The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 584, 19 November 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Tun First Election under the Charier of Incorporation for the Borough of Auckland took plate yesterday. We aic enabled lo lay the

results biToie our readeia with an accuiacy on wbich,we believe, full »elunce may be placrd. The Polling Place for nine W«ud& out of the fourteen of which the lioiough is constituted was appointed fur this town, and such arrangements were made in the .Haiket House as afforded convenient accommod ><ion and facilities to all parties. At nine o dock the pioceedings wote commenced by Thomas Beckham, I'lsq., Resident Magistrate, as P«cturning Offices, in the piesence of His Kxieilency the Likuixnani- Governor and a crowded concourse of peisons. Mr. Bkckiiam, after a few remarks expressing his anticipation that mutual forbearance and good feeling would be manifested by the friends of the different candidates, read the Questions which the Charter permits to be put to an elector on tendeiing his vote, and then declared the polls opened. Every security against personation or other imposition was provided, each Bmgoss being required in the first instance to present his Voting Paper to the Returning Oificei himself, who, on being satisfied of the voter's identity and the general correctness of the Papei, authorised its being presented to the Poll Clerk of the Ward. We observed with gratification that the business of the day was conducted throughout in a very orderly manner, there being no more excitement than might have been looked for considering the novelty of the circumstances, and ho interruption — except we apply the term to occasional shoutings by boys, and a few plecfionoeiing jokes, which were given and taken in good pcit, and in no instance that we heard of led to anything approaching to personal violence. Some witty enemy of the Chaiter had contrived to get a flag with the inscription " Folly" hoisted over the entiance to the Market House ; but on attention being pointed to it, it was removed. At four o'clock the elections closed, when the state of the several Polls appeared as follows : — • East Town Ward. E. Davy 40 J. Commons 25 Middle Town Ward. A. Clark o 96 J no. Williamson 6f> West Town Ward. P. Dionan 150 J. 13. Bknnett 45 Suburban East Ward. F. W. Merriman 43 J. C. Blackkit 2 Thomas Johnson •••••••••• • 1 Suburban South Ward. A. B. Abraham 20 11. Matson G Suburban West Ward. J. O'Neill 11 (No opposition.) Epsom East Ward. \ J. Newman 4 | James Williamson 1 Epsom West Ward. William Pownircn.. 27 Thomas Paton 24 Tamaki West Ward. W. I. Taylor 7 D. White 6 At the Onehunga Polling-place, the followwere the votes : — Onehunga Ward. S. Norman 123 11, C. Lawlou 48 Panmurc Ward. T. Haultain (Staff Officer).. 59 Olahuhu Ward. J. A. Hickson (Start Officer).* GO At the Ilowick Polling-place :—: — Ilowick Ward, A. Macdonalo (Staff Officer) 71 J. White 61 Tamalci East Ward. W. Mason 10 W, Goofellow 8

The only observation we shall make at present is, that the great number of votes recorded yesterday furnishes the most practical and conclusive refutation of the opinion confidently expressed at first by some, with whom " the wish was father to the thought," that the people would either repudiate the Charter altogether, or receive it with the indifference of sullen apathy. The total number of names on the Burgess Roll is fourteen hundred and twentyeight : — upwards of one thousand Burgesses voted yesterday. Now, when we take into account the various circumstances which may have inteifered with the actual polling out of the several Ward 1 ?, we mv.st regard this as evidence that a lively interest was felt in the matter. Many have removed from the Borough since the Ist of August when the Lists were prepared : many were doubtless absent from home, or prevented by sickness, business, or other contingencies from attending at the Polling Places within the prescribed hours ; some, did not think it necessary to put themselves to inconvenience or loss of time, knowing that there would be either no contests, or merely nominal contests for their Wards : and some, we have reason to believe, lefrained from voting, not because they weie unconcerned in the matter, but because they weie not sufficiently satisfied with cither of the candidates before them to vote in his favour. These things considered, the actual polling of a larger proportion of the constituencies than is usually polled at elections at home (except in cases of extraoidinary effort or excitement), shows to demonstration that the people geneially are the reverse of indifferent as to the objects of the Charter. Let us hope that the men whom they have chosen will justify the choice by their manner of performing the onerous duties which will now devolve upon them. It is our sincere desire that, by doing so, they may enable us consistently with our public duty to render them that support in their responsible position which we are thoroughly disposed, to the best of our ability, to afford them one and all.

lie Just ,ni(l If.ir not Let all Hie ends thmi .unn't at, be thy Country's, Ihy Uok's, mid 'I mill's.

AUCKLAND, WUDNKSDAY, NOV. 19, IBM. ELECTIONS.