THE LATE ELECTION AT NAPO LEON HILL.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 597, 13 November 1869, Page 4

THE LATE ELECTION AT NAPO LEON HILL.

{To the Editor of the Grey Biver Argus.) Sir, — Being a witness to the election at Napoleon HiJl, 1 cannot refrain from expressing my surprise and disgust at the unprincipled manner in which the law was carried out on that occasion, and the paltry method resorted to by the law oflicers to secure the return of their brother officer, Mr Franklyn. Had the election been fair and impartially contested, and each of the candidates stood on their merits, and the Camp door not blockaded, and the whole of the electors allowed to record their votes, the issue of the day would have been far different. 1 have seen election contests carried on in many parts of the colcnies, but on no such occasion did I feel that the honesty of purpose was so entirely forgotten by the candidate himself, as well as. his supporters. What would any other constituency in New Zealand say, or any other part of the colonies to a member of the police force coming forward as a member in .Council, supported by the whole staff of officials, but it [is not my intention to argue the cause or purpose of that part of the procedure, But to comment upon the manner in which the election was carried out at Napoleon Hill on the day appointed for the people to record their votes. The poll opened at 9 a.m. on Friday, there were not many votei"s till 11 o'clock from which hour it was not easy to get near tho door of the Camp. About twelve o'clock the miners began to "roll up" in great numbers. Any observer could not fail to see the way in which Mr Franklyn's supporters, took to secure his return, and I was sorry to see that it was necessary to display a little party color. The Camp, which was used as a polling booth, was badly adapted for such a purpose, having but oue entrance, which was held well by Mr Franklyn's supporters. I know as a fact that a large number of Mr Mackley's supporters who could not got to record their votes owing to the way the crush was kept up by his opponents. About three p,m, they were indeed very noisy. There was one Donovan who kept up a continual excitement by cryin«r, "liush the poll boys !" and a tirade of supposed abuse of Mr Lambert, the Returning Officer, not yivmg his candidate fair play, by hurrying the return of votes, at intervals the poll was closed. To remove the noise and the crush from the door, Mr Lambert requested the officer in charge of the district to remove Donovan, who was continuing his abuse, the indefatigable officer was out at once to do the duty of the police, with a Turkish towel in his hand, with which he whipped Donovan to the merriment of the spectators, and increasing the delay of the poll. About this hour there would be at least 200 voters outside the Camp, and numbers coming up, at which time it was impossible to get near the office, let alone the dooi\ The poll was again closed, and Sergeant Nevill came outside the office to read the Act, but with the interruption of Mr Franklyn's party who had possession of the door, knowing well Mr Mackley's supporters were on the ground in great numbers. The Returning Officer stepped forward, took the book out of= Sergeant Nevill'a hands, requesting him to remove one of the disturbers, the sergeant stepped aside with a number of foreigners. I cannot say as to the purport of the conversation, not knowing their language. One remarkable fact is, this member of the force was noticed during the day in close conversation with people whose language he could speak ; ahd looking over the names of those who recorded their votes, we may concur in the reason why the Oobden sergeant was at Napoleon Hill, where a large number of the population are foreigners. The poll again opened ; to the close they were Jet in at the door and out through the window. The poll closed at 420 p.m., when over 200 men, who did not get the opportunity of voting, were therefore disfranchised. And Ido say if the election had been fairly contested at a proper polling booth that Mr Franklyn would have held a very humble, position at the close of the poll, and it is a fact known throughout this district that he is not the choice of the people. In conclusion, I think yon wiil agree with me when you look at the number of votes recorded during the day, which are about 100— I mean men that came to the poll when there were at least four times that number wanting to vote. If police officers are to. represent us, it is right, in justice to us, that we shoqld ha.ye people outside the camp, to manage the proceedings of an election, and not have another exhibition like the sth of November at Napoleon Hill. — I am, &c. , An Ob&sryer,