectolary to arraogo. Under the obniso of tho Act tho fifty poisons who make themselves liablo for tho 420 in question, are also liablo for tho oasts of tho ouquiry going against thorn, and this no doubt prevented many of those present last ovening from guaianteoing tho initial ocst.