LOCAL OPTION POLL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8036, 25 January 1906, Page 3

LOCAL OPTION POLL.

I'KH I'BKSS ISSOCUTIO.V. IxvEiit.Uii;n.i,, January 23. At tin* Invercargill local option inquiry to-day, after evidence of the alleged offences had heen heard, Mr Adams, counsel for the respondents contended that the aliseuce of an official stamp from the voting papers did not invalidate these. Willi regard to dual voting, eight persons concerned had a right lu vote, while of the two others, one must lie valid. The Bench of Magistrates (lieu decided to make a .scrutiny of the challenged votes, aud this occupied about I wo hours.

Oil resuming, Mr I locking, counsel ; for (In* petitioners, submitted with re- 1 |;; : ird lo three iiusltiKhl permits, llial these slumM 1)(.' di.siliowed, a* the seal was tin- only lest of authority "hen llk' papers i- line from a ilislinw;- ; one v<jili.ul recorded his local option voli' Oil the hack of the paper, im.l that should bo disallowed ; so also should three signed papers, and two bearing remarks. Mr Adams said llial if all the voles referred to were disallowed by the B.'iich, no-license would stiO hive a two-fifths majority Mr Hosting said that the Bench had not yet dcei'li'it the point whether the informal votes were i& be added to the number of votes recorded. Mv Adams cout ended that the votes adjured informal were absolutely voided, and could liol be gali-miised into life fori any purpose. j Tt is c\}> -L'ted I bat the ompiirv u ill finish to-morrow. I The tenor of the evidence given indi eated that the poll had been remark ably well conducted. Tn the case of ' the deaf man who, it was alleged, was I refused voting papers, it was shown that he refused to answer written 1 questions, and that he left the booth i in dudgeon, and was not put out as Aliened.