THE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2589, 2 December 1893, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

PAEEOKA ELECTORATE

OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF POLL. At noon on Thursday there was an attendance of about 150 electors, a fair sprinkling of whom were ladies, at the Courthouse, to await the official declaration of the result of the poll. Mr F. W. Stubbs, the Returning Officer, without comment announced the result as follows: — F. R. Flatmau ... ... 1094 A. E. G. Rhodes 1377 Majority for Mr Flatman, 217, and declared Mr Flatmau duly elected. Mr Flatman then mounted the platform and said that he could not find words to thank them for the manner in which they had supported him. It was uot, ho knew, for his own good qualities that they had voted for him, but for the good qualities and the confidence they felt in the present Government. He trusted now the election was over that all little differences of opinion would be forgotten, and the candidates would work together for the general good of New Zealand, He himself should endeavor to do his best for all and strive to make prejudice give way to principle. He should consider his opponents us far as possible, and should take their opinion upon matters relating to the common good. The ladies, he might say, had come out differently than was anticipated, for they had shown themselves upon the Liberal side. He hoped now that other countries would follow the example of New Zealand, and would hurry up and accord them the franchise. Although on the victorious side, he should not consider his victory complete unless he could come before them again and claim that the fulfilment of his pledges had entitled him to again seek their suffrages. He hoped that his opponents would accept him as a friend, and that they would assist him to work for the interest of the common good. ' Mr Flatman was loudly applauded, and received quite a shower of bouquets. He then moved a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer for the able manner in which he had carried out his duties. Mr A. W. Gaze seconded the motion, and in doing so apologised for the absence of Mr Rhodes, who had had to return to Christchurch. He thankecijthe electors on his behalf for the way in which they had supported him, and the several committees for their loyal service. While naturally regretting the defeat, he yet felt that si me of its sting was removed by having to submit to an honorable foe, and he begged to thank Mr Flatmau and his supporters for their courteous treatment of the other candidate and his friends. He supposed that at no very distant date an election would have to be contested again, and if so he desired nothing better than to see the same combatants in the field. The motion having been carried, MiGaze called for three cheers for Mr Flatman, which were heartily given, and on the call of the victor a similar compliment was accorded to Air Rhodes. Mr J. M. Twomey, who was called upon, congratulated the ladies upon behalf of the great Liberal Party upon the way in which they had supported its principles during the election. Some other calls were made for partisans, but none responded, and the proceedings terminated. (Hone Heke Poata, Uruamo Epairaimai, Te Kapa are the Native candidates for the Northern electorate. WiPere, Mangakaula Tuairangi, Heuare Tomoaua, and Heuheu have been nominated for the East Coast, N.I. In an interview Sir Robert Stout said the result of the election was what he had predicted —First, that the women’s vote would be Democratic; second, that women would not declare against the secular education system; third, that women would declare for the direct veto. He said the majority of the new Parliament have pronounced emphatically against the Alcoholic Liquor Sale Control Act of last session,, and the principle of direct veto must be accepted, or else the minority must face the alternative of a coalition with the Opoosition. Direct veto supporters are set down at 44—North Island 16, South Island 28, In checking the rolls at Wellington up to the present several instances of dual voting have been detected, The Hon. Mr Richardson’s defeat at Mataura is attributed to want of organisation. Mr Richardson himself thinks that the women at ore were the cause. A number of the newly-onf ran chi ed sex who supported Mr Curncross’s candidature in the Taieri election met with %omewhat x’ough treatment at the hands % some young fellows residing in the "electorate on Tuesday night. After the declaration of the poll Mr Oarncross was carried shoulder-high up and down the street by the crowd, and subsequently placed in a buggy. His fair supporters then showered him with bouquets, and proceeded to draw the vehicle towards his residence, when they were pelted with mud by several young roughs, who were also unmanly enough to try and trip them up as they pulled the trap along. There can be no doubt that the a ction of Mr Camcross’s enthusiastic supporterswaa anything but ladylike, but the conduct ofttm - men who so uawarran*- 1 ’ .> oung with thorn . , interfered - J,u o,| ly be cnaracterised as brutai and cowardly, and it L to bo hoped that tney may yot receive tho chastisement they so richly d< serve. The ladies behaved very nicely on Tuesday and were sometimes very characteristic, sometimes very funny. Two elec tresses wore entering tho boothj and chatting pleasantly tho while.’ “Silence!” shouted a policemen in a voice that startled the female voters, but the next moment one of them scornfully informed the bobby that “We didn’t come here to be dummied ” Half-a-dozen of tho lately-enfranchised fair sex wore talking over the candidates, each specially favored, one declining to divulge the paroe qf “ her man.” “Oh! I know,” said another, “ it’s that- horrid old

(pity compels us to withhold his name), and it he gets in I wont speak to you again.” —A, ffiburton Guardian. Mr H. S. Fish’s friends and supporters have decided to pay the whole of his election expenses. The Sydney Morning Herald, discussing the Hew Zealand elections, doubts if the Liberal party is compact, and says that the existence of a am all and apparently helpless Opposition adds to the chances of secession. The situation it considers such as hardly augurs favorably for a successful continuance of the iSeddon administration. The Herald says that the most salient feature of the election is the distinctness of the verdict of the country on parties as they existed in the last Parliament.

One of the South Canterbury electors —not of the recently-enfranchised sex—managed to escape with his voting paper from the polling booth, which he handed over to a bystander, presumably of the same political opinion as himself. It is needless to say that his action was not appreciated. The Raugitata electorate is not an isolated case of a candidate (Mr I, R. C. C. Graham) polling less than a tenth of the total votes polled. Messrs Nicol (Dunedin), Munro (Oaversham), Frith (Oamaru), Smith (Waikouaiti), V'aileaud Ferguson (Auckland), Lock (Nelson), Dick (Ashley), Mahon (Maunkau), and Humpnreys (Bay of Plenty) also forfeit their deposit money, £lO. Mr Mahon got four votes, which at this rate cost liim £2 10s. A candidate at Bay of Plenty polled only two votes, which made the cost of each vote £5.

It is held that Sir George Grey owed Ms immense majority at Auckland solely to the appeal of the local Press—that women should make it a point to give him a spare vote, whatever their party, so that he might sit in a Parliament elected on the female franchise, probably the last Parliament in which he would be a representative.

The Press, in an article on “ Lessons of tho Elections,” warns hotelkeepers to set their houses in order, and prepare for the ordeal of the direct veto. If they show a determination, at some pecuniary sacrifice, to insist upon the less respectable of their number observing the law strictly, they may yet recover much of the ground whica they have lost with the public. Tho Press also tniuks the futility of obtaining pledges has also been abundantly proved, and that public opinion is ripe for an amendment of the electoral law by which the asking for promises of votes will be rendered illegal. It is quite contrary to the spirit of the ballot.

The Otago Daily Times reports a case of a husband and wife whose home was on the boundary line of two electorates, who unknown to each other were registered by canvassei’s for candidates in different electorates, and when polling day came had to vote in different electorates, and for candidates politically opposed.

SOUTHERN MAORI ELECTORATE

On Thursday evening a meeting of the Kaiapoi Maoris was held at the Runauga Hall to hear the views of the candidates for the representation of the district. Mr Taituka Hapo in the chair. There was a large attendance of natives. The Hon. H. K. Taiaroa was also present. Mr Mutu, who was well received, spoke for some time, announcing his intention to act as an independent member, considering that those who gave their adherence to party often stultified their rights and privileges. He should uphold the claims that had been so long maintained to proper observance of the old agreements made with the Europeans when the lands of the South Island were sold. He should earnestly press for the settlement of the compensation claims, and also urge strongly that land must be set apart for the landless members of the native population. He referred to a number of local matters, and on resuming his seat was loudly applauded. Mr Far at a, who was also greeted with applause, stated his intention to give his support to the preseu t Liberal Government, which he contended had done much for tho people, and had promised to aid in finding land for the landless natives; and that the shares of the Maoris in such blocks should be individualised, so that they might take the land up for occupation and cultivate it. The promises of the Government might have been unfulfilled for a long time, but he hoped, with the assistance of the present Native Minister and the Government, they would see justice done to their claims. The report of the Commission showed 1600 Natives in the South IslanV who had uot recived laud promised. When thg Ngatitahu deed was signed, and the Murihiku purchase was completed, promises were given which he hoped would be recognised by all fair and honourable Europeans. Eight hundred of the Maoris have only an acre each, and about the same number had not more than ten acres for their cultivations. It was the wish of many of them to rear stock, but on these small allotments that was impossible. He further considered more medical assistance should be afforded at a cost of about £SOO a year. Mr Parata referred to his efforts to have suitable blocks made for the landless people. It was, he contended, important that tfiq people should consider a proposal to make one law for botfi races’. So far, he did not see how this would work without causing friction. On the question of rates on native lands, he considered the sums raised by taxation in that way ought to be expended only on the roads in native settlements. Having touched upon a number of purely local matters, and answered one or two questions, Mr Parata was accordpd a hearty round of applause. Votes of thanks to the candidates and the Returning Officer concluded a political meeting which was entirely free from “ barracking.”—Press. The Rev. M. W. Butterfield, 8.A., has been appointed Returning Officer for the Temuka district.

All the prisoners taken into custody in connection with the recent outrage in Dublin have been discharged except Sheridan. It has been ascertained that a secret society meets at a club in Tyrone Place.