DECLARATION OF THE POLL FOR THE HOKITIKA ELECTION.

Kumara Times, Issue 2534, 6 August 1884, Page 2

DECLARATION OF THE POLL FOR THE HOKITIKA ELECTION.

♦ At noon on Monday, J. Giles, Esq., Returning Officer, announced the official return of the poll for the election of a member to represent the Hokitika district in Parliament. The Times gives the following report of the proceedings : The Returning Officer said that he had not much to tell them which they did not know already. He would remark that the total number of votes was not in any way altered by the examination of the rolls, an examination which was necessary. Ifc always happened that some votes were thrown away. One of two electors were so good-natured that they did not strike any candidate's name oat, while one or two -were so very vicious that they struck out the lot.—[Laughter.] In the present case this was not a matter of importance, but it might happen to be very important in a closely-contested election. It was now his duty to announce the result of the poll, which is as follows : John Bevan ... ... 684 James Clarke... ... 87 G. G-. Fitz Gerald ... 626 He therefore declared Mr John Bevan elected for the District of Hokitika.— [Applause.] Mr Bevan, who was received with cheers, said he felt proud at the honorable position he was placed in, as he had been opposed to an old and tried representative. It was evidently an expression of the desires of the constituency that he should be their mouthpiece. As valiantly as his supporters had fought for him against great odds, so would he, he hoped, be enabled to battle for the interests of the constituency.—[Applause.] It was a fact, and every politician knew it, that this district, and the niiuing districts generally had been neglected. It would be his duty and honor to do what he could to make the place prosperous, to obtain for Hokitika a cheap port, and get the railway line completed, so that we could be on an equality with our neighbours. [Cheers.] During the past fortnight he thought he had been the best abused man in Westland. He did not care for that very much. But when a scurrilous press termed his supporters, termed the majority who bad supported him, " the rag tag and bobtail " of the community, it was his duty to protest against such an insult and | denounce it in the strongest and plainest manner. He felt the insult aa applied to his supporters, and he had no doubt they would know how to resent it.—[Applause, and cries of "Don't take the rag."] He was prepared to take his share of abuse, and expected it, but the weapons used against him had been scarcely decent. He had, by the help of the electors gained a glorious victory against heavy odds. Once more he heartily thanked them for the honor they had done him. It would be his duty and pleasure to conserve their interests, and return to their bands unsullied the high trust they had thought fit to repose in him. [Applause.] Mr James Clarke, who was well received said that unfortunately he was not in a position to return them his thanks for placing him at the head of the poll. But he felt it his duty to thank the 87 good men and true who voted for him. If he had only received one vote, he would have thanked the man who voted for him as he now thanked those whose support he had obtained.—[Applause.] Next time he asked for their suffrages, he would poll 807 instead of 87 votes.—[Loud applause.] Mr Chesney said that he had been requested by Mr Fitz Gerald, before that gentleman retm-ripd to Wellington to apologise for his uUjucc, wuich wag

rendered necessary by urgent private business, and to thank the electors who had so kindly given him their support. [Applause.] When three men entered on a contest for one prize, it was clear that two must be beaten. Mr FitzGerald, on whose behalf he was nowspeaking, had been defeated, but it would, he thought, be admitted that he need not be ashamed of the beating, for the position he was placed in on Lbe poll was a good one. He was commissioned by Mr Fitz Gerald to say that if ever he could by his pen or his presence, do anything to assist the district, he would feel happy to do so.—[Applause.] Now that there was a member chosen, it was the duty of all of us to give that member our support and strengthen his hands, so that he might be enabled to do his best for the constituency he represented, to do his constituency in fact the utmost justice. Every elector had voted as he thought right, according to the light which guided him. Again he had much pleasure in thanking those gentlemen who had recorded their votes in favour of Mr Fitz Gerald. — [Applause.] He now begged to move a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer. Mr Bevan seconded the motion, which was received with applause. The Returning Officer thanked those assembled for the vote of thanks, part of which vote, however, was due to his deputies, who had performed thenduties in a satisfactory way. He might mention that from an electoral point of view, this was one of the most difficult districts in the colony, but now it was a little improved, as there was a bridle track to Jackson's Bay. There was therefore no fear of Deputy Returning Officers being lost, as two of them were on a former occasion.— [Laughter.] He thanked them for their vote. —[Applause.]

Three cheers for Mr Bevan terminated the proceedings.