THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2401, 15 December 1881, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

, I ASHLEY. i The official declaration of the polling for this district was made on Wednesday at noon, in the Court-house, Oxford, in presence of about forty persons Mr O. Whitefoord (Returning Officer) said ho had now to announce the result of the polling last Friday. It appeared that in oil SB7 electors had voted, out of which thirty (allot papers given in were informal. The total number on the roll who might possibly lavo voted, omitting names of dead and duplicate entries, wail 1450, so that it would to seen about 560 eleotors did not record their votes. The numbers polled were, for Pearson 385 Guild 202 Dixon 158 Cunningham 104 Paterßon 8 Sho wing a majority for Mr Pearson. [Cheers. ] In going_ over the rolls one could but be struck with the number of names in duplicate, the errors in spelling the names and description of the qualifications. These errors vere no doubt owing to the number of electors who did not take the trouble to see teat they were correctly enrolled till polling time came, and then when thoy found these nistakes they were apt to blame everyone but tie right persons, namely, themselves. If a vote was worth having it was surely but ja lltle trouble to attend to the instructions whioh the newspapers and registration ofioers gave from time to time, and if their eTorts were not seconded by voters, was it aiy wonder that the latter should be inconvenienced whea they took no trouble whatever til eleotion time to see that they were properly enrolled. He then gave instances of Christian and surnames wrongly spelt, whioh sone electors had claimed to vote under, baling their claim on the aid statements that thiy had voted under these incorrectly recorded names for years past. While he had accepted the votes of several such eleotors, it wtuld have served them right had they been diienfranohised. After what he had said he heped the electors to whom these remarks wtuld apply would see to it that they were in fusure properly plaoad on the rolls, and so prevent cases of personation, or the leaving of the returning officers in doubt as to whether the persons who had voted were legally entilled to do so or not. He had now to deolare Mr William Fisher Pearson, who had a mijority of 183 voted above the next highest on the poll, duly elected as member for that district in the next Parliament of New Zealand. [Cheers.] Mr Pearson, who was well received, said he had to thank the eleotors for placing him at the head of the poll by so large a majority. Hj fully understood the responsibilities of his position, and should do his duty for the district fearlessly and honestly, and without any dffiiro to go in for self emoluments. (Hear, hear.] Regarding the rolls hecharaoterised them as having been diegraoefully compiled, and he did not agree with the remarks of the Return - in; Officer with respect to the electors making correction, because, with respect to many of the residential voters, for instance, their names did not appoar on the rolls till within two or three days before the eleotions. It wis the duty of the Bogistration Offioers to se» that the rolls were properly compiled, and they ought to be competent to do the work, or competent persons ought to be employed. The Boad Board officers seemed to be the most likely to undertake the duty of making the rolls and correcting them. He then referred to instances of many uncommon names which had been incorreotly entered on the lists, one of whom, named Clutterbuck, had sent in his name twice, and was then entered as Ohutterbuck. [The Returning Offioer—l allowed him to vote.] He also knew of several who claimed to be enrolled who had not been entered on the rolls. In making up the last rolls the Begistration Officers were greatly overworked, no doubt because they undertook more than they could [accomplish, and instead of the eleotors of that district being compelled to send claims to Kaiapoi, they ought to have a registrar in the distriot. [Hear, hoar.] He iiaid he was looked on as ' an independent member, and he might say he was an independent, as he should not give his adhesion to any party till the state of the parties in the Houne had been found. He should support, as he had said, measures and not men ; and while adhering to a Liberal policy, he should not support a Government with Sir G-. Grey at its head, which had brought the country well nigh to the verge of ruin. If there was a new Liberal party formed he would support it, but not if the leader of that party was to be Sir George Grey. Making a review of the polling, and diving Mr Dixon his Oust majority, Mr Guild his Ohoka majority, and Mr Cunningham his Loburn majority, the eleotors had polled pretty generally in his favor. Although reoeiving the largent support in Oxford, h» intended to advanoe the interests of that district bo more than he would those of Loburn or any other part, but hoped to deal fairly with them all, and thanked them for the earnest manner in whioh they had worked to bring about the present result. The Returning Offioer said that Mr Dixon, who had an engagement, had asked him to say he was unable to attend, and express to the electors his thanks for the consideration with which they had treated him throughout the eleotion.

In the absence of Mr J. A. Cunningham, Mr Pearson read a letter congratulating him on his sucoess at the eleotion. There was nothing he should like better then to fight the battle out with him on even terms, and he hoped it would be his fortune to do so next time. He desired him to apologise for his absence at the declaration and thank those who voted for him, and inform the other eleotors that he hoped to make their better acquaintance on another ocoasion. Mr Guild was not represented. Mr J. L. Wilson said, at Mr Paterson's request, he being unable owing to a prior engagement to be present, he had to thank the number of eleotors who had voted for him, and begged to say that Mr Paterson had relied upon nearly the whole of the electors who had not voted for his support—("laughter],—but they were unfortunately reserving their votes—[loud laughter],— in which case his return would have been quite certain. [Ohoers.J Mr Paterson hoped that the views whioh he had put forth in his oanvass would find advancement in the hands of the gentleman now elected—[hear, hear] —particularly in respect of reductions in the carriage of farmers' produce on the railway, and the conservation of the rights of the public upon roads on which tramways were permitted. [Cheers.] In conclusion Mr Paterson wished the whole of the eleotors a " Merry Christmas and a Quid New Year." [Cheers.] Mr Pearson moved a vote of thanks to the Beturning OSicer,|reforringito the efficient and impartial manner in which the eleotion had been conducted.

Mr Wilson seconded, endorsing what had been said as to the fair manner with which the proceedings had been conduoted, and he was certain Mr Paterson would say the same. Mr Whitefoord thanked the meeting, and ■aid it was his rule always to appoint impartial deputies, and at the six polling plaoes none of the five candidates had appointed scrutineers. The proceedings then terminated, [fbkbs association tbxegrams.] NAPIEB, Deoember 14 After a revision of the voting papers, Mr Sutton proves to hove a majority of ten over Mr Bussell, Mr Smith's majority is reduced to twenty-four. Several oases of impersonation and other illegal praotices are reported from Waipawa, but it is not known whethor any proceedings will be taken, as the Act does not direct that any particular person shall take the initiative. The " Herald " suggests that the police throughout the colony should be instructed to assist returning officers, as otherwise in wide districts like Waipawa it would be almost impossible to oonvict for personation. WELLINGTON, Deosmber 14.

The declaration of the poll for South Wellington took place to-day, when Mr Hutchison was deolared elected. The numbers were unaltered, except that one vote was taken off Mr Hutohison and one off Mr Edwards. At the official declarE.tion for Te Aro the numbers were unaltered.

It is understood that several charges for alleged impersonation will be instituted by the Beturning Officer for South Wellington. BAIjOLUTHA, December 14.

The poll for Clutha was officially deolared at noon to-day as follows: —Thomson, 286 ; Jowitt, 227. Messrs Thomson and Jowitt both addressed the few electors who were present. INVE ECABGILL, Deoember 14.

The Beturning Officer for Wallace, after several scrutinies of the returns, has finally declared Mr Daniel (Opposition) elected by a majority of one. The Beturning Officer's action and decision have caused considerable

comment, and it is probable that Mr Hirst, the defeated candidate, will take the matter into the Electoral Court*.

[FBOM THH OWN OOEBBSPONDBNT OF THU " PBESS.]

WELLINGTON, December 14. It is stated that the Hon. W. Pharazyn's explanation of bis double voting at Thorndon election is that he thought the second booth in Willis street was in connection with the Te Aro eleotion. If so it is considered ourious that he did not notioe that the names of the candidates were those standing for Thorndon.