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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2718, 6 October 1887, Page 2

. Otjr local contemporary publishes the following statement

, Several of the scrutineers and others who Vere in the Masterton polling booth on election day informs us that in dozens of oases Maories walked into the booth and gave names which were found not to be on the roll.:.- Their votes:being disallowed they retired, but only to re-appear in a minute or two with a slip of paper, showing their number on the roll, when they were allowed to vote.

One of the scrutineers informs us that the statements in the above paragraph are-untrue. In only five -or sixinstances, - not doms, was there anj difficulty with regard io Maori votes,

and in these cases the hitch arose through the inability of the voters to speak English ami of the scrutineers to understand Maori, and from the simple fact that some Maories possess numerous names, and were not aware under which of their names they were enrolled. . Only one vote was disallowed, :aud that was in the case of a Papawai. native not on the; roll. In several instances natives' retired in order to ascertain which of their names were on the roll and ; thus assist tlie ■ officers of the polling booth in verifying'their, claims. The manner in which' the .proceedings were .conducted throughout was most creditable to the impartiality and intelligence of the returning officer, and it is very much' to be regretted that gross misrepresen : tatioii' should now be indulged in at his expense. Mr St. Hill, one of the' scrutineers, who acted on'behalf of Mr Hogg, informs us -that the'returning officev conducted the proceedings in the most 'straightforward and gentlemanly manner, and that he (Mr St. Hill) is .not- in any way • responsible for the contents of the paragraph published by our local contemporary. .