THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 166, 19 December 1914, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

NORTHERN MAORI SEAT. THE SHREWD HENARE. (Special to Daily News.) Kawakawa, Yesterday. The developments concerning the Northern Maori seat are most interesting. Tau Henare stated definitely to day that he was not pledged to support the Massey party, but that he stood as an Independent. He stood in the interests of the Maori race, and in present circumstances was going to take the opinion of a meeting of his supporters to be held at an early date. The Reform Party defeated Dr Buck in the Bay of Island electorate by raising the colour line amongst other things, and he ! thought it peculiar that the Reform party now claimed him as a tied and bound supporter to them. He would keep his pledges to his people, no matter what pressure was brought to bear, and i he repudiated any claim that he was pledged to support the Massey party'. It is known here that the Prime Minister communicated by telephone with Tau Henare, and that he was invited to join the Hon. James Allen and Hon. Dr PoI mare to inspect the Maori camp at I Auckland, but all offers failed to draw him, and, in answer to a wire asking ■which side he would support, he replied: "I give you two guesses." Dr Pomare arrived here to-day from Wellington, and is now discussing the position with Henare, but local wellinformed opinion favours the view that Henare will not promise the Government his support, and piany of his Maori supporters claim that they voted for him on the district understanding that he would vote for Sir Joseph Ward. To-day Dr Buck was offered the position of chief medical man to the Maori contingent. | ■

] WELLINGTON EAST. j By Telegraph—Per Press Association. ,< Wellington, Yesterday. The Magistrate lias ordered the recount in the Wellington East election to take place on Tuesday morning. HAWICE'S BAY SEAT. Hastings, Yesterday. The returning officei advertises today the result of the Hawke's Bay poll as follows: Campbell (G) 4216 McNab (0) 4225 Informal 53 Majority for McNab, 9. A MISTAKE OF 100 VOTES. In reply to a question Mr Hislop 1 (Chief Electoral Officer) admitted that 'a mistake had been made in one booth, 'a hundred -votes cast for Dr McNab 'having been wrongly credited to the 'Government candidate. ' The position with regard to the seat {was a rather curious one. At the 'Hastings Borough Council Chambers, for 'many elections tiiie Liberals have always .polled a majority. Last Thurshowever, it was found that Dr 'McNab was in a minority of 183. The 'Liberal candidate challenged the figures. ' with the result that a recount was proi'cteded with. This gave Dr McNab a 'victory, as stat,ed above. 1 THE NEW MEMBER. ' Dr Robert McNab was born in South- ' land in 18G4, and is the eldest son of 'the late Alexander McNab, of Knapdale 'station, who came to New Zealand in ' 1855. He was educated at the Inver'cargiil Grammar School, of which he ' was dux in 1879. lie entered the Olago 'University the following year, matricu--1 lating, and gaining his B.A. degree in | 11-83. In 1881 he was M.A*, and. was 'admitted to the' lift- in 1889. In the '.Siune year he obtained his LL.B. at the ' Gtago University. He gave up his legal 'practice to engage in farming at Ma- ' taura, and was elected member for Ma- ' taura. Ho was twice offered a portfolio in the Secldon Ministry, but de- ; dined, but on the death of Mr Seddon 'in 190(1 he accepted the portfolio of ' Lands and Agriculture in the Ward Administration. Dr. McNab is the author ' of "Muritiuku," and "Historical Records of New Zealand.'' He has given a great 'deal of attention to historical research ' during thj last few years. /