THE LICENSING APPEAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7855, 22 June 1905, Page 3

THE LICENSING APPEAL.

ALLEGED IKUEGI LABITIES. (Per Press Association,) DUNEBIN, June 21. The hearing of the petition to declave invalid the Local Option poll in, tho Port Chalmers electorate, in which no-license was carried, was resumed from Jan. 26, 1903, before Mr, C. C. Graham, S.M., the Privy Council In the interim having decided that the Magistrate could hear the petition. Tlu> grounds on which it was asked that the poll bo declared wore:—(1) That the poll was not open within the hours prescribed by the Electoral Act, 1902; (2) that irregularities occurred at or in connection with the poll, which tended to defeat thiq(fairness of the poll. A large number of alleged irregularities are instanced in the petition, including the losing of the Broad Bay voting papers. The last one was that above 200 voted who were not entitled to have ■their names on the roll for Port Chalmers.

Messrs Hosking-, ITanlon and Piatt's: appeared for petitioner, while Mr A. S. Adams, was allowed to appear as amicus curiae.

Mr Hosking opened at length. Ho recited the history of the case, and said if it could be proved bteyond doubt ithat the poll was open beyond or not within the statutory hours His Worship had no option but to declare tho election void. He thought it would be proved that the booth at the Gardens in North East Hill was closed before the proper time, also that the booth at Pine Hill was c.osert before the proper hour. It would be shown that at least one voter was excluded by the too early closing. There were two rushes at the Gardens during the' day, on which occasions the scene in- ' sido the booth resembled a football scrimmage. If necessary he would ask that what took place at the Gardens booth alone did defeat the fairness of the election. Evidence was then taken in support of tho allegations, had was not concluded when an adjournment waa madcj