WAIHOPAI ELECTION

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 6, 14 June 1864, Page 3

WAIHOPAI ELECTION

The polling took place at f the Puni Bush on Saturday last.' It opened 1 at ' 9 alin., but was closed iit lialf-past one by th'o written withdrawal pf one of tho , ■- candidates— Mr. Morton — being handed to the Returning Officer. Up to this time eight electors had polled. - ! For Mr. Pearson - ...' ; ... ... 6 For Mr. Morton; yyy ;.w ; y .>•: 2. : y Mr. W. H. Pearson was declared duly elected. Soon after the declaration of the poll, several of MrY Pearson's supporters. arrived; and wo believe tho news ,of Mr.. Morton's withdrawal, wliich was pretty generally kriownhi '"town* "by oiib o'clock,: saved a large number of Mr. Pearson's supporters! the trouble of wading through five miles of mud to.secure; his .return. ; Had- trip polling continued until the legitimate hour— 4 p.m.— we believe Mr. Pearson would have had . upwards of 20 votes and Mr. Morton 3. Considering the state of the roads and weather, it is not surprising that moro electors did not present themselves. Mr. Morton, we undorstand, had most distinctly ■ and emphatically assured his proposer, Mr. Dalrymple, that he would riot stand; It is too badr that the electors .should have been put to the; trouble tind inconvenience/ at -the -present season of the year and state of the roads, because one individual insisted in proposing, and another- hi seconding a candidate against his will.