THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2402, 16 December 1881, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

CHEVIOT. Tbs declaration of the polling for this district was made at the Amberley Town Hall at 11 a.m. on Thursday; about forty persons were present. Mr Reginald Poster, Returning Officer, presided. The Returning Officer, in opening the proceedings, said that before declaring the result of the polling, he had bean requested by Mr Alfred Saunders, one of the candidates, to explain his absence. The fact was that he (Mr Foster) had arranged to declare the poll on the previous day, and sent notice of same to each candidate, but finding the rolls and papers from the Kaikoura booth did not come in, be wrote to Mr Saunders as well as advertised twice in the papers, that the declaration would take place to-day. As Mr Saunders resided at West Melton, and stated that he only received a mail twice a week, the second letter and notice of the alteration he said bad not reached him. Mr Saunders had attended at Amberley on the day previous to thank the electors, and in the event of his not returning that morning he desired him (Mr Foster) to thank his supporters for him. The roll of the district contained 1465 names, of which number 850 recorded their votes. Thera wore fifteen informal ballot papers, and 606 persons apparently did not record their votes. Out of this number of names on the roll there were many persons dead or who had ceased to possess any qualification. The roll was full of mistakes, which were due to electors not attending to the proper directions, and to a want of knowledge of the district on the part of the Registrar. It was only fair to the Registrar, who resided at a remote corner of the district, to say that owing to the shortness of the time he bad not been able to look into the matter. The number of votes recorded were —for Mr Mollraitb, 359 ; Mr Saunders, 338; Mr Pendall, 147 ; giving a majority of 21 in favor of Mr Hugh Mollraitb, whom he now declared duly elected to represent the Cheviot district in the Parliament. Mr Mollraitb, who was received with applause, said he had to thank the electors for the honorable position in which they had placed him. It was a proud position, and he felt sensible of it. He also felt the immense responsibilities he had undertaken, but he should try to discharge the duties of his office in a similar way to that in which he acted during the canvass, .namely, in an open, .straightforward, honest manner. He thanked those very cordially who had voted for and assisted his return, and he felt sure that those

who did not vote fop him would combine in assisting him to find out what the requirement* of the district were. He would not detain them long, a* they were interrupting the business of the Magistrate’s Court, but would offer them again his most sincere thanks, [Cheers.] Mr W, O. Fendall thanked those who had voted for him, and although his name was far down on the poll, he felt confident that the electors had weighed the matter well before recording their votes. At the last moment . ,“ new . many of hie supporters who wished him well had nevertheless left him to support Mr Mcllraith rather than admit a candidate who was objectionable to the districk If he could be of any service to the district on a future occasion he would be glad to offer his services. He again thanked his supporters and well wishers. [Cheers.] On the motion of Mr Mcllraith, seconded by Mr Fendall, a vote of thanks was passed to the Returning Officer, both gentlemen testifying to Mr Foster’s strict impartiality. That gentleman having acknowledged the vote, the proceedings terminated. [PEBBB ASSOCIATION TELEQBAM, ] CAMBRIDGE, December 15. The declaration of the poll for the Western Maori electoral district was made here to-day as,' follows :—Te Wheero, 991; Mangakahia, 223 i Mita Karaka, 143; W. Hughes, 75. Majority for Te Wheoro, 768. To Wheoro was declared duly elected. Hone of the candidates were present. NAPIER, December 15. The declaration of the poll for the East Maori district was as follows: —Tomoana, 900 ; Rodgers, 737 ; Wi Pere, 630 ; Ngata, 488. Mr Buchanan has been declared elected for Napier, and Mr Smith for Waipawa,