THE BULLER ELECTION.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 773, 7 February 1871, Page 2

THE BULLER ELECTION.

THE POLLING

Saturday was the day of polling for tlie election of a member of the House of Representatives for the Buller district. Tbe polling places were five in number—Westport, Giles Teri-ace, Addison's Flat, Charleston, and Brighton. The candidates between whom the real contest lay were Mr George Donne and Mr E. J. O'Conor. A third candidate was in the field—Mr Edward Tardley—but the circumstances under which he came forward rendered his candidature of very inferior consideration, so far as the exercise of any immediate public interest in the matter was concerned. Mr Yardley was not only late in the field, but previously unknown as a public man, having hitherto hid his light under a bushel or some other metaphorical measure of modesty. Up to the day of polling each of the candidates had been indefatigable in meeting and addressing the electors, and in none of the districts could complaint be made iu that respect. On the polling day Mr Donne was at his usual place of residence, Charleston, and Mr O'Conor was in his, Westport. Mr lardley was also in Westport, and was u pattern to any candidate, whoever he might be, by the dignity of his demeanor and his disposition to leave the result, whatever that might be, in the bands of the electors. Among the electors—at least in Westport—no extreino excitement was exhibited, and except towards the close of the poll, voters quietly sauntered into the polling booth as the spirit moved

them, without eliciting anything more than equally quiet comments from groups at the hotel doors on the opposite side of the street. The only evidence of a difference from this outward show of feeling at any of the places was the receipt of a telegram from Charleston, reporting the " electors excited." Towards the close, and especially during the interval between the close of the poll at Westport and between the receipt of the results from the other places, those who were presumably non-electors favored the inal-practice of betting to a small extent, but the peculiar closeness of the earliest received returns gave more interest to sweepstakes than to other forms of associating political feeling with cupidity, and these evil intentions, combined with the consumption of " swipes'," delighted the depraved mind until the actual result was known. The first result revealed that at Wevtport—gave Mr O'Conor a majority of fifteen. Then came the Terrace return, giving M r Donne a majority of fourteen, still leaving his opponent " one to the good." The Charleston return, with one of a majority for Mr Donne, squared the numbers, leaving Addison's Flat and Brighton to be recorded. It was sufficiently known by those acquainted with the district how the Flat would give its majority, and the anticipations were realised, the numbers recorded being almost identical with those recorded on the occasion of the last Provincial Council election, but the knowledge as to Brighton was not so perfect. As it proved, Brighton gave a majority of 21 to Mr Donne, but that, of course, was not equal to counteracting the phalanx from the Flat, and the result was that the favorite candidate of that district, Mr O'Conor, was returned by a majority of 66. The following are the details of the polling atthe different places:—

There were thus recorded over the entire district a total of 1030 votes, 111 in Brighton, 551 in CharlestoD, 126 at Addison's Flat, 144 in Westport, and 98 at GHles Terrace. In connection with this election, as in connection with others, it may he said that the system of ballot adopted by the Legislature does not appear to give satisfaction. The objection taken is as to the plan of marking each ballot paper —a process which is considered tantamount to open voting. On this subject a contemporary says : —" Some people imagine, because, to prevent personation and double vote, the number of a voter on the roll is placed on a turned down corner of the voting paper, that therefore the ballot is not secret. This is entirely a mistake. The number is hidden in the turned down corner when the voting papers are being opened in the preseuceof the scrutineers. No one will see it or seek to use it; and afterwards the papers are all sealed up, also in the presence of the scrutineers, and sent to Wellington, where they are kept still under seal for a short time, in order, if cases arise, to trace out personation or fradulent voting. All the officers are not only sworn to secresy, but are also sworn not to make any examination of the numbers unless in such cases as noted, and then it is only of those papers in which personation or fraud occur. The voter who does not vote twice or personate some one else, may rest assured that he can record his vote with perfect secresy and [safety." It must, however, be said that, in connection with miner's rights, the ballot is liable to abuse, and that great precautions will require to be taken as to stamping, personation, and double voting.

Donne, O'Conor Westport 61 76 Giles Terrace 54 40 Tardley 7 4 Addison's 15 102 9 Charleston 273 279 6 Brighton 65 44 2 Total ... 468 534 28