OHINEMURI ELECTORATE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4902, 13 November 1925, Page 2

OHINEMURI ELECTORATE.

RESTORATION MAJORITY.

DET AILS-OF THE VOTING.

There were to be seen in the streets of Paeroa on Wednesday small groups of people, mostly men, from midday onwards, and it was’ very apparent that there was something afoot. Sure en< ugh there was, as it was well known that the official count of the votes polled on the local licensing question in Ohinemuri was in progress., and the result of the count was expected .to be announced at any moment.

Shortly after 2 p.m. the returning officer (Mr P. H. Wylde) made the results public on completion of the count, the result being a majority of 49 over the thnee-fifflis majority required for restoration.

Ohinemuri has the distinction of being the first electorate in the country’s history to be “dry” and then to become “wet” again. Liquor was voted out of tlie electorate in November, 1908, the workers in Waihi being pilncipally responsible. The official figures on the licensing question in 1908 for the electorate were: Continuance, 2040 ; reduction, 2295 ; no-license. 3340. No-license was. carried bj r 86 votes over and above the necessary three-fifths majority.

Wednesday’s official count showed that there were 6673 valid votes polled, and 191 votes were rejected for various reasons and treated as informal. Of the 335 valid absentee votes 196 were cast in afvour of restoration and 139 for local no-license. The following are the official figures. for the individual polling booths recorded on polling day :—

Res. No-L. In. Paeroa 683 357 16 Waihi Miners' Hall 844 494 . 34 Waihi South 69 72 4 Waihi East 240 94 .7 Waihi Plains 18 31 - Waihi Beach 27 1 - Waikino 211 105 8 Waitekauri 16 23 2 Karaugahake 103 ■ 35 x 4 Komata North 10 14 - Komata Reefs 9 6 Hikutaia West 39 6 1 Hikutaia (Walters') 39 17 1 Nfaratoto 19 3 Netherton 144 • 67 -1 Kerepeehi 115 49 .3 Kaihere .16 4 2 Patetonga 73 47 5 Athenree - . 37 20 ... 1 Katikati 60 44 8 Tirohia 29 12 1 M.angaiti 69 38 1 Wkiorongomai 32 13 - Shaftesbury 21 4 Waihou 79 5 5 Elstow 64 72 5 Waitoa 120 145 4 Springdale. 59 70 7 Tatuanui 69 90 • 12 Te Puninga 30" 29 3 Piako 15 34 2 Tahuna Road 49 85 5 Mangateparu 71 46 6 Tauhei., 41 37 4 Tahuna School 28 51 4 Hoe-oTainui 18 12 3 Motumaoho 63 39 11 Eureka 18 7 - Gordonton 56 50 9 Whitikahu 4 12 1 Komakorau > 58 . 32 3 Tenfoot Rd, Taupiri 41 31 - Orini 48 44 2 Upper Waitawheta 27 2 2 Waitawheta School 24 19 - Absent Votes 196 139 14 Totals 4112 2661 194