SOUTHERN MAORI ELECTION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1687, 17 July 1879, Page 4

SOUTHERN MAORI ELECTION.

RETURN OF IHAIA TAINUI. Tho official declaration of the result of the polling for this election was made at St. Stephen's schoolroom on Wednesday by Mr A. Mackay, returning officer and Native Commissioner. Thero was a large assemblage of the Natives, who entered the schoolroom just as the Native children were finishing a singing practice by singing the National Anthem. Mr Mackay read the following return of the polling :

Majority for Tninui, 113. Ho had [therefore to declare Ihaia Tainui duly elected as the member for the southern Maori electoral district. With regard to the votes polled he explained to the Maories that the number recorded during this contest was the largest number polled at any election in ■which they had been interested, and the largest majority for one cmdidate. At the contest between Taiaroa, Katone, and Green in February, 1871, the numbers polled were 274, and the majority for Taiaroa was 74. At the subsequent election in 1876 Taiaroa was elected unopposed. Eev. Teoti Pita Mutu, in the absence of Tainui, who was at the West Coast, and in the absence of his proposer, Henaro Mahuika, returned thanks to the electors who had voted during the election, and on behalf of Tainui said ho was prepared to do his best in the interests of the Natives. Tare Teihoka thanked those who had voted for him, and said ho would bo prepared in the interests of the Kaiapoi Natives to contest the election again. Hone Parateno Tamauiorongi was glad to see Tainui returned, as he would act for them quite as well as ho (Paratene) would have done, and they had every confidence in Tainui’s integrity. He would have preferred that a Kaiapoi resident had been elected, and when ha was the member Kaiapoi was above the other places in the island. He also was prenared to contest another election. Cheers were given for the successful candidate and the returning officer. It was also announced that Toinui’a daughter and her husband, Wepu Hopa, would give a party and a ball ou the following evening in honor of the election.

. a a Polling Places. E 3 a 3 a | "5 1 'a H Wak.apna.ta ... 5 1 G 12 Wairau ... ... 1 G 2 3 21 Haveloc 1 6 7 1 24 Waikawa 7 0 0 7 Motuekn 9 0 0 9 Arahura 1 3 0 0 13 Kaikors ... ... 1 a 1 0 13 4 28 9 51 Eapaki 1 .2 4 13 29 XHtleBiver 4 1 23 28 Hoeraki 8 5 0 13 Otago Heaflj 1 13 2 1 16 Waikauaiti 5 J3 11 1 35 Arowhenua C 5 0 It Bluff 5 1 2 8 Biverton '• 23 10 1 39 1! n 78 60 329