THE AWATERE ELECTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 202, 6 November 1869, Page 5

THE AWATERE ELECTION.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, — In the remarks upon the late Elections, which appeared in the hazy leading article of your contemporary [?] the Marlborough News, on Saturday last, allusion is made to the result of the Awatere Election in a manner which is most unfair to the third candidate, Mr. Wharton, the writer insinuating that it was intended by that gentleman “to keep Mr. P. Mcßae out of his seat by a ‘ fluke,’ ” and styling Mr. Wharton’s position at the poll as an “ igniminious [aic] and justly merited” one. The facts of the case (which are represented in your own report of the Nomination, and with which your contemporary might as easily have acquainted himself), are simply these : Mr. Mcßae, being absent from home at the time, and having left no instructions whatever as to his wishes on the subject, and having, moreover, at no recent date, frequently given expression to his anxiety to resign his seat, very considerable doubt existed in the minds of those present as to whether he really desired to stand. In order, therefore, that the district might run no chance of losing its due share of representation in the Provincial Council, Mr. Wharton was proposed as the third candidate. On the polling day, however, Mr. Mcßae returned home, and in obedience to the wishes of his political friends, consented to go to the poll, and of course, as an understood thing, he and jMr. Beaumont were returned. Still, there can be no doubt that, had itbeen decided that Mr. Wharton’s claims should be pressed by his party, the poll would have shown a very different result, several electors, known to be in his interest, having either recorded their votes for the other two candidates, or not having presented themselves at the poll. I might add, in order to show how unpremeditated was Mr. Wharton’s candidature, that he was not even present at the nomination, and that it is notorious in the district that he took no steps whatever to secure his return. I am sure that, as simple justice, you will oblige me by inserting this explanation in your next issue,—l am, &c., Awatere, P. B.—l should have sent this explanation to the News, but that it finds very small circulation in these regions.