THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6490, 15 December 1881, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

ASHLEY. The official declaration of the poll for this district was made yesterday at the Courthouse, Oxford, when about thirty pemo®* were pra-ent Mr 0. Whitefoord, the Be* turaicg-Ofloer, raid that the total number of votes recorded during the election was 887, distributed os follow*, viz. Pearson ** QaiM Di.on “ Cunningham Patterson ... —■ " There were 30 informal voles. On examination of the roll it would be •ten that there were 1450 nature m the roll altogether, therefore there were mi that did not tat*) but anroije who cx*ffliwwtbe foil would see that several names appeared t wire, and some appeared on it who were dead or had cre-ed to posses* qualifications, so tool allowing 60 for these alterations, there were SIS who did not vote. Daring the course of this election and many other election* held by him in the Colonies, he cotld not help feeling surprised at the number of persons who did not l.ke the trouble to see that mm names were on the roll, and then when an •boti m took place they began to find fault, and blamed everybody acd everything because they found they wore disfranchutcd. If a vote wr* worth having, it surely was worth locking after and taking the trouble to ree that the name was properly placed oatfee ■offs. Ibe newspapers, the RegutraUon. OUcers, Acd ereryais# cantswlfd with ibs affair had done all they psstibly could to hate the roll* properly prepared, yet they fcftii not bwn f*£oftd*d fcy th«* psopl* ih«sjitflTT.*, who hs4 fit ssaoft toltfmt in it. Hf mentioned several instance* where people had allowed their names to remain on the roll with the wrong Christian name, and yet if the Returning- Officer* refused them a vote they would consider themselves ill-used. He hoped that one result of the present elections would be to cause the -people themselves to take more interest in the matter, and have the registration of votes more complete for th* fat are. He then declared Mr William Fisher Pearson, who had plied 183 more vole# than the next candidate, duly elected member of the House of Bcprescntativos. (Cheer*,) Mr Pkabsos sincerely thanked the electors for the large majority they had given him, » number he hardly expected. He folly understood the respnaibilily which the position placed on him, and ho should endeavour to do his duty fearlessly and honestly. He quite agreed with the remarks made by Mr Wnitefoord respecting the nevesBly of electors seeing for themselves that I their names were properly placed on the rolls, but he must remind them that there were other circumitances that made it a difficult mafter for this to be done, as, for one thing, some of the rolls did not appear till within two or three days of the election, when it was too late for any alteration to be made. He considered that it was is a great measure the duty of the hegis'.ration-Officers to see that the names were recorded when application was made, but he thought that the Bond Board* ought to have the duty of revising the roils, as they were best qualified to see justice done in that respect. Ho knew of several names that had been sent down which did cot appear. One sent by himself twice hod not appeared at all, and others that he knew of bod also teen lost. Be understood that the Bcgistratioa-Officer* were very much overworked just before an election, but the facilities for people inspecting the rolls were very small, and they should have easier access to tium ban at present. It was no small matter to have to go to Kaiapoi just to see if a person’s name was on. He wished to say that with regard to parties in the House he would not pleoge himself to any party, bat should go there as an independent man, and should support measures acd not men. He should not support any party that had Sir George Grey as its head, but would be prepared to support a well organised Literal party. Bir ti. Grey’s part; had brought the country to the verge of ruin, and he would on no account support them. He was happy to see that, without the majorities given to Messrs Guild at ObcLa, Dixon at Cssl, and Cunningham at Locum, he still had the majority of the votes, and he should have hod SO or SO more if the names of several claimants had been recorded. Ho felt that he was the representative of the district, and as such would endravcor to represent the whole district, and not the Oxford district any more than ho would Lob arc. He again begged to thank them for their confidence in him, and hoped that at the end of his term they would hare so reason to remove their confidence from him.

Mr Whit27ooei> said Mr Duos had asked him to esj that, through a business engagemeet, he was prevented from attending; bat he wished to express his thanks to those who had supported him, Mt Pbaheos asked leave to read a letter from Mr J. A. Cunningham, which was to the effect that he (Mr Cunningham) wished him every success and congratulation, and expressed the hope that on a future occasion ke should ba able to contest the election with him on even terns.

Mr J. L. W ilsok said he had been asked bj Mr Patterson to apologise for his absence, but to express the wish that their member elect would support those views which he (Mr Patterson) had enunciated during the election. Mr P®tterson held that those 592 persons who had not voted on the present occasion Lad evidently reserved their votes for him on a future occasion, and had they voted there could be so doubt he would have been returned at the bead of the poll. He hoped that the question of the railway tariff and the rights of the road to the public where tramways were laid, would both be attended to in Parliament. In conclusion he begged, on behalf of Mr Patterson, to thank them all for their kindness, and to wish them "a happy Christmas and a guid TSew Year.” (Laughter.) Mr Psaaaoir proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Whttefoord for the fair play and impartiality displayed in the election.

Mr W itsox seconded the vote of thanks.

Mr Wbimpoobd acknowledged the Tate, end paid a compliment to the deputy-Rcturn-he g-Officers, who were, he explained, act partisans. Ihe proceeding* terminated.

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

AUCKLAND, Dec. It.

At the declaration of the City North poll, Mr Ducingham returned thank* for Mr Bee*, and explained that Mr Eee* had to go to defend the interest* of his clients at Napier. But for the unexpected change in the Union Company's time table, be would hare awaited the declaration.

NAPIER, Dec. 14,

After the revision of the voting papers, Mr Sutton prove* to bare a majority of ten over Mr Russell, and Mr Smith's majority is reduced to twenty-four. Several cases of impersonation and other illegal practices are reported from Waipawa, but it is not known whether any proceedings will bo taken, a* the Act does not direct that any particular person shall take the initiatory stops. The J Herald suggest* that the police throughout the Colony should he instructed to assist the Eeturning-Officers, as otherwise in wide districts like Waipawa it would bo almost impossible to convict for personation, MASIERTON, Dac. 14. The official declaration of the poll for Wairarapa north gave Mr Beetham a majority of 319. Prosecutions for impersonation are to bo undertaken. FOXXON, Dac, 14. The official declaration of the poll for Bongitikei, was as follows : Steven, 487 ; Fox, 465. Mr Steven was declared duly elected. WELLINGTON, Deo. 14. In the official declaration at Te Aro, the numbers were unaltered. < At the declaration of the poll for south Wellington to day, Mr Hutchison woe declared elected. The numbers were unaltered,

except ta* on® rm wm hta ol Mir Hutchison's return, and one of Mr Ed worn*, “iinDIH. Dio. 14 The number* in the Dunstaa polling *ere~ Pyke, 580 1 Fraser, 482. blEo£utha,d»c. 14. The CliiUiß election poll wae offirfallr d»* dared al noon to-da? i—Thon>*o n » Sow ; Jowitl, 327. Mwn Thomson and Jo*iW both addressed the few elector* who were pieMnl

ISVBBOAROILL. Die. 14

The Returning-Officer for WaU«*, *fter several scrutinies of the returor, has fleally declared Mr Daniel (tpporiUco) e!tcl*d b| a majority of one. The Betnmiu# Office •Hioo and derision hate caused cao»id«r»We comment* and it is probable Mr Hirst* the defeated candidate, will lake the matter into the fleeter*! Court*.