Declaration of the Poll.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1011, 13 December 1881, Page 2

Declaration of the Poll.

An official declaration of the polling for the election of a member for the House of Representatives, was made by Mr Returning Officer Johnston (Collector of Customs) at the Government Buildings, yesterday, at noon, as follows : — Mr Allan McDonald 441 Mr 8. Locke 422 Captain Porter ISO Mr M. J. Gannon 11l He, therefore, formally declared Allan McDonald, Esq., to be the duly elected member to represent the East Coast Electorate in the House of Representatives. Three cheers were then given for Mr McDonald, who came forward and returned thanks to the electors who had placed him at the head of the poll, He had no cause to regret the part he had played in the late contest, and assured those who did not vote for him that he would do as much for them, as for those who did. Ho said this was the biggest victory he had yet achieved. lie had had three newspapers, the Government party, and the runholders against him. He knew that the Government would be in a minority on account of the Liberal measures that had been passed. He hoped that the Liberal Government would yet be in power, and, under any circumstances he would do his best for this district in particular, and for the whole Colony. Mr Locke said that the small majority of 19 in favor of his victorious opponent, was not such a vety good bargain after all, for he (Mr. Locke) had to fight, not only against Mr McDonald, but against the other two candidates on the Government side. Under these circumstances it could hardly be said that Mr McDonald had been victorious, or that he (Mr Locke) had sustained a defeat. Now that the matter was over he was satisfied with his position ; and would ask the electors, in future, not to pledge themselves too early. At some future time he should again woo their suffrages, and, if they ran square, the result would be different.

Capt. Porter most heartily thanked the ISO electors who had voted for him, but could not say much for those who’ had promised him their support, and had voted against him, as they ’must have none, on comparing promises with the result. However, the election had taught him a lesson, and one he should not easily forget; in fact, he thought his friends had disappointed him more than his eaoicios. Joinehad oyomGad

to support both sides, and he had been thoroughly deceived. Mr Gannon wished the electors to understand that from the opening of the campaign to its close he had fought the fight fair and square. Throughout the whole of the district he had not had one man in his employ and pay. All those of his ardent supporters who had stuck to him came spontaneously forward, and gave their own time and money to the furtherance of his election. But he was sorry to say that the merits on which he grounded his chances of success were not so reliable as he had anticipated. He could tell them now why he did not sooner announce himself—it was because under the old law it would have cost £l,OOO to contest the election. He had, however, one satisfaction, and that was, that where he had one friend at the beginning of the election, he had at least a score at its close ; and from this he inferred that he had risen in public estimation. On the other band, if he was discouraged by not coming out sooner, he hoped his present announcement to contest the next election against all comers would be an early enough signification of his future intentions. He said we ought to sink all political differences now that the struggle is over. He had tried his hardest to win ; but, although he had lost, it was his opinion that the elected member should receive every possible assistance at the hands of the electors. (Great cheering.) Mr Allan M cDonald proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer, and the proceedings ended.