THE DUNEDIN NORTH ELECTION PETITION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10059, 29 January 1909, Page 4

THE DUNEDIN NORTH ELECTION PETITION.

(Peb Peess Association.)

Ifiuiedin, January 28. The election petition for Dunedin North to-dav came before the Klection _ Court appointed to try the case, consisting if their honors Mr". Justice Williams and Mr Justice Denniston. Mr Solomon, K.C., and Mr \V. Downie Stewart appeared for the petitioner iMr A. R. Barclay!, and Mr Wood house and Mr Hanlon for the respondent iMr G. M. Thomson!, and the returniiu oltirer iMr D. Larnach) appeared in person. At the outset Mr Solomon, for the petitioner, stated that after due consideration of the list of objections to the votes put in on both sides, and after srrutinv of the rolls which had been allowed iiy "order of his Honor Mr Justice Williams, the petitioner"- advisers had come to the conclusion that he could not establish his case, and mat he must in anv case be in a minority of one. laStini: the most favorable view of the facts, and there were other votes which had been claimed !>v re.-pondent and mi"ht be allowed liini. which, if allowed, could only increase the respondent's majority. The petitioner therefore proposed not to call anv evidence. am! to airrce that Mr Thomson should be declared duly elected. The Court considered that this beim,'

an election petition, where the interests of the public, who had voted, were concerned, as well as those o; the petitioner and respondent, the circumstances should be explained and the necessary evidence L-iven to show that the petitioner was justified in abandoning the petition. The circumstances were explained by counsel for the petitioner, and evidence was given, after which the Court said it was satisfied that the respondent (Mr G. M. Thomson! had been duly elected, and the Court would so determine, and wotdd eertifv to the Speaker of the House accorditur'.v. Thus ended one of the most unique and" peculiar election contests which has ever taken place in the Dominion.