AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 3 September 1853, Page 4

AUCKLAND.

(From our Correspondent, July 8.)

The contest for the Superintendancy, so far as the polling goes, is over. Col. Wynyard comes in by a majority of 100 votes. Among his voters more than 40 were official, about sixty military, or connected with military, and 367 pensioners. Three places of nomination, by a manifest absurdity, were appointed ; Auckland, the Bay of Islands, and Onehunga, a pensioner settlement. At each of the two first, Brown had a majority; by help of the latter, the Colonel won. How the government could have fallen into the error of appointing three places of nomination, apparently confusing them with polling places, passes comprehension. If different persons had been proposed at each, which might have happened, what an inextricable confusion must have resulted. The very opening of the Constitution, a blunder!

But though the ides of March be come, they are not yet past. A mandamus is to be applied for from the Supreme Court, requiring the returning officer to declare Mr. Brown elected, on the show of hands, the poll at Auckland, having been illegally demanded for Colonel Wynyard. We are not very sanguine as to the result; it being doubtful whether we shall get so far as the taking of evidence ; but the application will be good foundation for further proceedings. If refused, a petition will be addressed to the governor, according to the provisions for disputed return ; another to the Horse Guards, on the ground of undue military interference ; and the whole matter will, if possible, be brought before the House at: home. If the nomination at the Bay of Islands be not mere surplusage, Col. Wynyard might be again unseated on the ground of having been nominated for the province of New Ulster, which no longer exists, instead of for the province of Auckland.

The majority is less than had; been expected. The Colonel lost much ground on the day of nomination, having refused to appear on the hustings, the consequence of ■ which was, that neither his proposer nor seconder obtained a hearing. Two causes were assigned for his refusal:—one, that he was disinclined to answer certain questions that were prepared for him; the other that he wished to appear not to have taken any active part in the election, for fear of the Horse-guards. Yet military influence was stretched to the uttermost, and at the bay, his nomination was actually seconded by Captain Parratt, the officer in command of the detachment.

The elections for the Provincial council are about to take place. All is at present in confusion; it is impossible to say whether the majority of the members [returned will be supporters of Col. Wynyard, or in opposition to him. The latter would be sure, but for the crafty demarcation rof the electoral districts by Governor Grey, which is even contrary to the provisions of the Constitutional Act. For instance, the city of Auckland numbers 780 votes on.the roll, and returns 6 members: the suburbs 185, and return four. But Governor Grey was bound to apportion the number of members to that of voters in the district. The reason of the suburbs being so far favoured, is that they constitute a close borough, on account of the number of the officials (a numerous tribe in Auckland) who reside therein.

July\% —The mandamus has been refused this morning by the Judge, without entering into the question of the' alleged irregularity.

The following is the final state of the Poll :— Brown. Wyayard. City of Auckland .....336 245 Suburbs of Auckland 26 59 Pensioner Settlements 141 ' 367 Northern Division 145 75 Southern Division..... 121 131 Bay of Islands 51 45 820 922 This analysis will serve, in a rough way. I helieve that many pensioners voted in the Northern and Southern divisions. They are nearly 600 strong. The Keturning* officer declared Wynyard, 922, Brown, 822.