THE WAIHOPAI ELECTIONS,

Southland Times, Issue 712, 21 August 1867, Page 3

THE WAIHOPAI ELECTIONS,

Nomination op Candidates. The nomination of candidates for the district of Waihopai took, place in the Court House, on Monday, the 19fch August. The Court House was crowded and much interest shown by those present in the proceedings. The Returning Officer opened the meeting by explaining its object, read the writ from His Exeliency the Governor, by which it had been convened. He called "upon the electors to nominate candidates. ■ Mr Corbett proposed,. Mr Brownlee seconded, the nomination of Mr Petee Daltbample. . Mr Gilmour proposed, Mr JV Smith seconded, the nomination of Mr T, M. Cleeke. . ; ■ Mr T. Pratt proposed, Mr J. Hare seconded, the nomination of Mr John Blacklock. ■'■•;. Mr W. Perkins proposed, Mr W. H. Calder seconded the nomination of Mr C. R. Maeten. : Mr Brown proposed, Mr Eredric' seconded the nomination of Mr JP. Hat.; The whole of the five candidates successively addressed the electors but no fresh arguments in favor or against the Blackloek Railway resolutions were adduced. Mr Dalrymple, who had not previously addressed the electors of the district he sought to represent; . indulged the audience with a repetition pf his East Road orations, quoting from his only divinity, Adam Smith, matter foreign to the subject on which he debated. Mr J. Hay literally said nothings he did not enunciate a single definite idea/ Messrs Blacklock, Marten, and Clerke reiterated the sayings of previous meetings, but no fresh matter was imported. Each candidate was subjected to a severe cross-questioning. A show of hands having been taken the Returning Oflicer declared it to be in favor of Messrs T. M. Cleeke, and J Hat. A poll having been demanded, and a vote of thanks to the Returning Oflicer passed, the meeting closed. : The Poll. The polling took place yesterday, and notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather considerable interest was displayed. Erom the polling " commenced until the result was known the Post Office corner was a scene of great excitement. The assemblage of ; anxious in-' quirers as to the state of the poll throughout the day was refreshingly large, evidencing as it did the political activity that had been evoked, and the deep interest that was felt on the railway question. The Committee Rooms of the respective candidates were crowded, and traps of every description em- J ! ployed in bringing up the electors. The greatest good feeling however was manifested throughout. Shortly after four o'clock the Returning Oflicer announced the state of the poll to be, J. Blacklock '„ 56 T. M. Clerke ... 55 C. R. Marten ... ... ... 45 J. Hay ... .-. 45 i P. Dalrymple ... ... ... 5 Mr Bkacklock and Mr Cleeke, the successful candidates, and Mr Maeten and Mr Daltetmple, the unsuccessful : candidates, briefly, expressed their ac- ■ kno wledgemen ts. to . the electors who ; had supported them. (Mr •J. Hay was ;out of town on business, and consequently could not appear, on the jhustings.) A vote of thanks to ithe Returning Officer was passed, and Ithe business ended. Messrs Blaoklook 'and Clebke, are the "members elected.