DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 572, 20 January 1876, Page 2

DECLARATION OF THE POLL.

At noon on Tuesday, there was almoßfc as large a number of electors present at the Court House, Hamilton, to hear the official declaration of tbe poll, as there wai on the day of nomination, to listen to the candidates. It had been expected that both candidates would have been present and addressed the electors, but unfortunately, owing to the heavy state of the roads. Mr McMinn was about a quarter of an hour behind time, and by then all was OYer. Punctually at twelve, the Returning Officer opened tbe proceedings, and read the returns from the several polling places, tbe same as those already published, giving to Mr Coi 198, to Air McMinn 177 votes, and declared Alfred Cox, Esq., freeholder of Hamilton, duly elected to serve in the Parliament of New Zoaland, as member for Waipa. Tbo announcement was received with cheerg. Mr Cox, on rising, i&id he had bub few remarks to make, b«t at first he mutt thank theno gentlemen wlio had pat him in the position he now hold. He should trs to realise here and in another place that he was representing the constituency a 9 a whole, not tho majority by wh'ch he was returned. Ho ihonld try to forgive Hamilton, and to forget that Ngurnawahia put himat the head of the poll. (N.B. — Tkis u agoak). As to the charge th it had been made against htm that ho would represent Southern interests in to Northern j if he did so after this election he should be made of queer stuff indeed. He had formerly taken an all round view of the balance of interests between North and South, and so again ho should endeavour to do his duty betwoen them. The North had now n larger claim upon him than ever. There was just one thing he wished to refer to. He wished to unsay one thing. At a candidatei meeting he had been poked up on tho question of the duration of Parliaments, and had then stated he did not consider Hre yean was too long a term. He hidsincu found that this conclusion was too hasty a one, he had found during hu canvas that many electors had voted in ignorance of the real sUte of the politic* of tho colony, not caring to inform themselves or polfcnoal matters. The discussions which arose during periods of general elections did much to excite a feeling of interest in and desire for knowledge respecting the political affuiis and position of tho country, and the oftener he thought, that elections came about — within reasonable limits— tho better. Ho had coino, therefore, to tho determination of supporting any movement for a change to triennial Parliaments. Hu had come to this conclusion before the polling took place, but had not had the moral courage to announce tbe change of opinion before, for to hare done so might hare looked like touting forvotos. The Returning Officer then called upon Mr McMinn, his proposer or seconder if pr -sent. There being no response, Mr Cox proposed a vote of thanks to the Returning Officer for the strict impartiality and courtesy shown both by hiuidolf and his deputies during the polling. Mr McMinn was not present, but the following speech was left at our office by that gentleman, as the substance of what he would have said had be not unfortunately been delayed by the state of the roads : — "Mr Returning Officer and Gentlemen, — Beforo I make my bow and disippear fiom tbe political stage, I should like to thank the electors — representing about one-half the district — who havo given me such generous support in the content of which you have just heard the finale. My thanks are more especially due as I came forward (to use a colonialism) "on my own hook," and without any requisition beyond being .■wked privately by some electors to do so. And now that the thing u settled, I hope thero v. 1 1 not be a grudge left on either tide ; I think I may safely «ay between the principals there is none. I hope now that Mr Cox is declared the winner he will use the ability and the influence with which ho is credited, impartially for the good of the whole district. I Know he has seen enough of the Raglan road not to forget it in a hurry, but I hops at tbe same time he will rcmotuber in any action ho may contemplate in the matter, that the road to be a real colonial work ought to be made in the interests of both Waikato and Raglan, as from a mie remarks made at a mooting herd I inferred he thought it was only required for Raglan. As he said himself his own interest would b« advanced by the road from Ngaruawahia to Alexandra, so I need not enlarge on that topic. I think at no time for some years past have tho friends of education had more reason to be vigilant and energetic, or the old proverb, "betwien two stools wo fall to the ground," will come true. I do hopo no denominational feelings will be allowed to interfere with a general scheme for th« whole colony. At the present time it seems no aid is to be obtained for establishing new schools, no matter how urgently | they are required. Speaking of my own distrie 1 ", whioh 1 daresay is a sample of a great many more in tho Province, we have ocon paying our Toll Tax for three years, without being in a posi ion to receive the shghtost benefit Lately we subscribed over £50 towards building a school, and on applying to the Board to supplement this sum, wero informed wo could get no assistance whatever. Now this I take leave to say reflects great discredit on the powers that be, and I hope our member will use his best «ndearours to aiter this state of iifT-iini. 1 wish to thank tho Waikato Timks for its impartia itj during tlvs contest. It is very hard at any time to preserve a perfectly even balanco in mutters of t his sorb, ana I know some of my supporter* kaye been of the opinion that I have not bad fair play. I have no doubt M r (Jox's supporters thought tko samn in their caso. For my own part I have nn complaint to make of unfair play throughout the election, with tho oxcoption of * small section at Alexandra— who trcatod me in a manner Ido not think I deserved, and which I shall not forget for a long time ; and now, sir, I am ready to acoord a vote of thanks to yoursolf." Tho motion was carried by acclamation and this concluded the business.