DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 164, 23 June 1884, Page 2

DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

A large number of the electors assembled at the Court-house on Saturday afternoon to hear the declaration of the poll. Punctually Mr. D. Johnston, the Returning Officer, announced that the voting was < Locke 609 Gannon,,, ... 315 Rees .... 296 The Returning Officer explained that the Mahia return, although not received, could not have possibly effected the election, and that he therefore declared Mr. Locke as the duly elected candidate. Mr. Locke stated he was proud of the honor conferred upon him by being returned by so large a majority. He felt it deeply as he had for many years fought for the district, and had now been returned by a large majority as its representative. There had been a fair fight, and as far as he knew everything had been conducted throughout the contest fairly and straightforwardly. He wished to thank most sincerely those who had worked for him and with him shoulder to shoulder, to secure his return. He would work hard to make the district one of the finest spots in New Zealand. There would shortly be another contest, when he trusted everything would be conducted as fairly as at the recent one. He would leave every elector to judge as to who was the man most fitted to represent the electorate, but would ask all to fight fair. He asked to be given a chance, and if found unsuitable, to turn him out and put in a better man. All he asked for was fair treatment. (Cheers.) Mr. Gannon thanked his committee, and those of the electors who had so earnestly worked to secure his position as being at the head of the poll. They bad worked hard and well, and he felt deeply grateful to them. In the next election there would be a different struggle, and he would not allow Mr. Locke to have a walk-over. The present was not the time or occasion to make a long speech, and he would therefore refrain from so doing. The next Parliamentary contest would be between the two parties—Conservatives and Liberals.

A Voice—“ Humbug.” Mr. Gannon—Mr. Locke says “humbug,” but nevertheless it is a fact. The speaker then proceeded to state that there was a great contrast between the Liberals and the Conservatives. He sincerely hoped the Liberals would not in the ensuing election make the same mistake as they had done, and return a Conservative. However the battle had been fought and lost, and the vital question rested in the next contest. Notwithstanding what had been said, he hoped all would admit that the recent contest had been fought fairly, and trusted that all present would favor Liberalism as against Conservatism. He thanked one and all who had worked for him, and said he felt perfectly fresh and willing to renew the battle.

Mr. H. Steele—Were you man enough to speak at the Saturday night’s meeting about the plans of the bridge across the Turanganui river, when Mr. Rees was accused of having kept them back. Mr. Gannon —I believe Mr. Rees had nothing whatever to do with the matter. Mr. W. L. Rees said that although he and Mr. Gannon were at loggerheads, the bridge question, either Waimataor Turanganui, had not been meddled with by himself for fully six months. He heartily thanked those electors who had voted for him, and those who, without the expectation of reward, had so earnestly worked for him. They worked like himself for principles. He had never asked for a vote, nor had any of his supporters done so. If they believed in the Grey party let them stick to it. That was all he asked. He had heard that there had been carried on electioneering practices or dodges, outside of what the law distinctly laid down. He had heard that Mr. Locke had paid certain people as agents, and by this means had influenced votes. Mr. Locke—No.

Mr. Rees resuming, said he had started everything fair himself, and if Mr. Locke’s contradiction be correct, so much the better for him and for others, because if found out both Mr. ;Locke and his friends would be pursued by the law. He believed in fair fight, and fighting face to face. Should there be a desire on the part of his supporters he would again contest the seat, but hoped that the same good feeling would be observed as in the last election. The Snark’s whistle now blew, and Mr. Rees said, “As I do not wish Mr. Locke to lose his seat I shall say no more.” Cheers were given for the winning and the two losing candidates, and the assemblage dispersed.