LOCAL OPTION PETITIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 26, 31 January 1903, Page 2

LOCAL OPTION PETITIONS.

NEVVtOWN, PER PftESS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, Jmaary 30. Oa the NewC-jwn local option inquiry resuming to-day, Di\ McAxthur, S M., gave judgment on the point raised us to the conclusiveness or otherwise of tbe roll. His Worship g»id that after hoking most carefully ia'o tha mat-tr, he must conclude that in both tho electoral tni lie nsirig petition t e Oourt might, at any time during the trial, direct a recount or a scrutiny of the votfg givm at the election to which the petition refers, and should disallow the voti of every ptrson found guilty of any CjrrupS or illegal practice, or whose mine has been illegally placed or retain# 1 oa the roll. would confiio the scrutiny to tha names in tin pjtitna in so fir as they were brought before bin by the petitioners or re' tferred to by counsel. Mr Bill said ihit test might entitle his clients to a»k for a prohibition in tha Supreme Court agaitgfc the lower Court, as it was an important matter, and should be fully determined. He applief f«r an adjournment. Ir. was eventually agreed that sons further evidencs should be called this afternoon, and th«n an adj >urain«nt wi l be mads till Monday. Later, j At the Newtown local option itquiry, witnesses called by thosi opposed to the pstition gave evidence that the booths were not overcrowded, and chat the ifrjgularity of giving voing pap -rs separately to electors only occurred in a few instances, and was soon corrected, and that no spoiled ballot papers were put into the boxes. Tire-case was adjourntd until Monday.