THE SECRETS OF THE BALLOT BOX.
[to the editor.] Sir—Having made known the official declaration of llm polling in the Arahnra District, I have not the slightest oi jection to appease the mind of “ Inquisitive/' To he brief, I refer “ Inquisitive” to the West Coast Times for the solving of the problem he seems so anxious to realise. I must say it is “ Kamskafkan” to me, for I am* really unable to inform him how so portly a peisonage as *• Tom Trehiar” could possibly squeeze into the largest ballotbox in New Zealand. The. fact is the litei’iil translation of “ Inquisitive's”
query, is—How did ihe West Coast limes obtain the information as to the number of plumpers, Ac., at Hillman's Town or elsewhere 1 I row with him in the same boat : I am utterly ignorant. From Hillman's Town to Jackson’s Bay no information from any poliingpiaco as to the number ot pi miners recorded has reached me. I can vouch foi t ic 1 iCu that at the principal polling booth, at which I • myself presided— Hillman’s—no scrutiny took place of of the so-called “ plumpers” for any candidate, for I hold, that in my humble opinion it is neither the Returning Officer’s nor the scrutineers’ business to gratify any such curiosity. Further, I consider it a secret of the ballot-box, besides entailing a considerable loss of time. I had at Hillman’s (where I must say heavy work was done) three most excellent scrutineers Messrs Barrowman, Smart, and White, who, with my deputy, poll-clerk, and myself taking down, arrived at our figures correctly the first trial. Give my kind regards to “ Inquisitive,” and ask him to peruse the figures I sent ou as my official declaration, deny them if he can, and then return to his “ Shallow Lead.” Ani should he require a little gentle music to waft him him into the arms of Somnus, I recommend him to wind up his musical box the wrong woi}”, and see if it will play the tunes backwards. I thank you personally for your courtesy, and am Yours, Ac.,
A. F. F. Etheridge, R.O. Hokitika, Nov. 22, 1881.
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Bibliographic details
Kumara Times, Issue 1609, 23 November 1881, Page 2
Word Count
355THE SECRETS OF THE BALLOT BOX. Kumara Times, Issue 1609, 23 November 1881, Page 2
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