AN EXCITING ELECTION CONTEST.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1916, Page 7

AN EXCITING ELECTION CONTEST.

A RIDE FOR THE SEAT, (Contributed.? The sad death of Mr. Charles Leech at Awakino will recall the excitement consequent on the contest for the Egmont seat in 1902. In the annals of New Zealand political history no imralicl can ho- found. The electorate at that time comprised three land districts, and extended over 185 miles of country, from Pembroke Road (Stratford) to kawhia and Raurimu (Auckland and Wellington districts). It was a thorough hackblock constituency, the greater part unloaded and without railway or telegraphic communication. The candidates announced for the scat were Mr. John Elliot, of Mahoenui, but death claimed him after he had made his arrangements to tour the electorate; then Mr. Charles Leech, was also one of the first in the field, and next came Mr Richmond Hursthouse, who arrived from Nelson to gain the coveted position. Mr. Sawle, of Inglewood, was also announced, but broke down and retired after a, short campaign. The Liberals of the district then approached Mr. W. T. Jennings, who held a seat in the Legislative Council, to contest the seat, which" request was complied with. This left three candidates, Messrs Richmond Hursthouse (the then Opposition), Mr. W. T. Jennings (Government), and Mr. C. Leech (Independent). Again, the grim reaper appeared. Mr. Richmond Hursthouse, after addressing a meeting at Uruti, took suddenly ill. and went to the New Plymouth hospital, where he passed away. This left the contest to Mr. Leech and Mr. Jennings, and hard work was put in by botli candidates, for at that time there were few roads in the northern portion of the electorate, and accommodation was difficult to get The polling day came, and the result showed a close finish, Mr. Leech being given a telegraph majority of six. However, the error was discovered when .{lie official return reached Wajtara. The Piriaka telegraphed return read: Jennings 120, Leech 31. The official return read: Jennings 120, Leech 18. This gave a majority of seven to Mr. Jennings. A recount before a magistrate was held in the Courthouse, New Plymouth, and the result was to further increase Mr. Jennings' majority to 13. An incident in the proceedings was the missing box of votes belonging to Taumarunui. These votes were delayed, owing to the missing of the mail, which used to leave for Auckland once per week,: there was no main trunk railway from Taumarunui in those days. To get those missing returns to Waitara in time for the declaration of the poll was a trouble. But relays of horsemen rode from Ongarue ;to Pacnmko (Mr. T. de Vere Hunt, now of Matiere); Mr. Frank Elliot, from Paemako to Mahoenui; Mr. 11. Free, from Mahoenui to Mokau; Mr. Leo Jacobs, from Mokau to Urnti; and Mr. Paulbridge from Uruti to Waitara, where he arrived at 2.30 p.m., and the poll declaring Mr. Jennings elected was made irdm tie Post Office it 3.30. Thus ended a campaign that was full of exeiting and even tragic events. Mr. Leooh contested the seat again in 11)05, there hHig, thv«c caaijidatirs, Mesw? Rawing*, Leech, and Campbell. The iottM again 1 won by a majority of 650 votes. As showing the great settlement that I'M taken place in the electorate since the first contest for the seat in 1002, and the last election in 10)4, Me figures, polled show fliat the pop/dation in many places has been surprising and the wealth and power of the country have itlso increased in larger proportions. In 1002, the total votes polled at Te Kulli were Alt: in 1014, the total for the same place was 1127. At Taumarunui, for the same years, the figures were 00 and 787; for Waitara, 30!> and 852; for Ohura district, 12 and 787. All the other places in .the electorate show (lie same increase in population' which meant a great strain on the Government for roads, bridges, railway and road communication," schools and postal and telegraphic conveniences. The gain on the other side to the Dominion has been enormous, as the heavily laden trains of wool, timber, butier and stock weekly bear evidence.